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Loan for Christmas presents?!
Very frustrated. My husband has told me something twice that I am surprised about. The first time I was so shocked I didn't say anything. The second time I just looked at him because I wasn't sure what to say. Everything I could think of would have started a bad argument.
Background information: We just bought a house six months ago, he's in graduate school full-time, and I'm the only full-time paycheck in the house.
We, like most, don't have a lot of extra money right now. I'm crafty and bake, so I've talked to him about doing that sort of thing as Christmas presents this year since the cash is low. He seemed to be on board. Then he comes up to me and goes--he wants to get about a $1,000 loan for Christmas presents. No, we don't have children. Christmas presents for his parents, his brother, sister IL, niece, his grandmother, my mother, etc...grown folks. 'Scuse me very much!!! And WHO is going to pay that freaking loan back?!?! It was all I could do not to lose my mind. He wants other people to have good presents from us...a good "showing." He is not usually like this. Maybe it's because he doesn't have a job this year.
PLEASE tell me no one thinks this is a good idea. And, how do you all suggest I talk to him about this in the least argumentative way? I need him to understand this is a bad decision without it blowing up into a giant fight.
Re: Loan for Christmas presents?!
Wow, sounds like a great idea. You're living on one paycheck, he's a student, you just bought a house, and he wants to spend $1,000 on presents for grown ups. Totally a genius plan!
/end sarcasm.
Tell him HELL NO.
Well you will in essence be taking out $1,000 to pay for presents, however, you will wind up paying MORE back than $1,000 because of interest. Those $1,000 worth of presents will easily climb over that. Stick with baking, crocheting people stuff, and the like.
Smile at him. Tell him that while you understand that his desire to lavish presents on his beloved family is strong, it is just not feasible this year because your circumstances have changed. Remind him that everyone knows he is a graduate student and that no one will be expecting expensive things from him this year. That no one will think less of him because he is unable to give with his usual generosity.
That is just silly.
Give everyone baked goods. They will love it and they won't collect dust.
I'm with the rest of the crowd. Do you really want to be paying interest on those Christmas presents for Lord knows how long?
I understand people like to give gifts (guilty) but there's also gift giving within your means. For the birth of their second child, I gave my hubby's sister a knitted blanket for her, it turned out to be one of the only homemade gifts the baby got (mom doesn't have time unfortunately). She loved it, it only cost a few bucks, but took SEVERAL weeks to make (i'm not so quick at knitting).
Most people would understand that money is tight, especially with school right now, and the economy as a whole.
Use the excuse that you can give more next year or whenever you have the means. We give to the niece/nephew's college fund every year, so we only have on cheap present that we wrap so they can open something, they don't know when we put the $$ in the fund and quite frankly at 6mo and 3, they don't really understand the college idea anyway.
Actually, this is something worth fighting over. Keeping the peace will cost you 1000$ plus interest, etc.
I have to marvel at you keeping your mouth shut.
DH and I wouldn't have a fight over this because it would be a simple no, end of discussion. If he wanted to argue about it, he'd be talking to himself.
I'm all about everyone having a voice but this is so outrageously stupid that discussing it suggests the idea has some merit. It does not.
If he wants a nice showing he should get a holiday job to pay for it.