Small Sacrifices

Moms cutting personal spending to buy children gifts
Aaron Crowe
Nov 26th 2008 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Kids and Money, Shopping, Recession

Beyond giving birth, moms make sacrifices for their children. Maybe they do without the regular trip to the hair stylist so their kids can go to the right preschool. Or they stop watching soap operas in favor of cartoons or a trip to the park.

This Christmas season, more moms are sacrificing for their children by not buying things for themselves and instead spending the money on toys for the kids, according to a New York Times story.

The Times reports that in September and October, sales of women's apparel fell dramatically compared with the same months the year before. They were down 18.2% in October, compared with an 8.3% drop for men's apparel, according to the SpendingPulse, a report by MasterCard Advisors.




A survey of shoppers' intentions by the NPD Group, a consultant firm, suggests that such cutbacks may continue through the holiday season. Some 61% of mothers said they would shop less for themselves this year, compared with 56% of all women and 45% of men. The survey suggests that mothers, more than any other group, would also spend less money overall and postpone big-ticket purchases.
Reyne Rice, who studies toy trends for the Toy Industry Association, told the Times that mothers do at least 80% of the holiday shopping in a family, and in past recessions they have been the first to do without. They tend not to get a new coat for themselves, Rice said, so they can provide for their children.

My large family cut back Christmas spending when I was a teenager by picking names out of a hat, and it's a cost-saving method that big families continue using today. Another idea is to only buy Christmas gifts for the children, and to spend time with your family instead of trying to buy them all gifts.

Aaron Crowe is an unemployed journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read about his job hunt at www.talesofanunemployeddad.blogspot.com

Christmas Everyday of the Year

Gifts You Can Give Year Round

~ ~ ~ The Gift of Praise ~ ~ ~
Appropriate mention, right in front of the other fellow,
of superior qualities or of a job or deeds well done.

~ ~ ~ The Gift of Consideration ~ ~ ~
Putting yourself in the other's shoes and thus providing
your genuine understanding of his side of the case.

~ ~ ~ The Gift of Concession ~ ~ ~
Humbly saying at just the right point,
"I am sorry, you are right and I am wrong."

~ ~ ~ The Gift of Gratitude ~ ~ ~
Never forgetting to say "Thank You"
and never failing to mean it.

~ ~ ~ The Gift of Attention ~ ~ ~
When the other fellow speaks, listen attentively.
If his words are directed to you personally,
meet his eye squarely.

~ ~ ~ The Gift of Inspiration ~ ~ ~
Plant seeds of courage and action
in the other person's heart.

~ ~ ~ The Gift of Personal Presence ~ ~ ~
In sickness, in trouble, or in great joy, there is nothing quite equal to your personal expression of sympathy or congratulations. Resolve to give these gifts each day. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you will receive in return

Character

Character cannot be developed in

ease and quiet. Only through experience

of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,

vision cleared, ambition inspired,

and success achieved.

~ Helen Keller

Craft Addict's Creedo

1.I will not stuff craft supplies in every corner of my house
2.I will not keep 9 projects going at one time
3.I will not pick up more buttons,lace or fabric when I have a ton at home
4.I will not let my crafting area look like a condemmed area.
5.I will not relegate the kitchen table to crafts.
6.I will not attend craft shows just to get more ideas.
7.I will not stock up on more craft supplies just because they are on sale.
8.I will not go off on a tangent when anyone mentions that little word 'import'
9.I will not let my crafting distract me from fixing dinner.
10.I will not stay up all night crafting.
11.I will not save dryer lint,empty cereal boxes,detergent scoops etc.
12.I will not buy every craft magazine I see.
13.I will not make promises I cannot keep...see you at a craft show



Submitted by Jo


Craft Card Making Scrapbooking

Talent

Talent does not mean that you have to be an artist who paints
masterpieces, or a gymnast who does flips. Talent resides
within you right now, in many different ways.

Caring for others is a talent, teaching is a talent, making people feel
welcome is a talent, solving problems is a talent and parenting
is a talent.

Never underestimate your talents and try not to compare or wish for
the talents of others. Focus on and accept the talents you have,
and you will find great fulfillment in life.

God Must Have Known

God Must Have Known...

God must have known,
that I would need someone as kind as you,
to be my friend, to warm my heart, to love me through and through. God must have known that life would be much brighter with you here,to bring me smiles, to share my joy, to comfort every fear.God must have known how much I need someone to truly care...and so God brought you into my life--the answer to my prayer.--

Gail Kittleson

The Coffee Prayer

Lord, as I sip this coffee
and give thanks to you
I ask for strength
to do the things I need to do

Courage to deal with things
I have to face
and guidance to follow
in your grace.