A little down...

[philm00x]

I know I should be feeling happy, especially since this is my favorite time of year. But I just feel a bit down and lacking motivation to get shopping done. Maybe it's just that money is tighter this year than previous years, and I don't want to be a grinch by not being able to get things out to people on my list. I think I just need to brew. Brewing makes me happy.

[Funky Skunk Brewing]

Hey, I know how you feel, Phil. Money seems to be a little tighter for a lot of folks this year. And it stinks knowing that you may have to not get something that you really wanted to get for someone as a gift. Just remember, it's not always the size, cost or number of gifts -- It's that you gave a damn enough to put thought into it to give to someone as a selfless gesture of love or respect.

This is also my favourite time of the year as well. Everyone seems to be a little nicer, more patient and probably how they want to be the entire year this time of the year.

Now go brew some beer

[gwcr]

Right there with ya guys. Love this time of year too, and has always (well, almost always... ) been more about giving gifts than getting for me. Agree 100% that things are tight all over. Seems like prices keep inching up (although at a slow pace), but the income not so much. Will still be a great Christmas though with friends, family and the reason for the season.

[JimH]

That is always tough. But hopefully it will work out. The people who you care about should just feel lucky you do care, and understand the money situation. Its tight for my whole family this year, so we are opting to spend time together rather than do gifts.
So, go ahead and brew. It cures a lot!

[jimjohson]

the 'blues" are not uncommon this time of year. I can get tight money thing everybody's in the same boat. it helps me to remember that; the best gifts come from the heart, not a list. fwiw any excuse to brew is a good one.

[philm00x]

Well, it's not just family gifts.. I've got a list of folks I'd like to share my wares with, but I can't afford to share with the whole list. Not all at once, anyhow. I'll just have to space it out little by little.

[Gymrat]

I am drawing $600 a month below what I take home when I am working. I have 7 grandkids so it is a bit tight for me also. But my leg is not in pain and I dont have to go to work for a while. So I am happy.

I hope you feel better soon Phil

[jimjohson]

that'll help you to, as Scrooge said: "honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."- A Christmas Carol.

[DaYooper]

Except for nieces and nephews, most of my friends and family have realized that gift giving becomes something of a "I give you twenty bucks, you give me twenty bucks" and that as individuals we can probably spend that twenty bucks better ourselves as my friends have no idea what gadget for brewing or whatever I actually need/want. So we have all pretty much stopped giving traditional gifts and are having get togethers instead. I would much rather someone spend the money on a bottle of wine (or three) to share with a nice dinner or lunch which also gives me a chance to share some brews whether it be a homebrew or some generic Blue or Old Milwaukee I keep for those who would rather palette an weak lager. As a hunter and a brewer I can give people something unique that in all reality would cost a fortune in the outside world. And it is nice to taste something different others provide whether a tort or a new take on deviled eggs or a bottle of wine I havent tried before.

Of course with SWMBO she will always get her gift(s). But she is usually pretty upfront about what she wants and in most cases finds the deal. One thing she got this year was a SodaStream she wanted for several years but did not want to pay the price. At 1/3 off, it was a steal as well as becomes an interesting experiment for me to see if I can insta-carb a beer right out of the LBK.

[Beer-lord]

We quit buying fancy gifts for EVERYONE in the family and draw names. And, I prefer to get some money to a needy family so that they and their kids can have gifts.

I beg my wife not to give me nothing as I need nothing. I'm not a scrooge but I think people (adults not kids) put too much into the act of giving and not the "reason for the season". How could I ever get into the Christmas spirit by waiting in a long line of miserable, impatient people at Walmart?

[RickBeer]

I'm with the "quit giving gifts" crowd. Close to 20 years ago when everyone on my side kept missing birthdays, I called a halt to it. The nephews get a check until they turn 18, and it's sort of silly because we all give the same, so in reality no one is spending anything (although we are since ours aged out first). My wife and I haven't given each other a present (well, except for her putting a bow on her head) for decades. We give our two boys gifts/money (they usually are saving up for things like 55 inch TVs), they give us stuff, and we're done.

I've never understood people who can't afford to spending $1,000 or more on gifts, then bemoaning things. Your gift is you - your relationship, your kindness, your helping out when they need help doing something. If it's all about material objects, then seek other relationships I say.

My wife's aunt always gave us little "crap" gifts on Christmas. A box of cheap chocolate cherries from KMart, a pair of gloves, hankerchiefs (who uses those?). I finally talked to her and asked her to stop, told her that being with her at Christmas was more than we needed and there was no need for a gift.

These opinions may not be shared by anyone.

[philm00x]

Thanks everyone for sharing your wisdom and for helping lift my spirits! You're totally right. I hope that the few gifts I can give, that the thought put into them is appreciated. I'm feeling much better

[Yankeedag]

I'm normally happy this time of year. Well... I'm just normally pretty happy.
The wife complains that I'm hard to buy for. Nah. I'm not.
The trick is, they don't have to buy me anything.
I enjoy the company of my wife. I'm near my son.
I get a visit with my grand~kidlets on the weekend.
I get to brew when I want.
I mean, think about it. What more could I really want?
During the year, if I need or want something, I just get it.
Now, when I ask the wife what she wants, and she says nothing.. and if I get her that... I know I'll get the stink eye.
Can't win.

[Beer-lord]

Did you know that the average person who shops (likely a female) spends $700 on Christmas gifts and $138 on themselves? Really doesn't mean a lot but I'm sure some people use that as an excuse to buy something for themselves.

[FrozenInTime]

Bah Humbug..... (surprised??)

Xmas is the time of year the store owners make money-money-money. Ppl have almost forgotten the reason behind christmas. It's about sharing time and love with each other, celebrating the birth of Jesus. Instead, it's who can spend the most, who gets the most, biggest, most expensive gifts. We grew up starting christmas at the church enjoying singing and the kids plays. Miss that. Christmas day we all got/gave our little gifts, more often than not something that was made by our relatives, not MADE in CHINA. We would all gather at one house, sing, eat and be merry (It helped all the adults drank xmas wine... LOL). What I really hate, deep hate, the way the thieving stores start selling christmas before thanksgiving.... that always boils my blood.

Now, before ya'll get your panties in a bunch, I do agree with most everything ya'll said, it's about time spent togather that counts.

For those that are a little tight, I find a gift of beer that you have made always brings smiles to ppl. For the little ones, try to make them something with your own hands. Or buy them something that requires interaction, ie NOT video games or movies. Remember GI Joe or Barbie? Cabbage patch kids, OR, a deck of cards? I hate the electronic baby sitter generation. With our family being spread all over the US of A, it got too expensive to buy/ship gifts. You want to see expensive? When we lived in Germany it was a yearly killer on the budget to send gifts! We have pretty much gotten to where a call on christmas brings more joy than store bought chinese crap. I tell ppl don't get me anything, if I need it, I probably already bought it. If I want it, I will get it when I can. To rip off a few songs, I tell them, all I want is you!

This post is NOT to piss off anyone, I hope I did not offend anyone. I really do love Christmas, people just need to get back to basics and understand what it is truly about.

Phil, if your tight like you said, don't worry about it. Those that love you understand and would in all likely-hood just enjoy being with you, or talking to you on the phone if not near by. Trust me when I say that, I have been there more times than I like to remember.