Holiday Spending

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081106/mattel_layoffs.html

I work for a medical device company so our customers are typically given the option of buying our stuff or death so we haven’t seen any slowdown in business. However, I really feel for all the decent, hard working people that have, or are about to, pay the price for others greed, stupidity, & infighting.

I know material things are a minor part of the holidays but I also know how wondrous those things are for kids and they only get one chance; no waiting for better times, it’s now or never.

Anyway, I always buy a fair amount of items for Toys-For-Tots but it’s sort of an after thought…this year, I’m going to make it an integral part of the plan.

Is anyone else thinking along these lines?

I guess not so much

Sorry, I didn't see your thread until now.

I plan on buying toys for the toys for tots program like I do every year. I go in the toy store and look at all the cool stuff they have that involves thinking lke lego, tinker toys etc. and buy those.

My strategy is no different this year, my guess is the kids are pretty much the same as last year.

Hi EastCoastMojo,

That’s very nice of you and I agree about the “thinking toys”…Lego’s command a big premium because of the name so I go for the knock-off equivalent.

In either case, as long as you stick with republican toys, you’ll be fine...I hope everyone knows that was a joke.

Aw, come now. Let's not flounder this thread already!

Thanks for the reminder... yes, there will be a lot of kids without gifts this year, and it really doesn't take much to make a difference.

Along those lines, our grocery store makes up bags for local food banks and puts them at the head of one of the checkout lines. They're filled with canned and dry goods according to the banks' wish lists, and the receipt is stapled to them. Pick up bag, put on belt with your own groceries, pay the tab (they usually have $10-$20 worth of stuff in them), and the store makes sure the stuff goes to the food bank. I have been making a point to do this on my weekly trips. Almost completely painless for me, really helps someone(s) in need.

Margie

Marjorie Suddard wrote: Thanks for the reminder... yes, there will be a lot of kids without gifts this year, and it really doesn't take much to make a difference. Along those lines, our grocery store makes up bags for local food banks and puts them at the head of one of the checkout lines. They're filled with canned and dry goods according to the banks' wish lists, and the receipt is stapled to them. Pick up bag, put on belt with your own groceries, pay the tab (they usually have $10-$20 worth of stuff in them), and the store makes sure the stuff goes to the food bank. I have been making a point to do this on my weekly trips. Almost completely painless for me, really helps someone(s) in need. Margie

i bet those bags get sold more than once before actually leaving the grocery store....

Actually, no. I asked my dad about them--he used to work for this chain.

Sometimes a good deed is just a good deed, and don't forget: The store's already selling the items at full pop. They're gettin' theirs.

Margie

Yeah, the Jensen household will be doing some T4T etc in lieu of big Christmas gifts. The kid will still get something (hey, she's eleven!) but the wife and I have already said 'no big stuff' for each other and family members, etc. Dang- I sure could have used another aluminum jack, too.

I got a house for free today, and I'm going to fix it up and give it away for Christmas.

She's actually wired for electricity and has a fixture in every room and three "working" fireplaces. I'm not sure if I can get that going in time for giving it away this year, but I'm going to give it a go.

I don't do Toys For Tots. I'm 18, almost 19. I don't get presents for anyone other than my girlfriend and parents. Sorry, can't afford it; college has sucked me dry.

I do volunteer at the nursing home, though. It is really depressing to come in on Christmas day and see the few that aren't spending it with family. I put on a happy face, my little brother and I bring a guitar and play for them. I'm always happy when I'm there, but as soon as I leave, I get depressed because I know I was the only visitor they got that day. Christmas.

MoJo, this is off topic here... but how old are the chairs in that picture? They look exactly like my grandmothers old chairs.

We bought that dining room set new about 10 years ago.

We've been filling some of these boxes at church http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

I also give to the Red Cross and Salvation Army through work.

If you have any questions about the dollhouse feel free to ask. I've been doing this one for my wife for a few years. http://community.webshots.com/album/551495960PeuMjh

Thanks Wally! I may have to PM you with some questions about the electrical stuff. It did not come with a transformer and I can't tell how much voltage the fixtures need.

Your house is very nice. I can't believe the detail that you have put into it! After this project I am going to build one from scratch. I wanted to be an architect when I was a kid. Maybe now's my big chance!

Every one I've seen is 12 volts. If you have an AC Moore near you they sell the basic electric supplies pretty cheap. I wish I'd started from scratch but the shell was given to her as a gift before we met. It'll probably be my last as I've been building a front porch for about two years.

In going through the mail this afternoon I came across an offer from Make magazine. When I renew our sub for a year I can give away a sub for free. I will definately be renewing our sub, it will be one of Chuck's christmas gifts, we are trying to do a smaller christmas this year so this works well.

I know a lot of GRMers like Make and I thought this might be something cool I can do for one of you who wants to get a year's sub to the mag. I have no doubt that Make will hound you endlessly at the end of the free period to get you to renew, I claim no responsibility for your headaches at that point.

If you're interested shoot me a PM and let me know. I will contact the first person to get your address information to put on the mail-in form. I will post back here when it is claimed.

Get your make on.

RX Reven' wrote: Is anyone else thinking along these lines?

Of course.

Toys for Tots long ago struck a cord with my son, and he's always given. There's also the shoebox one, Operation Christmas Child. He's a strong believer in it. As well Heifer International.

While I agree that kids love toys, it doesn't have to be about spending a bunch of money at a store. Yesterday was my sons 8th birthday. His favorite present? A used practice sword I found for a dollar.

Every year, the fire department that I work for does a toy drive in front of Toys-r-Us. We don't ambush people, but we hand them a flyer explaining the program as they walk in. If they choose to, they can buy an extra toy when they're in there and drop it in our box on the way out.

One of my favorite stories is about a woman who exited the store with a big bag of Barbie stuff. She was really happy and explained that she has two kids, both boys, and had been waiting for years to buy Barbie stuff for a little girl.

That was about five years ago and I still smile when I think about it.

No takers?

I'll bite!

We also are working on OCC shoeboxes - in fact if you watch the videos on the website, Joey Turner is from Patterson Park Church in Beavercreek, OH where I attended before we moved. Joey's dad also owns a BP service station in Centerville - Centerville Service Center right on SR-48 - so stop by if you need some work done you can't do yourself.

Cool beans fastEddie, it's yours! Shoot me a PM with the mailing address you want me to put on the form and I'll send it in today.

Thanks ECM.

On a side note - Wally builds doll houses... Who knew!

j/k

fastEddie wrote: Thanks ECM. On a side note - Wally builds doll houses... Who knew! j/k

Wally is probably the closest thing to a renaissance man we have on the board.

Back on topic, this thread is very timely for me, because as usual I'm looking at another holiday gift season and wondering how to salvage some meaning and sense from the gift-giving. Any of you have some tips/stories to share of how you transitioned your family from a tradition of receiving to one of giving?

I'm asking because I always resolve in early November to send my large extended family cards explaining what contributions I made in their names, but chicken out in mid-December and end up mailing them something useless, like a cheese ball.

Margie

Ummm. Cheese ball....

My standard gift is a box full of batteries, in assorted sizes, along with a note: "Gift not included".

Everybody can use batteries..