Chatter

By CAP

October 9, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

We will be on a budget this year for Christmas, however that is really no different from last year! We will be tightening the belt a little that is for sure. We are getting ready tomorrow to go on a cruise and believe me if we had of known about the financial crisis in advance we wouldn’t be going! Although maybe that is just what we need to prevent having a melt down over our investments!

By Troglodyke

October 9, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

The holidays should be about friends and family and being together, NOT about “stuff.”

Anyone who is having trouble making ends meet needs to wake up and realize that Christmas shopping is a luxury, not a necessity. Even if you have kids, you are being irresponsible if you spend money on Christmas presents.

Because of guilt or ignorance, people overspend every year, even when the economy is sound. It’s dumb to do it then, but suicide to do it now.

And for those who would say, “Oh, but the kids will be disappointed if they don’t get the latest video game console” or whatever, grow up. Kids need to understand the value of money, and this is a great way for them to learn.

Enjoy the people you love, and save your money. This is going to get worse before it gets better.

By Scott

October 9, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Christmas is for the kids and since I have no kids my wife, her parents and I are going to do what has become our holiday tradition since I lost both of my folks. 1 week in a rented condo in FL. Shrimp, Shrimp and more Shrimp. Can’t wait.

By Tim

October 9, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

I will not be splurging, however, those folks from AIG will be… on my dime.

By Lynn

October 9, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

My family and I have rented a cabin about an hour outside of Columbus OH. We’ve made this a family tradition. The cabin sleeps 13. It’s a lot cheaper to do things as a group. My kids honestly don’t need a lot of things. We give during the year. I just buy clothes, one toy or gadget for the teenager and that’s it. the rest is just enjoying time with each other. I don’t have much to spend anyway with the recent gas shortage and price gouging.

By NoWhiners

October 9, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

It is so refreshing to see articles like those about the Neimann Marcus catalog and the one about the beautiful Buckhead house that was published the other day. Reading these articles is so much better than listening to the constant whining and complaining that people are doing these days. Grow up, folks, and make your life better so you don’t have anything to gripe about. Bunch of babies.

By shay

October 9, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this

I plan on buying my kids whatever they desire this year, like I always do, because they make me proud, as I will not spoil Christmas for them because of financial decisions I may or may not have made. And I am very glad that my mother and father didn’t make us “grow up” before our time. We kind of knew when things were tight around the house financially, so we were greatful for whatever we got, and I am sure my kids will be the same. Fortunately for hubby and I, we ARE able to buy this year.

With that in mind, I have never gotten into debt for the holidays. What I can’t buy out of my regular paycheck, I don’t get. I have two boys and they are blessed to have alot already so if they ask for one or two things, I will very much get it for them. That’s how my parents raised me and that’s how I will raise my sons. You do good in school and at home, and I have no problems rewarding you at Christmas time for a job well done!

By Patrick

October 9, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

You tell ‘em, Shay!!! You have your compass pointed in the right direction. Salute!!

By Upper Class

October 9, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

Let the people complaining about losing their homes in foreclosure and going hungry eat cake.

By Thurston Howell, the third

October 9, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Here, here! Lovey and I couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

By Melis99

October 9, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Sorry to tell you folks this but in a recession or not I’ve already done my Christmas shopping. I did mine over the summer when it’s easy to find and I caught a sale or had a coupon. And the points I rack up from using the debit card will go for certificates for everyone else. All covered. It’s cheaper to shop for Christmas in the summer especially on Ebay because people are not stressed and fighting over items.

By Melis99

October 9, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

Sorry to tell you folks this but in a recession or not I’ve already done my Christmas shopping. I did mine over the summer when it’s easy to find and I caught a sale or had a coupon. And the points I rack up from using the debit card will go for certificates for everyone else. All covered. It’s cheaper to shop for Christmas in the summer especially on Ebay because people are not stressed and fighting over items. Also in order to pay for the new toys my kids know we have to sell the old ones. What we make off the old toys we put towards the new toys.

By Matt

October 9, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

My husband and I are going to do what we did last year. Get the kids the big ticket item they want and a few other things and that is it. We are so over trying to have a huge Christmas. The funny things is that the kids didn’t care. They would only play with a few of the gifts anyway. The “filler” items were never played with. A big Christmas can be an ego thing for the parents. My husband and I realized this last Christmas, so we are done with the over the top holidays.

By shay

October 9, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

Shopping in the summer ain’t a bad idea at all!!

I love to see the decoration and stuff so I usually shop early November, but after Thanksgiving, the lines are long, the stuff is picked over, etc.

By JeremiahWright

October 9, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

Sure, if it’s a Christmas catalog I’ll buy. But if it’s a “Holiday” catalog, meaning they think “Christmas” will offend someone (and who cares if it does, since it’s the FEDERAL holiday?), it goes in the trash.

By Tyree

October 9, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

I just wonder what those REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA are doing for X-mas this year? I am sure there is going to over the top materialistic spending spree at Phipps plaza. They can’t come in an empty Lexus or Escalade now can they? Shallow designer dress parties… where the other guest talk aout each other behind the other’s back. Besides the backstabbing, Lots and Lots of heavy weight gold chains. Yep, the ladies have arrived.

By Mrs. Jones

October 9, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Christmas is not a time to “pinch pennies”. Seriously, you should have thought about that before you leveraged yourselves broke! I feel sorry for NO ONE in this economy - if you’d done the right things all along - you wouldn’t be in this mess. My family will get whatever they desire for Christmas. Ironically, my kids are not the ones obsessed with material things! I guess that is why we have money - we don’t buy crap.

Stop trying to “keep up” with my family - we will always be miles ahead of you, financially speaking.

By Georgia Gal

October 9, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

Are you serious?? I’m getting to the point that I’ll be lucky if I can afford the necessities (mortgage, groceries, gas, etc …) each month. Plus also if the stock market keeps up the way it is, I may lose all of my money in it and have to start stuffing money underneath my mattress each paycheck.

By Melissa

October 9, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

Yes, I’m definitely cutting back on Christmas spending. I usually put aside my Christmas money in October to shop with before the holidays, but this year, I’m putting less in. Since I’m single and just buy for my parents and my sister’s family, it’s never really that much. But I had gotten into the habit of spoiling the kids with too many presents.

This year, the kids will a toy that they really want and a couple of books each, and the rest of my family gets one present each. Gone are the days when it took three trips (with help) to get all of the presents into the house on Christmas day. Like someone else said, we haven’t hit bottom in the ecomomic crisis yet, though it’s really just the business cycle at work. I need to learn to cut unnecessary spending now, while inflation is rising.

On the other hand, can you just imagine the sales that will be going on this year to entice you to spend, since stores will be competing EXTRA hard for your dollar?? There will be some good deals out there that will likely negate the increases they pass along to us from increased distribution costs and inflation.

By Troglodyke

October 9, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

Stop trying to “keep up” with my family - we will always be miles ahead of you, financially speaking.

LOL…that’s funny. I guess you have all your money squirreled away in savings accounts or under your mattress, huh? Because all the folks out there who consider themselves rich because of their investments are going to be hurting very soon.

It really doesn’t matter how rich you are, or how rich you think you are, or how much of a jerk your money makes you. If you buy kids “whatever they want,” you are as bad as parents as the poor schlubs who spend all their money on cigarettes and booze.

The best thing parents can do for their kids is stop buying them stuff and have them earn money to buy their own stuff. (Or better, teach them to earn money and start saving and investing it.) Most “rich” people are too busy trying to buy their kids’ love, which just makes those kids into spoiled, rude adults who cannot ever fend for themselves.

I am financially secure, thank you very much. I do not envy “rich people,” so stop trying to act all holier-than-thou. I learned early from my parents how to manage money.

I just know better than to blow money on crap that will not ever matter. Most stuff people buy for kids is just that.

By Vicki

October 9, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Rumors are there will be lots of sales this christmas and everything will be cheaper…therefore, I can give better for less.

By crabby grandma

October 9, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

A big cheeer for troglodyte! Kids need to learn about disappointment in theiur lives, and the sooner the better. Thhose show-offs aare the reason we’re in the pickle we’re trying to get out of. Get a life, get a move on and get lost if you disagree!!!!

By broke but happy

October 9, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

I would like very much for the crass overboard spending at Christmas to go away. I cannot keep up with the Jones. This might be a blessing in disguise. Poor shopkeepers who depend on it, but this would be a nice return to how things used to be.

By white trash with money

October 9, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

Mrs. Jones, I hope you and your husband work for a secure company. (probably the government) As for us, we own a business that has slowed way down. As of today, we are down about $70,000 in the market. We are far from rich but we have saved, just to see it disappear.We have no credit card debt and we never buy more at Christmas than we can afford. If I don’t have the money right then, I don’t buy it. I am usually done with my shopping by Thanksgiving. That way I can stay away from the malls and I never get stuck buying something out of desperation. I hope everyones Chirstmas turns out to be a great one. Time spent with family is the most important and I have a very large family to be with.

By Tom

October 9, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this

.

We’re going to fix social security by pushing the retirement age to 80 so as we work longer, the market will make back the loss.

Problem solved.

Think of it as GWB solidifying his legacy.

America is over. It was fun while it lasted.

You’re safe until the US government defaults.

Everything is at a 40% discount!

.

By Meme

October 9, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

Things were already looking bad with the gas and food prices getting so high. Several years ago, the family decided that only the little ones would get presents. They won’t get a lot of stuff this year, but the love we have and the family gatherings will make up for it. Merry Christmas!

By Pete

October 9, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this

We have been trying for several years to get away from the insane “blockbuster” Christmas gig. The food, decorations, seeing friends and family, the music are all great. But the gift giving part has gotten completely out of hand and needs to stop - down economy or not!

By DebtFree

October 9, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

3 years ago I made my last payment to a credit card, and have been cash-only since. I am working on paying off my house in the next 6-7 years, then will be completely debt free. Our cars are not the best, but they are paid for.

The last 3 Christmas’s we have had, we have paid cash for all gifts. We have 1 son, 13 nieces and nephews, and parents. We don’t have to get everyone something, but I do believe it is better to give then receive.

What we do is have 2 savings accounts, and an emergency fund. We know Christmas comes on Dec. 25th every year, and we put money away into one of the savings accounts to pay for it. When we start our Christmas shopping, we budget how much to spend for each family member, and we stick to it. The key is to be out of debt, and I recommend it to everyone I talk to.

The best part about Christmas is that on December 26th, I don’t owe anyone.

By Nota Dummy

October 9, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this

As many have said before, weak handed, panicky, dummy ,so called “investors” sell low and buy high then wonder a year later why they lost money,lol. Less than 50% of investors make money in the markets.

The new issue of one of my investment mags says the smart mutual fund mgrs. and individual investors (smart ones) are stealing bargain stocks at the moment.

I bought a few hundred $’s worth today which sold for thousands a few months ago. Thanks dummies!!!!

By LuckyDog

October 9, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this

I have never really had a Christmas of getting a lot of stuff myself. I would rather give things to other people. However, this year will be great. My girlfriend and I will be taking a nice vacation this Christmas for the sole purpose of spending money on each other— all thanks to a trust fund.

By redeldo

October 9, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

Its time to revolt! With what the executive greed has done to my savings: What Chistmas?

By Big Juicy

October 9, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this

Absolutely NOT! That would suggest that Christmas is about the giving of gifts and stuff. I made my mind up last year that I have purchased my last “Christmas present”. It’s not about us, it’s about HIM; Jesus. Does that mean I won’t buy my kids a few things? ‘Course not; we really want to get them a WII and a few other things but will present these things to them BEFORE 12/25 so that the focus of Christmas day will be on each other and Christ! If someone in my family wants something, why do I have to wait until a certain to give it to them??

By Troglodyke

October 10, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

I wonder how long it will be before Bush and the rest of the Socialists who helped this happen start saying, “Get out and spend, spend, spend this holiday season! It keeps the economy strong! Don’t be afraid! Buy everything!”

What a joke. And, this is supposedly the “party of God.” Not only will they exhort people who are struggling to buy crap they don’t need, but in doing so, they distort the “true meaning” of Xmas.