charities & gifts

[k-289]

I guess that means 1 bread winning is not going to make it very far on if his spouse doesn't have employment and his 25% withholding can pick up the assistance part of the equation-so I guess he would be paying for their "entitlements"---I'm going to make sure the wife isn't spending over$2500 on eatables for the year---keep her on her toes and don't let her purchase any luxury items like chops or rolled roast--- as for the over sized folks keeping the Medicaid money in circulation that's part of the equation--- don't want Arab Spring over here---

[Kay/NC]

Personally, I think that anyone who wants control over the food budget ought to have meal planning and preparation duties, too. in making meals, time. Is indeed money. The more time you have to prep, the less you have to spend on convenience items. The longer you have to cook, the lesser cuts of meat you can make palatable. Many families would be as well or better off living off of one income, if the second one goes for childcare, too much prepared or takeout food, and other things that people think they " have to have". We have done the one-salary lifestyle for most of our 38 years of marriage. If you want a cheap meal, we don't even have to pay for energy to cook one here....

[turkey feather]

I have been thinking the same thing. We don't spend that much on food since I cook most things knowing what is in them and having our own garden vegetables and fruits in the freezer. Planning and careful buying is a key factor in saving money on food. Processed food has too many things added that are not 'foods', mostly things our moms would never recognize. I am also willing to spend extra for quality food but not organic due in part to realizing the label may say organic but there is really no way of knowing if it was really produced in a real organic way with no fertilizer of chemical spays etc.

[suey1973]

Back to the original thread.   Things I like to do.    For about 5 years now I've been sending a small ornament secretly in the mail to 3 area people.   I hope they never find out   and it puts a smile on their face.  My mail lady is in on it since she tells me how much postage I owe  and it is usually more than the gift.   After our sock exchange last year  I bought Christmas socks on sale last year and sent them instead.    If I know there is a family struggling this Christmas I send a $25 -50  gift card.   Usually to Dollar General since I know it will go further.  And again it is always anomously.   Our church fills 13 Christmas food baskets to give to local families.   Usually I give hams  but 2 other livestock farmers already took care of the meat so I'm giving cereal.   I bought 28 boxes of cereal!     A few are the really popular/sugary kids  but most are the store generics.   There was a real smile on my face as I swiped my credit card.   Someone else was also buying cereal.    

   I use my rewards points to redeem for gift cards  and the kids are happy with gift cards and checks.    My DH  has promised to do a couple of "honey do projects"  for my christmas present   and I really want to order carpet for my bedroom.   The really soft stuff and makes you want to go barefoot  is what I want.   Not practical for rest  of the house  but fine for the bedroom.  

[turkey feather]

Great ideas, do you send the ornaments to the same people or just to someone who needs a lift? I admire you for what you are doing.

I try to send cards to those who have lost a mate this year.

[turkey feather]

I was just reading on another Blog how when this woman was a young single mother, her name was put on a 'list'. She tells how embarrassed she was when someone knocked on her door with a bunch of toys for her six month old baby. She said they did not need the toys. She needed education and a decent job, (which she later was able to get somehow and now is a productive person).  She tells how she did pick up names a few times 'maybe to repay' the system but now does not do this. She tells how distressed she is with all the hype of holiday shopping and spending and I agree it is way out of  control.

So here again is one of those gray issues, neither black or white, on how does a person make a difference.

The sales are on. Land's End's catalog is 50% off and free shipping until the end of the year. Kohl's had 50 and 60% off many things the first of the week.  These things suggest that shoppers are not spending money like the media wants us to believe.

[Kay/NC]

Agree on the panic-stricken specials now...my e-mail inbox is full to the brim with daily discounts, free shipping, etc. 

Black Friday was maybe better than anticipated, but I think they wrongly projected better than expected sales for the whole holiday season, based upon one day ( that is actually several days long now). 

[linda/IL]

Suey, I think this is great!!!  This is what Christmas is all about.  I've been trying to discect WHY I have no holiday spirit this year & already had come to conclusion I'm conscentrating too much on what I'm giving to my grandkids, etc.-most don't need anything else anyway-and not enough on those who do need.  I love the Secret Santa clips on the TV news.  What a wonderful feeling.  I actually don't know any family specificaly that needs other than the two guys in my barn right now.  Will do something there.  Did do the toy & food pantry donation-guess it's pretty late for anything else.

Do you give the ornaments to 3 different people each year or the same ones?  Hope to take the grandkids to help decorate our church & give them more of an idea about what it's about even tho they do go on Sundays.

[suey1973]

I keep sending the ornaments/socks to the same people.   I hope that by now they are looking forward to their secret Christmas package.   If they ever do figure out it is me I'll probably switch to someone else.    One is a newer woman who married into the neighborhood,   one is a friend that has been having alot of drama in her life the past few years.... but she doesn't see herself as suffering,   other woman is someone who does lots of good for others.  

I did buy for 3 Angels off the tree.   Have to be on the ball  since they usually want the gifts returned by Dec 8th.  Too often I'm not in the mood to start thinking about it by then. 

[Kay/NC]

The angel deadline is usually the one that says "It is time to get your head together" here, too.  Those gifts were due in at SIL's employer Monday. Daughter's MIL did the one that was hers last Friday, adn they wrapped them all when she got it to the kids' house. 

I received a beautiful towel in the mail from Manureseller yesterday...sunflowers, one of my favorite motifs.  Thank you very much, Ma'am.