Frugal Holidays 2010!

[skybluepink02]

I'm starting to really seriously think about Christmas this year. I'm really broke, but am looking forward to a great Christmas with my sweet babies who will maybe actually care about it this year!

I'm making loads of candy and treats, as I do every year. I pass it around to family and friends and we have a great time delivering it a day or so before Christmas.

I'm making a bunch of soft balls for my little boy, who is obsessed with throwing right now.

I'm making a soft doll for both of them.

I'm not sure what to make for my little girl, but I did see a really cute stuffed tea set made from felt. Maybe I'll do that!

I'm going to do a picture collage for my Mom and Dad, and probably my kid's other grandparents too.

I've still got to think of gifts for my brothers and sisters, and a few very close friends.

I look forward to your ideas!

[joyfulheart]

You may want to check out this thread in Arts&Crafts -- http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1221316

Lots of ideas for homemade gifts!

[StephandOwen]

Your younger kids might not understand this yet, but for parents of older kids who read this thread....

dp and I just started making an advent calendar for ds. We took a foam board (less than $1 at walmart) and using construction paper we made 25 little pockets. Each pocket will have a number (1-25) on it. We decorated it with winter stickers we already had. In each pocket we'll write (or print if I can find some cool paper around the house) an activity for that day. I'm still making a list of activities but so far we have....

-make cards for grandparents
-decorate tree
-make cookies
-walk around neighborhood to look at lights
-drive through the horse park (they decorate it with tons of lights)
-buy and donate gifts to Toys for Tots

I can't think of what else we have..... and I'm open for more ideas if anyone has any!!!

Pretty much everything is free (except buying the gifts for Toys for Tots)... we'd really like to focus on time as a family this year instead of having the "gimmies".

[joyfulheart]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen

Your younger kids might not understand this yet, but for parents of older kids who read this thread....

dp and I just started making an advent calendar for ds. We took a foam board (less than $1 at walmart) and using construction paper we made 25 little pockets. Each pocket will have a number (1-25) on it. We decorated it with winter stickers we already had. In each pocket we'll write (or print if I can find some cool paper around the house) an activity for that day. I'm still making a list of activities but so far we have....

-make cards for grandparents
-decorate tree
-make cookies
-walk around neighborhood to look at lights
-drive through the horse park (they decorate it with tons of lights)
-buy and donate gifts to Toys for Tots

I can't think of what else we have..... and I'm open for more ideas if anyone has any!!!

Pretty much everything is free (except buying the gifts for Toys for Tots)... we'd really like to focus on time as a family this year instead of having the "gimmies".

What a good idea. I was planning on making an advent calenar for my dc, but wasn't sure what to put inside the pockets. You've given me a great idea! Thanks!

[Mom2SammyJoe]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen

Your younger kids might not understand this yet, but for parents of older kids who read this thread....


-make cards for grandparents
-decorate tree
-make cookies
-walk around neighborhood to look at lights
-drive through the horse park (they decorate it with tons of lights)
-buy and donate gifts to Toys for Tots

I can't think of what else we have..... and I'm open for more ideas if anyone has any!!!

Pretty much everything is free (except buying the gifts for Toys for Tots)... we'd really like to focus on time as a family this year instead of having the "gimmies".

How about caroling as a family or with a group? Even if you just visit a few people you know this could be fun.
How about a service project? Serve at a soup kitchen or help pack food baskets.
Make cards or decorations for a nursing home.
If you have snow, snow angels, snowmen, or sledding.
You could make luminaries to line your driveway with paper bags, sand, and candles.

Wow, this is fun!

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Mom2SammyJoe

How about caroling as a family or with a group? Even if you just visit a few people you know this could be fun.
How about a service project? Serve at a soup kitchen or help pack food baskets.
Make cards or decorations for a nursing home.
If you have snow, snow angels, snowmen, or sledding.
You could make luminaries to line your driveway with paper bags, sand, and candles.

Wow, this is fun!

Great ideas! Keep them coming!!!

[Jyotsna]

Steph,

I love this idea; advent activities calendar!


-Make snow flakes for the windows...the more glitter, the better!
-Make hot chocolate and listen to carols.
-Have a cookie exchange with your kid's friends and families.
-Thread popcorn and cranberry garland and hang on the tree.
-My kids LOVE to make a cranberry garland to hang outside, for the birds.


More...more! Now that's the holiday spirit!

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

-My kids LOVE to make a cranberry garland to hang outside, for the birds.

That reminds me- also on our list is making some sort of bird feeders (many ways to do this- peanut butter on a pinecone with bird seeds stuck to peanut butter is one). Also could do "reindeer food" on Christmas Eve (which in our house is bird food, cereal, etc (things that birds/animals will eat overnight).

Love the snowflake idea!

Will probably do a movie night (Charlie Brown Christmas? Rudolph? Frosty? Not sure yet what we'll watch).

[kittywitty]

We also do an advent calendar. I wanted to do another (mostly) handmade holiday, but I'll have an itty baby, so it's not happening this year! This is timely, too. I wanted to get this all set up and ready before my Edd.

[skybluepink02]

Thanks for the handmade Christmas link!

I love the idea of an advent calendar. Mine are a bit too young yet, but I love simple homey Christmases and will definitely use that idea in a couple of years.

[northwoods1995]

I made some jam that I'm planning to give away to the family members that appreciate handmade/homemade gifts. (There are some that do not appreciate those sorts of things)


I made an activity Advent Calendar last year. It went over pretty well.

We cut our Christmas tree at a small family-owned tree farm where any size tree is $25. They sometimes throw in a free wreath too or we make our own wreath from the trimmings and decorate it with pinecones and dried berries and things from our yard.

I'm always looking for more ideas!

[SummerLove]

I've been doing swagbucks for amazon gift cards to buy each kid one thing for Xmas (and dh).

With our family, we are doing homemade gifts for them (probably a variety of chocolates or something because I can only cook and not crafty in any other way).

That's it! we have no money this Xmas.

[Jyotsna]

SummerLove,

How is swagbucks going? I'd do it but I have earned nothing so far...and can't figure out how to do it. Am I an idiot? LOL

[UberMama]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

SummerLove,

How is swagbucks going? I'd do it but I have earned nothing so far...and can't figure out how to do it. Am I an idiot? LOL

Not summerlove, I know.. but.. use the toolbar, do the daily poll, add SB on your Facebook so you can know when a code is being offered for a limited time, use it for your searches, etc. I make between 10 and 50 SBs per day on average. I try and get more referrals, but that's not happening lately. That can earn you a lot though as well.

[TheSavedQuarter]

I've budgeted $100 for Christmas and have used a variety of methods to get nice gifts for the family (17 people!) for that. I've been keeping track of my $100 holiday on my blog and have used lots of deals! Here's what I've done so far:


I’ve spent $36.99 and have purchased:
$3.99 on a thrift store doll cradle for Sweet Pea (my 2 year old daughter)
$2.50 on a razor sharpener for Mr. Penny
$5.50 on a razor sharpener and John Wayne movies for my dad
$25 on a Groupon coupon for $100 Picaboo photobooks, and a 50% off coupon code, which made three photobooks for Mr. Penny, my parents, and my mother in law

I’ve acquired for free:
wallet for my brother (mystery shopping)
razor and accessories for my dad (drugstore freebie)
transformer-style remote control robot for Peanut, my 5 year old son (free Kohl’s cash for buying groceries)
manicure set with lots of nail polish for my mom (mystery shopping)
Personalized photo T-shirt, Tote Bag, Calendar, Mug, Sticky Notes, and Return Address Labels for my mother in law (coupon code at Vistaprints)
$50 in men's clothes from a mail in rebate promotion with Sears for Mr. Penny

I’ve made from my stash:
art caddy for Peanut
doll quilt, diaper bag, apron, and dress for Sweet Pea

I have credit to use:
$495 at Franklin Goose (They did a deal in March where for every review you posted, they'd give you $5 credit, and if you "banked" it for 6 months, you got another 10%; I reviewed everything I'd ever touched and have a nice credit now!)
Swagbucks that I’ll use at amazon.com (it's working for me! )

[StephandOwen]

Here is the Advent Calendar dp and I made for ds this year. It's not fancy, but it'll get the job done We had most of the stuff at home already (just needed the foam board we used for the back and that was less than $2). Each pocket will have a family activity for that day

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by TheSavedQuarter

I have credit to use:
$495 at Franklin Goose (They did a deal in March where for every review you posted, they'd give you $5 credit, and if you "banked" it for 6 months, you got another 10%; I reviewed everything I'd ever touched and have a nice credit now!)
Swagbucks that I’ll use at amazon.com (it's working for me! )

Have you used the FG credit yet? Because I got an email a few weeks ago saying they were suspending the use of the credit until after the holidays due to supply issues...

[TheSavedQuarter]

AllyRae- I just got that e-mail. Bummer! That could have been communicated a lot more clearly. I'll be re-evaluating my gift plan, but still staying on budget.

[skybluepink02]

I'm so excited! I found a huge little tikes kitchen at goodwill for $30. My kids will go nuts for it! And my MIL is getting them some wooden food. Yay!

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen

Here is the Advent Calendar dp and I made for ds this year. It's not fancy, but it'll get the job done We had most of the stuff at home already (just needed the foam board we used for the back and that was less than $2). Each pocket will have a family activity for that day

Oh.... that is too cute, I may do something similiar with DS if we get settled in our new place in Nov. I would call it a 'holiday calendar' or similiar. I think DS would get a kick out of it.