Thanks for support. I dont feel so alone now. I know that I really dont give up asmuch as it feels like I do. I can remember when I was a kid my mom wore the same cheap clothes over and over and I thought she just did it becuase she liked them.

HI I'm new here, but I struggle with the same problem,everything is so expensive. My husband is the only one who works,because we have 3 boys an we decided that we will sacrifice so I can stay home and take care of the family.My husband being a theacher don't make a lot of money,but family is first. I was born in mexico,and really poor.Here we are so bless, because we can buy good quality clothes for a few dollars. Every month we put a little money aside in separate savings accts.1 chothing(30).2chistmas(30). property ta(100)x.4 car maintenance(40).5 travel(30dls).6 my goodies(20).7 my husband's goodies(20). we save every month and by the time of chistmas we have about $360 and we limit 50 for person. with my own money I love to go to goodwill, and I have pretty nice clothes and shoes. the secret is to now what to buy. if you love it buy it but if you don't forget it.Is all about attitude, a few nice accesories, and make up.

I totally know how you feel and what you mean, we dont even have enough to put some away so I shop at flea markets for Christmas presents, I spent only $40 for 15 people but I feel bad because I couldnt afford to get them the high class or expensive items they want. I feel like a mean mom but I sure hope they will understand.


We wont have an xmas tree this year just a small table top one that I got at the dollar store, money is really tight and found out the stand is broken on the fake one we have which is bigger so the table top one will have to work.

Good luck to everyone in the same boat.

__________________
FrugalMom of 3 A.K.A. ~Tracy~
Mom of 3, wife to 1, lol
No Credit Card Debt

All things are possible if you set your mind to it!

Have you tried your local freecycle group to see if someone has an extra tree stand? If you can't find one, can you put the trunk into a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with rocks so it'll stand straight? Then just put your tree skirt (or if you're like me, a blanket, towel or sheet) around the base to hide it, and voila -- you just made the sucker fit! LOL (sorry, that's our family motto. hehe)

__________________
~~Amanda~~ Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), TTC #2

WE'RE ADOPTING!!!

Do NOT feel like a mean mom. Christmas isn't about getting people the top dollar present out there. It's about Jesus. We're getting one present for our son this year - the movie CARS. It cost us $12 with an online special mentioned on this board. As for DH and I, we're doing small stockings for each other, and we're limiting the costs. We'll have to be smart when we shop, but it really doesn't matter if we get anything for each other anyways. After the terrible year my family has been through, I could care less if I get one present -- all I care about is that we're all still together and alive to share the holiday with one another. Try to set your kids down and explain the meaning of Christmas, that you're tight on finances, and everything. To everyone else, tell them the truth. You just don't have a ton of money to blow on Christmas. We've flat out told our families that since we got married (and didn't have 2 nickels to rub together for Christmas) and we tell them "listen, we don't have the money for Christmas presents for everyone. If you just don't want to exchange them, that's fine with us. We just want everyone to know that." and they get us stuff anyway. I felt guilty the first year, but WE TOLD THEM! I can't feel guilty for them giving us gifts when they have full knowledge we can't get them anything. This year I'm making my list awful tiny (grandparents, parents, and some very close friends) and making the presents. Sweet potato butter & a tin of homemade biscuits/biscotti, etc. Jar mixes, etc. At first I thought "man this stinks" but then I came across Christmas gifts that my mom gave us last year that are in a box in the closet - never been used in a year. How many other gifts collect dust on a shelf or take up space in a closet or toybox? Christmas is about GIVING, and it's the same "giving" when you get someone a contraption bought at Wal-Mart and when you make them a homemade present. I'm not dissing any storebought gifts, I'm just saying that making your own and keeping it simple in no way detracts from the spirit of Christmas -- if you're making & giving with that spirit of LOVE, that's what matters, and it's all the same. :D

__________________
~~Amanda~~ Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), TTC #2

WE'RE ADOPTING!!!