Ok you live frugal but Christmas is right around the corner. Now what.

[HeatherLynn]

I made it through the shopping day without hitting the stores. YAY still on budget. Instead we went out to my brothers to help my dad load fire wood and guess what we got instead. Lol you'll have to read the frugality forums to find out but its awesome.

 

[Maisie1]

You don't mention how old your kids are, but Dollar Tree can be a great place to get some fun things. Little ones don't know the difference anyway. Heck, a bucket full of individually wrapped goodies would make ME happy! Personally I love giving and receiving handmade gifts---they're so unique to each person. My problem is finding the time to make stuff. Good luck! We never spend a fortune on Christmas, and this year it will be even less. But really, who cares?

 

[Ahava]

If you have a Goodwill near you, go there! I LOVE that place. If you don't know of one nearby, K-Mart and Walmart have layaway. If those don't work for you, can you barter a service to have someone make pajamas for you? Can you make them yourself from fabric remnants? We're making most of our gifts this year too, and only buying things for the kids. For everyone else we're baking, candy making, or making soap and candles.

Good luck - we'll all get through this tough economy eventually.

 

[Ahava]

Oh - sorry for the immediate additional post, but don't forget about yard sales!

 

[Daisy8s]

We did some free labor as a gift for my brother, sister-in-law, and their boys. The weekend before Thanksgiving we went up to their new farm to help with chores they needed done before winter set in. My husband dug a trench to lay electrical wire with my brother while I stayed inside and canned pears with my SIL. Our boys and their boys played out in the haymow or board games inside.

It was one of the nicest visits we've ever had with them. They're working so hard to start up their farm and it felt good to leave knowing we'd helped them rather than been a burden by visiting (though they'd never think that--it's just me that feels like I made a lot of work for the host/hostess). Anyway, a weekend together helping on their farm is about the nicest Christmas gift I could have given them. And, of course she sent me home loaded down with her preserves and jellies.

One of the meals we had up there was semi-homemade pizza. I learned that I can buy dough for a large pizza for $2.50 from a local pizza joint. So, I buy their raw dough ball and then use it to make a pizza at home with toppings I have on hand. It tastes so much better than my homemade dough so the kids feel like it's a treat, but it only costs me $2.50 (if I use toppings I have on hand).

 

[TarainNC]

Our Christmases are usually quite frugal anyway, but with the economy and our growing family ( two daughters engaged), we have to look for anyway we can to compromise. My best friend and I decided many years ago not to engage gifts, but we try to spend time together. My daughter who is recently engaged just finished massage therapy school and does not yet have a job. So I have been helping with her ideas as well. I am on a couple of mailing lists. So I gave her my coupon for a free gift from bath and body when you spend $10, you can get $13 in products, a coupon from victoria's secret for a free panty. We also love to bake and give baskets of goodies and they are well received. Last year we bought a whole ribeye from our butcher( on sale) and had him cut it. My husband put it in food saver bags and froze them. I made a basket with wrapped baking potatoes, some olives from the dollar store and the steaks. Our friends loved this gift. They don't like alot of "stuff "and this was perfect for them. This is best for a couple as it would only be 2 steaks per family. A casserole or lasagna in a disposable or yard sale pan would be great for a family. My mom makes fabric casserole covers or you could pair this with a new dishtowel or pot holders on sale. EVERYONE EATS! So barring any allergies, a home made dinner is an idea. My kids who are ages 4 to 20 love to get pickled dilly beans from their grandmother's garden. I usually pick out their favorite snack from the dollar store for their stockings. This year we have made venison hamburger and I am planning to give that to our friends that do enjoy venison. And I usually fill the kids stockings with things we have to buy anyway and try to use coupons- toothpaste, deoderant, fun or favorite soaps, bubble bath or shower gels ,etc.

 

[moodlymoo]

This is the first year I haven't been able to get my kids what they want. I will admit, they are spoiled and I have created that. I just got out of the hospital from a major surgery after being hit by a drunk driver, my husband left a month ago and I am loosing my marbles just trying to keep food on our table. I picked up a few things at Goodwill before surgery and thats it. It makes me sad not to be able to get them what they want but what they want is not what they need. My son who is 13 loves to read so I got him a bunch of books for $3.00, my 11yr old daughter has a jewelry set I won at a raffle at our local chicken swap a few months ago, my 6yr old has a pair of practically brand new roller skates I paid 1.99 at goodwill for, and my 4yr old has a craft set from the dollar store. In total I spent less than 10.00 on christmas for my kids. I wont be buying gifts for family but I plan on making reusable grocery bags from all my feed sacks. Hey, I have a ton of those and since they banned plastic bags in our city we have to buy them so I hope they are well received and if not...well, I will cry lol

 

[Suebee217]

Buy oversize cotton t-shirts. Long sleeve or short. You can buy them cheap in packets of three. Look online for decoration ideas (use jute string or cording... whatever you find at goodwill.. across the shirt diagonally and cut out Christmas bulbs from felt or various material and sew or glue beneath the cording for a cute holiday look) or simply provide the materials and let the children decorate their own depending on their ages. Inexpensive and kids love to sleep in oversized t-shirts.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

6chickens in St. Charles :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYdpte1W0vk

If time allows, above 15 minute audio can really take the edge off of Christmas spending. It's called Six to Eight Black Men by David Sedaris (humorist) and its very funny about the unique interpretations of Santa from country to country. My kids have all listened to this, over and over and it helped breach the "Does Santa really exist?" subject.

But I'd warn anyone with younger children to listen to this without them around, unless you REALLY feel ready to 'fess up that you've been Santa all along........

OK now its crunch time! This year I have truly NOTHING to spend, and even juggling whether to continue paying for our internet! Hurry and listen to above, its hilarious! Don't let the title fool ya, its NOT about anything racial. But we get a good laugh regarding the history of Santa around the world.

We plan on making a christmas "tree" by trimming our yard pine tree, and going over the old photo albums of years' past. I can still pay the electric bill, thanks to trading in most bulbs for LED's which seem practically free according to my new bill (my kids read all night). If I'm smart enough, and wise enough, I will encourage my family to make an effort at gifting to each other. I even thought "classic movie" nights during these holidays will be fun, before I let the internet go.

My big splurge will be Saint Nicholas Day on Dec 6th, where I will spend about $10 per kid to stuff their shoes with chocolate coins, a christmassy craft and a few bucks worth of quarters to indulge in the new "vending machine cafe" at the library! (Our library is EVIL I can't believe they did that, my kids are there 3 or 4 times a week, now they'll be loaded with pop and candy too)

I wish everybody good luck and good times! I love the ideas ya'll shared here!​

 

[cravenchx]

I have several favorite hymas...I think
I would like one framed, to hang over the
piano. What do you think of that idea?
Just wondering.