My family and I had the best Christmas ever!!!! Here's why

[Sara Beverley]

We went for the shopping boycott in a big way. I am about $3900 richer for not having bought any gifts. Savings ranged for my siblings from $700 to $26000 (a car was NOT bought). Those of us who saved and could gave money to other family members as far away as the west coat who were having unemployment or other economic problems, paying rent, mortgage notes, car payments, and buying food and clothing and helping with tuition costs for those in college. My family a picture of America with all kinds of ethnicities, economic levels, and beliefs. You cannot imagine how gratifying this Christmas as been for my family. We are closer than ever and I doubt that most of us will ever go back to spending (feeding the bear) as we have in the past. We have vowed to not purchase anything that is not necessary and will be carefully choosing the merchants we buy from and hope to not buy from RW folks like Wal-Mart. I am going to buy ONE maybe frivolous thing (but this purchace might even be an item of necessity). I am going buy something from a Martha Stewart company. I just must contribute to her. I know she is wealthy but she plans on doing a lot of good with her wealth and once she is out of prison, she will do even more than she did before. Her stock is climbing also.

At any rate, I hope all of my friends and even my enemies on the DU had a wonderful Christmas Day with their families and I hope you will enjoy a loving, giving, prosperous, and peaceful New Year.

Sincerely,

Sara

[Ilsa]

1. Congratulations!

It sounds like your Christmas was alot less stressful, and you accomplished so much by sticking with your principles.

We bought much less this year, but we have little ones to think of. Nothing frivolous for anyone, but practical gifts. Even my stocking stuffers were items given with a lot of thoughtfulness in their selection or making, and were very much appreciated.

And thanks for reminding me about Martha's business. I need to buy from her more often. I subscribe to one of her food magazines, and some some of her stuff. It's good quality stuff as well.

[prodigal_green]

2. Only the kids

got stuff in our family this year. Two books on trains for my godson, some lengths of fabric and a lot of different ribbons for his sister, a whole mess of stickers for the three year old and (ugh) a gift card to Old Navy for the 12 year old--yeah, I know, but mom and brother had already given cards for bookstores.

For the adults--donations made in their names to a variety of charitable organizations. The bonus for me was I received membership to several arts/cultural institutions around my city--so those organizations benefit and I get to not stand in line for every exhibition!

I think we should start asking, "What would Jesus buy?"

[Sara Beverley]

3. Wonderful!

It wasn't all that difficult either, was it?

What a great way to begin to teach young children some REAL family values.

[prodigal_green]

4. About November 3 everyone e-mailed each other

it was pretty funny actually, we all e-mailed each other saying we wanted to avoid the consumerism of the holiday--a reaction to the chimp so-called re-election.

Weird, but all that talk about "values voters" got us thinking I suppose.

[Mend]

5. Sent Martha Stewart a Christmas email

We believe she is a political prisoner and offered our best wishes and supprt.....can someone explain why oxyrush is still on the loose? Great news about your Christmas. Us, too: we shopped at resale shops, the local nursery for plants, and the drugstore. Got great deals, spent very little, kids and parents cooked a big, fun meal of great food. The best Christmas ever and there won't be big bills in the mail. The boycott continues....

[Sara Beverley]

6. Keep up the great habits and discover real family values.

We have re-discovered old board games too and even play poker for pennies. TV viewing is way down in house and among my larger family. We almost sound like "funddies" but for far, far different reasons.

Peace!

[tsuki]

11. 'Cuz he got a lawyer to find him a big enough loopholes to belly

through. I hate the fact that anyone else in Florida would be in jail, but OXyRush just keeps on spewing.

[0007]

13. Please post Martha's e-mail address if you indeed have it!

[Piperay]

21. You can E-Mail Martha through

this link ... http://www.marthatalks.com/

[WebeBlue]

7. Yep, us too, went the whole distance, No Shopping

this year, no gifts except the gift of sharing family time with each other. No tree, no decor, no nothing of the usual Christmas acouterments. Stayed strong in resolve even when it came to the 13 grandchildren.

And it felt Great to finally, at last, break entirely with all the traditions and see what happens. And what happened was that family getting together in a more true spirit of the holidays was far more meaningful..no guilt on anyone cause in the same spirit, we expected no gifts from anyone either, nor did we want anything this year. (Except the one thing, which we did get, the Very, Merry, Kerry Christmas).

I will be writing a children's story for the small grandchildren whose father has deployed to Iraq and will do so again very soon for second tour in Iraq. I will write the story to tell them the truth in a way children can understand and explain why sometimes a "gift" is not wrapped in a box with ribbons and sometimes Grandma has to make her gifts by working on a concoction to make the bad king go away.

For the older grandchildren, I have given them something they can use to express their own feelings, as bless their hearts, they understand a lot more about what has been going on and young though they be, they know that Kerry and the election means something important to their and their parents (even their grandparents) lives. Gift of blogs, gift of painting, gift of poetry, gift of writing, gift of conversation and discussion.

[Sara Beverley]

18. Oh, what a beautiful Christmas.

Best wishes to you and your family in the coming New Year! :hi:

[bunkerbuster1]

8. My biggest Xmas purchase by far

...was at a local crafts vendor--my wife was eyeing a piece of vintage stained glass and I procured that for her (<$200).

My kid, my niece and nephew received presents of course, but I kept it very low-key for the adults.

BTW, my siblings and I long ago resolved to draw a single name for Christmas in order to focus on one special type of gift (with an informal budget of under $100.) I'd suggest more families do the same.

[Sara Beverley]

9. Good for you and your family.

Hope all of you have a wonderful New Year!! :hi:

[bunkerbuster1]

15. Back atcha, Sara. n/m

[jellybelly]

10. what a great post

True Christmas spirit:grouphug:

[latebloomer]

12. Wonderful idea!

And you have such a great, supportive family!

[fishingriver]

14. Best Christmas Here As Well

We did a similar thing. Instead of shopping for gifts we exchanged cards only at family get together. My daughter gathered hundreds of family pictures we had saved, scanned them and made everyone a DVD. She organized them by date and put them to music. Instead of the traditional opening of gifts we all gathered together and watched the DVD of family pictures. Before we were half way through the 30 minute DVD our family felt a togetherness we hadn't experienced in years. Everyone said it was the best Christmas yet.
In my immediate family we bought one gift for each other that was something we already needed (not wanted) and knew we would have to buy anyway. I got a wood splitting maul. My wife got new undergarments. It worked out great and nobody spent more than 20 dollars. We pooled about $60.00 together and bought household items for a family who just went from the street to an apartment. Everyone was so happy with the outcome of the way we celebrated that this is going to become our new tradition.

[Sara Beverley]

20. Maybe it will become a new "tradition" for a lot of American families

With these kind of families and this kind of spirit we can make the American dream a reality one family, one village at a time.:hi:

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Sara Beverley]

22. I went to this site. What is it? I can't really tell.

I didn't like what I found.

[goclark]

17. That is the way to do it..congratulations nt

[MissBrooks]

19. A nice way to celebrate Xmas

[dryan]

23. You guys must all...

be wealthy. I can't imagine spending the types of dollars you guys spend for Christmas. We always have wonderful holidays for maybe $200.00.

[Sara Beverley]

24. Not wealthy at all. Just in debt like most middle-class Americans.

But not going to do it again. Working our way out of debt and lovin' it!