10 Tips for Surviving Christmas During a Recession

Christmas is a happy time of year that we traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus and family togetherness by giving gifts to show our love. Problems pop up though when we have unrealistic expectations about how happy Christmas will make us and how great the gifts we get will be. And then there are the unrealistic expectations of our children to consider. As parents, we want to give our kids the best and most expensive gifts that we can. I am guilty of this too.

With the state of the economy in our world, the thought of surviving Christmas can be completely overwhelming. The current recession is causing jobs to be cut, wages lowered, budget cuts are lowering payments to people on disability and social security is no longer giving raises but is raising the price of medi-care payments that are taken from people's checks. Plus the price of everything in the stores is going up and up and how in the world can we even think of having Christmas, let alone surviving it?

The recession may be the topic of conversation on the tip of everyone's tongues but just because we are having a recession, does NOT mean that we need to cancel Christmas for our families. We can give our families a happy Christmas if we just shift the focus from the material things to the personal things such as family togetherness and family love. We CAN survive Christmas during this recession but more than that, we can THRIVE this Christmas! All we need is a Christmas plan of action to surviving this Christmas. In this article I have outlined ten tips for not just surviving Christmas during the current recession but also enjoying it.

Our Christmas recession survival plan of action will involve the following ten tips: ditch unrealistic expectations; get into the Christmas spirit; make a list and budget; decorate for Christmas; shop for Christmas gifts; create Christmas gifts; barter for Christmas gifts; re-gift Christmas gifts; look for Christmas activities in your community; and if all else fails, ask for help.

Expectations at Christmas can really bring a person down when those expectations are not met. Ditch your expectations this Christmas and do the best you can with what you have. Tell yourself that you are going to have a good Christmas, no matter what and make it happen. I know I sound like a New Age guru but it's true, there is power in positive thinking. Having unrealistic expectations can negatively impact your Christmas survival plan of action for surviving Christmas during the recession so do your best to ditch them.

It's probably a good idea to sit your family down and talk to them about Christmas too. Let them know the truth, the world is suffering a recession and money is tight. If you have enough money to pay for a place to live and food, that's great, let them know that too. When we hide things from our kids to protect them, sometimes they hear bits and pieces of conversations we have and assume the worst. Tell your kids you will have some money to spend for Christmas and let them know that they aren't going to get everything they think they want. Help to ease the kids into ditching their unrealistic expectations of Christmas too. Tell them that you will need their help because there will be a lot of family activities to help make Christmas special for everyone in the family.

I have struggled with depression for many years and especially with Christmas (or holiday) depression. I love Christmas; all the sights, colors, sounds and smells. It's a wonderful time of year to absorb all that Christmas right into your very pores. Unfortunately I have to fight the depression feelings that tell me I'm

not doing enough for my family; or that I'm doing too much for my family; or that I don't have friends who love me and give me presents; so I often feel very alone and want to run away from anything to do with Christmas or family. I have to acknowledge those feelings because otherwise I am going to sink into a pit of depression and wallow in it. It's ugly in that pit and there's no room for anyone but me and my self-pitying and self-defeatist thoughts. I wish I could say that I have been miraculously cured of ever having Christmas depression but I have not. I just refuse to give in to it. I am determined to enjoy Christmas and help make it special and fun for my family; my adult daughter and three grandsons that I live with. Sometimes you may need to call a depression hotline just to talk to someone, especially if you are thinking any thoughts of suicide. Check out depression hotlines here. You can read more about Christmas depression at Professorshouse.com.

Do your best to get into the Christmas spirit! Put on Christmas CD's or listen to the Christmas music channel on the radio. It's hard not to get into the mood for Christmas when you're singing happy Christmas songs and doing a little dance around the room. Plus the kids love listening to Christmas music and dancing with you so you're getting the entire family into the Christmas mood.

Watch It's a Wonderful Life or any of the other feel-good Christmas movies out there. If you can afford it, get a Netflix.com membership for the month of December so you can rent all the Christmas movies you want. If you haven't tried Netflix before, they usually have a special for a free two week (and sometimes longer) trial membership. If you are a member of MyPoints.com, you can currently get 1,000 bonus points for becoming a paid subscriber to Netflix.com. Those 1,000 points are almost enough for a $10 gift certificate through MyPoints.com for any store they have listed in their rewards section which is just another way to help you to survive Christmas during the recession.

Throw a chopped apple and some cinnamon into a pot of water on the stove and let it simmer. Light some of your Christmas candles. Cut some evergreen branches off your tree or a tree at a friend or family member's house and bring them into your house to bring the scents of Christmas to your home. Whatever you choose to do to get into the Christmas spirit, do it as much as possible. And make sure you share your cheerful Christmas spirit with your family.

I do have to say that I recommend avoiding alcohol as much as possible during the Christmas season. You might think that you are having a much better time when you drink at Christmas parties and family gatherings but it isn't real. I grew up with two alcoholic parents and I do not drink because of it. If you have a family and children, drinking and overindulging in alcohol is almost guaranteed to destroy Christmas for your kids. If you are able to stop with only one or two alcoholic drinks, go for it. It's overindulging with alcohol on a consistent basis that destroys the Christmas spirit, not to mention the Christmas budget.

It's time to make a list and budget for Christmas. In fact, this Christmas survival tip is best done as early in the year as possible so you can set aside money each month for it. The first thing to do is make a list of who you want to buy a gift for this Christmas. Once you have that list, then pretend you will only be spending $5.00 on each person and multiply $5.00 by however many people you have on your list. Now if that number shocks you, it's time to remove people from your gift giving list. Unfortunately it isn't realistic to buy gifts for everyone that we would like to. Concentrate on giving gifts to your most intimate family members; the people you are closest to. I know that I would like to give gifts to all my family and friends and maybe even a few people that I see now and again that I just like but don't let yourself feel bad if you can't do it. You aren't alone in this recession, most people I know either can't afford to give gifts at all or they are going to make gifts for people. And that's okay.

Set aside the amount of money that you can spend on Christmas and don't use any other money. Once the Christmas budget is gone, no more Christmas gifts can be bought. It really is as simple as that. I don't recommend using credit cards because that brings on a whole new case of depression and problems in the New Year which is definitely not a great way to begin a new year.

There are ways that you can stretch your Christmas budget. If you join websites such as MyPoints.com or eBates.com, you can earn either points towards gift cards or cash back when you buy items online. Membership is free and all you have to do is sign up and make sure you click and shop through their websites so you can earn your points or cash back.

Don't forget to set aside a budget for Christmas dinner. Will you be having it at your house and inviting everyone over? If so, you will need to purchase food for that special meal. You can also ask people to bring either one or two side dishes or dessert to help all of you stretch that Christmas dollar. Check out the grocery store sale papers because there is always a sale on turkey, ham or roasts around the holidays.

I love to decorate for Christmas. The house always looks so cheerful and ready for a party when the Christmas decorations are out and put on display. Do you want to put up a Christmas tree this year? I used to have a wonderful artificial Christmas tree that was beautiful so I am a fan of both artificial as well as real Christmas trees. There are good and bad things to be said about both. But if you don't have an artificial Christmas tree, do you have it in your Christmas budget to buy a real tree? In our area, they seem to start at about $30.00 and go up in price from there. So truthfully, we are unable to afford a tree if we want presents and special baked goods. Fortunately my parents usually buy a Christmas tree for the kids each year and one year, the boys' school gave us a Christmas tree so most of the time, we don't have to figure a tree into our budget.

Christmas decorations and lights are something that we buy after Christmas for half off and sometimes 75% off the regular prices. The selection isn't quite as good as it is before Christmas but it's certainly a lot cheaper to buy them after and save them for the following year. We keep our Christmas decorations and use them every year as I think most people do. We store them in those giant plastic bins with the lid to keep them protected from damp and pests during the year when they're not being used.

If you don't have enough Christmas decorations or you want a little something extra or different this year, you can buy them at the Dollar Stores located around the country. It's amazing how many beautiful Christmas decorations and the selection that the Dollar Stores have. If you see something you like on one day, it's best to buy it right then and not delay because they do sell out of certain items fast and then there are no more.

Another way to get Christmas decorations if you don't have any is to ask your family and friends. That's how I got started with my Christmas decorations when I moved out of my parent's home. Usually people save all their Christmas decorations and they have so many that they don't even use them every year. So they may be able to help you out this Christmas by giving you some of theirs.

If you have a pine tree in your yard or you know someone who does, ask if they will let you cut off a few branches to lay across your fireplace mantle or tie together with fishing line to create a wreath for your door. Does anyone have pinecones falling on the ground? Pinecones sprayed with different colored paints, or even left plain, can be a wonderful and decorative Christmas touch. Look for mistletoe growing in trees too and create your own mistletoe kissing ball to hang in a doorway inside your house. Add a red or green ribbon, or both, and you have an instant Christmas decoration (and a kissing station).

Ask the kids to draw Christmas pictures so you can hang them up as Christmas decorations. Use old Christmas cards you've received as decorations. Cut out the pictures, tie a ribbon at the top and hang it on the tree as an ornament. Air pop some popcorn and string the popcorn on string or fishing line to make popcorn garland strands to hang on the tree. In between pieces of popcorn, you can add dry macaroni you've painted different colors or even cranberries to your popcorn garland. Hang bead necklaces on your Christmas tree as decorations. There are many different ideas for decorating for Christmas that don't involve much money so you can save most of your Christmas budget for gifts for the kids. Surviving Christmas in a recession doesn't have to be boring or unattractive.

It is time to shop for Christmas gifts. Shopping during a recession can be hard because it seems like everything cost so much. Make sure you have your Christmas gift recipient list in hand before you shop. Have you made a list of each person's likes and dislikes; their favorite hobbies, DVD's, books, music, size of clothes, shoes, etc.? I don't believe in buying gifts for people unless I know what they like so I can try to find something they will enjoy. Now where can you shop to find gifts that won't break the budget? Watch the sales papers for the local stores in your area, plan out Black Friday strategies and try to find the best deals on gifts you are thinking of buying. The sales papers will also give you an idea of what gifts to choose as well.

You can also price check gift ideas on the internet. Find out what websites offer the best deals and possibly free shipping. Always search for any free shipping or coupon codes before you buy anything on the internet. If you are a member of MyPoints.com or eBates.com, make sure to click through their websites before buying so you will get credit for your purchases. Make your money and purchases work for you. Ordering gift cards through MyPoints.com is exciting because it's like free money to go shopping with which is a great Christmas survival tool.

If you are unable to buy all the gifts that you really want to buy, then create Christmas gifts for people. If you know how to sew or knit, then create something as a gift. It doesn't have to be clothing, how about making decorative throw pillows? That just means you need a small amount of fabric and a pillow form. If you don't know the first thing about sewing, how about "making" fleece throws for everyone? All you need is a piece of fleece fabric from the fabric store in whatever beautiful color and pattern that you think the gift recipient will like best. It can be any size, small for a lap blanket throw (and easiest on the budget) or bigger to go on a bed. Fleece fabric does not unravel when it is cut and you can fringe all four edges if you like. You can also make neck scarves out of fleece fabric. Just cut a strip of fleece fabric and fringe both ends and you have an instant and charming scarf to keep your neck warm. I bought Power Ranger fleece fabric one year and "made" a scarf for both of my grandsons one year and they loved them.

You can also create baked goods. In this day and age, most people do not take the time to bake cookies or brownies or bread. You can bake batches of cookies, separate them in Ziploc bags, then wrap them attractively in clear colored Christmas wrap tied off with a bow or a small Dollar Store Christmas ornament. It looks good and it's a personal and delicious Christmas gift. My adult daughter puts together Christmas gift baskets for everyone in the family. She takes a basket from the thrift store and puts in Italian themed foods; pasta, sauces, French bread, parmesan cheese and her homemade baked goods. Sometimes, if she has found a good deal, she will add magnetic shopping lists, pens or anything else that might go with her Italian theme. Everyone is always happy to get one of her Christmas gift baskets.

This brings me to thrift stores. If you are creating a gift, you can find some of your supplies at your local thrift stores. They are usually real budget stretchers and sometimes you can even find awesome deals on a gift that you wouldn't have thought you could otherwise afford to buy and give to someone. Last year I made a cartoon character from one of my youngest grandson's favorite cartoons at the time as a Christmas gift. I bought a t-shirt to use for the fabric cartoon body, one throw pillow to stuff it with and one stuffed animal to use the wire in its body for the cartoon characters tail. Everything cost me less than $3.00. Then I needed a spool of thread and a square of black felt for the face which I bought new for another couple of dollars. I also checked the price of new pillow forms and stuffing and they cost more than all of my supplies combined. I saved quite a lot by shopping at the thrift store and I created a one of a kind Christmas present. When it comes to creating Christmas gifts, think outside the box, you can come up with some awesome gifts that don't scream "I'm broke and going cheap this year."

This is one tip that I am not very familiar with; bartering for your Christmas gifts. If you are trained for working on computers or you can sew, for example, you can trade your services to someone else who can work on motorcycles (also an example). You can try to reach a barter/trade that will make both of you happy and then use that to give a gift to someone that will make them very happy. I know there are websites that help you find people to barter/trade or swap with so you can Google that to see if it is something that you are interested in.

Re-gifting Christmas gifts can be a real controversial topic. Some people are adamantly opposed to it and others think it's a great idea. And some people are real meanies and say that if you don't want a gift they've given you, then they want it back. So it's best to know the thinking of a person who has given you a gift you can't use or you hate before you re-gift a gift from them to someone else. It's also a good idea to give any gift that you are re-gifting to someone who does not hang around with the same people you hang with, so the first person who gave it doesn't see it and feel bad. Re-gifting can be tricky but it can be done. Try to always be considerate of the person who originally gave it to you and don't give it to someone else in front of them.

To help you with your Christmas spirit and to promote family togetherness, look for Christmas activities in your community to attend. Churches and other organizations put on activities that are either free or very low-cost around Christmas time. You can see Christmas plays, light shows, carolers and sometimes even live nativities. These activities can be a lot of fun and really shine the light on the true meaning of Christmas.

Sometimes, through no fault of your own, be it illness or job layoffs, there is absolutely NO budget for Christmas. What do you do then? Do not sit at home and feel bad because you are not going to have a good Christmas and the kids are going to be so disappointed. Get up off your fanny and ASK FOR HELP. There are so many different agencies that will help people, not just at Christmas but all year long, but especially at Christmas and if you have children. There are local churches, either your church or one you don't attend that will help you. Usually they give food baskets and not gifts but every little bit helps. We have had to ask for help in the past and its okay. It does not make you a failure if you have to ask for help. There are also government agencies that can help with either food stamps or cash benefits. Contact your local Department of Human Services to see if you qualify for any help. There are other agencies that will help you by giving you gifts for your children so they don't miss out on receiving gifts for Christmas. Check into your local Toys for Tots program or the Salvation Army.

Christmas really is not about money even if the merchandisers want us to think so. Stores pay advertising executives a lot of money to get us to think that Christmas is about money and bigger and better presents. I challenge you to ignore them this year and focus instead on family and celebrating in a close and personal way with your loved ones. There are ways of surviving the recession this Christmas and indeed, enjoying yourself thoroughly, if you will just give it quite a bit of thought and think around and outside of your previous years Christmas habits box.