No Xmas presents this year for my kids

No money??? What do you mean by crisis?

Me and my wife both lost our jobs so we have to cut spendings drastic

Awwwwww. Sorry to hear that.

I feel sorry for the kids, they will get to school in the new year and other kids will brag about what they got for xmas...

Our entire family is cutting back.

ALOT



Some of us still work, but the consumerism idea is utter hogwash anyway.

We are all going to get together and enjoy each others company and spend TIME with each other.

Happy to do it as well, no sadness here at all


Merry Christmas OP, It will be fine :)

Merry xmas to you too, we will make it merry for the kids in some way with the rest of the family.

do charities or churches(you dont have to be a christian)have christmas toy drives or toy programs for chrictmas(or st Nicolas' Day?
do you have the salvation army?

do not play black pete with them, im sure some organisation must be able to help?

I am not here for handouts, it is just a pity that society has brainwashed our kids of having presents on Xmass

+1

Agreed.

Sorry to hear about your job loss tho.

go hock your ass at St Kilda.

Does the Netherlands have charity places like the Salvation Army and thrift and consignment stores? You could repurpose things you get through those places very inexpensively. Also, if you're a Christian, I'm sure your local churches may be able to help. I've been out of work since June and my hubby has been out a while too and thankfully just went back to work so we're on a budget too. I wish I could help you, but praying a solution is found.

It is sad that consumerism has taken the children, and parents can't even opt out of Christmas for moral or religious reasons. I was raised in an Iranian-American household, non-Christian, and we still did Christmas things because of all the pressure. You should be able to opt out of buying Christmas goods without your kids being teased or feeling left out.

I always made it a habit to not make a big deal out of Christmas in my home, this has worked out to a big advantage being that things are tighter and tighter for my family each year. I don't put up a Christmas tree or decorations, and I plan several months before Christmas I mean several, to buy one gift for my kids. That way I have time to save for it. I let them pick it out, and they get it before Christmas as well. I usually set a limit on price, 50.00 or 100.00 total limit, whatever I am able to do.
Usually by summer, I start putting 5.00 to 10.00 back as I am able to. That way by November or December I have enough money to cover all my kids. I understand that is not possible for you to do now, but as soon as you find some work, you can try this strategy. In the meantime, try putting in a word at the local church about your situation, also there is Toys for tots.
You can always discuss your situation with your kids, and plan a "make up" Christmas, when you find work. Give them something to look forward to. As long as my kids know I have some kind of plan of something they can look forward to, that keeps a smile on their faces.
Don't perpetuate the Santa myth either, that leads to disappointments with kids, because they are told if they are "good" they will get presents. That is a bit unfair, when there isn't money for presents.
In the meantime. Try doing Ebay, sell unwanted items on there. You would be surprised what people are looking for. It will be ok, keep your chin up for your kids. Often times they feel what you are feeling, so don't let them see you sad, or upset.

Excellent suggestions. I hope OP will read what you have written.

It's NIMRODS BIRTHDAY anyway. You shouldn't be celebrating a wicked pagan satanic day to begin with.

The "crisis" is in your favor.

make them something from things you find in nature

they will cherish it always

buy food for them. in case of emergeny you can eat them.

Well Christmas is about Jesus anyways.

I grew up without receiving presents or having birthday party's.

Still run the motions of family tradition.

Put up the tree etc etc.

At night sit around read story's and such.

You can pull it off easily.

Christmas can be simple too.

All a little girl needs is a teddy bear.

And a boy maybe a family knife or something.

Take them out too the town/city Christmas tree for carols or midnight mass.

You can avoid the gift spending if you pack your day with activity.

If your kids don't understand now they surely will understand as they get older. So don't fret about that.

Try and plan some type of activity for the family to engage in. Something fun and enjoyable that will be a fond memory for your children. Toys always break and get replaced and thrown out. Memories last forever.

When the other children are commenting on their gifts at school, your children will relay the bonding and fun times they shared with their family. Be creative and try and make the holiday about what it should really be about. When your kids are adults they will look back and be thankful for the example you set for them.

I'm so sorry. Here its just a couple cheap things. Why dont you tell the kids you're having an old fashioned Christmas and bake cookies or brownies, or something cheap and have them help you and give as presents to others?
Kids do understand when things are tough. You'd be surprised.

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm father of 2 kids and I understand how hard is this situation.

I can just say to keep smiling to your family. They will look for you as their saviour and your smile will always bring hope, that everything will be fine.

Good luck, my friend. Best wishes from Brazil.

You will still file income taxes, right? Go to H & R Block and get the Emerald Advance. If it weren't for that, mine wouldn't have Christmas either - my husband has only been able to get temp jobs for about a year now, and my job pays the bills.
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Edited due to the fact I just saw you are not in the states - so sorry. If I had the funds, I'd wire you money. I know how hard it is to look at your babies and wonder how the hell they'll be fed and clothed.

Last Edited by Disasterpiece on 12/12/2012 07:57 AM

LOL.. No it's not.

"The real origin of Christmas goes back to ancient
Babylon. It is bound up in the organized apostasy
with which Satan has gripped a deceived world these
many centuries! In Egypt, it was always believed that
the son of Iris (Egyptian name for "Queen of Heaven")
was born December 25th. Semiramis also bore the title
"Queen of Heaven" - and she was Nimrod's mother.
Paganism celebrated this famous birthday over most
of the known world for centuries before the birth
of Christ."
-The Plain Truth About Christmas
by David J. Stewart | December 24th, 2005

"Christmas as a pagan holiday traces back
thousands of years before to a man named Nimrod,
founder of ancient pagan Babylon."
-Christmas Unwrapped
From the History Channel
by Alan Mansager

"December 25 was highly honored and recognized
by Nimrod's supporters...Many centuries later
this pagan custom was "Christianized" as being
the birthday of Christ."
-The True Origin of Christmas and Other Holidays
Who Was Really Born On December 25?
The Gilead Institute of America

"Lent, Easter and Christmas are of Babylonian origin."
-EASTER AND CHRISTMAS PAGANISM
2000 B.C. TO DATE
by Edward Stevens (1895-1966)

"December 25th was celebrated as
Nimrod's birthday. Generally, all mankind
is fast asleep, dreaming this old Babylonian dream."
-The Story Of Nimrod,
As It Relates To Christmas And Easter
by Wilhelm J Wolfaardt

How old are your kids, Bigboy?

Why leave it so late? , you all know when Xmas is so plan ahead and buy a couple of small bits and bobs each week , I finished my shopping before the start of December , have cut down drastically and have always taught my 9 yr old son that Xmas isn't just about presents....the trouble is , parent's spoil the kids when the going is good then are at odds as what to do when money is tight.....I reckon its your own fault for teaching children to be materialistic , not having a dig at OP , but surely you would plan ahead a bit more if both jobs were a little shaky...just saying!

Do you have dollar stores there in the Netherlands? Yesterday I spent a dollar on a puzzle and put it together with one of my sons, and three dollars on craft supplies and had a blast using them with my other son. I imagine with another five bucks and some creativity plus me being prepared to invest my time with the kids, I could have put together a little Christmas cheer. I am sorry times are tight, they are for everyone, but try to capitalize on the true meaning of the holiday.

My kids are getting one thing each, maximum $40 for each of them. My husband and I are not getting each other anything, and my sister's kids will be max $5, something from the dollar store. Thank goodness I have leftover Christmas paper in the closet. This has been a hard year, but I am looking ahead to a better future. I have been busting my ass for the last couple of months and I really hope things pay off with a good raise and maybe some extra hours.