Christmas Questions - Page 2

[HikeMama]

Wow I got some great responses.

Stealing the idea about putting the books in a basket. My daughter is a bookworm and we will soon have a separate playroom and bedroom. I have been trying to figure out how to not have a pile of books next to the bed (the bookcase won't fit in the bedroom) so a big basket of books would be perfect. I will start buying them now.

When I have more time I'll be looking for more ideas to steal in this post!!

We're planning on spending under $200 (hopefully for most of her christmases), if I can find good deals I'm sure it will be significantly less.

[sunnmama]

Last year, when ds was turning 2, he got a Craigslist wooden kitchen ($40, but came with some other handmade wooden items that i gave him before Christmas), dd's hand-me-down kitchen items (she is 6 years older, and they had been stored--new to him!), and some stocking stuffers. I'm sure it was less than $50, all total.

[wildmonkeys]

Great ideas! I might have to make a super hero cape!

My boys each get 3 gifts on Christmas morning (we do the three wisemen brought Jesus three gifts) and a gift on Christmas Eve.

So far, I got my 2 year old a Cars Lunchbox on clearance at Target for $2.50 (since his brothers are both in school he loves "school stuff")

I got an unopened copy of the full length Thomas Magic Railroad movie on freecycle yesterday

I am going to keep shopping for train stuff as that seems to be his current interest - I am hoping to find him a Thomas book for 25 cents at our local thrift shop

Anyway, my goal is to spend $10 - $15

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by HikeMama

We're planning on spending under $200 (hopefully for most of her christmases), if I can find good deals I'm sure it will be significantly less.

I spend more than that per kid most years (maybe every year), but only because I start buying stocking stuffers early, and don't realize how many I have. I swear I won't next year, and then I do it again...every year. But, we definitely don't spend more than $200/kid on gifts, except maybe last year. We definitely spent more than $200 on ds1 (the Wii cost more than that, all by itself), and might have on dd1.

I don't think I answered the number of gifts question. My kids get three each - one big, one medium and one small. (Either the small or the medium comes from Santa.) I'm thinking of adding Christmas Eve PJs this year, but if I do, they'll be added to the total, not included in it.

[frugalmama]

Last year DD was two and we went all out, but it was all from the thrift shop or bought with register rewards from Walgreens as I had tons.

She got a pedal car, a doll, books, puzzles, some videos and I'm not sure what else.



I'm at a total loss for this year though - she is drowning in toys and doesn't play with most of them {I need to weed about half out for an upcoming yard sale}, and I'm not finding much at the thrift shops this year. I know books will be on the list, and maybe some DVD's but other than that I'm clueless for what to get her.

[daytripper75]

We buy three gifts and stocking stuffers. All said, we will likely spend around $100 on him.

Ours is getting a bounce back racer r/c car, a neat take apart car that comes with an electric drill and something else, not sure what.

[Ianthe]

We do "Something you want, something you need, something to play with, something to read" plus PJs for winter solstice, and something in a stocking (first time with a stocking this year).

For my 2yo here is the plan:

Something you want: Classic Tonka Truck ($30)
Something you need: Snow clothes (bib and boots) ($30)
Something to play with: Instrument (Hoping to find a 1/4 size violin for cheap, if not then we'll get a child's guitar) ($30)
Something to read: a book! Probably Dr. Suess ($1-5)

I think he will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Tonka truck the most.

With the above, plus the PJs and stocking stuffer, I am planning on $100 (Hoping to trade for some of those items or giftcards too, if I can) for DS1, and probably $30 for DS2 (he will be 6 months old and doesn't need much).

[kirstenb]

I spent probably abut $250 for DS and included in that were a few little things for DS2- he'll only be 6 weeks then so I think his were under $30. I didn't get a ton of things for DS but the things I got were more expensive- some books, a nice puzzle, a Plan Toys train set with some small accessories, a few stacking toys, play food and some dishes for the toy kitchen. We are also getting him a nice kitchen, but I am using CC points to buy that so it won't actually be costing me money. The kitchen and accessories are coming from Santa and are technically for both boys, even though it will be awhile before the baby can enjoy it. DS doesn't have very many toys so I don't mind spending some more on him at the holidays, since that is the only time we really buy him toys.

[Sailor]

Now, I'm not saying my dp and I will do this. Once the baby is earth side, we may feel differently.

But, because we have such a large family who loves to shop ... our idea was to give our child empty boxes to unwrap. Until around age 3. I mean, every time my nieces and nephews got something when they were two - the box and unwrapping it was the most interesting part!

Plus, the part of the brain which holds long term memories doesn't form until age 2. So, what child will really remember opening empty boxes? Besides, for small kids, I think unwrapping is 99.9% of the fun.

[JamieCatheryn]

Originally Posted by Sailor

Now, I'm not saying my dp and I will do this. Once the baby is earth side, we may feel differently.

But, because we have such a large family who loves to shop ... our idea was to give our child empty boxes to unwrap. Until around age 3. I mean, every time my nieces and nephews got something when they were two - the box and unwrapping it was the most interesting part!

Plus, the part of the brain which holds long term memories doesn't form until age 2. So, what child will really remember opening empty boxes? Besides, for small kids, I think unwrapping is 99.9% of the fun.

My son loves it when I wrap up his toys he has already for let him unwrap them. Not for real gift occasions, though. He also likes to "help" wrap things.

[wildmonkeys]

My 2 year old would not be happy if he wrapped an empty box lol However, I do agree that unwrapping is half the fun and that he would be pretty much happy unwrapping ANYTHING. So socks or shampoo or other necessities are often enough for really little ones.

[RoundAbout]

We do the book, jammies, and toy thing. I might add a game from now on too since he's getting old enough to play.

Last year my 2 year-old got a book, PJs, and a homemade play kitchen with accessories.
His birthday is around Christmas as well and we got him a balance bike.
Grandparent gifts were - art easel, Playmobil, music instruments, play food for the kitchen.

This year I'm a bit stumped - right now my son has a nice, but not overwhelming collection of toys. He seems more into activities than toys but I know that will change as his imagination and motor skills develop more. My mom has already bought some Thomas stuff for his train table so I'd like to get something different. Maybe a marble run for his big gift? Anyone have good experience with these? They look like fun for the whole family. I'm also thinking of a hand-cranked flashlight as a stocking stuffer since he loves wearing the batteries out on mine.

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by Sailor

But, because we have such a large family who loves to shop ... our idea was to give our child empty boxes to unwrap. Until around age 3. I mean, every time my nieces and nephews got something when they were two - the box and unwrapping it was the most interesting part!

Plus, the part of the brain which holds long term memories doesn't form until age 2. So, what child will really remember opening empty boxes? Besides, for small kids, I think unwrapping is 99.9% of the fun.

That might work if there are no other kids around opening gifts with actual stuff inside.

But, past, say, 18 mo, my kids both understood that a wrapped gift has something fun inside, and would be very disappointed and confused to find an empty box. My ds will turn 3 shortly after Christmas this year. He still remembers opening gifts last Christmas, and understands it will all happen again this Christmas. No, he probably won't remember either of these Christmases long term, but he sure is enjoying the memories now!

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by Sailor

Now, I'm not saying my dp and I will do this. Once the baby is earth side, we may feel differently.

But, because we have such a large family who loves to shop ... our idea was to give our child empty boxes to unwrap. Until around age 3. I mean, every time my nieces and nephews got something when they were two - the box and unwrapping it was the most interesting part!

Plus, the part of the brain which holds long term memories doesn't form until age 2. So, what child will really remember opening empty boxes? Besides, for small kids, I think unwrapping is 99.9% of the fun.

I guarantee that my 2.5 year old would realize that there is nothing in the box as well. Plus, while not everyone has memories that go back earlier than 2, I do and I have met folks with preverbal, infant/toddler memories. I wouldn't bank on them not remembering something purely based on age.

ETA: My son has never actually experienced the joy of tearing through paper wrapping paper. We use only fabric wrapping bags in my house. I do remember it being most of the fun as a kid, but we just don't do it here.

[seaheroine]

DD would also not be happy about an empty box. She is quite aware that presents/mail packages usually hold contents, lol. You should see her when the mail comes and she isn't quite two.

She'll be two on the Solstice as well. Last year, between Christmas and her birthday, she got a rocking horse, some really nice books, about twelve Holztiger farm animals, three of pairs of shoes, a wooden kitchen, a tea set, wooden food and several FP Little People things from relatives.

This year, I'm planning on getting her a dollhouse and furniture (along with a play table - maybe from the grandparents), some more Holztiger figures, some of the 1.2.3. Playmobil, a wooden highchair for her babydoll, some woollybottom footies, wooden cupcakes for the kitchen (which she loves!) and some books. Maybe a Little Bear DVD. I'd really like to get her one of those spring/bounce horses...I think she'd get a real kick out of that.

I can't wait!

[Chicky2]

Originally Posted by mommariffic

I love Christmas

A few puzzles - there's a 4 seasons one I really, really want to get her.

Do you have a link?

I cannot mention here what we spend on Christmas. It would not be fitting for the frugality board, lol. I have no ideas for my almost 3 yo yet, but my 2 'middle' kids are each getting a laptop. And my 20 yo wants a really special botany-type book to go w/her Master Naturalist class.

[confustication]

I try to keep stocking stuff to about $15 each (if that) then we have the pj's and a book the night before. Christmas day we do one 'big' gift and a couple little things. We really strive to not overdo the commercial end of it though. DS 1 will be about 18 months on Christmas, and DS 2 will be just over 3 months- they are gtting a fairly 'combined' present this year- a play area with a kitchen and a tool bench built into our kitchen. Of course, DS 2 will be much too little to use it yet, but the hope is that it will be good for both of them a they grow up together. I suspect the materials will run $100 - $150 for the whole project. Their grandfather will do the woodworking, and I'll do the finish work.

DD will be 8, and I haven't figured out what to do for her this year...

I really strive to do as much handmade as we can, not only to save money, but because I want the kids to be able to say 'so and so made this for me... '

[Sailor]

Ok, lol, maybe we'll nix the empty box idea too. It seemed like a good idea from watching my niece. I remember one year her mom got her this awesome play house. It came wrapped in this huge box. Once she opened it, looked the playhouse over, she turned to the big box and started playing in that. 3 days later, she was still playing with the box over the playhouse!

Which is when my brilliant empty box plan came into being, lol. But, I guess it wasn't so brilliant after all.

[spring978]

I try to budget $100 per kid. In a perfect world I would spend $200

[1growingsprout]

We always spend too much....