Hi Marsha

I was just doing my holiday food list at supper time
Re: Christmas......with all of us on low/no/disability incomes, we decided to let the gifts go and just buy for the2 grandkids.
It was getting crazy....no one needed anything and we just swapped $$ for $$ essentially in gift cards or certificates

This saves $$, we can put a bit more into the dinner, it eliminates shopping stress/crowds, and the kids have fun

40+ years ago it was so different.....we would take a bus downtown, and buy gifts in the shops.
Main Street had Christmas lights and music, and you had a list of gifts to get.....it was so festive on a snowy night

Now everyone has what they want/need IMMEDIATELY and are not into the trinket gifts, whereas years ago you could buy something simple with them in mind, they had to SAVE UP for it, or put it on a list for a birthday or Christmas.....we didn't have credit or malls.
We also had a year where right after the new Year we all set about making/exchanging only home crafted gifts for one another.....
woven place mats, knitted/crocheted afghans etc.
That was neat, but people don't appreciate such things now!
I miss those days
Ok....rant over
Have a nice night