Kitchen Santa

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Well, Halloween's nearly here which can mean only one thing- it's almost Christmas Shopping season! Seems we Americans run the gamut… we either spoil ourselves & others w/ materialism the theme, as we buy-buy-buy and give-give-give… OR we prefer scaling-back, taming our pocketbooks, and remaining reserved giving small minimalist items, or home-made treasures, opting for frugality over bounty & excess. How is the economy this year going to affect your gift-giving this season? What l'il tricks will you use to make foodies on your list happy without going over-budget? What kitchen-related items will you have on your own list this year? And for you and yours- how will this year differ from past holidays?

[jfain]

I really don't anticipate any change for us. My family has been scaling back for a while because it seems like all the fun has gone out of the gift thing for us. We are all so different it's practically impossible for us to figure out what to buy each other with out asking them what to get. For the last few years we have gone to stockings only for the adults and this has worked out really well. We each have a big stocking and you wouldn't believe all the fun little things you can fit in there. Candy, hand lotion, screw drivers, refridgerator magnets, candles. We find that it's a lot more fun. As for dinner I'm sure I will be cooking as usual.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Same as ever economy or No! I have not ever been one to break the bank at Christmas, I shop very conservatively, and bargain hunt. My biggest expense is sometimes the shipping I love Christmas, but Thanksgining is my all-time faVorite!

[jglass]

Jon and I spend $50 on each other for Christmas. We used to shop for Jons whole family but things have gotten so hard for everyone we all decided to stop. We still shop for his Dad and that is all. I enjoy cooking holiday treats and time with the family more than gifts anyway. A nice winning lottery ticket in my stocking would be nice lol.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

I love to see people enjoy Christmas without spending a small fortune! It is marvelous the way you can get by with out breaking the bank if you really put your mind to it! To me that is part of the fun!!!

[jglass]

I dont think I know anyone who spends alot for Christmas these days.
Thankfully gas prices have dropped some. With the price of groceries people do well to put a holiday dinner on the table.

[Jafo232]

Probably won't be much different than previous years except we have more people this time around. Now that I moved closer to family, they are more in your face.

As for shipping, I learned a couple years ago: become an Amazon Prime member. It costs about $50, but over the year, you easily recoup that cost in savings (shipping). We order a lot from there and I can testify that I have probably saved over $200 in shipping costs this year alone, and that is BEFORE Xmas!

[chubbyalaskagriz]

In my family we still have both groups of folks- those who do well and still blow a lot and are pretty materialistic... and those who can't really afford to go overboard. I belong to the latter group.

My l'il sister and her hubby both work and have two kids that want for nothing. Each year they say they're not doing nearly as much as the year prior- but each year there's a pile under their tree and I listen to their credit card woes the entire following twleve months. They just cannot conceive of their kids not having something- or of telling their yungin's "no". I hate this (I guess "hate" is a strong word)- although I don't necessarily BLAME them, 'cause that seems to be the way of child-rearing these days- for nearly everybody. I love kids- but it all makes me glad just to be an uncle.

I am newly single this holiday season- so I'm used to having a few more folks on my list... but this year, I will buy for my Mom, my Dad & his wife, my sister- her hubby & their two kids, and about 4 friends. While drawing names works best for some- I prefer to buy far less expensive things- or make items to have something to give everyone. We'll see how this year goes.

I remember when I was a kid watching the Christmas episode of "Little House on the Prairie" and finding it strange that the kids received ONLY a tin cup, an orange and a peppermint stick for Christmas. These days though, i actually LONG for a return to those simpler gift-giving practices.

In Alaska I was blessed to learn some new ideas about bounty. I learned that in a tiny l'il cabin out in the middle of nowhere, less is truly more. A dozen classics on a shelf can be a whole library. A single framed art print and a couple of postcards sent by friends tacked on a wall indeed can seem like "The Louvre". And a modest collection of music cd's enabling one to hear voices of the masters like Caruso, Sarah Vaughn, The King, "The Callas", Hank Sr., Louis Armstrong, Patsy, and Aretha can seem like the finest Opera House ever.

As far as food goes- in a tiny remote cabin with one light and the flicker of a fire- a loaf of fresh bread, a wedge of cheese, a simmering cast iron pot, a shared pot of cocoa, and some maple syrup & fruit for next mornings flapjacks- and you're set for a weekend of feasting!

I prefer this simpler, more modest manner of celebrating. Scaling-back is good. Just barely ample is plenty. Less is more. Whatever ya wanna call it- I like it better than excess.