HERE'S SOME IDEAS FOR YOU - ECONOMICS OF A HOLIDAY SEASON - KEEPING THE SPIRIT WITHOUT SPENDING

We had a small traditional Thanksgiving feast, laid back, and let "Black Friday" and other sales events go by without a purchase.  That's because we're on a budget and committed to keeping the spirit of the Holidays alive while staying on that budget.  We're committed to spending our money wisely, recycling, giving away things we don't need (without a tax deduction), being innovative and creative. 

We don't think that a Christmas Tree piled high with gifts is important.  In fact, this year we will decorate without a Christmas Tree.  The drought has raised prices on real ones and we will not buy a fake one; they're bad for our economy and not biodegradeable.

Here are some ideas for you:

Instead of buying Christmas stockings (they get bigger every year) go traditional and put out one knee sock or one shoe.

Use old Christmas cards again by using them hung on string in windows, cut them to make your own present-tags, or use them to make tree ornaments.

Use old Christmas wrap again.  Cut out the ripped, taped, or worn out parts and wrap smaller gifts with it.

Use fabric scraps or scarves for gift wrap.

Don't buy a tree.  There is no reason that gifts must be under a tree.

Ornaments can be shown off and appreciated by placing them in bowls for the table.

Pull out old, ethnic recipes, and give things like casseroles that can be frozen and thawed out for meals, as gifts.  (Call ahead and tell the person that's what you're giving them to be sure they will appreciate it and have room in their freezer.  Reuse the small #5 Plastic containers from store bought frozen meals for smaller portions.)

Have a "misfit" toy party.  You and your children's friends wrap a toy they used but which is in good condition that they are through with, bake a cake, and have the kids grab bag the toys.

Don't forget about caroling; cheering up others by appearing at their door with song is still a great gift... go by the nearest Assisted Living place in your neighborhood.  Last time we did this people cried "You remembered us!"

SKIP THE FAKE TREE AND BUY A SMALL PLANTABLE LIVE TREE INSTEAD

What to do about a Christmas tree when you want to BUY AMERICAN?  Buy a LIVING PALATABLE TREE!

Really, all the fake plastic trees are a landfill nightmare and a biodegradability nightmare and a rarely made in the USA.  A live cut tree that was grown to be harvested is next best.  That tree should not go to a bonfire.  It should go to a city or other pick up that grinds the tree up and turns it into mulch.

WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED FOR THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT!

Here is the HOW TO PLANT from Better Homes and Gardens!

CHRISTMAS TREE PLANTING - BHG

"The key to success is timing. Purchase the tree as close to Christmas as possible, and keep in indoors for as brief a time as you can. It is also important to prepare a planting spot outdoors before the ground freezes so hard you can't dig."

Now, we grew up with the tradition of buying and planting live and didn't have a problem at all.  We actually didn't dig a hole or worry about how long the tree was on the back porch.  The tree roots should have dirt around them and be bound in burlap.  Then it was left outside on the cold porch in a cardboard box, not where the snow drifts could get it.  Soon as the ground unfroze we planted.
And every tree we planted took root and grew much bigger!

A better fate than old Charlie Brown' tree wouldn't you say?

CHRISTMAS TREE

SANTA WHISPERING IN THE EAR OF THE LIST MAKER

BUY A REAL HOME GROWN CHRISTMAS TREE and the HECK WITH FAKE SYNTHETICS made in ????

OK FOLKS... it's time to put up a Christmas Tree...
Why not this year buy a REAL ONE ?
This is especially important if you have no tree already bought.

Do we really need more fake trees in our landfills ?

A tree with falling leaves was good enough for CHARLIE BROWN !

NAT KING COLE ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH

CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SANTA

Christmas has become the most materialistic time of the year in the United States of America.

Meanwhile this year more families who have lost homes and apartments - everything - are going to homeless shelters this winter.

Many families who still have are taking in relatives.

Though this blog is about PURCHASING PATRIOTICALLY, to preserve jobs in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, we feel that an old fashioned Christmas can be celebrated with home-made gifts - that the thought counts.

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE FRIENDS and FAMILY who are hurting, may we suggest that you gift them with GROCERIES?

May we suggest that THIS IS THE TIME TO SIMPLY ASK BEFOREHAND what someone NEEDS?

BLACK FRIDAY Coming Up... PATRIOTIC GIFT IDEAS

CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU WANT TO SHOP MADE IN THE U.S.A. by AMERICAN CITIZENS and of AMERICAN GROWN or MANUFACTURED MATERIALS!

A CHALLENGE YOU CAN TAKE.

BLACK FRIDAY (the day after Thanksgiving, the busiest retail shopping day of the year) is coming and the Interent will have deals, and so will most of the stores that are taking adds out for ELECTRONICS ! Electronics are a problem spot for us. Their manufacturing has long ago been exported with Japanese products sometimes superior to American.

THINK AMERICAN JOBS... LET US KNOW WHAT YOU FIND!

COMING UP ! SOME (HUMBLE) GIFT SUGGESTIONS !