Making Christmas extra special.... because of Covid!

[TheHaitian]

Is everyone doing that? Seems my neighborhood is... neighbors that have never put up lights before have this year, decorations were up earlier, and gifts are being sold out at rapid speed.

My wife overheard one of our neighbors saying to another neighbor that this year with Covid she feels extra pressure to make Christmas nice and magical for her 2 boys.

I actually had to tell my wife to slow down because I feel we have been overspending on keeping my daughter busy for the past 8-9 months. My daughter birthday in January put it in that weird spot that we try not to overdo it for Christmas and balance it with her birthday.

I think we spent about ~$500-750 on both events and my wife just sent me the list on what is for her birthday and what is for Christmas. That does not include she will get from family members and cannot control that.

Christmas :
- bike
- magna tiles
- book
- puzzle
- lego set - beauty and the beast
- towels (special request from her, she does not want to use baby towels anymore)

Birthday
- magna tiles
- two paw patrols lego
- rapunzel lego
- books

She is 3 turning 4 soon and really into the magna tiles and lego’s. I think we have spent between us, aunts and grandparents at least $500 on magna tiles alone so far and the 2 we ordered for Christmas and birthday were $130 each... maybe I should buy stocks in magna tiles.

The bike was the most expensive at $270 followed by the magna tiles at $130 each... the legos were between $50-80. We figure it will be balanced out with next year being the first year we will not have a birthday party for her so just cake for us in the house.

How is your spending for Christmas? Spending extra to make it special?

[sesfw]

4 gifts

Something they want, something they need.
Something to wear, something to read

Rules from g-dtr to all of us about her kids ...... 7 and 5

Slow down on the 'stuff' she will never remember and you don't have room for.  Family members can wreck havoc.

Next November (or sooner) have her help you gather toys that are still in good condition that she doesn't play with, and donate them to a shelter.  Give to other children and you will teach her the joy of giving anonymously.  Later in life she will realize she can be 'Santa' to others with a loving heart.

[TheHaitian]

Dec 4, 2020 21:36:49 GMT -5 sesfw said:

.

Next November (or sooner) have her help you gather toys that are still in good condition that she doesn't play with, and donate them to a shelter.  Give to other children and you will teach her the joy of giving anonymously.  Later in life she will realize she can be 'Santa' to others with a loving heart.

We did that already in October, she helped my wife picked out all the toys she did not play with anymore and donated them. We live in a small townhome so space is a premium... same for clothes/closet space.

The magna tiles and lego I really push her interest in building stuff because it is fun and cool for me to watch (I was always into building stuff too) and maybe she is the next engineer. Also I prefer that to buying her another Barbie or American girl doll.

[wvugurl26]

I think some must be doing that. Decorations and stuff seem sold out already. Slim pickings.

[TheHaitian]

Dec 4, 2020 21:43:33 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I think some must be doing that. Decorations and stuff seem sold out already. Slim pickings.

Christmas trees are slim pickings... I remember still having plenty of choice the week before Christmas and yet I bought our Christmas tree last night and they had limited amount.

I am putting the outside decorations up tomorrow, a lot of neighbors already beat us to it...

[Lizard Queen]

Yeah, we're getting more than usual. Our outside lights are up early for us.

We're looking at a long, boring winter for our kids, so getting a little extra to counteract that.

Your list doesn't look outrageous to me. The devil is in the details with the prices you're spending on the bike and magnatiles. We have 2 sets, and it seems plenty. She's gonna outgrow that bike quickly. Of course, don't ask me about legos. 🤐. Have you thought about some hot wheels? They're not marketed to girls, but it seems like girls always like playing with them when they visit. A game or two?

[bean29]

I think it is part people decorated early, and part the stores did not stock as much seasonal merchandise as normal.

Outdoor Christmas decorations always sell out early. I have had issues in prior years, which is why I ordered outdoor decorations from Lowes well before Turkey Day and confirmed with DH that we are putting our old tree up. It has a bad section of lights which I fix by stringing extra lights in.

[oped]

The biggest COVID ‘extra’ I’ve done so far was spend a couple hundred dollars on gift cards to downtown businesses that we put in a bowl for anyone to use this month... they aren’t presents per say, but directed spending to local businesses that benefits everyone, if that makes sense....

[travelnut11]

I love Magnatiles! And Magformers! We have both and they're expensive but seriously one of the best toys for kids. The bike price seems high for a little kid's new bike. IIRC our daughters were born about a week apart and mine will also be getting a bike for her  4th birthday in January but I think we spent about $100 for her sister's bike and I'm already seeing how quickly they outgrow them. Luckily mine are showing little interest in Legos which are spendy (and much more painful to step on than Magnatiles). I don't think your lists seem too extravagant because the choices are good, quality toys that are great for her brain though I can see why you're flinching on the total cost.

That being said, we're probably doing more this year than usual. Not necessarily in dollar terms but in # of items. Part of the problem is me because I'm so excited that they're bigger now and there is much cooler stuff for bigger kids and I'm having a blast shopping for it. Plus, we're not going to be around family this year so subconsciously I think we're trying to make up for that a bit. I get it. 2020 sucked and there was little we could control. But we feel like we can control how Christmas goes for our kids so we're going to do it.

[Opti]

Dec 4, 2020 21:57:40 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Dec 4, 2020 21:43:33 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I think some must be doing that. Decorations and stuff seem sold out already. Slim pickings.

Christmas trees are slim pickings... I remember still having plenty of choice the week before Christmas and yet I bought our Christmas tree last night and they had limited amount.

I am putting the outside decorations up tomorrow, a lot of neighbors already beat us to it...

I'm guessing you picked a live tree not an artificial one?

[Tiny]

I'm putting up some lights tomorrow and I will be baking some complicated "family tradition" things in the coming weeks.   Mostly it's because I have like 3 things on my calendar between now and January 10th.  In the past I'd have 2 to 3 weeknights booked and then a Saturday thing and a Sunday thing.   And I'd be going to work and trying to get ready for Christmas with the family.  And maybe I'd be getting a few hours of sleep in, inbetween.      

I suspect some of the decorating is because people have fewer things on their calendars (time commitments).   

[TheHaitian]

Dec 4, 2020 22:36:12 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 4, 2020 21:57:40 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Christmas trees are slim pickings... I remember still having plenty of choice the week before Christmas and yet I bought our Christmas tree last night and they had limited amount.

I am putting the outside decorations up tomorrow, a lot of neighbors already beat us to it...

I'm guessing you picked a live tree not an artificial one?

Yes live ones... last year we did not pick one out till like a week before Christmas.

This year we were planning to take my daughter this coming Saturday thinking we had enough time - we were wrong. So I went to Home Depot and picked one out last night and even then had limited choices.

I think it is part boredom being stuck inside so people running out to decorate/putting up their trees earlier this year looking for something to do.

[Opti]

Dec 4, 2020 22:17:28 GMT -5 oped said:

The biggest COVID ‘extra’ I’ve done so far was spend a couple hundred dollars on gift cards to downtown businesses that we put in a bowl for anyone to use this month... they aren’t presents per say, but directed spending to local businesses that benefits everyone, if that makes sense....

That's great. I know I have spent more than I would have if I were healthy and my taxes were done, etc. The place I spent the most $$ at is a local in town business that just opened recently due to Covid. It may or may not make it. Part of me rationalized some of my purchases there as supporting a new business. The last time I was there I bought a top I did not necessarily need, but could work as a work top and I knew if the place folded I might not see again. Its a beautiful deep blue indigo top made in Thailand which needs something under it. 

So on the to do list is to return the Land's End navy mock neck I got for 50% off and turn it into a thin navy t-shirt or better yet a thin shell or cami. The exchange hopefully will also benefit the outfit I originally purchased it for, which did not look quite right. I love you are doing that. A local business owner/partner in a shop told me how he was on that town's chamber of commerce and hoping to get the funds released to feed the most vulnerable of the business owners downtown. (Apparently money has been raised or budgeted but not disbursed.)

[Opti]

Dec 4, 2020 22:55:16 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Dec 4, 2020 22:36:12 GMT -5 Opti said:

I'm guessing you picked a live tree not an artificial one?

Yes live ones... last year we did not pick one out till like a week before Christmas.

This year we were planning to take my daughter this coming Saturday thinking we had enough time - we were wrong. So I went to Home Depot and picked one out last night and even then had limited choices.

I think it is part boredom being stuck inside so people running out to decorate/putting up their trees earlier this year looking for something to do.

Buying patterns have changed yet again too. Those of you who are adequately funded and can afford Christmas and their rent are spending & planning and doing. Essential workers on the bottom rung are surviving, and depending on their household income, may or may not be joining you. Then there are the unemployed due to Covid, not yet re-employed folks, who depending on their financial situation are either spending like drunken sailors or doing their best to live indoors through the winter. (Sorry for being a downer,  but last night a couple was being evicted locally, and it will stick. They are unemployed due to Covid, no idea what really is going on, but the power was cut to their home (probably by the landlord as the landlord refuses to fix the cut cable). )

You are in a blessed situation. My unwanted advice to you us spend responsibly. As we return to normal, people will spend less money at grocery stores and the no return policy will disappear legally. Grocery store profits will plummet as consumers start spending in places they were unable to at the height of the pandemic. 

[TheHaitian]

Dec 4, 2020 23:13:43 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 4, 2020 22:55:16 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Yes live ones... last year we did not pick one out till like a week before Christmas.

This year we were planning to take my daughter this coming Saturday thinking we had enough time - we were wrong. So I went to Home Depot and picked one out last night and even then had limited choices.

I think it is part boredom being stuck inside so people running out to decorate/putting up their trees earlier this year looking for something to do.

Buying patterns have changed yet again too. Those of you who are adequately funded and can afford Christmas and their rent are spending & planning and doing. Essential workers on the bottom rung are surviving, and depending on their household income, may or may not be joining you. Then there are the unemployed due to Covid, not yet re-employed folks, who depending on their financial situation are either spending like drunken sailors or doing their best to live indoors through the winter. (Sorry for being a downer,  but last night a couple was being evicted locally, and it will stick. They are unemployed due to Covid, no idea what really is going on, but the power was cut to their home (probably by the landlord as the landlord refuses to fix the cut cable). )

You are in a blessed situation. My unwanted advice to you us spend responsibly. As we return to normal, people will spend less money at grocery stores and the no return policy will disappear legally. Grocery store profits will plummet as consumers start spending in places they were unable to at the height of the pandemic. 

Thank you and we are not overspending in general. We are both salaried so the only extra was my bonus and most of that went to pay down debt, the only extra I did was buy myself a ~2k home gym.

We have ~20k is still seating in our bank account since I cannot decide if I should throw at debt pay down or keep it as emergency fund.

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 4, 2020 23:13:43 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 4, 2020 22:55:16 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Yes live ones... last year we did not pick one out till like a week before Christmas.

This year we were planning to take my daughter this coming Saturday thinking we had enough time - we were wrong. So I went to Home Depot and picked one out last night and even then had limited choices.

I think it is part boredom being stuck inside so people running out to decorate/putting up their trees earlier this year looking for something to do.

Buying patterns have changed yet again too. Those of you who are adequately funded and can afford Christmas and their rent are spending & planning and doing. Essential workers on the bottom rung are surviving, and depending on their household income, may or may not be joining you. Then there are the unemployed due to Covid, not yet re-employed folks, who depending on their financial situation are either spending like drunken sailors or doing their best to live indoors through the winter. (Sorry for being a downer,  but last night a couple was being evicted locally, and it will stick. They are unemployed due to Covid, no idea what really is going on, but the power was cut to their home (probably by the landlord as the landlord refuses to fix the cut cable). )

You are in a blessed situation. My unwanted advice to you us spend responsibly. As we return to normal, people will spend less money at grocery stores and the no return policy will disappear legally. Grocery store profits will plummet as consumers start spending in places they were unable to at the height of the pandemic. 

The eviction should still. I have a tenant that hasn’t paid since Covid hit in March. Even if he and his wife were both laid off, they would have made more collecting than working. They also would have gotten the stimulus payment (I got zip). Not one cent was paid in rent because these scumbags knew I couldn’t evict. That ended so I got my eviction judgment and before I could have the constable physically remove them from the premise, the courts shit down again. Courts are open and they should be removed this week.

I do not feel bad for my tenants at all. People seem to think that landlords should just eat the rent of non-paying tenants.

[jeffreymo]

We put up 3 trees this year and I think we’re going to go over the gift budget for our 3 kids. This winter will be terrible because of the rising cases but also further isolation and because of the cold winters where we’re at we’re confined to our home. Trying to find gifts that are games or activities that will keep them busy until March when we can spend more time outside. This is the year we’ll be rooting for heavy snowfall so the kids can play in it.

[bookkeeper]

I see my neighbors going all out with Christmas decorations and the package delivery guys are driving through all day. We live in a starter neighborhood with a lot of little kids.

We have streamlined our holiday.  DS#1 and his wife got a new garage door for their house.  DS#2 will get a monetary gift of similar value.  DH put his phone in with a load of laundry, so I feel like he got a new gift.  We remembered our church before we left for AZ. The first gifts I bought were holiday food boxes for our community.  

It is a very strange time.  The divide between the haves and have nots has gotten very wide.  The Dow is at an all time high and food assistance need is also at an all time high.

I noticed similar spending by families with children during 4th of July.  Everybody tired of being at home, let's spend a couple thousand on fireworks!

[sesfw]

We have ~20k is still seating in our bank account since I cannot decide if I should throw at debt pay down or keep it as emergency fund.

Have you thought about investing about half and pay down debt with the rest?  What is invested would grow, and be your emergency fund.




We remembered our church before we left for AZ.

What part of AZ?  We are NE of Phoenix

[empress of self-improvement]

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

[sesfw]

(((((( empress )))))))  Books are great and something they can keep for a while.

Nothing Grinchy about that

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 5, 2020 11:21:46 GMT -5 sesfw said:

(((((( empress )))))))  Books are great and something they can keep for a while.

Nothing Grinchy about that

Thanks for that. It turns out one of them is a reader so at least I have found my child. They're getting some of my old books passed down. Although i'm not sure I'll ever be able to part with my "Make Way for Ducklings!"

[Tennesseer]

Dec 5, 2020 11:18:06 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

I have plenty of empty Chewy boxes your cat could play in. You could build a condo community with all the empty boxes.

[giramomma]

Dec 4, 2020 21:40:58 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Dec 4, 2020 21:36:49 GMT -5 sesfw said:

We did that already in October, she helped my wife picked out all the toys she did not play with anymore and donated them. We live in a small townhome so space is a premium... same for clothes/closet space.

The magna tiles and lego I really push her interest in building stuff because it is fun and cool for me to watch (I was always into building stuff too) and maybe she is the next engineer. Also I prefer that to buying her another Barbie or American girl doll.

Miss M will be 3 in a few weeks. We've spent $300 on her for her birthday, Christmas, and St. Nicks. That's a splurge for us. Last year, I think we spent $150 for Christmas and her birthday.

I wonder though, if you know you are just buying stuff to essentially give it away, if that might change your thinking.

I know when I started looking at things (material goods) as 1) a time sink that I don't want and can't afford in terms of dealing with the crap and 2) just essentially giving/throwing money away..I really started paring back how much and what kinds of things we buy the under 5/6 crowd.

Someone told us having two kids was twice the work of having one. Of course, you all have the advantage of having family live with you. But, I can say, as a working mom, who is also a student, and does not have the luxury of family helping out a whole lot, I absolutely despise spending what limited free time I have going through our crap. There will become a time, where the $700 christmases are really not worth it.

That said, I do realize that decorating and what not is your wife's hobby. And there's a big difference, because I have different hobbies, and I don't consider decluttering a hobby for myself.

ETA: You also might consider what similar quantity will look like when she's a tween and wants iDevices, gaming systems, etc. Then you could be looking to drop thousands to keep up with current quantity. But, likely you all can afford it, so it may not matter so much.

[bookkeeper]

Dec 5, 2020 11:17:30 GMT -5 sesfw said:

We have ~20k is still seating in our bank account since I cannot decide if I should throw at debt pay down or keep it as emergency fund.

Have you thought about investing about half and pay down debt with the rest?  What is invested would grow, and be your emergency fund.




We remembered our church before we left for AZ.

What part of AZ?  We are NE of Phoenix

SE of Phoenix, where the real estate crash hit hard in 2010 and 2011.  We never thought we could own two homes, but the AZ one came at a deep, deep discount.

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 5, 2020 12:07:13 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dec 5, 2020 11:18:06 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

I have plenty of empty Chewy boxes your cat could play in. You could build a condo community with all the empty boxes.

She's got boxes and scratchers in every room of the house. And YET! I found out the other day that the little fucker was using DH's comic boxes for a scratching post. I apparently didn't do as good a job of wrapping the blanket over them as I thought. She's so lucky she didn't reach the comics or she'd be eating her paws right now.

[Ava]

It's a very low-key Christmas for me.
I'm not traveling this year. A couple of friends invited me for Christmas but there'll be other guests and I think I'll just stay home. I don't want to risk it at this point, when the vaccine is around the corner.
Nobody to buy presents for, and I don't need anything.
I'll bake cookies and put them in trays with holidays motives for friends, a few coworkers, my boss and a couple of neighbors.

I've never bothered decorating because I'm not here for the holidays. Since I plan to travel again next year and forward, I'm not buying any decorations that later I'll have to remove and store, probably never to be displayed again.

[crazycat]

Dec 5, 2020 11:18:06 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

I always include at least one book in my holiday giving , to DH , DS1 , DS2 , the great nieces & great nephews , and any littles we give to . 

Books are a uniquely portable magic - Stephen King 

[cktc]

I wanted to go big this year, but DH wants to scale back. I've spent more on him this Christmas than the kids

DS- anatomical ear puzzle, lego space station, gear bot, 18 science comics
DD- 18" doll, dress up trunk, 3 five-minute story books

DD needs a scooter, or DS  needs a larger one and she can inherit his. They could also use new bikes. DH wants to wait until their birthdays in March.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 5, 2020 11:18:06 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I'm the Grinch this year. Nobody to buy for, cat does NOT need anymore crap. The triplet's parents keep forgetting to tell me what they want for toys so currently they're only getting a couple books each. My sister said not to buy anything for them this year and since i'm still waiting for DH's pension to come through, that works for me. Bah humbug

When I asked DN1's wife what I should send baby, she gave me a list of books and names of baby authors.  He is at the age where he likes books he can hit and books make music and sounds.  Thankfully, she gave me the list.  They have already given the books to him because they said an 8 month old has no idea of what Christmas is and have told me which book he likes the best.

DN3's fiance sent a list of mostly books so that is what I gave her son.  He's 4, so totally different kinds of books.

I have bought myself some things.

I didn't decorate at all for Christmas last year with my dad being so sick.  This year I decorated in mid November and will leave them up for however long I enjoy them.  I've bought about $50 worth of small trees because they make me happy.

No outside lights to I look like bah humbug from the street.