Annual Christmas Gift Exchange

For the past 5 years in my boyfriend's family there is a White Elephant gift exchange. At first it was cheap like $20 but then it rose to $40 after the first year and then the following year it was $50 and has stayed at $50 for the past few years. But this year because of the economy I told my boyfriend's mom that we couldn't contribute two gifts (one for each of us) and that we would only be exchanging one gift as a couple. Yesterday she called to say that they had decided that instead of a gift exchange this year that everyone could contribute money toward getting a cow or a goat for a family in Africa. Cool! I guess it costs about $5 for about 20 chickens so it must be pretty reasonable for a cow or a goat. But it makes me think about the people in this country that are starving or homeless, which could include myself very soon, since I am jobless and have exhausted my disability and am currently living on the last of my cashed out 401k. Somehow I'm not comforted by the gift to Africa when I'm starting to see more and more people lose their jobs and homes here. I can't even begin to imagine what is more right.

Five years ago I was relieved with the idea of a gift exchange as my first Christmas with my boyfriend's family cost me $1,100. I had gone out and purchased gifts that I put a lot of thought into and then I was given a list from them where I had to go out and get more stuff. I spent my Christmas bonus on his family. In the years since I have been with him my own family has been left behind in comparison. I put together care packages with stuff I make or stuff I find on sale during the year like scented soaps or candles and mail it off to them. The response from my family is so thankful for all these little things I'm so glad I make the effort. This year I would just like a nice Christmas without any pressure as to who I buy for or who I contribute money to. Funny thing....when I told my boyfriend's mom that we might be homeless soon she said, "Oh that's too bad." I'm thinking about packaging myself up and sending myself to my sister who would love nothing more than to have me for Christmas....no strings attached. Oh and by the way this year my family is getting bacon pecan brittle for Christmas. Yummy!