New Posts  All Forums:
 

Frugal Holidays 2008 - Page 5

post #81 of 389
7/17/08 at 7:58am
With a baby due in December, it's defenitely going to be a more laid back holiday. I started buying things at garage sales already, lol. After summer ends, I'll tally up the gifts I have, buy the few odds and ends to make them up, and then it's on to baking for everyone else. Which isn't too bad since I'm in a major nesting mood lately anyway, lol.

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
post #82 of 389
7/17/08 at 8:45am
Last year I did glass marble magnets with funky fabric backs for all the boys' teachers, and they were a HUGE hit, so I'll defintiely be doing those again, with a handbound journal or set of handstamped cards. THe magnets I get at michael's with a 50% off coupon, the glass flats are from Dollar Tree, and I've got mountains of fabric - so 80 magnets runs about $10, and I give each teacher a set of 6 in an altoid tin (gotten from my dad, who is an altoids freak and eats 2 tins a week, LOL!) I cover the tin with pretty paper.

For family, I'm still ruminating...I'm loving that loaf pan carrier! I think that some homemade molasses bread or banana bread in a tin with a carrier would be a nice gift!
post #83 of 389
7/17/08 at 9:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MelanieMC View Post
no that's not it, but that is a good one. The one I remember was several pages long (mine settings show 100 posts per page), and it started for the 2006 holiday season, then was bumped up the next year. I found tons of gift ideas from it, and I thought I had subbed but I guess not b/c I don't see it in my user CP.
OK I have 2 others bookmarked, neither began in 2006.... sorry. But still good ideas here!

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=695265

and this one is longer

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=216812
post #84 of 389
7/17/08 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
Thank you so much for the links!!!!!


I was thinking about some other ideas and I am making rag baby quilts for the baby showers there always are during the school year, but I was thinking they would make GREAT Christmas gifts for adults. I would think you would need about 8 yards of fabric to make a lap quilt...I have been using flannel. I guess you would want to make sure you found a good deal on it or you would be spending a LOT of money!

However, I know Walmart usually has a lot on clearance for about $1/yard...so you would have a nice gift for under $10

Also, JoAnn fabric always has fabric on clearance...I know they have their flannel for kids/babies at 2.99/yard, but I have a coupon for 40% off...so if you bought one cut of say 8 yards...then it would be 40% off that one cut...so instead of say $24 it would be $14.40-not bad for a nice gift. And I am going to try and get one more coupon so that I can get 16 yards and have two different fabrics for large blocks and get two blankets...so two gifts for under $30

I am sure you could get old flannel shirts at Goodwill too...not sure how much they would be though.

Anyway, that's my idea for the day!:
post #85 of 389
7/17/08 at 11:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by holidaymama View Post
Thank you so much for the links!!!!!


I was thinking about some other ideas and I am making rag baby quilts for the baby showers there always are during the school year, but I was thinking they would make GREAT Christmas gifts for adults. I would think you would need about 8 yards of fabric to make a lap quilt...I have been using flannel. I guess you would want to make sure you found a good deal on it or you would be spending a LOT of money!

However, I know Walmart usually has a lot on clearance for about $1/yard...so you would have a nice gift for under $10

Also, JoAnn fabric always has fabric on clearance...I know they have their flannel for kids/babies at 2.99/yard, but I have a coupon for 40% off...so if you bought one cut of say 8 yards...then it would be 40% off that one cut...so instead of say $24 it would be $14.40-not bad for a nice gift. And I am going to try and get one more coupon so that I can get 16 yards and have two different fabrics for large blocks and get two blankets...so two gifts for under $30

I am sure you could get old flannel shirts at Goodwill too...not sure how much they would be though.

Anyway, that's my idea for the day!:
If you can be at a Jo-Ann's during the early hours of Black Friday all of their Snuggle flannel prints & solids are .99/yd.
post #86 of 389
7/17/08 at 6:56pm
I just got a flyer from joann's with a bunch of 40% of coupons good 7/20-7/26 cuts of fabric, craft items, and i think sewing notions. 3 of each so you can really stock up...
i will be getting yarn like i need yarn
post #87 of 389
7/17/08 at 7:55pm
My husband and I both work higher-end retail. His jobs have amazing discounts, and mine gives me free products for meeting different "goals." Stuff from our stores will probably make up the bulk of what we give for xmas (except to the little one). We also brew meads and cysers and such and have given those in the past. This year, we're thinking about soapmaking. Oh, I also crochet hats for people, and dh gives away prints of his paintings.

For the little one, we've gotten things from Freecycle and Craigslist before, but I'd guess that the bulk of what he gets is from thrift stores. He's ten and loves thrift stores.

I also find things to give as presents while decluttering. I have a set of retro mushroom mugs that I'm thinking would be perfect with some hot cocoa mix or something.... Maybe for my brother and his wife....

I'd say we never spend more than $200 on xmas - generally much less. We've probably got about a fourth of our xmas gifts ready, so far. :
post #88 of 389
7/17/08 at 9:24pm
Has the current state of the economy affected even more how you might do your winter holidays than otherwise?

I've decided I'm ONLY going to get gifts for my goddaughter and her sister (kids are 3 & 1). Aim to spend no more than $30 with mailing (they are moving out of state in a few weeks). I only buy books for them, so mailing will be simple. No gifts at work, very few cards from stash I have. Mostly free e-cards.

That means this Christmas will be about $50, including several apple pies I might make to take to Christmas dinner/parties.

Caveat: I'm single, so I don't have to worry about others in my immediate family.
post #89 of 389
7/17/08 at 9:27pm
Has the current state of the economy affected even more how you might do your winter holidays than otherwise?

oh yes very much so...
post #90 of 389
7/17/08 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1growingsprout View Post
Has the current state of the economy affected even more how you might do your winter holidays than otherwise?

oh yes very much so...
So, how much are you going to be cutting back?
post #91 of 389
7/18/08 at 1:34am
Ive metioned before most items that need to be sent to people out of this house are being hand made (socks, scarfs, blankets etc) im doing alot of crocheting these days. along with dish cloths and dish towels...
Im doing a bit of jewlerly making (beading) not much though, most will be yarning.

for those people residing inside this house(kiddies) we are asking for 'experiences' meaning passes to museums and zoo's classes and such along with shoes and clothes. our kids are pretty well stocked on toys and know that times are tight even though daddy has a very good career.
winter is our outside season so we usually get outside toys and such.
it will definately be a scaled back holiday.
post #92 of 389
7/18/08 at 10:27am
This is a great thread! For those of you who do the four presents (something you want...), how do you work Santa into that (if you do)?
post #93 of 389
7/18/08 at 2:24pm

Where can I buy tea towels?

I want to embroider tea towels (my g'ma always called them flour sack towels) for some gifts. But where can I buy plain tea towels? Probably plain white but I am open to colors. I don't think I am up for sewing the towels too.

For Santa
DS's gifts each year are:
1. PJ's
2. Book
3. Toy
So the toy will be the santa thing.
post #94 of 389
7/18/08 at 2:36pm
Thread Starter 
You can get them at Hobby Lobby...a lot of times you can get them at small town five and dime stores...I think even Walmart has them...just look by the embroidery floss
post #95 of 389
7/18/08 at 3:05pm
I was just at Hobby Lobby yesterday ( i swear they stay in business because of me) they have tons of 'tea towels' over by the yarn and floss area. If you get 'lost' in the store just as the ladies they are wonderful.

I am about 80% with an afghan that Ive been crocheting, hoping to finish it tonight or tomorrow. I have 12-15 more more squares to go, its just a huge granny square. Dont know who its for, will figure that out toward the end of november. next on the list are a couple quick washcloths a friend asked me to 'whip up' for her... sure no problem let me get right on that for you missy.

MY goal is to have all that wrapped up by Sunday night so then i can go to my yarn bins and pick out colors for my next blanket. I think this one will be 'manly' colors, was thinking 'john deere' colors. for my uncle for christmas.... yellow and greens, typical granny square, they go quick and i dont get frustrated.....:

thoughts opinions?? MOTIVATE ME MOM"S MOTIVATE
post #96 of 389
7/18/08 at 3:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1growingsprout View Post
Need Feedback....
I was looking around at crochet/crafty type things...
What do you think of crocheted aprons for your bottle of dish detergent on the sink

http://www.crochetnmore.com/dishsoapapron.htm
http://blujay.com/item/New-Hand-Croc...110400-1633824

LOAF PAN TOTE- THIS LOOKS REALLY UNIQUE
http://www.crochetnmore.com/loafpantote.htm

**I have tubs and tubs of yarn, small skeins, left over yarn etc: so there is no real cost involved

Ok... would you like to recieve something like the above for the holidays?

I LOVE the loaf pan tote!!!! I may try to find a knit pattern for that, I have a friend who would also love it!
post #97 of 389
7/29/08 at 12:12am
The afghan is done....
how is everyone else doing

I was working on practicing the 'ripple' stitch for my next project and finishing up a couple washcloth/dishtowels...
post #98 of 389
7/29/08 at 10:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunnylady303 View Post
I'll be watching this thread eagerly. Our holiday budget is waaaay down this year. We've got about $430 for everything, down from around $1200+. We've wanted simpler (and believe it or not that WAS simpler - don't get me started on my family's $10,000 Christmases) so now we have it. I would like each person to have several things to open Christmas morning. I need to shop mostly for DH, and my two girls who will be 3 and 5 by then. The older one really likes dress up so I can hit thrift stores looking for that stuff for her. She also likes dressing dolls and such. Anyone have any ideas for that? !
For standard cabage patch kid dolls NB baby clothes fit them quite well and are CHEAP and plentiful at yard sales and second hand shops. I kept a lot of DD's cute NB stuff for her dolls (my mom had kept some of mine and I loved it!). I'm also keeping some bibs, hats, baby spoons etc and the cradle.
post #99 of 389
7/30/08 at 1:08am
I'm going with more practical gifts this year. Since I've become a coupon queen and am creating a stock pile of every day use things my gift will be a supply of something. Say a months worth of toiletries, razors, shaving gel, soap, shampoo, conditioner ect that they use. I only need to get stuff for a couple of people and I know they will appreciate I got them something they will actually use rather then another piece of something to clutter up the house. Friends kids will get a supply of art supplies I've gotten free or near free (mostly name brand stuff like Crayola too). Not sure what to get my own kids, I know I'll dye some play silks for my 8 yr old, probably make waldorfy type toys for the 2 yr old.
post #100 of 389
7/30/08 at 2:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satori View Post
I'm going with more practical gifts this year. Since I've become a coupon queen and am creating a stock pile of every day use things my gift will be a supply of something. Say a months worth of toiletries, razors, shaving gel, soap, shampoo, conditioner ect that they use. I only need to get stuff for a couple of people and I know they will appreciate I got them something they will actually use rather then another piece of something to clutter up the house. Friends kids will get a supply of art supplies I've gotten free or near free (mostly name brand stuff like Crayola too). Not sure what to get my own kids, I know I'll dye some play silks for my 8 yr old, probably make waldorfy type toys for the 2 yr old.

Now is a great time to get school/art supplies for almost free... back to school sales... stock up

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby