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Honestly getting rid of TV helped us. We have basic TV now, but still no cable, but for years and years we never had TV. The only toys and things that they would learn about were through kids at school, but at home it was more about experiences and reading and arts and crafts and model-making and digging in the yard and simple things that don't cost a lot of money. It was just kind of understood from very early-on in our home that we don't buy-in to the TV/commercialism crap.
Our oldest is 14 now and "gets it". All his friends are wanting iPods and iPhones and iMacs and all the other iCrapstuff and everything. Our son is asking for a warmer winter coat and gloves and balaclava because he rides his bike to school every day and says he's almost outgrown his current cold-weather gear and his face is getting really cold. He also is asking for a tune-up for his bike and new wheels, too.
Oh, he also is asking for some twenty dollar bud headphones with the little rubber ear pieces because his current headphones are the cheap hard plastic kind and they always fall out when he's running or riding his bike. He has an older iRiver mp3 player that was his dad's that is 5 years old, and he's happy with it - because it was his dad's.
I think, OP, as long as you talk with your kids and love them, they will enjoy Christmas no matter what. It's the spirit and the love and the togetherness that makes the holidays.
"Honestly getting rid of TV helped us. We have basic TV now, but still no cable, but for years and years we never had TV. The only toys and things that they would learn about were through kids at school, but at home it was more about experiences and reading and arts and crafts and model-making and digging in the yard and simple things that don't cost a lot of money. It was just kind of understood from very early-on in our home that we don't buy-in to the TV/commercialism crap."
Very true! We have not had a TV throughout the 13 years we've been married. It seems my children want more things when they are: going shopping, looking at the mail (with ads!), and when we visit families that own TVs. I agree that TV gives you the "I wants!"
My heart goes out to the OP because I am in your situation. After 2 years of living in our own apartments (We used to live with family in another state) we are in bad straits. Because I have not been able to find steady employment here we spend all our income (husband's job) just getting by and digging into dwindling savings.
Again, I am dreading the holidays. I wish it was over. Then part of me (the stubborn part) says no matter how bad you or I feel, there is someone else who feels worse. We bought one thing for our son. One thing he wanted for years and years and we 'really couldn't afford' but we did it anyhow.
That will be it under the tree unless I spend a little bit from what his relatives send (it should go on clothes, not junk).
We've talked to him for years about 'how only Daddy has a job' and we have to be frugal for awhile till I get one again. He's a good kid and understands.
Remember our grandparents and in some people's cases parents grew up in the Depression. My grandparents lived on $20 a week! (okay they had a rent controlled apartment but still..).
Maybe this recession is the best thing for our kids. They won't wind up being as 'gimme gimme' and 'expecting all the great things' like previous generations.
Maybe this recession is the best thing for our kids. They won't wind up being as 'gimme gimme' and 'expecting all the great things' like previous generations.
I like your thinking, and I hope you're right! Wouldn't that be awesome.
Maybe this recession is the best thing for our kids. They won't wind up being as 'gimme gimme' and 'expecting all the great things' like previous generations.
Probably won't happen. Granted there are a lot of people out there who have lost their jobs and such but it still pales in comparison to what they went through in the 30's....and we're talking about a decade long recession here. If you just have to endure a couple of years of downturn for a lot of people it's not going to make a lasting impression. A lot of folks are still working and making the same money ....or more....than they did before the market started to tank. So as long as the majority keep their jobs you're going to see the 'haves' and the 'have not's'. The 'haves' are going to still be as 'gimme gimme' as they ever were.
Probably won't happen. Granted there are a lot of people out there who have lost their jobs and such but it still pales in comparison to what they went through in the 30's....and we're talking about a decade long recession here. If you just have to endure a couple of years of downturn for a lot of people it's not going to make a lasting impression. A lot of folks are still working and making the same money ....or more....than they did before the market started to tank. So as long as the majority keep their jobs you're going to see the 'haves' and the 'have not's'. The 'haves' are going to still be as 'gimme gimme' as they ever were.
Maybe, but we're one of the "haves" and seeing what's going on in our community has made us take a closer look at what more we can do to help our community, rather than just going along like we always have. We're also spending less, because seeing all these people losing their jobs, and some of our friends even losing their jobs and having to move to a new state even to find new jobs, has really made it hit home for us how quickly everything can change. We've really tightened our spending even though my husband made almost double this year what he earned last year, and even last year he earned quite a lot. My husband and I have always tried to "live like we're poor" as we call it so that we don't overspend and so we instill good values in our children, but now we're also giving a lot more than we used to. We kind of used to be scrooges when it came to giving money. We do a lot of volunteer work and giving of our time and also donating material goods, but we've never really been the kind to write a check unless it was going towards our children's schools. But seeing what's happening all around us has made us want to give more. Maybe we're still technically "haves" but not all of us "haves" are completely oblivious and uncaring about the situation. I agree with the poster that implied that the recession can be a good thing for teaching us lessons on how to live better.
Some folks will learn this lesson. But I'd bet an even larger chunk of society just see the reports on CNN about the jobless and the newly poor, say to themselves "Wow, that sucks", and then go shopping online for the latest iPod.
Probably won't happen. Granted there are a lot of people out there who have lost their jobs and such but it still pales in comparison to what they went through in the 30's....and we're talking about a decade long recession here. If you just have to endure a couple of years of downturn for a lot of people it's not going to make a lasting impression. A lot of folks are still working and making the same money ....or more....than they did before the market started to tank. So as long as the majority keep their jobs you're going to see the 'haves' and the 'have not's'. The 'haves' are going to still be as 'gimme gimme' as they ever were.
Being a "have" myself, I can say that I never subscribed to the idea of spending every last dime I had on buying crap for myself or my family. My husband and I never vacationed until our honeymoon (7 years into our relationship) and only once since then. We just bought a TV with part of our 8k tax credit... our old one was over 10 years old, and pretty broken. My husband makes six figures, I make close to.
As a matter of fact - my mother was always a "have not" yet she went on multiple (3-4) Disney vacations a year, cruises, the livingroom was literally uninhabitable because there was no room to walk due to all the presents for her two youngest kids at Christmastime. She was one of those who used her house during the boom as a bank, short sold it, and is now buying another house (one which is more than double what me and my husband bought). She is on unemployment and her husband works for a contractor and hasn't been paid in three weeks. Her kids are still getting a PS3, games, and a vacation for Christmas (they somehow feel neglected since my mother is absorbed with the fact that I am pregnant) - yet they are refusing to pay their rent this month, since they will be moving into this new house next week (through a delayed closing deal).
Just showing you one contradiction to your blanket statement. I lost my job when we relocated, and we were still fine because we never overindulged.
Some folks will learn this lesson. But I'd bet an even larger chunk of society just see the reports on CNN about the jobless and the newly poor, say to themselves "Wow, that sucks", and then go shopping online for the latest iPod.
How true. Aren't they lucky to be able to do that still?
Just showing you one contradiction to your blanket statement. I lost my job when we relocated, and we were still fine because we never overindulged.
Yes, what I said was a generalized statement.
There are actually some folks out there that do not do that.
But our society in general save little and pump it till the well is dry....and beyond....
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