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Surviving Christmas consumerism

09/28/07

Posted under family finance, kids and money

 hello kitty

An employee for Japanese toy maker Sega Toys displays the world’s smallest “Grand Pianist - Hello Kitty Version”, which has 88 working keys and can automatically play 115 pre-installed musical songs, including 15 Hello Kitty related pieces. The original version of the Grand Pianist started selling in Japan in April and the new white Hello Kitty version will be put on the market next month.

Eighty-eight days to go before Christmas! Many of us scrimp and save the whole year, only to lose it all in December. Parents go crazy buying the best Christmas gifts and serving the best Christmas dinners, mostly to assuage our own guilt when we feel we haven’t spent much time with our kids the rest of the year! I’m guilty here too hehe.

If we wait until December to decide on a limit for Christmas spending, it’s easy to be swayed by great commercials and amazing packaging. Hubby and I used to have a “skies the limit” attitude when it comes to getting gifts for the kiddos, but lately, we have decided as a family to lie low on consumerism and focus on what’s really important – family, togetherness, and of course a gift that doesn’t take away the spirit of what we actually celebrate on Christmas time.

Let’s swap ideas on gift ideas that will keep giving that warm fuzzy feeling of Christmas even after the celebrations, especially those that go easy on the credit card.

Me first: the holiday favorite for my only daughter is a subscription to The Friend, a magazine for children that costs P500-something J so she feels Christmassy 12 months a year, and because she’s money-smart, nanay and papa matching the money she saved the whole year.

Your turn. :-)

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18 Responses to “Surviving Christmas consumerism”

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  1. 18
    www.christmasforallofus.info » Comment on Surviving Christmas consumerism by www … Says:

    [...] http://www.christmasforallofus.info » Surviving Christmas consumerism wrote a fantastic post today on “Comment on Surviving Christmas consumerism by www …”Here’s ONLY a quick extractSalve wrote a fantastic post today on “Surviving Christmas consumerism”Here’s ONLY a quick extractEighty-eight days to go before Christmas! Many of us scrimp and save the whole year, only to lose it all in December. … [...]

  2. 17
    www.christmasforallofus.info » Surviving Christmas consumerism Says:

    [...] Salve wrote a fantastic post today on “Surviving Christmas consumerism”Here’s ONLY a quick extractEighty-eight days to go before Christmas! Many of us scrimp and save the whole year, only to lose it all in December. Parents go crazy buying the best Christmas gifts and serving the best Christmas dinners, mostly to assuage our own … [...]

  3. 16
    hachiko Says:

    Salve im sure I didnt put u on d defensive over Kitty :) One of the perks of “wealthworthiness” (if i cud use that word) is to freely choose what u want n NOT apologize 2 others over ur own tastes, and okay wealthsmarties can take a swipe over other peoples’ fashion tastes hehehe :D But in good decent taste, of course.

    During my TV days we were notorious for circulating jokes on Ate Jolens n her fashion stuff, mwahaha! (Salve maka-Jolens k b? :D ) Our little thanks 4 d jokes circulated about our own show (Salve alam mo yun! ;) ) But it’s all just 4 laughs, never foul or personal. Feeling wealthworthy, hehehe…

    Salve 4 Xmas ur husband cud treat u to Sanrio Hello Kitty Land in Tokyo. Havent been there myself but I read for 3,000 yen you could canoe in H Kitty River n DROOL at all d Kitty merchandise inside :D

  4. 15
    nina Says:

    Alam ko si Kris Aquino may collection ng hello kity pinakita dati sa TV. Kami ng best friend ko namimili pa rin kami ng mga hello kitty, little twin stars, disney princess at barbie na mga gamit (e.g comforter, bed sheet), dolls, stuff toys, figurines and other collectible items :)

  5. 14
    Salve Says:

    edzmaya, yup a musical instrument is a great idea. But be sure to check if your kid is ready for it or else that money is a waste for sure. We bought our daughter a guitar because she really wanted to have one, but after some time, she realized she wasnt ready for it so it sits and gathers dust until now.

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