2011 Frugal Xmas (and other holidays) - Page 2

[zebra15]

I think I will be taking inventory of my craft stash this weekend and putting on my creativity hat.

DS is going 'north' for a few days.

MOMMY IS HOME ALONE.... oh no!

[MonkeyPrincess]

.

[Smokering]

I've started thinking about Christmas. That's something. So far I've "bought" DD some fancy stickers from a mystery shopping assignment (so, free).

My other ideas....

-MIL: knit some dishcloths or face cloths with cabled owls on them. She collects owls. Need to findsome knittable, washable cotton or something to knit 'em out of, though.

-DD: I want to buy a cheapish second-hand doll house online and do it up (at Mum's house so she won't see). I figure I could put the dolls and furniture in her stocking, then give her the house as her big gift. I could also make a summer dress or top for her; and I'm making a shoulder bag for her right now, but I might end up giving it to her before Christmas. I can also do chapstick and a new toothbrush for stocking stuffers - she loves them.

-SIL: She's pretty crunchy, so maybe make her some cheesecloths bound with nice fabric, for straining yoghurt or whatever? Or some gluten-free baking?

-Mum: I was thinking of making her a felted hydrangea table runner, but I don't have a pattern for one or anything; it's just an idea. So I'll think about this.

-DH: I need to finish the manly apron I was making him for his birthday (in March.... yeah). It has tools and guns and car keys and stuff machine-embroidered all over it. Not sure what else to get him.

-DS: Ehh, dunno. He's a baby. Maybe a plushie airship? Need to make him a stocking, too.

-Dad: Hmm. A big ol' bucket of olives? Or some fancy cheese? Something foody. Or a plant for his garden.

-Everybody else (including several sisters, two nephews, FIL and a bunch of friends) - no idea.

I found free range turkeys, but the smallest size is $44 so unless DH insists, we'll probably have chicken again.

[lapoli]

Great thread! We just started thinking about the holidays a week ago which is probably an indication that we won't escape too frugally.  At the beginning of each year, I always make a list of things I'd like to make for everyone, and then all that free time I imagined in January just seems to vanish?

Anyway. We were able to pick up a large box of peaches at our state farmer's market for $15. I made what feels like a lifetime supply of peach jam, so together with canned pickles and blueberry jam, those will definitely be given as holiday gifts.

I also made vanilla extract earlier this year (someone else mentioned that as well) and earlier, I was able to swap crafts and craft supplies with someone who made hand towels. When my son was younger (and would sit still!), I wound up balls and felted them so I have a good stash of dryer balls now, too.

My original plans had included making a small basket for each household (ie mom/dad, MIL/FIL, SIL/BIL, brother/sister), it's starting to shape up a little.  In addition to the above, I'm also going to roast a pound of coffee beans (I can get a 5-lb bag of green coffee for about $20) for each basket. I may also knit dishcloths, but that's dependent on time. 

My son just turned one.  For the holidays, my father is going to build him a wooden play kitchen. I found several books on knitted food, so I'll make a stash of knitted fruits and veggies for him.  Earlier this year, I found someone on Hyena Cart that was selling her pots/pans/etc for a song, so I picked those up. I'd also like to knit him a hat and mittens for the winter, but since we plan on redoing his room soon, this will likely be it.  

I have no idea about my husband, though. Most of the time, we end up spending too much money on one another which we really should stop doing. :/ Any ideas that don't cost a lot?

This year, I started dabbling in herbalism and I have a small cabinet in our kitchen full of tinctures. For some of our friends who appreciate the benefits of herbal remedies, I'm going to make a small basket of the most commonly used tinctures (echinacea, etc.) and some salves. 

Also - how do you other crafty mamas find time to craft? Since my son's arrival, between working from home full time and caring for him full-time (as in: he's had a babysitter ONCE in his life for four hours), I just feel like he's constantly needing attention. It's fine, of course, but I feel bad for my unloved stash of yarn sitting upstairs and my brain needs a creative outlet.  How do you find time to juggle being a good mama AND working, taking care of the house and managing to get enough sleep? :) 

[cappuccinosmom]

I'm excited about Christmas this year.  Don't know why, we're not planning anything special.  But it will be nice to have dh home this year.

Not too much planned right now.  We won't have a tree, but some tenants left behind a brand new box of 200 mini white lights, which I am going to find a way to use.  I loooove white lights.  And my Ikea star lamp will go up as soon as I find a bulb for it.

I have one commissioned quilt in the works, and that will probably be what we use to pay for gifts for the rest of the family.  For my boys I am planning to make some cozy flannel pj's, but I have to wait on that until JoAnne's has their sale so I can get enough fabric at a reasonable price.

[Mirta]

just discovered an large but necessary home repair... frugal Christmas could definitely be in order...

[Thystle]

Originally Posted by cameragirl 

If you can and make preserves, they can be an inexpensive and much appreciated gift. So few people do it anymore, and yet everyone remembers how Gradma or their other family used to make things. Shop when produce is available in season and inexpensive. Plums, apples, pumpkin, etc. are all in season right now. Later on citrus fruits will be less expensive.
-mint or mint & jalapeno jam for spreading on meats
-apple, plum, or pumpkin butter
-apple sauce
-pear sauce or butter
-grape jelly or jam
-orange jam or marmalade
-plum or spiced plum jam
Another way to save is to ask family members to save canning jars and rings if they remember so that I can reuse them. Otherwise they just get tossed (eek!) or collect dust if they don't can.

Hey for those of you doing canned goods... start checking out the stores now as some of them have started marking down their canning supplies. Target had a bunch marked down today. Lowes had a bunch of canning items marked down too. Sometimes you can find them in odd places!

Also Big Lots had cases of "off brand" jelly jars for $6-$7. And Walmart has an off brand also that is cheaper than Ball jars.

A big ball of twine will wrap around a jar nicely and make a "green" bow. 

[Thystle]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

I think I will be taking inventory of my craft stash this weekend and putting on my creativity hat.

DS is going 'north' for a few days.

MOMMY IS HOME ALONE.... oh no!

Did you end up making anything fun? 

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by EarthyMamaofDaisy 
Hasbro has tons of coupons on their ww.familygamenight.com website  I printed out a bunch and I got several travel sized Connect 4 and Battleship games free from Walmart since they were on clearance for $4 and the coupon was $4.  They have other game coupons and found a few other really cheap games too.  A lot of the card games can be bought for $1.54 with the coupon.  I've been watching the drug store deals and picked up some toy cars for my son.

This is fantastic, since we play a lot of board games at our house and will certainly introduce them to our son when he gets older (he's only five weeks now, so a little young for games yet). But here's the link to the Hasbro coupons that EarthyMammaofDaisy mentioned. 

I love this thread - everyone has some great ideas. 

In recent years, the adults in our family have stopped doing gift giving - we all have everything we need and want, and it ended up being this meaningless exercise of exchanging gift cards. I still do a little food gift basket for my sister and her husband, as well as my in laws each year since I love to foodcraft and share the wealth. This year I'm doing an apple themed basket - apple spice schnapps, apple peel jelly and a home made apple-scented soy candle in a mason jar. I pretty much have all the supplies for those items in my crafting gear already, so it will cost me next to nothing. 

I have two nieces, and my sister says they're really into bath toys and items right now, so I'm making them a bathtime gift set - they're each getting a tote bag sewn from a towel, filled with bath fizzies, soap crayons, and a washcloth puppet. They will also each get some books from us, from the thrift store. We always give books to help build their library. 

My in laws are also getting a hand print ornament with my son's handprint on it. I had a $20 gift card from BuyBuyBaby from someone so I got two kits (one for us, one for them) with no out of pocket cost to us. I'm also doing a photo book on Shutterfly for them, which I'm getting done for FREE with a $20 Shutterfly credit that I got when I signed up for the Similac StrongMoms club. Registration on that is free (they will also send you formula coupons and samples, which is great if you have to supplement occasionally like I do) and even though it says it's good on Shutterfly birth announcements, you can use it on any Shutterfly product that qualifies (no other discounts applied at the same time). 

My husband and I always set a dollar amount limit for each other - some years it's $50 and some years it's $100, depending on the budget. This year it will be $50 or less since things are tight. And I'm encouraging hand made - my husband kind of feels like there's nothing good he could make me himself, but I'm dropping hints on things he could put together for me or pick up at the thrift store - I even made a Pinterest board for him with ideas! For him, there are two things I'm going to try to make that I think he'd really like. One is this pocketwatch photo album since he loves to show off photos of our son. The other is a jar shelf for his miniatures - he can store the little bits and pieces in the jars (storage is always a problem for him!) and display the finished pieces on the top of the shelf. 

For our son, over the summer I purchased fabric play fruit and play veggie baskets from Ikea. And I'm going to finish his baby quilt and make an embroidered name plaque for him. I also picked up some mini Sesame Street board books for his stocking at a Goodwill a few weeks ago. And I'm planning to make some felt baby booties for his stocking, as well as a fabric rattle - not sure if I'll do the giraffe - I was thinking a fish shape might be cute too. 

Now I really need to get on making all of this stuff! 

[JPiper]

I have no end of ideas for frugal, homemade gifts for my daughters and mom, female teachers, etc... but really struggle with what to give/get for my husband and teen son and other males on our list.  This sweet blog & and comments on each post have some great suggestions specifically for guys:

http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com/2010/07/handmade-holiday-teenage-boys.html  

http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com/2010/07/handmade-holiday-for-men.html

[mylilmonkeys]

Originally Posted by Thystle 

And I always post this each year:

(On giving four gifts for the holiday's... supposedly an old Victorian tradition)

Something you want

Something you need

Something to play with

Something to read 

Love this!  We used to have a tradition of giving our children only 3 gifts, symbolizing the three gifts the Wise men brought Jesus.  Some years we still stick to this, but some years we've given the kids a group "big" gift, and just one or two more gifts per kid.  Last year we set a $$ limit per kid and really were amazed how many things we could get each kid for $50 or so (maybe it was $40?).

Right now I'm trying to come up with frugal teacher gifts.  I just ordered a new sewing/embroidery machine, and I'm thinking I might do fleece scarves embroidered with initials.  The kids can help cut the fleece and fringe for their teachers.  My dad was a teacher, and would get inundated with stuff at Christmas--way too much baked goods, coffee mugs, ornaments.  I try to come up with something practical, or at least unique, on a budget.  Challenging!

For my nieces and nephew, I am planning to make hooded bath towels and personalizing with my machine.  I found some cute little free sewing patterns for change purses/wallets that I can probably make with fabric I already have on hand for female family members.  I just need to get some interfacing.  For my kids, I want to find a slipper pattern.  I always try to make something for them for Christmas.  I don't know what I'm going to do for my dad and brother-in-law, yet.  
 

ETA: I just remembered that my sister, my son and I had agreed to go in on an ereader for my dad.  More than I usually spend on a family gift, but I haven't gotten him a bday gift yet, and he would really use one.  

[cameragirl]

Originally Posted by mylilmonkeys 

Love this!  We used to have a tradition of giving our children only 3 gifts, symbolizing the three gifts the Wise men brought Jesus.  Some years we still stick to this, but some years we've given the kids a group "big" gift, and just one or two more gifts per kid.  Last year we set a $$ limit per kid and really were amazed how many things we could get each kid for $50 or so (maybe it was $40?).

Right now I'm trying to come up with frugal teacher gifts.  I just ordered a new sewing/embroidery machine, and I'm thinking I might do fleece scarves embroidered with initials.  The kids can help cut the fleece and fringe for their teachers.  My dad was a teacher, and would get inundated with stuff at Christmas--way too much baked goods, coffee mugs, ornaments.  I try to come up with something practical, or at least unique, on a budget.  Challenging!

For my nieces and nephew, I am planning to make hooded bath towels and personalizing with my machine.  I found some cute little free sewing patterns for change purses/wallets that I can probably make with fabric I already have on hand for female family members.  I just need to get some interfacing.  For my kids, I want to find a slipper pattern.  I always try to make something for them for Christmas.  I don't know what I'm going to do for my dad and brother-in-law, yet.   

ETA: I just remembered that my sister, my son and I had agreed to go in on an ereader for my dad.  More than I usually spend on a family gift, but I haven't gotten him a bday gift yet, and he would really use one.  

Not sure which ereader you decided on, but the cost has gone down in the past month for either the Kindle or Nook. The entry model is now $79, so not really bad if you split it a few ways.

[mylilmonkeys]

Originally Posted by cameragirl 


Not sure which ereader you decided on, but the cost has gone down in the past month for either the Kindle or Nook. The entry model is now $79, so not really bad if you split it a few ways.

Wow, that's really gone down a lot!  We'd decided this back in the summer, so we'll look into that.

[Smokering]

DH mentioned last night that he wants a Kindle, too. I could get him one - I have my own bank account now, where I stash my (pitiful) earnings from mystery shopping and various other enterprises. It's mostly for his work though, so I'm not sure if it would be better for him to buy it on his business account for tax reasons or whatever. But it would be nice to get him a significant-sized gift that he really wants.

The other option is to get him a voucher for a model shop. He bought a model Enterprise a while back and hasn't been able to afford the paints and glue for it. Vouchers seem kinda lame, though... although, I love being given them!

I have TONS of ideas for gifts for DD this year. I can't do them all - not enough money, definitely not enough time and besides, she doesn't need thousands of gifts. But she'd like a doll house, and one of those homemade play tent/teepee things made of poles and calico, and a new fairy dress, and a bag, and art supplies, and a headband, and a year-long zoo pass, and a voucher to our local indoor play place, and a play kitchen...

Any ideas on what to give a six-month-old baby boy? I know he doesn't care, but I feel like I should give him something...

[AfricanQueen99]

Originally Posted by Smokering 

Any ideas on what to give a six-month-old baby boy? I know he doesn't care, but I feel like I should give him something...

If he doesn't still deeply mouth toys a few felted wool balls are awesome baby gifts and super cheap to make (either buy unfelted wool sweaters from a thrift store or get a few balls of wool yarn when they're on sale).  Wrap and wash/dry on super hot while encased in old pantyhose.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by Thystle 

Did you end up making anything fun? 

Yes- something with Vodka ,  thats 'crafty' right?

[Thystle]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

Yes- something with Vodka ,  thats 'crafty' right?

So I should not be sending you my something made with vanilla and vodka then?  It's been "brewing" since May.

Or did you just enjoy the vodka?

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by lilyka 

I noticed that when we started drawing names we ended up spending more on gifts than when we gave something to everyone.  It was easy to find something small and frugal (Especially since two out of three families had people who were good at making handmade gifts). when we were giving something to everyone.  The gifts were expected to be small.  But once we were only giving a gift to one other person (two per family) they were expected to be nicer.  the limit was $30 ($60 since dh and I each drew a name) and that was far more than we had spent on everyone in previous years.  

The moral of this story is be cautious about drawing names.  It seems frugal at first  but it can really bite you in the butt.

I totally had this experience, too.  We switched to drawing names and someone decided the limit was $50!  I felt pressure that I had to give my person something they would really like since they would only be getting one thing.  And it meant I couldn't give couple gifts or family gifts.  Since Dh was also assigned someone, the $ was well above what we had spent previously.  I just opted out after a couple years.  We just give gifts to local relatives.  Sometimes I skip the younger kids because they get so much and don't notice who gives them what.  I'd rather give to adults who appreciate it and don't get so much.

[Aeress]

Great ideas!

The kids are getting theme gifts that are either bought used, handmade (by me or others) and eco/fair trade friendly.

DD9- Pirate theme

dd6-Animals

DD4-BARBIE?

For families- they are getting handmade signs for their front door, these are made at our local pottery shop. This was super fun for the kids, plus it was inexpensive because the owner likes to work with the kids in hopes the parents will take classes from him.

[cameragirl]

Originally Posted by Aeress 

Great ideas!

The kids are getting theme gifts that are either bought used, handmade (by me or others) and eco/fair trade friendly.

DD9- Pirate theme

dd6-Animals

DD4-BARBIE?

For families- they are getting handmade signs for their front door, these are made at our local pottery shop. This was super fun for the kids, plus it was inexpensive because the owner likes to work with the kids in hopes the parents will take classes from him.

If she doesn't already have a lot of Barbies, you can get them for $.50 at Goodwill. We buy them and clean them up, and DD doesn't know the difference. They have a lot of accessories, too.