If you're due right around Christmas...

are you still planning on exchanging gifts with everyone?

Usually we go to NY for Christmas (which costs a lot in itself!) and we do exchange gifts with everyone... but nothing too expensive.

I'm due 12/23 so obviously we won't be going to NY... and DH thinks we don't need to buy anybody gifts since we won't be there.

Thoughts??

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I was thinking I'd try and just scale it down alot this year. Because I know we'll get gifts anyway and then I'd feel badly. But I am worried about having the time and energy! (and $!)

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

we told everyone we are cutting back..ill still get little things.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

We are just going to get little things for the nieces and nephews-my shower is the third night of Hannukah and I will be in NY.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I think with you due right at Christmas time you shouldn't feel like you have to send gifts to NY for everyone. How about just getting something for your parents? Or parents and siblings? And small things, not major items. Or just let people know that with the baby coming that you'd rather not exchange this year? People should definitely understand.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

We are due at the beginning of December but I have already told DH that there is no way we are doing any big giving this year. We are probably only doing gift cards and very small things. I have to start my shopping now because with a newborn nothing will get done.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I'm due on Xmas and have no intention of buying for people this year. My gift is the first grandchild for my parents

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I told both families their grandson will be their XMAS gift this year.

If I find some little things for them along the way, that's one thing, but I am not doing a shopping list this year.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I'd scale down or send one big thing for the house. i.e. DH's family has a huge christmas eve dinner, so if we weren't able to go I'd send a big basket of goodies for them to have for dessert.

I'm due 1/3 so I won't be able to drive upstate for Christmas with my family. Since my mom just passed away in Sept its so hard that I cant be there for my dad and brother. If they cant get down here, I am having their Christmas gifts send directly to them and also sending them a bunch of goodies to snack on.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

Im due 12/21 and we are not exchanging gifts this year. We are so busy preparing for this baby and Im in grad school so I literally have no time to go shopping or do anything. DH doesnt even want us bringing the baby out to visit family if he or she is born before Christmas.


I agree with your DH, you dont need to exchange gifts this year. I would just make sure its a mutual thing with your family.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

nope i wouldn't spend hold on to your pennies you are having a baby

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I am due December 15th..family have told me and dh not to get them anything this year that made it real easy but i will be getting my niece and nephew presents

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

i would probably still get something for parents/siblings/nieces and nephews. if there is a big dinner at someone's house i might send a basket too. you can get that stuff all set up now.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I was due on Christmas Day last year. I didn't even know if we were going to celebrate the holidays with our families. I ended up being put on bedrest right before Thanksgiving, we moved into our house less than 2 weeks later and I was induced shortly after that. That month was so hectic and there was no time to think about gifts. Our families completely understood.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

Im due Nov and i still plan to not buy gufts this year. Im giving everyone the best gift ever- this baby

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I would still buy the gifts, I'm sure these people will come to see you and the baby at some point. It would be nice for them to know that you didn't forget about them.

We are doing a grab bag this year with my family to keep expenses down, not just for us, but everyone is struggling.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I'm due on 12/17 and I'm still buying Christmas gifts. I've started already to make things a little easier on me.

That being said though - I don't need to buy for that many people - just parents, some extended family, and all of the kids in the extended family (we're only children) and a lot of the gifts are "little things" anyway.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

ETA: oops answered wrong.
yes we will still exchange (parents, siblings and grandparents) but everyone already knows it will be on a smaller scale. I actually want to go top the outlets in the next few weeks, buy and wrap all teh gifts so thats done with

Message edited 10/18/2009 10:01:02 AM.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I'm due Christmas Day and still plan on getting gifts for the family. I will definitely be spending less but I'm still buying for the usual suspects. Actually, I've started shopping online already, and hope to do most of it on the internet!

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

We told everyone they were getting a granddaugter, neice, cousin etc for Christmas. Dh & I will exchange small things with one another and that's it this year.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I'm not due until 01/20/10, but have been told Peanut will be early either via c-section or out growing her space, also measuring 2wks ahead. We have let it be known we are cutting WAY back for the holidays since my maternity leave will be 12wks without pay. We are still buying gifts, but not spending as much.

Everybody is different, but in your case since you are cutting the expense out of flying to NYC what about just sending a few small gifts? That way you're there in spirit, but not under any real obligation to spend like normal. Even something like a nice bottle of wine/champagne and an edible arrangment would be nice for the holidays for everybody to munch on, or a nice flower arrangment.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I was due on 12/20 and we still did all our normal exchanging. DS was born on his EDD and we spent Christmas day with DH's family. Then a week or so later had an after christmas GTG with my family (my nieces & nephew were sick on Christmas) but my dad came over Christmas morning to see us!

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

nah i wouldn't...but that's just the frugal money pinching lady in me!

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

I'm due 12/21 and we celebrate Chanukah, which is a week earlier... I haven't even thought about it. My sister is preggo too and due 12/27, so I'm not sure what we are doing this year... good question! Sorry not helpful. Probably we'll do small gifts, just immediate family.

Re: If you're due right around Christmas...

We are doing Christmas but shopping early. It would not be fair to Juliette and Kristopher is we just skipped Christmas because of the new baby. Scaling it down, but still exchanging.