Laney
Mod Squad 
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Post by Laney on Jan 15, 2015 22:51:50 GMT -5
I hate this!! This weekend we are finally doing Christmas with the IL's. I put off shopping because I wasn't sure who would be there. Former SIL is flaky so I kind of planned just to buy a gift for my niece but MIL invited her (she still may or may not show up) and her new baby daddy over and they'll have her kids, his kids & my niece so I can't very well buy for my niece with out having something for all the kids (5 total) & then I probably should give something to SIL and BD if they are there.  I still need to come up with something for other Bil's girlfriend and I finally got Bil's girlfriend's daughter something in the works today (my sweet friend is crocheting a headband ear warmer for her and I am only having to cover the cost of the yarn). I went through my room and pulled out all the returns I have for Walmart and an Old Navy Return because on top of the gifts (which will be as inexpensive as possible) this is also the week that our biggest payment comes out & dh's check was short because he missed a couple of days with the flu. I also have to come up with $300 for co-op. This week is just ugly!!!  |
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 16, 2015 0:31:21 GMT -5
Could you do one thing for all the kids? (a game, movie, etc...) Or if different ages are an issue, could you group them - one movie/game/etc for the younger ones, one for the older ones? I would NOT do something for the adults. Adults are (or should be) big enough to understand finances. If you are concerned about hurting them, I would just share that because of tight finances, you made the decision to only do gifts for kids. My brother and I do not exchange gifts anymore - we stopped when we both had very tight years. It says nothing about our relationship - love my brother tons! But we don't have to show our love in gifts when we need to focus our finances elsewhere.  |
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Post by Cali_Mom on Jan 16, 2015 1:42:16 GMT -5
Oh man I'm sorry. That's so frustrating.
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BC
Oldies but Goodies
"For all Your goodness I will keep on singing, ten thousand reasons for my heart to find."
Posts: 1,169
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Post by BC on Jan 16, 2015 9:44:35 GMT -5
 I'm sorry. That's one thing that we have to look forward to in heaven, I suppose. Money is meaningless in heaven. I like Shannon's idea of not worrying about the adults. If someone remembers my kids, then they've remembered me. ((( Hug ))) |
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Post by countrygrl112 on Jan 16, 2015 9:52:55 GMT -5
I understand this completely. It's only by God's provision we make it each month. On paper, there is no way we should be surviving on the income we have.
Agreeing with a family gift and not getting something for the adults. Or doing food gifts for the adults.
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Laney
Mod Squad
Posts: 1,738
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Post by Laney on Jan 16, 2015 16:07:15 GMT -5
God went before me on the shopping this morning! I returned a pair of jeans to Old Navy and I couldn't get the money back because I didn't have a receipt but they would let me exchange for anything in the store. So I was able to get each one of SIL's (5) kids a cute long sleeve shirt (though it may be ugly if SIL doesn't bring over all the kids I'm probably not sending the gifts home with niece and I'll probably have MIL keep the dress I got for niece at her house so she can wear it when they take her to church). I was also able to return $39 worth of stuff at Walmart and I'll use that this week if we have any grocery needs come up. I was able to pay half for co-op so there still is absolutely no extra for the week but I shouldn't have to make up any or as much difference.
After I talked to dh, he was fine with not doing gifts for his brother & girlfriend and not getting anything for SIL and baby daddy.
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 16, 2015 18:50:35 GMT -5
We (meaning me too!) worry so much sometimes. But He never fails us! Some day I will learn to trust first - instead of panic first. (I am SO not there yet!) I love hearing how God came through for you!  |
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Laney
Mod Squad
Posts: 1,738
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Post by Laney on Jan 18, 2015 23:06:42 GMT -5
Well after we got up there dh decided that he wanted to buy another gift for his brother & girlfriend and his parents but he covered it so I don't have to deal with it. We'll just keep swimming this week and hope that it is less tight as we pull out of the hole.
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