Many people are not aware most bloggers pull little income, if any. Those ads, they don't amount to much, it's more being a part of a blogging publishing community that counts.
This blog is the journal I always wanted to keep but guess I didn't just want to write to myself.
Especially after reading some of the comments in the former post, I am compelled to note that I am often humbled by the words of readers.
In the last post, Amber wrote of a meager holiday thanks to economic circumstances. But she concluded that by not subscribing to the consumer culture she wrote,"
" I still have money in my pocket and dignity in my heart."
Please read Amber's comment in the December 23rd post "Gifting Anxiety".
My wish to you all this holiday is to have what you need and keep "dignity in your heart".
Thank you to all who have written me directly. My email box is always open.
May we all grow, maintain, or restore our dignity in 2011.
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6 comments:
Well the gifts are opened and the wrapping, ribbon, and packaging have been recycled or trashed. Luckily everything I purchased this year for my family will be enjoyed and get lots of use. The items that got most of the ooohs and aaaaaaahs, though, cost very little: A red and gold silk-covered Japanese box held a gift card. The worn box (a rummage sale find) will find a home on a dresser, and be filled with jewelry and enjoyed long after the items purchased with the gift card will be around. A pair small brass Chinese trivets shared stocking room with other new treasures, but the trivets (50 cents each) will be treasured are long forgotten. How odd to think that the very cheapest things I gave as gifts will matter the most.
I agree. I found some new guitar strings at a thrift store. They cost about $80 more than I paid for them.{retail} My son was thrilled and had no problem with the fact that they came from Goodwill! Such a little thing, but such a big impact on his Christmas stocking!
I hope to never support the big retail devil for Christmas gifts again! I concluded my gifting early this year, with less stress and more satisfaction :)
I like to craft gifts for my family. I know they mean more that they are made from the heart. I also avoid the big box stores and lines at Christmas and I feel great knowing I am reusing items in my home.
Halloween is my favorite holiday. Christmas carries too many expectations that I can never live up to. Halloween's only expectation is to be creative and have fun.
In some ways I appreciate the discipline of a gift-giving holiday. Sure, going overboard gift-wise and commercialization taint things, but "No gifts (please)" moratoriums don't seem to me the best response to the holidays, which can be joyful in many ways.
For my part, I'm planning my gifts for next year and have begun checking out the thrifts already for year-end donated treasures. Other advantages of year-round salvaging and gift buying include smaller outlays of cash, purchases that can be made under little or no pressure, and no last-minute panic spending. My girls and I are also "gift themeing." Essentially one item (often thrifted or purchased on sale) opens possibilities for other modest add-ons. This year I gathered hand weights, deep-discounted (new) workout wear (including cool "bamboo" tanks), and sports socks into treasure boxes of low-cost items for each of my daughters. These "big gifts" cost around $20 each, which is very, very reasonable. For an upcoming birthday, I am buying a current book on Bach at deep discount and combining it with a collection of appropriate (recommended) recordings from a used CD seller. I expect to pay a minimum of 60 percent off retail by planning and "theme-ing." I look to the thriftychicks community to keep me on track with smart materialism and reuse strategies -- while appreciating the things that really matter. Looked at this way, gift-giving celebrates relationships and so needn't be something we try to avoid in order to be frugal.
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