Christmas Shopping For Under $20 - Blog Challenge Day 3 of 7

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I apologize that I have been tied up on the road but wanted to send out my challenge blog. I will be catching up on notifications, etc... at the airport on Thursday. Thanks, Jay

Merry Christmas To All

For many that read this blog, you may not believe there was a time in the last fifty (50) years you could go Christmas shopping for under $20 but there was.

As a young child, I would sell Christmas and Birthday Cards door to door, work on the farm for my grandfather and uncle, and do other odd jobs to make spending money.

When the holidays approached, I had the great privilege of finding Christmas gifts for my parents and sister with money I had earned.

In Jamestown North Dakota we had many stores to select from although many no longer exist. Some of these stores include:

  • Gibsons
  • Pamida
  • Coast To Coast
  • Montgomery Ward
  • White Drug
  • Woolworth
  • JC Penny
  • Sears
  • Gun And Reel
  • Goodroad Sports
  • The Fair Store
  • White Mart
  • Ben Franklin
  • TSC

Hours were spent walking through stores looking for the perfect gift for your family members and there were so many options.

My parents never complained about any of the gifts given to them and although some were ugly or had no purpose, my mom cherished them.

A favorite gift that was both ugly and without purpose was a coconut carved like a head wall decoration. My mother hung it over the door like a trophy.

Coconut Heads Are Cool

I cannot forget about the coffee mug sets, fake crystal glasses, knick-knacks and other miscellaneous items that were on placed throughout the house as decorations.

As I approach the first Christmas in my life without my mother to talk to, I cherish the fond memories of her and wish I could enjoy one more that will never be.

My mother taught me many things but one I will never forget is that she believed the value of gifts were not determined by the cost but by the thought behind them.

Next time you receive a gift and cannot quite figure out what it is or why you received it, take a moment to cherish the thought behind the gift and not the gift itself.

  • One of my favorite gifts was a checkerboard that was handmade but was missing a row so it had no game playing value but priceless.
  • What gifts have you received that had little monetary value but were priceless?

I am still fighting my laptop issues but will have a battery delivered when I get home. I have accepted the position I talked about last night so I am no waiting for

Wishing you health, safety, and success. It sure is great being fifty going on fifteen.

I apologize that I have been tied up on the road but wanted to send out my challenge blog. I will be catching up on notifications, etc... at the airport on Thursday. Thanks, Jay

Jay Patterson


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Recent Comments

19

I find the coconut head a bit creepy.

It was within my budget. It hung over the door for probably 30 years. J

As a Mom I have received many handmade gifts from my daughters. I have kept them and display them proudly during the holidays. When I look at my Christmas tree it brings back many wonderful memories.

Patricia, that is so nice and I know they appreciate that. As my parents downsized, I was lucky enough for my mom to remember items we have her so I have many in our house. Thanks, Jay

I know where you are coming from my friend, I have been there selling grit papers and working in flower bed for 25 cents so I could by my mother this cheap gift, But the joy of it all was when she opens it was like give here a brand new fur coat. She left this world way too so.

Dennis, thanks and I forgot about GRIT and Guerney Seeds. Wow. I know the feeling and our moms do pass on before we are ready. Jay

Thank Jay

The reason behind the gift is more important than the gift itself.

Quick question, why not spoil yourself and by your self e new laptop for Christmas?

Have a good one

#TFA (The Fun Accountant)

Thanks and funny you ask about the laptop. I actually picked up a nice basic unit in case of mine totally died while on the road and was planning on giving the new one to my bride of 30 plus years. If I make it home without my laptop failing it is a new gift. If not, I guess it will be regifted. It is the thought that counts right!! Jay

Jip, It is the thought that counts.

We recently move our "office" in the cloud, it made us much more mobile and nearly paperless. All I need to do my work for my day job is the internet.

So if my laptop gives me issues, I just work from the office floating laptop until I can get my repair.

Good luck with yours.

#TFA


I remember Gibson's and Woolworth fondly We take Dane (as we did the other 3 kids) to Five Below now. He makes a list of people he wants to get gifts for with some help or it would get out of hand. Then we take him to Five Below.

In case you're not familiar, Five below has a wide range of things available that cost $5 or less, thus the name. He needs very little help with it now. In fact, by the time I get myself together (gloves off, sunglasses off and glasses on) last year, he had filled the cart with things for each person on his list except for just a couple.

My oldest daughter, who will be going back to get her Master's degree this coming year, does a lot of her shopping at Five Below. She and her boyfriend are also talking about getting married and moving a little farther out of the DC area than they grew up in. Not a bad idea. My daughter will jump at a chance to saved and a lot of what is at Five Below is very good quality.

Neither my husband nor I grew up in families who could afford to send us to college (Wel my family did have a college fund for me, but when my grandfather who raised me passed away just before senior year, I used it to pay the balloon payment on the house.) We had to take out loans and financial aid to get through. But you know what? We worked harder, studied more and drank less than our counterparts whose parents could and did pay for theirs.

It has meant years where we all got things we weren't sure what to do with, but the kids know how much goes into finding something for someone.They are just thrilled each year to make it on to the Christmas list.

If i don't chat with you before Thursday. I wish you safe travels.

Anita,

Thanks and have a great night. Yes, it sounds like your kids are wise. Everything does not revolve around the dollar and there is so much to a gift from the heart. Jay

I enjoyed your post, Jay. It brought back a lot of memories. I
lost my mother in February this year, and it will be my first Christmas without her. She would have been 98 in May. I comfort myself thinking of her being reunited with my dad and sister, grandparents, and her family who all went before her. I imagine them all happy, healthy, and singing with the angels now.

As a kid, we made most of our Christmas gifts. I remember one year Mom taught my sister, who was probably six or seven, and me, who would have been around 4, to do a simple cross stitched toaster cover for both of our grandmothers. I'm sure Mom did the more difficult stitches of outlining the design. I have and use one of those toaster covers to this day.

The small town that I lived in had a dry goods store, DeHaan's, that sold everything from fabric to Christmas ornaments. I remember my sister, Sheryll, and I were each given a nickel, and we were allowed to go to the store and pick out an ornament for our tree. I'm sure our parents would have been with us, but I don't remember them being there. I still have the fuscia beaded star that I selected and was so proud to hang on our Christmas tree. It's a bit smashed, the wire is rusty, and the paint is peeling off the beads now, but I still treasure it because of the memories attached to it.

My son never gave me a carved coconut head, although I do remember them. Colyn (my son) was so proud of himself when he presented me with a small, carved unicorn cameo trinket box about 30 years ago. I still have on my dresser to this day.

Ah, memories! Thanks for indulging me in my trip down memory lane.

Carol

Carol, I do appreciate your comments and taking me down memory lane also. Your share touched me since it was so familiar. We will get through the loss of our mothers and I agree they are in a better place. Jay

Have a good flight Jay.
Wish you the best my friend.
Eugenio.

Eugenio, Thanks, and best wishes to you also. Jay

Thanks Jay.
Nowadays you can't risk those "priceless" gifts unless they are truly priceless indeed.

Great mum.
Glad for you.

All the best and stay safe.
David

David, Thanks for chiming in and you keep the priceless gifts near you no matter the value. My first year with mom in a better place but we will make it through the holidays. Jay

I understand Jay. This December will be two years without my mum as well. One less person at the table for lunch but life goes on...
We get to continue their great work because their inspiration, memories and nourishment, continue to live in us.

David

You are lucky to have had such a grounded mom, who knew the real meaning of Christmas. Too bad that so many of those stores are gone. Times are different.
Debbie

Debbie, appreciate your comments and my mom was my life coach. Times have changed but I appreciate that my kids earned a few things from her also. Jay

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