For me its a quiet Christmas at home with my lady. Presents will be few, dinner will be deer meat. Not that any of that is bad, we will celebrate and thank God for our bounty, even if it isn’t what we had last year. My view is always to find the gift in a time of crisis. We have our love and that can’t be taken by anyone.

Yes, I’m cutting back in cost of gifts, no fancy gift wrap, no new decorations, and choosing not to fly to see my son and his family at Christmas. I own a small retail store and sales this year are down 11% so far. The last two months are at a minus 15%. I’m afraid December sales may be the worst we’ve see in the 16 years we’ve been open. We’re not shopping at Best Buys instead choosing to do more business at Walmart. I’m thinking alot of my customers think the same way towards my business.

Not one bit I am at that age where time with those I love has more meanning to me than all of the hoopla that we have been led to belive thats makes a good holiday. Fact is most of us spend to much money on things we dont need and people we dont like just for the sake of trying to fit in. tip save your money you may need it soon.

It hasn’t. I am an athiest with no kids whos family lives in a different region of the country. I am sure me and the girlfriend will find something fun to do with our day off and leave at that. Ah!!! The secular X-mas, gotta love it!

I, unlike Wall Street, have a budget that I have to adhere to, though I’d love to ask congress to help me out with a little bailout! Bah Humbug!

We’re returning to basics, and only venturing as far as our horse-drawn sleigh will take us.

Christmas is a time of GIVING and it”s the RIGHT TIME that Bush and Cheney start giving up some of those billions made on the oil companies and Halliburton.

why do we have holidays which require us to spend 75% of the retails profit in the year? Why is it that we put the face of religion on it? why do we not have a holiday from spending on ourselves and give it to someone who needs more than we want

Yes….No Turkey and the fixins’, instead roadkill and greens..

Jack, our plans for the holidays this year will be to stay at home with our children…we will have far fewer gifts under the tree than previous Christmases, if any at all. But the greatest gift will be that we are all together and we will give thanks for that and pray for those who are even less fortunate than we are. Maybe next year will be a little better and hopefully we will still have a place to live.

Very few big gifts this Christmas, most spending on the grand-kids.
We plan to travel from VA to Texas to have the entire family together. That will be our largest expenditure, spending it on something at matters.

Chatham , VA

Hasn’t changed my plans at all. I begin to shop for Christmas the day after Christmas and all throughout the year. I buy most of my gifts on sale and just keep stocking them up. Same with holiday food. I start buying the food and trimmings way ahead of time. A little each week so the last store trip before the holiday I only have to buy the perishables. I find that this system works for me and puts little strain on finances right at holiday time.

This is not all new to me, I have been under pressure to pay my bills for some time now. If I’m lucky, i will order a chicken box from KFC for Thanksgiving, and put up our artificial Christmas tree the day after, and for Christmas we will have baked chicken same as last year. Nothing fancy, but you know what. It isn’t about how much we can give, or recieve, but how we give thanks for our very being, and for our savior Jesus Christ. Those who celebrate these Holidays know what I am talking about and that is all that matters.

What holiday plans.

We plan to have a very low key holiday — giving no expensive gifts, taking no trips, having no holiday parties, and giving homemade gifts like bread and cookies. In my book, it would be tacky to make a big deal of the holiday in light of so many people suffering. Money, if one still had any, would be better spent in giving to charity.

Yes, this year we are giving our four-20-something kids, a vacation. One gift for the entire family. We have a good job, thank God, but we are being better stewards of God’s gifts. Also, we intend to give more to charity since there are so many in need this year.

For this year, it will change alot. For the last several years, our family could not afford gifts for the Holidays, so we would have a nice meal together and enjoy the day. This year, my oldest daughter will not be with us because she is in Iraq and my other children are in another state. I do not have a home of my own anymore, so I can’t have my family with me this year. It will be a very lonely and depressing time for me and my children because we will not be able to share the Holidays together. The financial constraints that we are under at this times is the major reason why we can’t be together. It is sad to think that what is happening to the economy right now is tearing families apart.

Well Jack, I am NOT buying a new car & will be driving my 11 year old “still kicking” auto - it’s paid for although past retirement kinda like me. We will not be exchanging gifts or going anywhere so my holidays will be pretty darn uneventful yet I am thankful I have a job & a place to live. I will get to see my kids & share a meal so it ain’t so bad.

. . . Jack, I’m going to pull out the old candy canes from last year for
the grandchildren, and hope they won’t know the difference.

While in years past I’d spend a few hundred dollars on gifts, this year I’ll spend less than $100. My boyfriend and I have limited our exchange to 1 or 2 presents under $50. I don’t have the money for the multiple donations I usually make to charities and that really tarnishes the Christmas spirit. I am making a few things for donation and I purchased toys for Toys for Tots in after Christmas sales last year. The rest of the ways I celebrate Christmas will be in tact because they have nothing to do with money.

I expect to spend less time buying a whole lot of things that people really don’t want or need and more time cooking things with the family, taking the kids sledding, and playing a crazy family football game in the snow. I expect to spend less time packing up stuff given to me that I don’t really want or need, and a little more time packing up stuff that I don’t want or need to give to charity. I’m looking forward to it.
Tim in Texas

As my 8 year old daughter said, “Mom you can’t give what you don’t have so don’t feel bad, so let’s give what do have which is happiness.” Less “is” more for our family this holiday season. Because we have less money to spend on “wants” our family is focused this holiday on needs for others. We sat our kids down ages 8 and 10 and talked about needs of others in this bad economy. We talked about how lucky we are to have what we already do. We decided as a family to work the soup kitchen on Christmas day and to help out with organizations that help people less fortunate than us. Our kids were very excited.

This year everyone in my family is cutting back on gifts and spending from past years. This may be a good thing- less emphasis on material things and more on family and the holiday spirit.

I’ve never had much to begin with so my plans haven’t changed at all.
I’ll just be happy if my kids and my family are healthy and I hope the same for everybody else, including you and your family Jack. If there is anything good about having less, it’s that it does move your focus toward what really matters the most.

Jack: We plan more family gatherings less presents. All things will be paid with cash no credit cards. No traveling past 50 miles for any activity. It will not be as much fun, but maybe the true meaning of Christmas will shine through this year. Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus. Remember, Virginia, Santa Claus lives in your heart. Get the picture, Jack.

John
Alabama

Like many we will cut back on gift purchases and not take a cruise or go on a luxury vacation. We do this knowing full well that this will add to the downturn of our nation’s economy, but what are we to do except wait for this fallout of bad management to pass so we might once again get on with our productive lives.

The economy has basically cancelled all of my families holiday plans. I cant justify travelling, gifts, entertaining and all that comes along with the holidays if at the same time I am trying to figure out how to stay in my home, keep the electricity on, food on the table and having to look for some sort of work since I am unemployed as a direct result of the economy.

Basically, what holidays? I am working on the survivingdays!

We have cancelled a trip we usually take in Janurary to keep more in our pocket for worse days to come. The “D” word being passed around so much lately, frankly has scared us. We don’t know what tommorrow will bring!

Except for the meal and football what Holiday Jack Bush was even able to mess this up.

No browsing, no gift guides, no holiday strolling through the mall. I am only giving gifts of what is absolutely needed, and no amount of catalogs, commercials or special offers is going to change that! And cash only! No credit cards!

The only ones in my family who will receive presents are my 14-yr. old, 5-yr.old, and 4-mo. old grandchildren. And no new wrapping paper or bows. And I’ll be sending leftover Christmas cards from years past, and e-cards.

I am returning to the “Good Ol’ Days” approach and thinking of gifts from the heart instead of the Mall - one night of free babysitting each month for neighbors with small kids; apple pies for the dearest friends, goofy homemade mittens for nieces and nephews. Honestly, I haven’t felt better about Christmas in decades!

I will spend less.

Well, since my children are old enough to know when hard times are amongst us, they are okay with having Christmas in the Spring around income tax time, by then everything is on sale and they get more than what they would have gotten on Chrismas day, a win win situation.

I will take my family to Kentucky Fried Chicken on Monday, and we will lick our fingers on Tuesday!

Yes, the budget is strained, so the holiday’s will be also.
Thank you president photo-op, and vp ebenezeer cheney.

It’s going to be a nostalgic Christmas, Jack. There’s going to be and early depression theme. Maybe we can have a beer with the president!

Budget for Gifts, cut 50%

Our plans aren’t changing this year. My mother has had to struggle to make ends meet since 1999 when her share of my father’s pension fell to 1/4 of what it was after his death. We as a family made a decision to scale Christmas spending way back at that time so she would not feel obligated to buy gifts.

Well Jack I just consider Christmas for the kids and the family so people just have to buy within their means and the family part will look after itself. It’s also nice for anyone financially capable to give a little something to the less fortunate so their kids and family can partake in the holiday season.

Maybe as a people we will learn what the holidays are really about, which has nothing to do with an economy.

Yes, less gifts, less expensive gifts, and with gas prices so low, we will drive up north (we live in Florida) to see family, rather than the still expensive airline tickets and rental car. On that trip, rather than the nicer hotels, we will stay in budget motels and drive longer distances to get to our destination so the motel bill is lower. And we will be buying luncheon meats and making our travel meals like when I was growing up, rather than stopping at fast food restruarants which cost too much today. Lot’s of changes for Christmas. And we’ll do just fine.

No more Prime Rib, Turkey, Ham & fine wines. Just Mooseburgers, beans and plenty of water.

There will be more huggs and less gifts this year. Maybe it’s just what our country needs.

Think this Christmas will be different for many. We all got
carried away with our purchasing of presents etc.
Maybe one good thing will come out of this and Christmas
will once again become a time for family being together,
love, kindness and good will to all shared.
This is truly what makes Christmas so special.

No change really. I’ll bake my apple pies, spend the day with family, and I found a GREAT bakery for reasonably priced pastries…..so that’s the plan for Christmas Day.

However, gift giving will be curtailed to some degree, but my kids are fantastic and they have always appreciated what I have given them. Since they are young adults, money is the gift…what I do to make it fun is wrap different denominations in gift boxes of all sizes.

Love is the basic ingredient here, and not matter what the economy is….we will always be rich with love.

We’re old retired gizzards. We don’t do a whole lot on holidays in the best of times.

Well, I’m going to have to break the news to my Grandkids that Santa Clause has been laid off. Seriously Jack, there is going to be ample space under the Christmas tree. I’m going to be thinking of things my parents and grandparents did for me and my sisters when we were children. We made things for each other and we especially made things to decorate the tree with, that we went out and found in the woods,. I have great memories of those Christmas’s and I’d like to recreate that this year. Holiday’s aren’t about money. But please, don’t everbody go out and cut their own tree. That could be a natural desaster.

Yes, for the first in eight years we can really rejoice. We have a glorious year to look forward to. And since when is happiness and giving related to the economy anyway?

Yes Jack. For starters I am going to give away some of the stuff that
I shopped for throughout the year, and hid in the closet from my
husband. I knew those things would come in handy one day.

Oh my God Jack, the holidays!!!! Do ya think I can get a bail out from congress too?

Just be sitting around waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Jack–
The economy is forcing me to really think about how I can best spend my holiday money. I am cutting back–which is not a bad thing. Christmas has gotten out of hand in American anyway–too much materialism. It’s time that we got back to some true celebrating–and not so much greedy materialism.

Troy, Ohio

Jack I honestly can not say that my holiday plans have changed one bit. I don’t travel during the holidays because it is too expensive too dangerous and too time consuming. Even to go on a 2 hour flight it takes 12 hours and that is with no delays for weather or mechanical failures. I avoid a body cavity search by Airline security and If the airline strikes your bags and presents won’t get there even if you do. Nothing like your body being violated and not even getting a kiss or reach around from the TSA agent. I send my Christmas by mail each year and stay home where I am nice and warm and safe. Cost has never been a problem. It is the inconvenience of it all.

Jack, I am sorry to say that I will not be not be contributing to the economic recovery of the retail sector this year. Although my wife and I are doing ok financially, we plan to give cash to the kids and grand kids to help them have a happier holiday season. That way, they can decide if they if they need to fill the stockings over the fireplace with holiday surprises or the fuel tank that heats their home.

We have asked the kids to limit what they spend on us to less than the cost of a half tank of gasoline for their car. In return, they can take the cash we give them at Christmas and use it for whatever they choose. Hopefully, they can go to the day after Christmas sales and buy what they want at huge discounts.

Our Christmas will be quiet… but there’s lots of love in our house… I will buy gifts for the grandbabies… cook Christmas Dinner as always… and we will sing Christmas Carols and watch the movies of Christmas past. I won’t be overspending… I will be looking ahead to Christmas future… I am sure there are many good ones yet to come. We live in a great country and we have a brand new president… We have much to be grateful for…

Other than serving squirrel instead of Turkey for Thanksgiving and cancelling Christmas, no, my plans have not changed at all.

I’m a nurse. I will probably work on Christmas eve and Day, also New Years Eve. I will run over to my daughter’s Christmas morning for a few hours, and eat at work. Everybody in a nursing home needs extra hugs on holidays, and we all try to make it cheerful and Christmasy. Its the best feeling in the world to work in a nursing home on a holiday.

Yes, I was laid off and my boyfriend has had to pay more of our bills from his measly salary. We can no longer afford to fly back to NY to visit our families for the holidays.

I was able to find a temp job, but they only pay me on days I work; and, since I do not accrue vacation, I cannot afford to take days off. I hope to be able to see my family next year.

Also, I am not buying any presents this year. Bills must come first.

It won’t make a difference to me because I have been setting aside money all year. The kids will still get presents, the grandkids too. Sometimes you just have to plan ahead, and I have. What’s so hard about figuring that one out?

I plan to get in line at he Salvation Army for the holidays. After years of giving, this year I’m taking. I will probably have lots of company, and it dosen’t look good down the road. Maybe the government will finance my meals next year.

What holiday? No gifts for the adults but a few for the kids. That is it.

They aren’t changing that much. We (my husband and I) will exchange our lists as usual, but mine will be a little smaller this year. I don’t want to spend very much this year. We will only buy for the young nieces and nephews and our parents.

At the very least, my plans for holidays will change since the deteriorating economy is deeply affecting the lives of the rest of our family and our friends.

My plane ticket cost more. That’s it.

For those of us who feel that families being together during the holidays, thinking more kindly toward our fellow creatues, and being grateful for the opportunities we have had, thoough sometimes ignored, is what the holidays should be about, there probably won’t be much adjustment. Perhaps we need to reevaluate our priorities in general.

Jack -

No change here….We’re on the other side of the hill, so to speak…
We’re not changing any diapers / sending kids to school / College / buying their books / feeding them / & etc…& etc…

We’ve “been there, done that” Now we’re going to fly “across country” to see the kids.

Larry Coury
Houston Texas

Since I know the real meaning of Christmas and have taught my 4 kids that meaning, we will have a great holiday. We will spend Christmas Eve and Day with family and friends. Every year, we pick 4-5 neighbor to take baked goods that we bake and give. They are thankful for the thought. My kids never expect expensive gifts and are only allowed to spend $10 on anyone they buy a gift for (family, friends and yes even me).

No, the Holiday hasn’t changed my plans. I was broke last year and I’m broker this year.

The economic situation doesn’t bear on our holiday plans. In fact, we are considering somethings we have never done during the holidays. A trip to San Antonio to take in the River Walk during the Christmas period to see the festive regalia is under consideration. Such plans can be considered in light of recent family situations financially. Only weather concerns us at this time and NOT the economy!

No parties and at least a 50% drop in the amount of money spent on gifts. I am making my own gifts this year.

Best excuse to not buy presents in a long time. Usually it’s just cause I’m lazy and unimaginative, but now I’ve got an excuse!

THIS year, that lump of coal that I usually get will actually be worth something. How long do you suppose a sock of coal can heat a house in the northeast?

You’d be amazed at the amount of money you can save throughout the year by putting away all your change and dollar bills. We will have Christmas as usual. I’m just not sure when the bottom will fall out.

Yes we will stay home and not be spending any money.

My christmas last year was humble, and my christmas this year will be humble– just my wife and I enjoying the one certain day off we will have together uninterrupted. There will be no extravagant gifts or spending. And we will probably not make the trip to visit our families. It’s actually refreshing learning how to not overindulge during christmas time. If the recession goes long enough and deep enough the american spectrum might change altogether, and what used to be the most profitable time of the year for businesses will now be just like any other day.

Yes, in fact for the last 10 years we have scrimped on holidays, birthdays, NO vacations, NO movies or date nights and the list goes on and on. We are at a point that we are just working to pay the basic bills. Everything else has been put on hold for a long long time now.

This year my relatives will recieve small, framed pictures of the gift I would have bought them if I had the money.

I wonder if all the banks, AIG, the Wall Street firms, etc. will be thinking of the rest of us, while they are reveling in their bailouts, bonuses, etc? I will be celebrating the fact that on Christmas Day there will only be 26 calendar days until Barack is sworn in as President!

Not mine, Jack. How about yours?

I am retired with a guaranteed fixed income from SocSec and my employer’s pension plan. I have no debts other than a small mortgage on my condominium, live frugally, have no dependents, and am going to marry a rich woman soon.

I’ll be home for Christmas. You can count on that. cy gardner arlington ,va

Jack we have always been a family who enjoyed being together for Christmas. Some years like the ones when I was working and not on a fixed income and received a bonus we were able to buy more gifts. We never traveled except to go to each other’s houses within the state of Pennsylvania. Now that I am on a fixed income and the economy is in bad shape plus having new additions to our family we cannot afford extra gifts. But our holiday plans are still the same, to celebrate Christmas together and enjoy what we have.

If were fortunate for Thanksgiving we’ll go help fix food for the shut-ins and needy in our area and for that other holiday we will be blessed if we get to see our grandchildren and then we’ll try and help someone in need. Aren’t the holidays about giving thanks, not receiving gifts.

“The Grinch That Stole Christmas” is a replicant multiplied into a thousand Ebenezer Strooges! I won’t be getting that prize turkey this holiday season, and Tiny Tim will just have to wait for that overdue operation.
Thanks wallstreet execs,
Bob Cratchit

We’ve now done our first detailed budget, and tracked our spending down to the penny for the last 2 months to see exactly where we are at. The result? In the current spreadsheet there is no column for gifts. We’ll make exceptions of course, but our plans are very….. conservative (wink). Scott Miller, Tucson AZ

It means less of everything..A smaller meal,less presents for the kids,no driving anywhere except to my own kitchen. If you look at it as the glass half full maybe people will take a real look at the meaning of christmas and still feel blessed with what they have although it may be less. I am thankful to have some rather than none.

Not really…We were thinking of just getting away for a few days to a neighboring state to have some time to ourselves and enjoy some nice winter weather.

I’ll be driving to visit relatives rather than flying, and spending less $ per person on gifts. But as an adult, the most important thing about the holidays is to enjoy time with family, which doesn’t cost a thing.

We were just told at work that we won’t be getting our year-end bonuses this year. We’ve used that for our holidays in the past….I should have grown up to be a CEO so I’d have a couple million to splurge on everybody over the holidays

well jack i never like christmas anyway so i guess it won’t be any different for me.

I think most people will be cutting back this year except maybe the bunch of ‘bankers’ who got a bailout.

While flying to Tahiti on my private jet, I’ll be serving only domestic caviar instead of imported in solidarity with the less fortunate.

Everyone hurting financially, so only young grandchildren getting gifts this year, but is that what it is really all about? Families gathering and loving each other is what is most important and is the real meaning of the holidays.

i’m only looking out for my kids..i will watch my dollars as well my finances..the holidays are meant for children as well the poor..i couldn’t stand that palin and gop mocked obama for being a community organizer at the convention..i remembered that jesus christ was a community organizer meaning helping the poor and he never forgot where he come from..maybe it’s time for everyone to wakeup and start thinking about it all the time..

Santa will not be coming to our house this year. However, we have sent a big stocking filled with black coal to Bush and Congress for their Christmas present from us.

It has’t changed mine. The economy is bad for many and fir some it is not because of the government

Instead of the whole big turkey deal for dinner, we’re having chips and dip!!!

We’ve just started making presents out of construction paper…….and no, my boys aren’t young, they’re adults and very good with scissors it turns out!!! I’m getting a complete outfit, head to toe!! Hat and shoes included-just can’t wear it in the rain.

Brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?

For those of us who feel that families being together, thinking more kindly of our fellow creatures, and being grateful for opportunities we have had, though sometimes ignored, is what the holidays are all about, (aside from religious beliefs,) there probably won’t be much adjustment. Perhaps we need to reevaluate our priorities in general

A little but not much, I have six grandchildren and I sure can’t ignore them, there may be fewer and less expensive gifts but they will have gifts from Grandma under their trees. They are all old enough to understand the state of our economy and they will be grateful for whaever they get.

It will be the same as the last six years. We have not spent money on gifts except for children. We give “white elephants” at a family Christmas party and have had more fun than any Christmases I can remember. Our houses are full of things we have that we wondered why we ever bought them. My junk is sometimes someones treasure or at least a good laugh. But the greatest thing is no debt.

The best thing to do is keep the TV turned off so children can’t get hooked on all the toy ads being aired from now until Christmas. That way there won’t be any pressure on parents to overspend to give their children presents that aren’t within reach of the family budget.

Once the above has been accomplished then just buy presents within the budget and the children will be quite content and happy with the presents they get.

The only change we have made is we got rid of the credit cards last year, so we no longer have to pay interest on our purchases. But, we have always kept our Christmas splurges low and celebrated it for the religious holiday it is, so maintaining our standard in any economy isn’t too tough.

Holiday plans…no tree, no gifts, just family love and top ramen instead of turkey

I am driving to California instead of flying. (staying in rest stops and bunking with friends) As far as holiday dinner, nachos at the Chargers game. Then, total unemployment as a realtor when I get home. Fortunately, no dependents. Taking care of my elderly father.
.
I chose to leave accounting because I hated the corporate ratrace.
Am returning, however I am almost 20 years older, and am overqualified.

This really hurts.

It’s time to stay home with the ones you love, And not going and spent,spend spend to feed the (greedy ) big companys.Let them stay home with their love ands and forget money,

What Holiday Plans???

nothing has changed, except iam a tick broker then last year. i won’t be buying any overseas stuff from walmart. i do have my eye on one of those teddy bears made by the grandma’s in Vermont though…will get one and share it….

My understanding was the government is including the holidays this year in the 700 billion bailout package.

Because of this horrible economy, my wife and I are more determined to make our children and our grand-childrens holiday eventful for them. It’s probably more important than any time to make this holiday special because who knows what’s going to happen in the future…

Instead of sitting on the front porch and watching cars this year, My wife and I are thinking about sitting on the back porch and watching birds fly.

Kenneth Chadbourn N.C.

I’m just going to sit home and roast my nuts over an open fire. If I can’t afford firewood, I’ll buy some GM stock certificates and burn those.

Our plans for the holidays, including Santa Claus, just went through the economic blackhole. Both my 36-yr old son and I (61-yr old female) lost jobs in the home improvement sector this year - him just today. He has a wife and 2 pre-teen children. How many more of us have to go on unemployment and assistance before this gets fixed. We know it is not just us - but where is our bailout? I would love a good vacation….oops, networking and training opportunity.

Hampton VA

Wow! Our Christmas will be “thin”, but maybe that is a good thing.
The holiday has become far too expensive and its true meaning has
been lessened for many. This year we’ll have a Christmas like I did
when I was a child–fewer gifts, but more celebrating the holiday’s real meaning.

Jack, with the birth of our twins in October, this is going to be the best Christmas ever. No one in Washington, Republican or Democrat, is going to ruin that for our family. It will be small and not much, but that is what Christmas is about. It is more Norman Rockwell than Madison Avenue, and thank the maker…it’s about time!

A lot. Gift shopping will be done via AVON and maybe JCPenney sales. I’ll spend no more than $100 (if that much) and everyone will be happy, including me because I won’t be paying for this year’s gifts by this time next Xmas.

I have an artificial tree, so I won’t have to go out and buy one. I have all the decorations from last year, so that’s okay too. One doctor told me to lose weight, so I won’t be eating a big Christman meal. The economy has caused everyone to be in a bad mood. They gripe all the time and are mean to each other. So this year the big difference is, because of the economy, I have to figure out where in Southern California does one go out to purchase big lumps of coal.

I’m not spending money I do not have in the bank.

Yes, the state of the economy has changed my vacation plans… I’ll be working instead!
Marcy
Sebring, FL

Santas’ bag will be considerably lighter this year when he comes down our chimney.

Bob
Louisville, Ky

I plan to do even more the needy. There is something about sharing that is good for your self-esteem and makes one so thankful for what they have.

Until American Flags are proudly displayed identifying American made goods, expect the same thing you got from me last year. Nothing. I cannot and will not buy from any retailer that forced American manufacturers to go offshore to have their product made cheaper or not sell their product. This is not free enterprise. It is blackmail.

No changes. We have a family reunion in November, and then it’s off to the bay area for Thanksgiving. Christmas will be as it has for the past 6 years. No tree, no decorations, just peace and quiet. We love it.

We’re doing a pot luck for Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts will be concentrated on the grandkids. I’ve been knitting all year for the adults. The important thing is that we’ll all be together…..and we alsways enjoy each other’s company. We’re looking forward to it.

Jack
The price of gasoline has dropped to a level that I am considering a trip to visit relatives out of state. Now if I get a job maybe Christmas too. Is it possible that a gallon of gas will cost the same in 2009 as when Bush took the white house 2001…..

Actually, it has made my life much easier….

No driving, no traffic, no malls, no cards, no shopping and best of all…no spending!!

Jack, I’ve calculated my budget through the end of this year, and I’ve already spent paychecks I don’t have. Christmas? Well, no gifts for anyone, except two each for the kids, which will be clothes they desperately need. We’re not getting a tree this year, we can’t afford it. Thankfully, we will have food, and our family will be together. Really, that’s what matters in the end. Let’s hope the New Year brings in good tidings.

Cori in Colorado

We have no small children in the immediate family anymore, so we have decided to not buy presents. We will get together for dinner and give thanks. Hopefully, we will still have our jobs.

Not a pinch. Having less cash on hand has no impact whatsoever on our family’s most precious gift. You need to watch “A Christmas Carol,” or “It’s a Wonderful Life” again and this time pay attention.

My plans to buy you and Blitzer a diamond encrusted watch have been cancelled. Instead, you get what everyone else on my list will get…..a whole hearted wish of “Happy Holidays”, and a hope we as a nation can pull out of this economic mess, otherwise next year I predict there will be fewer cable subscribers to even do that.

Well Jack don’t expect that big gift this time around and my turkey dinner my turn to beans and corn bread some of the good thing I can keep is a fire in the fireplace, family and friends. I guess it want be as bad as some of course Holiday’s are what you make them.

Yes, I can even afford coal for the stockings.

hi jack
my plans are to go stand in front of the White House with my bills and ask Bush to bail me out,everyone need to join me.
fl

I’ve been unemployed since last spring, so I will have to cut back. Ho!

no charging cash only.

I’m actually ahead of the game as far as buying my gifts this year. Normally I am a last minute shopper, but this year, I have selected most of the presents and am actually well under budget. All this doom and gloom about the economy certainly has me worried.

You practically answered it yourself. I will drive away from my relatives and contemplate a beautiful winter landscape at no cost to anyone.

Yes. My husband and I are giving to charity instead of each other.

Jack,

Absolutely is has. Spending less and buying the essentials. No more are the days of lavishly spending like their isn’t a tomorrow. Yet, the upcoming holidays will see a big trickle down effect at least for my entire family. I have to look a the potential of years of this economic inprisonment this country is in and stretch and save for years to come. I’m defintiely staying at home this year for the holidays!

Daniel Ambrose,
Atlanta, GA

Very few gifts this year and inexpensive ones at that. It looks like we’re all going to do the same thing so there shouldn’t be much guilt. This year pretty much ALL Americans are in the same boat. In a way, it’s giving us all a new found sense of unity again.

Yes, Jack, it has. We are staying home for all 3 holidays.

As far as shopping is concerned we have cut back on our list for giving and have decided that $15 is the most will will spend.

Gas may be lower now but it normally goes up right before and during any holiday.

Pat
Barnwell,SC

Our family is certainly cutting back on presents. I am encouraging less expensive ones and better yet, homemade ones. The most important thing is we will celebrate the holidays together and be thankful for all our blessings.

Who needs gifts when we have Barack, Jack?

What I am doing for Christmas. Not much for the men in the family socks and underwear or the women of the family towels and washrags.
Going to a major discount store all their stuff is made in China. I wish he was made in
United States of America.

Dale southeastern New Mexico

Yes, we will be scalling our spending way back and driving to see family instead of flying. Also, there will not be a lot of frills this year, just the bear minimum. Besides, for the first christmas in 8 years we all have hope, and what more do we need. Well, besides a living wage and more jobs. All in good time and good cheer.

No I live in an urban community where these economic problems have been the normal. We in the urban community have been struggling for generations. I’m glad that American can now see that just because your having a hard time finacially making a decent living doesn’t make you lazy, just unfortunate. This finanical Crisis will pass and it will make many people appreciative instead of judgemental.

That is a resounding YES! We were the big spenders in the family’s. We gave the nicer high end gifts, and we always provided the main course for the tables. This year it is just the main course, no other gifts whatsoever. We had to circle our wagons for self protection against the Robber Barons of Wall Street and Washington. The future looks very bleak to us, and we can’t trust anyone.

This year we will be dining at home with a smaller Table, Thankful for what we do have, praying for those who have less. We as a family will spend less, but we are giving more away. We have clothes in our closet with tags on them. Never one and we cant wear them. They will be given away to the less fortunate and not sold at a garage sale.

Jack,

My plans have changed instead of traveling I will be staying home.
I cannot see spending all my time being trapped at airports being over charged for every little thing . Its rediculous to think anyone would
go through all that just to see relatives you hardly know. And listening
to everyones stories of how the world revolves around them.
I will spend the holidays in me warm home eating food I like, being
with my beautiful wife and children, watching football and just being happy.

My plans have changed, and probably for the better. Less spending, less presents, less travel, less indulding might mean less stress and less headaches for me and my family. Maybe I’ll spend some of my time reading a good book, I borrow from the library. Happy Holidays to you and your viewers Jack.
Fort Gratiot MI

It hasn’t Jack. I’ve always been underpaid and that doesn’t have jack to with the economy. Wages in America need to be increased.

Well instead of Cranberry sauce it will be cranberry jelly on toast.
Instead of Turkey it will be Turkey hot dogs with cheeze Whiz
for thankgiving, and turkey bologna for Christmas.
If we would have had ham, for New Year it would have been
our Noisey Uncled Roasted over an open spit, but his ham buddies
would have been looking for him, so we decided just to have another
round of Turkey hot dogs, maybe we could afford some turkey
Chilli on top.
No stuffing this year.
Santa might not be able to afford to travel on this one

I’ve introduced a new calendar to my kids, and it doesn’t contain the date December 25.

Cut back for Christmas Jack? Of course. Hey, can you get me an invitation for the AIG or Morgan Stanley Christmas parties…maybe I can get a small bonus or something?

Our family is cutting in half it’s cap on presents for each other. My office has cancelled exchanging gifts and, instead, decided to just go out to lunch as a group and split the cost.

for one its made me find better,affordable bargins. plus the economy has made it hard for a vet like me to get stable employment with the way the market is at this time

All you have to do is look at the daily dow/jones closing figures to realize what is going on - wall street is buying and selling after making enough noise to cause the market to go up and down on an almost daily basis. the guys doing this are making a killing while the rest of us are trying to figure out, if it went up 555 yesterday, and nothing new has happened, why did it go down so much today? I say it is not happening without being caused, on purpose, to make some big bucks. wish you could prove it.

Not really… The holiday season is about spending time with family and friends. It’s about tradition, memories, laughter, faith and hope for new beginnings. It’s not about flat screen TVs, IPODs, Wii’s, the latest laptop or fashions. So no, a tougher economy won’t change Christmas for me. It will only serve to remind me what is truly most important to me and what I am sincerely grateful for in my life.

just made me tighten the wallet and look for more bargins

Thanks for reminding me!! I have to start collecting email addresses for my Christmas E-card list!!

Can we get a holiday “bail-out” package? Paging Mr. Paulson, This is the Bank of American Taxpayers - it’s time to call in your loan.

When you are old and retired the holidays do not have the glitter they once did. We will enjoy our days and do what we always do. Nothing much has changed over the years. We just sit in our house by the side of the road and watch the world go by.

i already booked my trip overseas to see my folks in the UK and am not changing that. Family is very special and no price can be put on its value. The plus side is the exchange rate is now better since the financial markets collapsed and we will have a bit more to spend than anticipated. You have to be positive and take the bad times as well as the good - a better day will come. Out with the Old (Bush) and in with the New (Obama) - it can’t come fast enough.

Jack,

My plans are the same as the last 7 years with one difference. I’m going to try to work as much OT as possible, 1 gift for the wife, 1 gift each for the daughter and grandson. No lights, no tree, no gifts for myself (I’m too old anyway).

The only thing I’ll do different is raise a glass to Mr. Obama and his staff and wish them Godspeed in fixing this mess. God Bless us Everyone for the change.

Oh yea, I’m at least going to make a nice baked ziti dinner too.

My husband and I have jobs that are secure, so it’s hard for us to take the country’s economic downturn as seriously as we probably should. We are within five years of retirement so our funds are in jeopardy. As the holidays approach, we have tried to communicate with our grown children that, like them, we need to learn to cut back on our spending.
We remember when people did more with less and were happy. We remember when eating out was special and when new clothes, household items and cars were something you saved up for, rather than bought on credit.
So, what we are going to do differently is tell the kids “You’re educated and you’re married, so Santa doesn’t come here anymore–except for the granddaughter, who will make a haul.”
Boise

Hmmm, let me see. How can I say this? YES!

yes… hand made magnets for everyone this year…

sure does. the stores say they are hurting , but am I the only one thats not seeing things marked down . and 10% off is not a sale .that stuff isn’t gold-mark it down at least 50-60% off.Its all made in Asia. a shirt your paying $ 60.00 for costs the most $ 8.00–its shear profit .You wouldn’t believe the profit margins of a macy’s–their everyday sales are a joke . time to reign in some of the profits-stores used to keystone–which was if it cost 8.00 you doubled the price , now some stores are working on 200% even though they’ll never admit it.

Every Christmas for a lot of years I have always saved re-useable wrapping paper, ribbons and boxes as I come from the generation that recycled before recycling became the in thing. I am rather cynical when there is so much talk about the three R’s - and I don’t mean reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmatic. The one thing about this rcession is that it makes most people stop and think about spending on things we don’t need. Credit cards have also contributed a great deal to overspending and debt.

Jack…the holidays are about family and friends….not things. That’s one of the reasons this country is in the shape that it is….creditcards maxed out. I will be helping out in a charity project, spending time with loved ones and spending what I can actually pay cash for.

The wall street grinches have stolen Christmas!! Perhaps with no money to spend, we will all focus more on the real meaning of Christmas, not the commercial version! Our family is cutting back. We are thankful that we have a home to celebrate in. Many others don’t. Maybe we can pitch in and help them instead of going deeper into debt for unnecessary items!

Not spending anything this year Jack. I really feel bad because at some point I think we should be spending to help employees & employers. However with two kids in college & no way of knowing if we will have jobs in the coming year I just can’t part with a penny. Oh well, at least “that one” won the election. That is enough to brighten our holidays. You betcha!

Jack, I just spent our family holiday on 150 gallons of fuel oil that now costs $3.09 per gallon.

Jack,

We are going back to the basic meaning of the holidays. Family and friends, food, and counting our blessings. My 4 grandsons are going to be very disappointed. No expensive games this year, just socks and underwear. Fun Nana no more.

No,my plans have not changed. I have more junk than I need,I’m not going to buy anymore.

YES Hope we don’t have to start recycleing toilet tissue

Jack, I bouth most of my gifts at the “After Christmas Sales” last year. My problem is not getting the gifts but shipping them.

I’m just going to warm myself with a lump of coal and have a moldy crust of bread for nourishment.

It hasn’t. I’ve been seeking employment for over a year, to no avail. I have no plans made to change.

My holiday will be based on the minimum cost that I can get by with. Some things are required: presents for my relatives especially my younger brother. We must travel to see him because we only see him two or three times a year. Everything else is optional.

Jim of Charlotte, NC

I have been broke for the last few years, but hopefully, congress will pass the second gift package soon that would cover my Turky.

i usually have a big family christmas, but this year, even though my marine son just came home from iraq, i plan to have something small……just can not afford all the trimmings…worried we will not get the college loan for next year for my daughter who will be a senior…not spending alot for presents either…about 75% less then last year…..very dismal feelings, but we have a nice home, transportation and our health…….better off then some people, i guess………………………………..mattituck, ny

Not really, I have had to economize and downsize for the last eight years. Our family draws names and then we set a limit on how much is to be spent.
We also try to remember that Christmas is not really about Santa Claus but is meant to honor our Lord, Jesus Christ.

This Christmas is going to be so bad that I will be resending my old E-Cards from last Christmas but hopefully to different people.

The economy hasn’t changed our holiday plans but we had to cancel a trip to Africa next spring which was a life-long dream.

In terms of gifts, absolutely! But we will still gather to celebrate the birth of Christ with friends and family.

no money………..no spendy.

When the grinch stole christmas all the who’s in whoville sucked it up and celebrated anyway because the script writer knew there would be a happy ending. In the real world there’s no bail outs for Christmas. Not sure it’s even Christian, skipping Christmas.

Thanks to Bush and Chaney, I have had to cut out Xmas gifts to my family and friends. I can’t wait for January 20.

One of the changes is Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners will be potluck instead of asking one family member to incur most of the cost of feeding everyone. Also, I am not giving purchased gifts to any adults on my list, it’s homemade all the way!

Jack. Not really. I have already cut back on that sort of thing over the last few years. If you can, I urge everyone to see or at least call family and friends. When things get worse next year you might not be able to. Hope all have a wonderful Holliday season.

Personally it hasn’t, but with the m