Frugal Holidays 2008 - Page 2

[1growingsprout]

Im going to give that loaf pan holder a try.
dishcloths are easy to make,

[holidaymama]

I was thinking about making potholders, placemats and table runners out of pretty fabric.

[frogguruami]

This year, assuming I can get hubby to agree, I want to have a holiday party and call it done. I am going to ask that if anyone INSISTS on getting the boys stuff they give them gift certs to Amazon. Other than that I am going to suggest a gift free holiday!

[OkiMom]

Im glad Im not the only one that starts planning for the holidays early! This year is going to be very low key (last year we did a lot and I hated every moment of it since Im not a fan of huge get togethers, especially in my house). Im due in November and we are trying to fly back to the states in February so money is going to be really tight..
My in-laws know that us coming back will be all of theirs presents since its so expensive to go back there. Im going to try to make scripture totes for my sis-in-law and mil. My bro-in-law is suppose to be going to Iraq over the holidays so Ill be sending him a care package. My father and brother will probably just get a card and maybe a framed picture if I think about it and we having pictures with the new baby in them. My grandma will get a picture since thats what she asks for every year and maybe a book or something else relating to Japan.
DD will probably get some homemade crafting stuff and clothes. Our new baby will probably get a toy or two since he will be a little over a month old and won't care one way or another. Ill also get him/her an outfit or make one. Someone was telling me that they give three presents at christmas symbolizing the three wisemen and I thought that was a neat idea.
DH will probably get some camping gear or something similar depending on what I can get on sale. I might make him PJs since he can't find any in stores that he likes. Everyone else gets a card.

I want to stick to under 500 for all of Christmas. I might wait to give my inlaws their gifts till we go out there since last year we spent over 200 on shipping alone (the problem with living in another country). I already put notice out that I wasn't doing another Christmas Dinner this year (people are already asking) so either we will go over to someone elses or have a small dinner at home.

[becoming]

Thanks for starting this thread! I should have started thinking about this *months* ago.

First of all, we're doing something different with our kids this year. We're buying each of them:

1. something they want
2. something they need
3. something to wear
4. something to read

I know the something to wear is probably going to be their winter coat, winter hat, mittens, and scarf. It really doesn't get cold here until late December (if even then), and I'm hoping the winter wear will be on sale by then. We'd be having to buy that stuff anyway, so it seems practical.

Last year after Christmas I bought a bunch of colorful snowman tins at $1/each to put homemade cookies or brownies in. We'll do that for the kids' teachers, DD's dance teacher, and probably a couple of other people I'm forgetting.

For the great-grandmothers (DH's grandmas), I'm going to try to find some really cheap aprons and have the kids do painted handprints on them. Then I'll paint their names and the date.

That's as far as I've gotten. Looking forward to reading (and stealing!) all of your ideas!

[1growingsprout]

First of all, we're doing something different with our kids this year. We're buying each of them:

1. something they want
2. something they need
3. something to wear
4. something to read


Im going to steal that... hoping to implement that starting with the twins b'day...
1. they 'want' nothing but will get swimsuits
2. they "need" more feeding supplies (spoons bowls etc)
3. to wear new high quality bibs (table food is messy)
4. to read board books

My July B'day kiddies
1. wants: ride on toys
2 need: personalized cups
3. wear: new high quality bibs
4. read: i may change this to outside art supplies

[josybear]

this year we'll opt out of the il's crazy gift exchange. it usually costs us more than 150$ and we just don't have that. i'll be knitting and canning up a storm and we'll give everyone something small and homemade. jam or salsa and a homemade dishcloth or reusable shopping bag should do it.

in our family the boys are too small to care what they get, but the families will swamp them with toys anyways. so i've decided that we'll celebrate solstice as the family-friendly holiday. we'll have a homemade feast, handmade gifts, a walk in the snow, all that. then on christmas we can open all the presents from family and have a stupid-exhausting consumeristic day. can you tell which i'm looking forward to more?

subscribing so i can steal ideas from you folk.

[Minerva]

I'm thinking homemade gifts are the way to go this year, so I need to start planning early. Fortunately our immediate family is tiny. My mother-in-law has been joking about bringing the empty basket from last year's gift basket I made them back for a refill, so I'll work with that.

The relatives who cook are easy: My red wine vinegar is kicking over nicely and it should be ready just in time for the holidays. Not sure about the white one, though, that might not be ready. There's also some extracts, presently vanilla and lemon. I might start an orange one and a peppermint one, too, if I can get more jars. If I make up a couple of packets of 'instant' soup mixes for my MIL to eat when FIL is out, that should about do it.

I think I'll make some chocolates or something for the rest of the lot. There's a couple of truffle recipes I've been meaning to try out. I like that homemade jam idea from up the list there. That's a good option, too.

The toddler will be quite happy with some new homemade toys (she thinks Maman makes the best toys, with the possibly exception of legos). I bought a stack of vintage patterns to make some new stuff, and some of it will be holiday presents.

The husband will most likely not be getting a homemade gift since we usually give each other hobby supplies. He's about due to crash the current rc plane ...

[MtBikeLover]

Originally Posted by MonkeyPrincess

With the kids, we do the Twelve Days of Christmas, with 12 different activities each day. (Used to be activities and/or gifts.) Like, one day we'll drive around looking at lights drinking hot chocolate while listening to holiday music, another day we'll bake cookies, another build gingerbread houses, another make ornaments for the tree, etc. Basically turning all the traditions into an "event" in and of themselves - helps us not focus on just that ONE day.

This is a great idea!! I think I am going to steal it!!

[mommy2abigail]

Yeah! I'm in. I had every intention to do this last year, and things got hectic and I just ended up running out and buying a bunch of stuff anyway.

Here is my to buy for list:

DH
DD1 (who will be 3.5)
DD2 (who will be 10 months)
My mom
My dad
Sister and her hubby
MIL
FIL
BIL
Aunt
Aunt and Uncle
Female cousin (30)

With our friends, we just get things for the kids, so:

*(with their ages at Christmas time)*

Elizabeth (5)
Nolan (5)
Bella (7)
Sarah (3.5)
Lindsey (7)
Addison (10 months)

For DH, he's hard to buy for. I'll probably just give him a GC to the Apple store. He likes computer stuff and I wouldn't know what on earth to buy in there. I can put away $5 per week, and have a nice amount by Christmas.

For dd1, I have some stuff put away that I'll give her. I got it on major clearance, and I think she will be old enough to play with it by Christmas. DD2, eh, she wont really care...maybe some cloth balls? Or a cloth dolly?

I'm thinking for the adults, making cloth grocery bags, vs. paper to wrap. What to put in them, I have no clue! My BIL loves gourmet food, so perhaps some oil/vinegar jars or salsa jars? My mom is buying her first place (recently divorced from my dad) in a month, so maybe something for her house? My IL's probably nice picture frames with the girls? Or an apron (stolen idea from above) with the girls hand prints? My sister and her dh, I have no clue....well he likes to EAT, so maybe some gourmet food items as well?

For the kids, the little ones are easy, but I am having trouble with the 5 and 7 year olds. They are not into waldorf-y type things, things I could make.

[MaddieMay]

Originally Posted by becoming

Last year after Christmas I bought a bunch of colorful snowman tins at $1/each to put homemade cookies or brownies in. We'll do that for the kids' teachers, DD's dance teacher, and probably a couple of other people I'm forgetting.

I did something similar last year for my doctor's office, neighbors, etc. I made a huge batch of puppy chow (Chex cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, powdered surgar) and it was a huge hit! The doctor's office said while they are appreciative of any gift, they usually get overloaded with boxed chocolates and so a homemade treat was perfect.

[vm9799]

: subbing......

i have my own business and a web shop on etsy, so i'm used to starting the holiday planning early for THAT.....but i tend to be insanely busy during the holiday season, until about december 20th, filling orders (usually working 12-14 hour days) and don't have time to plan my OWN family's christmas. so i'm hoping this keeps me on track to early planning.

[spiderdust]

I have a LOT of people to give gifts to... I have 7 siblings, 3 of which are married and 2 of which have children, my parents, my own family, and my in-laws -- and that's just immediate family! There's also a few local families that we exchange gifts with.

So even if I just do family gifts and some small gifts for the children (6 kids), that's still a ton of gifts.

There's diabetes in the family (both Type I and Type II), so the candies, cookies, and jellies don't work. I've given cheese and sausage baskets before, but that's kind of costly (and not something I can make myself). Most of them also live out of town, so it's not like I can make jars of canned chicken or the like (the shipping alone for the heavy jars would kill my budget).

I also don't want to give them a bunch of "clutter"... knick-knacks that they have no use for or homemade bath products that they don't really need (although if I knew how to make handmade artisan soaps, that might be different).

It gets harder and harder each year to figure out gifts.

I've considered using Paperback Swap credits to get used paperback books for gifts... a few of my siblings wouldn't be offended by that & it would certainly work within my own household. But what about the rest?

[lmbjer]

Oh how I love the four gift idea. That is perfect! And I love how each gift has a meaning.

DH and I run on a tight budget (we're Dave Ramsey'ing it) and so this last Christmas we opted to donate in lieu of gifts to each other. Using World Vision we bought a goat for our family to donate, and a pair of basketballs for a gift exchange for our Bible study group. It felt very nice to do that, and it helps our family keep the focus on the meaning and not the hyped up commerical version of Christmas/Holidays.

This year my goal is to make one gift a month for family. It helps give me small goals, plus build my stash of gifts.

[wife&mommy]

I have a few ideas. I'm not sure what all we will be doing last year. I had DD a week before Christmas this past year and so we kinda opted out of Christmas. We did calendars with DS's pictures in them for everyone and that was it. It was something I could do ahead of time so it was nice.

But I have to say it was great to just not have to worry about it. I may just tell everyone to not buy us anything (we don't need anything anyway!) and then not buy for everyone else. Besides the expense, it is just so hard to find things that people will actually want and use.

Anyway here are some ideas.

- calendars with photos in them (last 2 years I have gotten them from Lakeside Collection and they are cheap but OK and you can use regular 4 x 6 photos in them).
- a gardening basket with a handprinted apron
- flower pot painted on by the kids, or handprints (my mom loved this one!)
- homemade ornaments (could put handprints in them)
- picture bookmarks (I just printed pictures with a saying at the bottom and them laminated them myself)
- hand print coasters (had DS do his handprints on scrapbook paper and then cut them out and laminated them, as if he was holding their drink with his hands, etc.)
- jewelry (I think the site was silverjewelryclub.com - super cheap but nice stuff)
- sign up at mypoints and earn gift cards. I did this and got a ton of gift cards back. I have enough now to get another one for myself, too. LMK if anyone wants a referral
- custom picture frames (get at the craft store)
- garden stones
- fudge
- those gifts in a jar. i have gotten soup before and also muffins, they were good!

[Peppermint Leaf]

what a great thread
its never too early to think about Christmas

Here are 2 ideas that might help:

1. When you are purchasing a birthday gift for your family/friends .. choose their christmas gift as well .. and put it away..
2. put all the peoples names in a jar that you have to buy for and every payday pull that name out and purchase their gift .. and put it away

either way when christmas comes you are done shopping and can relax

[holidaymama]

Decluttering Nut: What fantastic ideas!!! I love the name in the jar and get them a gift every pay day...I would have to do a couple per pay day since we only get paid once a month!

I need to get my bottom in gear and start planning! Last year, we had just graduated from college so we really didn't have much of an income, but this summer we will so I want to get a bunch of things done!

We have to do gifts for:

Son 1 (6)
Son 2 (2)
My parents
MIL and FIL
BIL
SIL and husband
the boys' god mothers
daycare teachers
teacher (son 1)
Aunt and Uncle 1
Aunt and Uncle 2
Cousin's small kids (Baby, 1, 1, 3, 5)
And the list goes on and on as I think about it...

I am taking notes for all the ideas and will be starting a binder soon to stay organized.

First, I really want to decide if we are going home or staying here in TX!

[Jennisee]

We are seriously considering implementing a "no gifts for adults" rule, and only getting gifts for the children in the family. But in the past, we've done all kinds of homemade presents:

• Buy grapevine wreaths when they go 50% off at Hobby Lobby and decorate with sale-bought (or homegrown) dried or artificial flowers. If you have access to grapevines, you could even make them yourself.
• Flower arrangements made with clearanced artificial flowers.
• Decorate pine cones and make Christmas ornaments.
• Make refrigerator artwork magnets by having DD paint wooden clothespins and glueing magnets to the back. Give with a piece of DD's artwork.
• Have DD paint a wooden picture frame and give with a picture of her in it.
• Homebaked cookies, muffins, quick breads.
• Flavored sugars and creamers for coffee (made with recipes from Gifts In A Jar-type books and websites). Can also make chocolate-dipped spoons to go with them.
• Home-canned goods--jams, jellies, pickles, relishes (zucchini), salsa, fruit (peaches, pears), vegetables (green beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, jalapeno slices).
• Homemade truffles. These are SO easy and delicious. We used a different coating for each flavor--milk chocolate for vanilla, dark chocolate for raspberry liquer, powdered sugar for orange liquer (Triple Sec), chopped almonds for rum, etc.
• Chocolate-covered cherries. This recipe is tedious, but it was a big hit.
• Other easy candies--white chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate nut clusters, chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks, chocolate-covered marshmallows, chocolate-dipped candy canes, various chocolate barks, fudge.

[KBecks]

My side of the family does not exchange gifts (well that has changed now that there are little kids -- they receive gifts, but the adults don't exchange). We gather for a meal and just hang out together, and it's nice.

My husband's side of the family also switched to a gift exchange, where each person has 1 person to buy for. That has also been nice and cut down on the volume of gifts we're responsible for. We will get different people to give to every year, so the shopping/making of gifts usually happens late in the game (December). And there's a $20-$25 limit.

The upside is that we only buy/make then for 7 people.

We give only a few gifts to the kids, maybe 3 each, and last year I got stockings for the kids -- what was I thinking? Stockings need to be filled - doh!

I like to take advantage of holiday sales, shop with a list, and shop online. I'm very careful to plan everything and not overbuy.

Call me big-time Scrooge, but I don't plan to give gifts to teachers. Maybe I should... my kids aren't in school yet. If I do, it would likely be something like homemade cookies or candy, or a small cash gift.

[emski4379]

Because of DH side, we have lots to buy for.

For DS (and by this Christmas DD), we follow the 4 gift rule. The what to wear is usually Christmas PJ's. Besides that, we do stocking stuffers (toothbrush, annual ornament, the book if it fits in there, plus small gifts from relatives).

For most of our family, we get photo calendars. Other than that, we have an adults only rule. If you have a kid, you stop getting a gift and your kid gets one instead. DH is one of 5, so this has helped a lot.

For grandparents, I may try the apron craft with handprints. That is adorable!

I did a lot of baking for gifts last year, and found it didn't really save us much money.

I think we'll also start the 12 days of Christmas activities ideas from above.

Oh, my side does a gift exchange, which really cuts down, since before we had to buy for all the aunts/uncles/cousins, and I have a lot. Now it's the Secret Santa, grandparents/elderly aunts, and children (plus your parents/siblings). Still cuts out 15 people or so.