Christmas Time 2013

Welcome!

So, today is my first BLOG!  I'm here because it's been my mission to learn from those who came before us.  Those from the Depression Era, who made something out of nothing.  Something to eat. Something to wear.  A holiday.  All when they didn't have anything.

Those of you who know me (you know who you are!) KNOW that I'm not much of a cook.  So it would be unusual for me to have a cooking blog.  There will be recipes.  But I'm also thrifty in nature - well, I try at least (I'm a Starbucks addict...)  I've always liked learning how to save money - often out of necessity.

I don't think anyone would disagree that times are tight these days.  If you do disagree, well, maybe this isn't the blog for you! :)

I've read books on tightwaddery, frugalness, cheapskate-ism, and budgeting.  I'm not much good at budgeting, but I keep reading and trying!

I've been fascinated by Extreme Couponning and Extreme Cheapskates, both on TLC.  I'm not going to claim that I have any expertise in these areas!

Currently I'm working on Christmas.  I've hated Christmas for a long time.  I did not come from affluence (could you tell?), so Christmas wasn't a fun time for me.  I did get some things on my list from year to year.  I won't pretend that I grew up in the projects of Chicago, because I didn't.  My mom tried to make Christmas special for me and I do have some fond memories.  She LOVED Christmas.  As I got older, married, and had kids of my own, I started to dislike Christmas for a different reason: Jesus is the REASON for the SEASON!  And Christmas has to be the most commercial holiday there is.  I wanted my kids to look past the gifts, Santa, and the "gimmes" that are so prevalent this time of year.  I wanted them to know Jesus, the giving, and what we are supposed to be thinking about this time of year. (I have failed miserably...)

Fast forward a few years (OK, a lot of years!): it's 2013.  Here we are again, it's Christmas time.  My kids WANT EVERYTHING (usually the really expensive stuff!).  And we have a lot of people to give gifts to - although the list has been dwindling over the years.  But I don't want to go out and buy a lot of stuff people don't want.  Couldn't we all just save ourselves the time and effort and just trade money?

My next blog will talk about making Something From Nothing for a special Christmas!

Thanks for reading!