Wish you All a very Happy New Year

Denny

(Debt Consolidation Care)

Christmas without Santa Claus? I just can’t imagine. I was casually browsing through the net when I suddenly stumbled upon some interesting facts about Christmas and Santa Claus. I want to share some interesting information with you all.

Santa Claus – the Legend

According to folklore, origin of Stanta Claus legend can be traced back to thousands of years. Sometime around 280 A.D there lived a monk called Saint Nicholas in Patara, a place near Myra of Turkey. He was renowned for his kindness. He gave away all his inherited belongings and wealth to the poor and moved to the countryside for serving the destitute and sick.
One of the most popular folklore about St. Nicholas is that he saved 3 sisters from being sold by their father into prostitution. He gave dowry to their father for marrying them off. St. Nicholas’s good deeds made him popular among the masses and soon he came to be known as a protector of Children. December 6, his death anniversary, is celebrated as his Feast Day.

How did Saint Nicholas become Santa Claus?

In Dutch, Saint Nicholas was pronounced as Sint Nikolaas. Name of Sint Nikolaas was shortened to Sinter Klass. “Santa Claus” evolved from St. Nicholas’s shortened name “Sinter Klass”.
Legends of Saint Nicholas started to become popular in America during the end of 18th century and slowly but steadily transformed from Sinter Klass to Santa Claus.

Some more Santa facts?

When did Christmas become popular in America?

Christmas started to gain popularity from 19th century. Americans transformed Christmas from a raucous festival holiday to a family oriented peaceful festival.
During the early nineteenth century, rioting during Christmas season was a common phenomenon. In one such Christmas riot in the year 1928, New York police first came out to maintain peace in the city. From this time period, people belonging to the upper classes began to change Christmas celebration from a raucous one to a peaceful get-together of the entire family.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

Question of the Month:
Question of the Month is yet another effort by the debtcc team to enhance the community knowledge bank. It’s a monthly contest and every month a challenging question will be thrown before the members for responses. The best answer will be chosen collectively at the end of the month by the debtcc members and the admin panel of the site. The winner of this contest will receive a handsome reward of a $50.
The purpose behind this idea is to encourage the members to share their real life experiences in dealing with the financial challenges.
Though different financial issues are being discussed across the debtcc board, but it doesn’t leave much scope to the members to share their personal experiences. Here is the place where it can be done, and also that the new members can get the innovative ideas to deal with their debts along with the conventional ones.

Latest Question

Question 3: How can you celebrate your holidays by staying within budget?
In this trying time when our economy is passing through a rough patch, our pocket is becoming constrained. But we can’t avoid holidaying too. Now how can you enjoy your holidays without exceeding your budget?

Winner Post

Answer 1: These are just some things that we have done or are thinking of doing to help us enjoy the holidays. Start a savings account,handmade gifts, gift cards, rebuilt computer, read on to learn more.
I started a Christmas Club savings account at my credit union earlier this year. They took just $10 out of each of my checks. It was a small amount, I didnt even notice it missing out of my paychecks. I could add to it whenever I wanted and yes if there was an emergency I could take out of it, with a small fee. Then in the beginning of Oct. They take the money and deposti it into my checking account for my holiday spending. Then they start all over again the next payday taking out as much as I would like each payday. So if i do not add any extra I will have $520 for Christmas next oct.
Along with that I love doing the holiday candy. So I take some of that extra Christmas Club money and buy my ingredients when they are onsale. I will make a ton of candy to give as gifts to family,friends and the kids teachers. For family I will also buy visa gift cards (in small dollar amounts) and give along with the candy. It makes the gifts fun and they enjoy eating the candy as much as I enjoyed making it. Plus it helps the elderly family members pay for their expensive meds.
I love taking pictures. Some of my friends and family have their fav. photos that I have taken. I will take that fav. photo and have it copied and then I will take and old picture frame ( or a nice cheaper new one) Then go by a friends house that has tons of scrapbooking stuff and make it into a special handmade item that they can hang up and look at everyday. Most of them that I have done this for bring me pictures that they want me to do throughout the year (which brings in a little extra cash for the holidays also)so they can give them as gifts.
My kids are getting older now and are alot harder to buy for. So we have decided to give gift cards to help ease the burden of running all over wasting time and gas to find the one thing they really want. When after Christmas they can probably get the same thing cheaper because of the after Christmas sales. And I dont have the stress of the shopping.
My son wanted a computer for Christmas, well my desktop computer died earlier this year and we are very lucky to have a close friend that works on computers. He fixed it and did a whole mess of upgrades for a couple hundred. Now it is just like a brand new computer. So I am giving that system to him for Christmas at a huge savings of buying a new one. I am sure he will like it as much as he would a brand new one.
Those are a few of the things we do to save money during the holidays, so we can enjoy the holidays without using the credit cards.

Answer Posted by |puddlejmpr

The other answers worth mentioning are:

Answer 2: The most important thing I will be doing this holiday season is to remember what is most important – Family,Friends, and my spirituality. The holidays have gotten (thanks to the retail and advertising in this country) to a point where we have forgotten what they really are about – celebrating and spending time with family and friends.

So – that said – here is what I will be doing to help get through: only spend what I can afford. I have already warned my children not to expect a big Christmas. I am also making many of my presents – Quilts made from scraps I already have. Coupon books that have coupons you made such as Good for one bathroom cleaning etc… are always a good idea. Scrapbooks have always been a favorite in my family. For the kids, buy things they need instead of things they want. Bake candy or cookies, use newspaper or other paper you have around the house instead of buying paper. If you can afford it – buy Christmas lights that have LED bulbs and you will save a fortune in electricity. If you cant afford them, then dont use as many lights or dont have them on as much. One last thought – talk to the people you buy for and tell them you are cutting back – maybe they have the pressure too and you can agree to either not exchange or not spend as much.

Answer Posted by |spatterson_40

Answer 3: We have always emphasized to our kids that Christmas is about giving and not receiving. We have also taught them that it does not matter how much something costs as long as it comes from the heart. So with that being said, we really try to watch things. A lot of times we give homemade items to our friends and neighbors such as cookies, candies, etc. My kids have given people “coupons” good for things from mowing the yard, to free babysitting, etc and have also done that for us…breakfast in bed, back rub, or whatever. In turn we have also done the same with them. Me personally I have written them poems, or given them coupons, and sometimes, just a big ole hug and an I love you. There have been times we have found things at thrift stores (a lot of times clothes with the tags still on them). We also try to set up a budget and not go over. For us…..gifts are not the most important thing…..spending time together as a family is. And celebrating the birth of Jesus. We make a cake, write Happy Birthday Jesus on it, put a candle on it and even sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

To tell a little story… a couple of years ago, my daughter gave me the best gift I could ever have gotten. I had a gift in my stocking, a small square box. I unwrapped it and when I opened the box, there appeared to be nothing in there. I looked at the bottom of the box and it read this box holds all my love, hugs, and kisses for you Mom. The top of the box read Merry Christmas to the Best Mom ever. I have kept that box and to this day…..I dont thing she could top that gift.

Christmas has become too commercial over the years, but we have tried to keep the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts. This is how we plan to not exceed out budget. Its the giving of ones self and the the receiving of material items that make the holidays special for us.

Answer Posted by |2nband

Answer 4: I have a multiform approach to saving money and trimming fat, and it starts with an attitude of realistic expectations and unlimited possibilities. Instead of trying to make things perfect, I examine the individuals I am finding gifts for. Perfection at the holidays can mean something different and richer than the scenes from commercials.

Step one: ignore mass media concepts of the holidays. Taking control of your own familys experience helps. Then let go. Allow the needs and desires of others to be your focus, not what you think they should have. Take their top five wishes, get sizes, alternatives, and second choices. Once you have ideas, find the bargains. Use the net, coupons, sales, even newspaper ads and pawn shops can put very nice items into your familys hands for a comfortable price. High-end goods can be found for bargain prices. Purchasing with gift cards you have received but do not need is another way to get the ball rolling, if not for the major gifts, then the supporting items like stocking-stuffers.

Step two: sacrifice. Find fat to trim in your life, and re-examine your purchases as the holidays approach. Proper spending before and during the holidays can ease the financial crunch and make decision-making easier. It also helps to combine things like a free turkey from work with ongoing sales, and stock up ahead of time. Canned goods can be purchased months ahead, and free up money for items that cant be found on sale or discounted. An artificial tree and last years lights will save a bundle, which can be channeled into the gift budget. A little cheaper wrapping paper saves a bit more, and clearance goods-ribbons, wrapping paper- saved through the year will be ready for the tree.

Finally, have an open mind. Imagination and joy are the best parts of the holidays, and both the finest and humblest gifts are made better by the presence of joy. Handling finances properly during these times allows peace and happiness to truly thrive, and families to make more memories and less debt.

Answer Posted by |copperflowerstudios

Answer 5: Well first of all, I think you need to sit down with all your children and explain to them that things are rough all over the world and they should lower their expectation of a bountiful holiday. I think homemade gifts or homemade food gifts are the easiest way to stay under budget. You can always regift items that are still sitting in your closet from years gone by. I think everyone should put emphasis on the fact that everyone in the family is healthy and happy and lucky to be together for the holidays, after all, there are soldiers overseas that will not have the opportunity to be with their families because they are fighting to keep us safe in our land. If you can just put together a good meal for the holidays and enjoy each others presence then you should be happy for all you have. By making personalized gifts, it lets people know that you thought about who they are and did not just pick something up at the cheapest store and not think about them but were just thinking about getting done. I think credit cards should be shredded and no loans to make it thru, just deal with what you have to work with and spread alot of love around. After all the holidays should be about family and love and friendship and not getting into debt just so someone can have a nice gift that costs alot of money.

Answer Posted by |Danell Adams

Answer 6: I will celebrate my holidays shopping around and buying goods where large discounts are available from heavy discount stores.I will stay at home and arrange a get together with family members. I will not go to hotels or restaurant to have gastronomic food but instead cook in our home itself and enjoy them with relatives. I will buy or borrow film CDs and DVDs from friends and watch movies with friends from home. All this i will do, keeping both my income and expense in mind.

Answer Posted by |Jackie1227005734

Answer 7: Since when is Holidaying about paying? It is supposed to be about giving. My kids are taught at a young age to give when you can and do when you cant. For example, I used to make homemade candy for Easter Seals and sales would all go to this organization. My daughter took a bunch and ate some and hid the rest in front of her heater and they melted. She was almost four, I told her that I made these to help people and families with disabilities. She said to “give them you monies, mommy.” I then told her that “we dont have that much to donate and wanted to give more. So I took my $20 and made 150 lollipops. Now the disabled people would get $150 and that would help them alot more, than just the $20.” She was so cute, she went up to her room and came back with her glass piggy and as she got to the last stair she tripped and the piggy went flying. “oh no, what are you doing? dont move!” In between tears (because she broke her piggy) she said, “Mommy you have my piggy monies so I help make lollies for the dis-tabled peoples.” If that child does not hav ethe Holiday spirit, I dont know who does.
First of all, know what your budget is before you start. This year I did not even have a budget. I took items that I have had for a while and not been able to do use and got rid of them. I sold them and some hand made scrapbook page layouts on ebay,aint it great. I was able to scrounge up $5oo.
I then decided what my kids really wanted (I have three kids)
And then I watched for sales. *remember it is not the price, it is the thought that matters.
Walmart, Target and Kmart all do price matching. So keep those ads handy. You also have to shop early so you are not guilted (by yourself) into buying more because you could not get that one present somebody really wanted. I spent $320, I was able to save $75 and get my kids the 1 item from on top of each list and several small (I mean cheaper) items that I know they will love. I also got my two neices and nephew a present for $10 each. That still leaves me $150 of the $500 to buy the fixings for homemade goodies and a killer Christmas dinner. By the way the home made goodies are gifts for family and friends as well.
So hubby and I dont get presents, that was never my thing anyways, I just love the look on the kids faces when they open their gifts and just enjoying the comforts of having my loved ones near.

Answer Posted by |joy

Answer 8: My family has a tradition where we only buy gifts for children under 18 years old. For the rest of our family and friends we bake cookies and decorate them. Thrift stores and dollar stores have cute plates and tins you can use to give the cookies on. And planning ahead for next year you can hit up the after Christmas sales for the plates and get them very cheap. I have found that most people LOVE the cookies and have asked year after year if we will be doing it again. We have even developed a cookie decorating party night where we invite frinds and family to join us in making the cookies and they keep the ones they decorate. Its fun for the kids, the receipients love the cookies and it is SO affordable!

Answer Posted by |Brandy1227115055

Answer 9: I started in early October, saving for the holidays. Each payday I bought several items I need for Thanksgiving. I got coupons for most of the items, but little by little, I have almost everything I need for Thanksgiving, except last minute stuff.

As far as Christmas, I have done the same thing. I have gone to stores that have lay away and put toys for step-grandkids, and other items in. During that layaway, on the third week of it, I started another laway.

I also went to the dollar store and picked up a few things each payday. They have a Goodwill store near here that is great. They have bag sales, for the price of a bag, you can fill it up. I got 3 hoodies,5 tops and 3 kids outfits, that look new, for $13.00.

The reason I do this is because it wont be such a burden come the holidays. We also cut way back on gift giving last year. We do it for the kids, mainly.

We still have garage sales going here, the weather has been nice. I found a Spiderman outfit that still had the tags on it-thirty bucks,got it for five dollars, which included a hoodie, shirt and pants. The holidays are all about family anyway, so we dont make it a crazy time, just being together and making memories.

Answer Posted by |Bossy4455

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