2007 Frugal Holiday "Challenge" - Page 2

[Stone Fence]

Subbing

:

[Hollysmom]

Definitely need to cut down this year....subscribing for ideas

[Marcee]

- You all might like this idea.... They had a "saying" in Victorian times about gift giving (they were big into NOT spoiling kids )


Give children:

Something they want.

Something they need.

Something to play with.

And something to read.

~We do this except the something to play with is Somthing to wear at our house. The want part of the quote for us ends up being a toy that they want.

[invisible1]

subbing, too!

[***Heather***]

On my side of the family, there are 5 women and 1 little girl. 2 men and 4 little boys.

I decided to knit hats for everyone with matching scarves, neck warmers or mitts. I have most of the yarn already. It will average out at about $5 per person. (I think!). So far I've finished 3 hats and a scarf. I've been knitting the hats on circular needles and can almost knit one in an evening. And I'm no expert either. Guess how many hats I've knitted in my life? Three!

I might add little things to it later on, but for now, that's the plan. We don't give a lot at Christmastime. I don't have kids, these are all for my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews.

[Stone Fence]

I'm going to knit hats and scarves for DH and DS. I have the yarn (about 19 pounds of it) and I can even dye it if need be.

I send homemade goodies to family that is not near by(apple butter and preserves). I sent Christmas flowers to my parents and DH's mom. Not cheap but they were pleasantly suprised and it wasn't more clutter for them.

Cookies and/or preserves go to neighbors, 1 set of friends we exchange with and the daycare providers.

[celestialdreamer]

I'm definitely in! Most everything will be small and handmade this year. I've already planned on who's getting what so I can start work and look for any supplies super cheap.

My 2 kids:
*one toy (hoping to make a Waldorf doll for dd, & get a handmade wooden truck for ds from the Farmer's Market) $25 each?
*Hanna Andersson pjs (ebay? outlet store?) $20 each?
*homemade fleece quilts (I already have the kits from a garage sale) FREE!
*one book each in their stockings w/ oranges and maybe a treat (books from a discount bookstore or consignment) $5 each?
Estimated total for kids: $100 (1/2 of the cost of last year!)

Not sure if they are getting anything knit or not. I'm sure I will knit for them, just not sure if it will be a gift and not sure if I have yarn that will work already. I'm completely guessing at the total, it really depends on how much the doll supplies cost, how much the pjs are, and if I need yarn for anything.

I'm going to knit DH a set of fingerless gloves (already have yarn- FREE!) , I wanted to do this last year. I may knit hats and scarves for my mom, my stepdad and my brother (FREE- already have yarn!). I have a couple good friends that I'd like to knit headbands for, but I'm not sure if I will have time ($10? for yarn- this is a big maybe). I think the extended family will probably be receiving homemade jam and cookies and I might do the same for some other friends (probably about $4 each x 12 gifts= $48). That's it! If I decide I'm too busy, some of these things may change or not happen and I'm okay with that.

So my total is $148 without any yarn costs. That's pretty good for 12 gifts plus nice stuff for my kiddos. If I have to buy yarn, I'll try to keep it really cheap and buy on ebay.

[becoming]

Originally Posted by Thystle

Give children:

Something they want.

Something they need.

Something to play with.

And something to read

Thank you for posting this! I saw this last Christmas on MDC and have been trying to remember it or find it since then. I think it's a great concept. My kids' "needs" will definitely be wooden toy boxes...not sure about the rest yet.

[Mallori]

My recent Goodwill scores for Christmas:

Little Tikes Victorian kitchen for dd: $10
New Mary Higgins Clark hardcover for mom: $3
2 new wooden puzzles for our nephew: $3

Off to a good start!

Also, for those of you that knit, and have a way to get wool yarn, my mil made felted mittens for the kids last year, and they are AWESOME. They are SO warm, hands never get cold!

[Em T]

For those of you who knit or crochet, Big Lots has had some beautiful yarn recently that was very inexpensive.

Re: something they want

somthing they need

something to wear

something to read

I've read about parents who interpret the "need" as good sports equipment for kids who show interest & aptitude, quality art supplies & lessons or musical instruments. It wouldn't have to be the equivalent of a new toothbrush or bar of soap to be a need.

[papschmitty]

I just read through the entire original thread earlier this week. : I really want to do a cheaper Christmas but I'm not very crafty. I'm a great bargain shopper but I have a weird hangup about gift giving. If I have an idea in my head of how much I should spend (say $25) then I spend that much. If the kiddo I'm buying for needs clothes and I find a great deal, I'll buy more until I spend the full $25. This was before my frugal transformation so I'm hoping to change that this year. Now that I have my own DD, I always tell people when they ask that we'd really prefer $ for her college fund over "stuff". Most people don't listen so I always try to honor that for my friends' kids. I really want to find some good easy, crafty things to make for family so please post your ideas!

[1happymom]

Well, honestly I haven't thought too much about the holidays yet except that we have to afford 4 airline tickets in order to be "home for the holidays" so to speak. I'm subing to see what others have to say.

[rainbowmoon]

: for ideas!

[gothnurse3]

Subbing.

I have a co-worker that put it to me like this....."I told my children(6 of them) that baby Jesus got 3 gifts, why do you think you should get more? WOW. Very appropriate. I have done this since having kiddos and it is fine for us.

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by gothnurse3

Subbing.

I have a co-worker that put it to me like this....."I told my children(6 of them) that baby Jesus got 3 gifts, why do you think you should get more? WOW. Very appropriate. I have done this since having kiddos and it is fine for us.

I love that!
I did really well staying within budget last year. I did all cash and did $100/kid. DH and I didn't exchange anything. I'm going to do the same this year but see if I can cut back even more.

[justmama]

.

[Belleweather]

Count me in! I've actually been thinking about a frugal holiday a lot lately... we're currently dealing with unemployment (although hopefully not for much longer!) and have been living off our emergency fund. With a new babe coming, we'll need to be building that back up rather than spending on Christmas.

We've already pared down our lists substantially. Currently, I'm only planning on buying gifts for DH, DS, the new baby, my mom and sister, DH's parents, and a few friends (Our favorite couple friends, their kids, and my best girl friend). We might have to add back Dh's Aunt and brother, but they've been out of touch for over a year and are now bumped back to getting a card.

We're planning on doing a lot of food for gifts. This weekend I'm putting up a batch of strawberry jam, and I'll do some raspberry when they're in season. I'm also going to do both green and red salsas when tomatoes and tomatillos are more in season. Each batch should yield at least 12 jars and I figure I can put them together for somewhere around $1/jar. I've been kicking DH's arse to start brewing stuff for the holidays, too. He's thinking of doing a plum wine and cherry or pomegranate sparkling mead which would be fantastic for Christmas. We can stick all the food together in gift baskets, and we always use mead and wine for those random people you feel like you have to give something to at Christmas (Bosses, people who invite you to christmas parties, etc.)

For our kids, though, I'm kind of at a loss. I'd really, really like to get DS a Waldorf Doll for Christmas, to help him deal with the new baby. Plus, it would be awesome to make a teether for the New Baby and another doll for my friend's daughter. I know they can be made and I have "mad leet sewing skillz", but I'm kind of overwhelmed and don't know how to begin. Anyone want to post or PM me with tips?

[Marcee]

Originally Posted by Em T

For those of you who knit or crochet, Big Lots has had some beautiful yarn recently that was very inexpensive.

Re: something they want

somthing they need

something to wear

something to read

I've read about parents who interpret the "need" as good sports equipment for kids who show interest & aptitude, quality art supplies & lessons or musical instruments. It wouldn't have to be the equivalent of a new toothbrush or bar of soap to be a need.

Need at our house can be a huge range of things. say if we got briar a cd player then he would "need" some cds. This year our son who likes to play cathcer for baseball will "need" a catchers's mitt so it all depends.

[FillingMyQuiver]

Originally Posted by Belleweather

For our kids, though, I'm kind of at a loss. I'd really, really like to get DS a Waldorf Doll for Christmas, to help him deal with the new baby. Plus, it would be awesome to make a teether for the New Baby and another doll for my friend's daughter. I know they can be made and I have "mad leet sewing skillz", but I'm kind of overwhelmed and don't know how to begin. Anyone want to post or PM me with tips?

There are quite a few sites that sell the kits. Here are a few to check out:
www.dancingraindolls.com - Amy is a wonderful WAHM w/ great customer support.

http://www.weirdollsandcrafts.com/wa...doll-kits.html

www.sarahs-dolls.com (I just bought her 13" Radiance doll pattern to use for DD for her b-day gift and DS's Christmas gift, I did buy my supplies separately, though)

www.joyswaldorfdolls.com (she has A LOT of different dolls. You could get a pattern for a teether doll and a regular doll)

Also, check out the Toys and Dolls forum, there's a wealth of info there about making Waldorf dolls.

[greenegirl]

Last year, just after Christmas, one of the mamas on the crafting thread started a list of make your own toys. Thought this might be helpful to some of you!