[freespirited]

This year things are just so tight and after budgeting for the month, we will only have $200 for Christmas this year. Anyone else in the same boat and do you have any plans/ideas how to make the most of the money? I wanted a Zune (like an I-Pod) but that ain't gonna happen! That alone is like $125. I am thinking, dh and I can forgo gifts, or maybe allow $50 each to buy something for the other, and that would leave $50 for our two girls, which seems so little. I want Christmas to be fun and memorable for them. Any cheap gift ideas? We've already factored in the Christmas tree which we've budgeted $30 for, and have to buy lights too, so the $200 is what we have left for gifts. We definitely won't be buying anyone else gifts but I was thinking about baking cookies and putting them in decorated jars or something. I am curious to see if others are on such s tight budget this year for Christmas as well. I don't remember a year this bad ever. I guess I am just grateful to have any money at all leftover after paying bills, iykwim. I'm a SAHM and I would glady take a holiday job but there just aren't any this year.

 

[iamama]

You can chop down a tree from a National Forest for only 5.OO.

 

[freespirited]

Here it is $10. We are thinking about this actually. The trees are more skimpy than you'd find from a farm but we might just do it anyway. I have a $10 off coupon for Lowe's, so a $40 tree would cost us $30. Not sure if the gas and time to find and cut down our own tree would be worth the $20 savings. Dh doesn't seem to keen on the idea. I think it would be kinda fun.

Just noticed there are other threads about having a frugal Christmas so I am getting some ideas from there. One thing I would like to do is buy non-toy "toys" such as cute cookie cutters, bubble bath, etc. Things that my 4 year old has been asking for that are both practical and fun for her. Of course, she asks for everything she sees on those annoying commercials for kids, but I think she enjoys practical things more.

 

[dubfam]

This is the first year that DH and I are even considering getting gifts for each other.

Can you and dh do something special together in January when you have a little more $$? Then you could spend your budget on the kids but not feel deprived. That has worked for us in the past.

 

[Sheal]

Canadian or American? CAS has a holiday helper of it's own stylings (much like MDC's but a little different, government funded). You can fill out a form with you family needs on it and the places you shop for groceries and what not. They bring you non-perishables, toys for the kids, clothing, even furniture needed if you need something along those lines.

You can always join up on MDC's HH as well if you need help, the ladies there are wonderful women with hearts of gold!

I believe CPS (if you are American) may have the same holiday resources available as well.

We're barely able to do Christmas this year to the point where all the adults are getting nothing for Christmas, the kids are getting clothes (one outfit each, and it's coming from CAS's Holiday Family Sponsoring services) and basic essential along with maybe (if we can afford it) one small toy each. I know my mom is hurting pretty bad too this year and she's doing essentials for my kids (clothes, socks, hats, gloves, ect). We may even need to hit a food bank just before Christmas this year to augment our pantries to get us through the holiday rush.

It's okay to need help, yeah it feels....well...honestly - humiliating in the heat of the moment but whatever gets your family the basic needs and any extras are happy bonuses.

A good way to stretch a budget like that is stocking stuffers...lots of little things like crayons and crafts and art supplies in a stocking. Have a warm and cozy quiet holiday with family and companionship. It sucks that the adults don't get anything this year for us but I think the kids understand this issue less than the adults do. They are more important than we are (it's obvious you feel the same way I do).

Maybe you can have a holiday card exchange where your kids can draw what matters most to them about the family or the holidays. Write a letter to each and read them. Make homemade ornaments the tree together Christmas Eve and have "Santa" put them on the tree (like leaving milk and cookies instead Santa helps decorate the tree with the last few handmade ornaments). Make a game of it, who can spot where Santa put them on the tree first, like I spy or something.

Get a board game that all of you can play together during family night or for Christmas day...One big family gift for everyone?

Those are just what's off the top of my head.

 

[lolar2]

Is the $200 for gifts only, or also for dinner, etc.?

 

[rhiandmoi]

Kids do not know the price of things. For a fun and memorable Christmas get 10-12 $1 toys for each kid from Dollar tree and wrap them individually. Make salt dough ornaments. String popcorn. Kids remember doing things more than getting things.

 

[holidaymama]

Well, what if you and hubby took $25 and went out on a date together. Do you have some neighbors or relatives that could watch your kids for an hour or so? You could just head to a coffee shop and get a coffee or go somewhere for a dessert. Maybe you could buy a CD or something of new holiday music to always remember that date and Christmas.

For gifts for the girls then you would have $175 left. That's quite a bit imo.

So, I didn't see the ages of your girls, but I will assume pretty young if you SAH. Here are some suggestions:

1.)Special Ornaments for each girl...go to Hobby Lobby or some place where they have really fun ones for little $: ---$10

2.) A special holiday movie for each girl...different ones and you have two new movies for your collection: ---$20

3.) Go to a used book store or order used and maybe get a few new books each for them: ---$20

4.) Games. There are lots of games for $10 or less right now, especially for little kids: ---$20

5.) Do they like dolls or cooking or play food? I know Macy's has wooden playfood sets for $19.99 right now: ---$40

6.)Christmas sheets or a special blanket. Target has flannel sheet sets both holiday and other right now for $19.99 or you could get a Christmas blanket somewhere: --- $40

Total: $150

Stocking Stuffers:
Sippy Cup: --- $10
Hair Bows or head bands: --- $5
small game or trinket: ---$5
special candy or juice box: --- $5

Total: $25

GRAND TOTAL $175

So I gave a price for two of each item...just an estimate obviously. That's 6 gifts each plus a stocking. I think that would thrill most kids! It's pretty much what my kids are getting, although I have boys!

Hope that helps!

 

[freespirited]

Thanks all for some great ideas! I'm going to suggest to dh that our gift to each other be a Christmas day date to the movies, because aren't theatres open on Christmas? We can have a couple slices of pizza beforehand, then go to a matinee, would cost about $25 total, I would think. I have parents nearby so they can watch the kids for us. They buy them toys too but this year is tight for them as well, however, they will be getting a few things from them. I'm trying to steer them away from made in China toys and towards clothing and DVDs. Gift cards from Baby Gap is one thing I've asked for since they pick out terrible clothing for the girls. Then we'll have something to use for a spring wardrobe since they are pretty set for winter.

We get $270 in foodstamps every month, not nearly enough but I we simply wouldn't make ends meet without them. I plan to eat a lot more rice and beans and bulk grains so we can make it through the month. I have a cherry pie in the freezer leftover from Thanksgiving, we will make that for Christmas and buy a ham and some potatoes and a few other items and that will be good enough. Dh's second paycheck of December will pay bills and we'll need about $100 or so for groceries, because I have tried and tried and we simply cannot make it on under $400 a month. I am going to see if we can get WIC to help out a little more. One thing we don't do is buy junk food. I make almost every lunch and dinner from scratch. Thank God gas is so much cheaper, but when will it be reflected in food prices?

I got an idea while reading your suggestions. We have a candy store here that specializes in old-fashioned candy that you don't see in stores so much anymore like candy cigarettes, cherry mountains, all that stuff we grew up with and even stuff our parents grew up with, so I think I'll take a trip there and get some whimsical stuff for their stockings. Candy is always a hit, and I don't buy it much for them the rest of the year. I'll also try the dollar store and see what I can find in there for them. Maybe coloring books and things like that. Thanks for the posts, and keep them coming!

 

[AngelBee]

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[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Quote:

I would like to do is buy non-toy "toys" such as cute cookie cutters, bubble bath, etc. Things that my 4 year old has been asking for that are both practical and fun for her.

I bought my two daughters office supplies.

One of my friends suggested that because she did it for her daughters too.

I got them paper, envelopes, stickers, colored pens, tape, glue, glitter etc. and it makes for a BIG package (boxes of paper and envelopes are bulky) and the total cost came in at under $20 each.

Office supplies are cheap and Staples has discounted stuff at the back of the store.

We're going to use the boxes the paper came in to make "mailboxes" so they can send each other notes with the envelopes.

We're on a budget too this Christmas and I'm hoping this will be fun for them.

 

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

Are you crafty at all? Can you knit or sew or crochet? I got a bag of scrap yarn from the thrift store for about $2 last year and made some toys like these.

I've also filled out stockings with thrift store toys. Small kids don't care where it comes from and I've found some really nice things like a wooden train set and a doll house.

 

[phatchristy]

We bought some great gifts for our girls....I do shop the whole year, so always have plenty for the holidays.

Target has a $1 spot...we've gotten so many things there. They have Hello Kitty activity books, Hello Kitty dress up magnets, packs of pencils, decorative erasers. The activity books are great especially as the kiddos get older and love to do word finds, etc. They also had lots of different holiday socks (though my kiddos all outgrew those). Earlier in the year they had hello kitty necklace/bracelet sets, and we each picked them up one of those and the LOVE them!

Last year I also bought them reduced after Christmas ornaments at 75% off. Each of them get an ornament, and they were only $2 for REALLY nice ornaments!

I used the 50% coupon (got two) for Michaels and got some nice crafty stuff for them really inexpensively. They also had the CUTEST 'bear' outfits which happened to fit their 18" soft sculpture dolls....over the last month as we've gotten four 50% off coupons I picked up two fairy and two princess outfits--and they were really nice quality for about $3.75 each. They also sell so many "kits" and kid crafts. You can do a lot for little $$$.

 

[EmsMom]

That's about what I spend most years. I tend to buy thrift/yard sale things all year to fill in though. Each of my kids get a $20 toy, more or less, and then their stocking if filled. We make stuff to give away. We try to adopt a kid to give them a present, too. We do lots of fun, free or cheap stuff. I like to fill stockings with practical stuff like new markers, glue sticks, etc. My kids really like match box and hot wheels so they go in too and they only cost a bit more than $1. Sometimes they each get a new pair of pajamas and new socks in their stocking. Used gifts generally include new books, etc. We could actually do more with our budget, but we all kind of prefer it this way. My kids stay calmer with less frenzy on Christmas morning. I don't usually get a present and I get my husband something practical like new slippers. I guess we are kind of boring... We also keep on using the same silly artificial tree. A real tree around here is crazy expensive, like $50.

 

[Purple Cat]

I would try craigslist or thrift stores or rummage sales, if any are being held now.

Rummage sales are typically held in October and April where I live. For $50, I bought a wooden pirate ship, a Plan City roadway set, a wooden bulldozer, a junior architect magnetic set (unused) with various shapes, a stable set with horses and paraphenalia.

I'm also trying to put together a slew of fun activities for us to do. Many of them are no/minimal cost. I think the memories of fun activities are as or more important than the gifts. We made salt dough ornaments. My twins each got to mix their own batch and we painted them today. Many places have days when reindeer make an appearance, model train displays, etc.

 

[maciascl]

Why do the gifts make the memories? Create memories by creating traditions. Gifts don't have to cost much especially with such young kids. What about books or art supplies, those are inexpensive. We are spending well less than $100 on out family gifts & that includes stockings.

 

[p1gg1e]

((Hugs))

I hope you have a great holiday!

 

[Belleweather]

$200 is always our budget for Christmas. $25 each for DH and I to get one another a present, $50 for each kid, and $50 for stockings and a gift for the boys to share. We've always considered that to be ample. We check e-bay, use lots of coupons and buy from amazon and etsy and have done very well.

This year our eldest is getting 3 wooden puzzles, a pack of Schlien dino figurines, and a couple of books. The little one will get a teething snuggle doll, a wood shape sorter and a walk-behind toy from e-bay. They'll get oranges, juice, suckers, homemade t-shirts, and toothbrushes in their stockings. Their gifts to share are a few wooden trucks (e-bay) and a playmat (Ikea) and a wooden climber from craigslist. We'll play in the snow and eat fresh baked scones and see their grammy and auntie, and I'm sure it will be a memorable Christmas.

 

[sunnmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belleweather We'll play in the snow and eat fresh baked scones and see their grammy and auntie, and I'm sure it will be a memorable Christmas.

It sounds wonderful!

$200 is plenty for Christmas when the kids are small. I stretch my dollar by shopping on craigslist....second-hand prices, with no sales tax or shipping! Last year I got my dd a wooden fort/playspace for $30, and this year I got ds a wooden handmade kitchen (plus other goodies) for $40!

Dh and I normally exchange a gift, but I could easily do without it. For me, the joy of Christmas is creating a memory for my dc.

I am sure you will be able to create a magical Christmas for your dc with $200.

 

[annethcz]

To me, $50 seems like plenty. That's what we have budgeted for each child this year, and it'll be more than enough.

DS8- wallet ($4 on clearance at Kohls), binoculars ($20), Lego Set ($10), Jeans (less than $16)
DS8- wallet ($4 on clearance at Kohls), Lego set ($20), New gloves ($9), still have $17 left to spend
DD6- $17 Tshirt from my alma mater because DD wants to go there too, $4 embroidery thread and needles, we also got her ears pierced as an early Christmas gift
DD5- $17 fancy dress, $10 fancy shoes, $8 purse, $3 hairband, $3 tights, still have $9 left to spend- I'll probably buy her some crafty things. My DD loves to dress up, and instead of buying dress up clothes I decided to buy things that she can wear outside the house. That's much easier than trying to talk her out of wearing her dress-up princess dress to the store

Free or cheap holiday activities:
-making paper chains
-baking cookies
-decorating the house together
-making christmas ornaments
-spending time with family