Before I even start writing anything else, let me say up front that we are Jewish and have recently celebrated Chanukah with family and friends. Marriage to Brian and living in England meant embracing Christmas. Pretty much everyone in England, including Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, etc..., seems to celebrate Christmas, so I have now had 14 of them. I think it's because of Boxing Day, on the 26th. When everything is closed on Christmas Day and it's a 2-day public holiday, what are non-Christians supposed to do? Well, here they make a turkey dinner and exchange gifts. It's one more day in the year to be with family. I put tiny white flickering lights around the front door to look cheerful and welcoming, but I draw the line at a tree.
This has been a difficult two years, financially speaking, for many people and we are no exception. It's been our most difficult year ever. We have halved our Christmas budget, which has brought out the bargain-seeker in me, even more than usually. An August shopping trip to a NJ Target was essential, but even then we spent less than in previous years. Every gift for the "outer layer" of family, including a boyfriend, a fiancee and a lodger, has been carefully chosen and all came under my self-imposed budget of £8 ($12, give or take) each. Thank GD for TK Maxx. Each of my children are getting one big gift from Mummy and Daddy; which this year is a CD/Radio for the 6 y/o and a fake fur throw in blue (nicer than it sounds, believe me) for the 10 y/o, who is very tactile. Everything else can fit in a stocking.
Worrying that my kids might be disappointed,I have spent the last month trying to cool down their usual overheated fervor in the run-up to Christmas. In September, Honey started leaving little notes on my pillow about what she might want for her October birthday. Then, when she realized that we were being "careful," I got a note or two about how if those gifts were too much to ask for her birthday, we could spread some to Chanukah/Christmas instead. Fat chance, darling girl. Pip, at 6, is both less subtle and less polite about his desires. "I'm going to get the Launch Pad, figures, weapons and gameboard from ... " He really wants to believe in Santa, so I have dropped hints about the recession hitting the North Pole too. Honey has agreed to play along. I think it's because she still wants a stocking. She is not too old to compare whose pile is bigger. She advised me to get an extra roll of Christmas wrapping paper to be used just for Santa gifts so that Pip wouldn't catch on.
So, it's ironic that, just after pulling together all those bargains, our TV packed up. It's been a week now. My husband wanted to go out and get a new one right away, but in an unexpected role reversal, I am playing Scrooge. (I'm the fan of electronic media and have been aching for an I-Phone, a new computer, a new camera...) Not only might we find a TV in the sales the day after Christmas, but also, I decided that it isn't the worst thing in the world to not have TV and DVDs for a short time. We have been doing arts & crafts, tidying the house, having friends sleep over and playing games. Don't get me wrong. I like TV as much as the next person and I have missed it. It's just that, it's an expense we did not need. Oh well. My daughter's eyes lit up when a new TV was mentioned..."a flat screen! a bigger screen! Now, maybe we can get a WIII!" Whoa, no one said anything about a WIII.
It's going to be an interesting Christmas. It's just the four of us this year. It was lovely when our children and their cousins could celebrate and play together. However, I remember years when I had anywhere from 12 to 33 here for the day in a small, English cottage. It took two days up front to get the house ready, grocery shop and cook and another two to finish the leftovers, clean the house again, and stop the ringing in my ears. I also remember spending nearly £300 on food, decorations, candles for each table, and gifts for visitors. This year we have no one else to please. We may stay in our pyjamas or sweats, hang out on my squishy bed pillows and open three times as many Christmas crackers than usual. I can browse the blogs. Everyone will get to eat what they want, or not, as is often the case with my kids. Honey chose profiteroles for dessert tomorrow and I baked a chocolate cake for Boxing Day, rather than the traditional fruitcake & flaming Christmas pudding. Actually, now that I think about it, Christmas on a tight budget may not be too bad. It will be a case of less is more. I'm looking forward to it.
I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and everything you need to make your great life.
Lisa
Less stuff, more life - I totally agree. We had a modest Christmas this year, and frankly, it's been the most relaxed, stress free. No rushing around trying to get the exact items on people's list, no comparing, just a few things we thought each other would like.
Posted by: deathstar | December 28, 2009 at 12:14 AM