Make Holidays Merry, Bright Without Seeing Costs Snowball : There are lots of creative ways to trim the cost of Christmas without cutting back on the enjoyment.
Nobody needs to be reminded that the recession is still with us. It is hard to ignore: Ventura County lost 5,100 jobs in the past year, and the local unemployment rate for the most recent quarter was 9.4%.
While this may sound like the prelude to a bleak holiday season, it ain’t necessarily so.
As the nation moves further away from the materialism of the ‘80s and adapts to the cautious austerity of the ‘90s, many people are rediscovering that quantity is not essential for holiday happiness. In fact, many of the most satisfying times are those that require no debt.
“Because we don’t give the kids a $50 toy, the holidays don’t have to be lacking,” said Reanne Singer, a psychologist for the Ventura County mental health juvenile justice system. “There are many inexpensive ways to make the holiday festive.”
There are, of course, many opportunities to overspend this time of year--gifts, entertaining, gift wrap, food, entertainment, cards, mailing, shipping, the kids, the kids, the kids. There are also an equal number of opportunities to minimize the costs of the celebrations. Here is a sampling of ideas, programs and possibilities to help those who are looking for ways to enjoy the holidays without paying for it until December of ’94.
GIFTS
This is the big one. Without planning and commitment, gift expenditures can skyrocket. The most important thing to do is commit to a budget and leave the credit cards at home.
One of the oldest, and most popular, ways to make the budgetary commitment is the “Christmas club.” The basic idea is to begin in January setting aside money each month for holiday gifts. If you are well-disciplined, you can make your own Christmas or Hanukkah club deposits; if not, your bank can set up an automatic program. One local family does a Christmas club variation by buying one gift per week all year, minimizing the temptation to spend the money on other things.
Kathy Boscarino, an accountant and Simi Valley mother of three, used to think that shopping early for Christmas was the answer, but has changed her mind. “I’d have my shopping all done, then I’d see some irresistible item and buy that, too,” she said. “This year, I’m not shopping until Dec. 15!”
Many families have gone to drawing names for holiday gifts, especially if the kids are grown and have spouses and families of their own. Others are combining husband/wife gifts, cutting the cost to one adult gift instead of two. Still others are skipping the December holidays altogether and drawing names for birthdays, shifting the spending to a less burdensome time of year.
Another approach, especially if the children are older, is to decide on a “family gift.” It might be a new computer everyone wants or a holiday trip to Disneyland or Mammoth.
“I think it’s important,” Singer said, “that those feeling the brunt of the recession know that it’s OK to tell the children that some years we buy more and some we buy less, and that it has nothing to do with love or caring.”
Paring down the gift list is an excellent way to decrease spending. Thousand Oaks resident Christine Nuttall, a registered nurse and mother of two, has decided to contact some friends with whom there has traditionally been a gift exchange.
“While we haven’t been badly affected by the economy this year,” she said, “some of my friends’ employment is in jeopardy and I want to offer them the option to eliminate the exchange this year.”
Many people are reluctant to broach the subject, but chances are good that your friends would welcome the opportunity to opt out of a costly routine and trade it for an evening of table games and good company.
As budgets shrink, the more creative among us are drawing names and making, instead of buying, their gifts. A family may mutually agree to make only ornaments, or T-shirts, or calendars.
“I don’t think we teach our kids very much when we hand them money to buy gifts,” Singer said. “If they make something to give, I think it makes them feel good about themselves. It can become a wonderful family tradition.”
With some thought about the recipient, you can find many inexpensive ways to get “the perfect gift.”
For the new bride, put together a collection of favorite recipes; for the harried mom, find a beautiful book and some great bath oil; for the commuting brother-in-law, locate his favorite author in a book-on-tape; for the teen-age niece anticipating her first dance, a disposable camera; for your boss--the one with a second home in Mammoth--get some fireplace potpourri or treated pine cones or, better yet, donate to a local charity in the boss’s name; for the neighbor kids, you’ll be happy to know that jigsaw puzzles are back (starting at about $2) and that Crayola now makes a 96-pack crayon box.
GIFT WRAP
One of the more hidden costs of gift-giving is the packaging. Gift wrap, tags, bows and ribbon, to say nothing of the adorable package decorations and elegant gift bags, can add up to $100 faster than you can say “Ho, ho, ho.”
Fortunately, for everyone, recycling and minimalism are now in vogue. And saving money on holiday wrap can be the most fun of the austerity activities.
Buy a $2.79 can of red spray paint and use those old coffee cans or oatmeal cylinders. Instead of paying $8 for a big holiday gift bag for the oversized present, take that same can of red paint and decorate a green trash bag.
Instead of costly ribbons and bows, use plain gift wrap and decorate with cut-outs from last year’s holiday cards. Use paper doilies both as decoration and gift tag. Decorate with wrapped candies such as peppermints, chocolate drops or candy canes, and use brown grocery bags and turn the kids loose with holiday stamps.
Make decorative cutouts from newspapers, create holiday bells or Christmas trees from egg carton sections, and cut up all the old ribbon in the house and make confetti to decorate your gifts.
Taking a thoughtful walk around your home will provide you with a dozen more ideas for inexpensive ways to package your presents.
ENTERTAINING
For those whose holidays include a lot of guests and entertaining, December can be a costly month. Planning is the key, as is a willingness to downsize and make changes in your concept of the ideal holiday party or hostess.
A fun way to socialize and share the expense is the old-fashioned progressive party. For those too young to remember, a progressive party starts with hors d’oeuvres at the first home, perhaps soup or salad at the second, entree at the third, ending with dessert and coffee at the last stop.
You can also hold a food theme party where everyone brings a favorite dessert or appetizer or salad. Everyone gets to showcase their special talent, the guests get delightful variety and nobody goes broke.
For those who must have eight varieties of cookies around during the holidays, give yourself a break and hold a cookie exchange. Invite eight guests to your home one evening or weekend and charge an admission fee of eight dozen of their best homemade treat. Play some holiday music, offer hot chocolate, spiced cider, wine or cinnamon coffee, and enjoy the company. When it’s time to go, everyone leaves with a dozen of each guest’s specialty.
Finally, for those really willing to break new ground, skip the whole traditional holiday dinner. Put on a great stew or chili in the morning, buy some special cheese bread and trade the time you would have spent standing in the kitchen for time spent sitting in the living room with family.
Instead of slaving and stuffing yourselves, you can take a walk together, or have everyone write down their hopes for the coming year and seal them in an envelope to read next December.
ENTERTAINMENT
This is where Ventura County really shines. So many holiday programs are available for little or no money that there is little reason to cross the county line for entertainment.
Skip the $60 Nutcracker tickets at the Music Center this year and go to one of the many local productions.
Or how about a theatrical presentation? And there are senior citizens events, Christmas tree lightings, radio adaptations, ballets, boat parades and choral music programs.
CARDS, POSTAGE
With postage at 29 cents per, holiday cards can be an unexpected jolt to a tight budget. First, cut down the list. Don’t send to people you see regularly. They know what’s going on in your life, so give them a hearty, verbal “Happy Holidays” and spend the 29 cents keeping up with friends who moved to Wyoming.
There are some beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and very expensive cards out there. If you can’t afford too many of them, head for the copy store.
Most copy stores have seasonal letterhead stationery perfect for a holiday letter, and you won’t have to hand write the annual news 75 times.
To save on holiday shipping, plan ahead for those gifts you have to mail. Don’t buy the brand-new Radio Flyer for the nephew who lives in Virginia. Buy gift certificates, magazine subscriptions, books or videos when you won’t be hand-delivering.
When approaching the holidays this year, it will help to emphasize the spirit of the season.
“What’s important is to focus on family, camaraderie and the underlying spiritual element of the season,” Singer said.
CRAFT CLASSES
For those interested in making their own gifts, craft classes around the county offer a wide range of opportunities to learn a new skill or hone an old one. A small sampling of classes available:
CAMARILLO
* Pine cone basket, mop reindeer, centerpiece angel or Christmas yarn tree, Sprouse, Camarillo Village Square, 2530 Las Posas Road, 388-5592.
OXNARD
* Stamped embossed Christmas cards, Santa roly-poly and kids’ holiday classes, Ben Franklin Crafts, 1889 E. Ventura Blvd., 485-6005.
SIMI VALLEY
* Christmas sweat shirt, clay pot soldier, holiday wreath and Christmas elf for adults; crafts for kids are taught at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon Saturdays at a cost of 25 cents to $1, Michael’s, MountainGate Plaza, 1117-B E. Los Angeles Ave., 526-0360.
THOUSAND OAKS
* Holiday cooking and crafts for ages 6 to 12, holiday crafts fun for ages 3 to 5, holiday shoppers special for ages 3 to 7, Conejo Recreation and Park District, Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 N. Moorpark Road, 492-2461.
VENTURA
* Children’s gingerbread house for ages 5 to 12, holiday crafts fun for ages 7 to 12 and holiday card prints for ages 5 to 12, Ventura Community Services. All classes held at the Barranca Vista Center, 7050 Ralston St., 658-4726.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE
* Duck pin Santa, eucalyptus wreath, holly on a broom, kid’s gifts and kid’s ornaments, Grason’s, 31149 Via Colinas, No. 601, (818) 707-6008.
Many more classes may be found by calling the facilities listed or checking with local community agencies, craft stores, or recreation and parks departments. The fees for most crafts classes range from $4 to $15.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
Below is a sampling of entertainment events available around the county this holiday season. For additional holiday events and activities, check with other local organizations and in the 11-Day Calendar.
CAMARILLO
* A radio adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will be performed in front of a live audience by members of the Camarillo Community Theater, Camarillo Airport Theater, 330 Skyway Drive, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.; $10 to benefit Casa Pacifica, a shelter under construction for abused and neglected Ventura County children. Call 388-5716.
MOORPARK
* “The Nutcracker, Melodrama Style” at the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama and Vaudeville Company, 45 E. High St. Show times 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays; through Dec. 19; $13; 529-1212.
* Tree Lighting Ceremony, City of Moorpark Community Center, 799 Moorpark Ave.; Thursday, at 7 p.m. No charge. Call 529-6864.
* Breakfast With Santa, City of Moorpark Community Center, 799 Moorpark Ave., Dec. 11, at 8:30 a.m.; $6; 529-6864.
* “The Revenge of the Queen Bee” will be performed by the Moorpark College Children’s Dance Theater, Moorpark College Forum Theater, 7075 Campus Road, Dec. 11; show times 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 7:30 p.m.; $.75 for children, $2 for adults; 378-1458.
OXNARD
* 28th Annual Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Lights, with 40 boats participating has “Back to the Fifties” as this year’s theme. Channel Islands Harbor, Dec. 11, 7 p.m. No charge. Call 985-4852.
* “Ceremony of Carols” performed by the Ventura Master Chorale Children’s Choir, Oxnard City Public Library, 251 S. A St., Dec. 12, at 4 p.m.; $5; 653-7282.
THOUSAND OAKS
The following Thousand Oaks events all take place at Cal Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road:
* “Music of the Holidays” performed by the Conejo Symphony Orchestra, with the Sherwood Singers and the Conejo Chamber Orchestra; Gymnasium-Auditorium; Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. and Dec. 12, at 3 p.m.; $9 to $17; 495-6883.
* “Christmas Concert” with the Cal Lutheran University Choir and Chamber Orchestra, Samuelson Chapel; Friday and Saturday, at 8 p.m., Sunday, at 3 p.m.; no charge; 493-3151.
* Winter Festival for children and their families with real snow, ice skaters, children’s entertainers; Kingsmen Park; Saturday, at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free to the public. Call 493-3151.
* Kwanzaa Festival, an African American celebration honoring family, community and culture; Preus-Brandt Forum, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; no charge; 493-3151.
* Candlelight Services featuring a live nativity, Samuelson Chapel; Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. Free to the public. Call 493-3151.
VENTURA
* “The Littlest Angel,” Plaza Players Theatre, 34 N. Palm St.; show times Dec. 11, 12, 18, 19, at 2 p.m.; $3 for children, $5 for adults. Call 653-2378.
* “Holidays Are Murder,” an audience participation murder-mystery play at Theater-by-the-Sea, Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Drive; show times Fridays and Saturdays: 90-minute dessert play at 6 p.m., $15; 2 1/2-hour full dinner show at 8 p.m.; $28; 645-5624.
* Ventura Harbor Village’s “Twas the Lights Before Christmas Weekend” will be held Dec. 18; the “Neptune’s Christmas” theme parade commences at 6 p.m. with the “Pedal, Oar and Paddle Parade” and the public is invited to take part in pedal boats, kayaks, dories, dinghies and the like; the main attraction begins at 7 p.m. with about 40 decorated vessels from local yacht clubs and marinas boating through the harbor; for more information, call 642-8538.