The holidays are fast approaching and with them, all the gift giving and celebrations. Money will be spent, but it is a matter of how much and on what. Whether what and how you buy are determined by your household financial situation or are a reflection of values (from buying local to possibly paying more for more sustainable products or foregoing products altogether and buying experiences for your loved ones), things likely change from year to year. So, have you given it any thought?
More than I did last year (9.6%)
The same as I did last year (30.4%)
Less than I did last year (52.5%)
I'm not sure (7.6%)
My husband has been out of a job of 5 months, so we don't have a choice but to spend less. Thank goodness my son is still too young to know the difference!
Definitly less.I work for the auto industry and with all these layoffs coming off and on I don't know what kind of money we will actually have to spend this year.
Buying Christmas presents is just so overrated. I dread the holidays. The stress of trying to find that perfect thing for the right person........making sure to spend the same amount on each child.....the dysFUNctional family gatherings........ Bah Humbug.
My office did not give raises this year and probably won't in January, yet my employer-sponsored health insurance costs went up. My husband's boss is already dropping hints that there will be no year-end bonuses for their office this year. The economy is hitting home!
It is something that I just don't get. My husband makes a good living, we save for the future, don't use credit cards, don't go on elaborate vacations, don't live in a fancy house, don't drive fancy cars, don't try to keep up w/the Jones', but we are middle class struggling family raising three children. Living pay check to pay check. We always wonder what are we doing wrong. We have to cut back on Christmas. There is no choice. The money is not there to spend even if we wanted to.
We have out first granddaughter born in june this year living with us, so naturally we will spend more,, also her dad is a new member of our family as of last December..
Our twin boys will be over a year old this year so I know we will spend more than we did last year.
Our twin boys will be over a year old this year so I know we will spend more than we did last year. Plus we just got married, so our spending habits have gone up.
I have lost my job of 8 years due to illness. First time unemployeed in 25 years. I have been looking since first of year, the economy is tight. It makes me sad to think I will not be able to get my grandkids a Christmas or maybe loose my house and not be able to decorate and have them over to make cookies.
My business has been slower this past year. I'd rather celebrate and enjoy the holidays this year and give gifts from the heart. I plan to bake and make a few crafts to give. Holiday Giving has boiled down to gift certificates and it feels like you're just passing money around. Just enjoy the fellowship with the ones you love and laugh and be stress free.