Comments on: Ask the Readers: Celebrating Christmas in a meaningful way? http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html Helping You Be a Better Home Economist Fri, 25 May 2012 03:11:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Letisha http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272737 Letisha Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:35:53 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272737 How can I contact the second commenter Kathy F? Thanks! How can I contact the second commenter Kathy F? Thanks!

]]> By: Michelle W http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272736 Michelle W Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:43:30 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272736 I've had this problem before. We've done the drawing names thing and that works well. However, now that we live out of state and away from all of our family, gift giving inexpensively has gotten tougher. I love handmade gifts, but doing the "cookie in a jar" or things like that aren't practical when you factor in the shipping (which can cost more than the gift!) So I've turned to more handmade items, like a calendar with my kids' pictures on it. Snapfish usually has good deals on that. Or handmade items from the kids. That way, the kids are making the gifts and they're more personal. When it comes to my own kids, I try and buy things throughout the year or when I find good deals. Also, my kids do not ask for a ton of presents. They are told to ask for just a couple things they might really want and they are just fine with that. Now, that doesn't mean that they're only getting 2 or 3 gifts but they have also been taught from a very young age the value of money, that this season is not about presents and spending money, it is about Jesus. So they don't ask for those pricey toys. And they don't *expect* a lot. I’ve had this problem before. We’ve done the drawing names thing and that works well. However, now that we live out of state and away from all of our family, gift giving inexpensively has gotten tougher. I love handmade gifts, but doing the “cookie in a jar” or things like that aren’t practical when you factor in the shipping (which can cost more than the gift!)

So I’ve turned to more handmade items, like a calendar with my kids’ pictures on it. Snapfish usually has good deals on that. Or handmade items from the kids. That way, the kids are making the gifts and they’re more personal.

When it comes to my own kids, I try and buy things throughout the year or when I find good deals. Also, my kids do not ask for a ton of presents. They are told to ask for just a couple things they might really want and they are just fine with that. Now, that doesn’t mean that they’re only getting 2 or 3 gifts but they have also been taught from a very young age the value of money, that this season is not about presents and spending money, it is about Jesus. So they don’t ask for those pricey toys. And they don’t *expect* a lot.

]]> By: Jennifer http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272735 Jennifer Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:09:30 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272735 Hi! I'm here via Virginia's blog (blackflipflops). I posted a piece last December that was given to me a while ago. It helped me to refocus my gift giving with regard to my kids and helped the budget, too. I just thought maybe you and your readers could benefit from it. Here's the URL to copy and paste. Have a great day! http://jsvh.blogspot.com/2007/12/children-receive-5-gifts.html Hi! I’m here via Virginia’s blog (blackflipflops). I posted a piece last December that was given to me a while ago. It helped me to refocus my gift giving with regard to my kids and helped the budget, too. I just thought maybe you and your readers could benefit from it. Here’s the URL to copy and paste. Have a great day!
http://jsvh.blogspot.com/2007/12/children-receive-5-gifts.html

]]> By: trixie http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272734 trixie Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:38:34 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272734 Hello! I love all the grate ideas shared. We are pretty big believers about keeping Christmas simple. So many people feel pressured to buy more and more to build a bigger and better Christmas Experience. It is so sad; I wonder if we would all enjoy the holidays more if we were not so concerned with turning them into a big production. I recently wrote about a simpler Christmas here: http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/2008/10/getting-ready-for-christmas.html Take Care, Trixie Hello!

I love all the grate ideas shared. We are pretty big believers about keeping Christmas simple.

So many people feel pressured to buy more and more to build a bigger and better Christmas Experience. It is so sad; I wonder if we would all enjoy the holidays more if we were not so concerned with turning them into a big production.

I recently wrote about a simpler Christmas here:

http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/2008/10/getting-ready-for-christmas.html

Take Care,

Trixie

]]> By: Alisa http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272733 Alisa Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:22:09 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272733 Thank you to everyone! Thanks to Crystal for posting my question and thanks to every one of you who commented. I really feel blessed, inspired, and even a bit optimistic about this year's Christmas celebration. It's like having a hundred or so really smart sisters, so thank you, you've been such a blessing to me! Thank you to everyone! Thanks to Crystal for posting my question and thanks to every one of you who commented. I really feel blessed, inspired, and even a bit optimistic about this year’s Christmas celebration. It’s like having a hundred or so really smart sisters, so thank you, you’ve been such a blessing to me!

]]> By: Jen http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272732 Jen Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:51:21 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272732 My mom's side of the family had all agreed to just get together for dinner and games, without the gifts. It wouldn't hurt to approach your family about that. I read this cool idea in a newspaper: A charity auction of homemade goods. Each person or each family makes an item. It can be from very simple (a child's drawing) to elaborate (a quilt) or even a food item. Each item is auctioned off. The winning bidder keeps the item. All the money raised goes to a charity. Or maybe each family could choose a charity and split the money by the no. of families attending. My mom’s side of the family had all agreed to just get together for dinner and games, without the gifts. It wouldn’t hurt to approach your family about that.

I read this cool idea in a newspaper: A charity auction of homemade goods. Each person or each family makes an item. It can be from very simple (a child’s drawing) to elaborate (a quilt) or even a food item. Each item is auctioned off. The winning bidder keeps the item. All the money raised goes to a charity. Or maybe each family could choose a charity and split the money by the no. of families attending.

]]> By: Debbie B http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272731 Debbie B Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:45:29 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272731 We also have an extended family with different incomes and lifestyles represented. What we decided to do, as a group, is not give gifts to each other. Instead we pick a charity each year, and each family donates what they feel comfortable with to the charity. Some years not all family members have been able to give, and that is ok too. When we gather together as a family we do a pot luck dinner and just spend time together. Hopefully everyone in your family will agree to something similar and remember what the true meaning of the holiday is. We also have an extended family with different incomes and lifestyles represented. What we decided to do, as a group, is not give gifts to each other. Instead we pick a charity each year, and each family donates what they feel comfortable with to the charity. Some years not all family members have been able to give, and that is ok too. When we gather together as a family we do a pot luck dinner and just spend time together. Hopefully everyone in your family will agree to something similar and remember what the true meaning of the holiday is.

]]> By: Melodie http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272730 Melodie Sat, 04 Oct 2008 09:59:40 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272730 Here's an idea requiring some planning ahead throughout the year, but it's one that I hope to implement in the future. I plan to collect all the freebies I can get and either sell them on e-bay or at yardsales. All profits will be put into a gift giving fund. That fund will be the budget I set for myself year-round for our family's giving. My husband and I are blessed with two large extended families who generally understand tight budgets. We usually have Polyannas (choosing one family member's name out of a hat to give too) or we give gifts to the elementary children only. The rest of us give as we please to our churches. We also may give cookies, fudge, or homemade gifts to each other if we wish, but there is no pressure or expectation for that. As our children grow (they are too small to understand at this point) we hope to have a birthday gift for Jesus fund that our children participate in by giving portions of the money they earn from doing chores around the house and yard or neighborhood. We are still working out the details of the plan here, but here are some of the ideas. We have considered having a gift box with a slit in the top where the kids put change they collect throughout the season. Also, I have thought we could raise money as a family for the box through different bake sales and yardsales. The box would be opened and the money counted on Christmas morning and the children will have the oportunity of writing letters to the pre-arranged recipients of the gift at that time. Then the money will be sent to a missionary or special fund for those in need. The children will also be encouraged to choose one of the best gifts they receive for Christmas to share with another child who does not have the same privileges as ours might. Here’s an idea requiring some planning ahead throughout the year, but it’s one that I hope to implement in the future. I plan to collect all the freebies I can get and either sell them on e-bay or at yardsales. All profits will be put into a gift giving fund. That fund will be the budget I set for myself year-round for our family’s giving.

My husband and I are blessed with two large extended families who generally understand tight budgets. We usually have Polyannas (choosing one family member’s name out of a hat to give too) or we give gifts to the elementary children only. The rest of us give as we please to our churches. We also may give cookies, fudge, or homemade gifts to each other if we wish, but there is no pressure or expectation for that.

As our children grow (they are too small to understand at this point) we hope to have a birthday gift for Jesus fund that our children participate in by giving portions of the money they earn from doing chores around the house and yard or neighborhood. We are still working out the details of the plan here, but here are some of the ideas. We have considered having a gift box with a slit in the top where the kids put change they collect throughout the season. Also, I have thought we could raise money as a family for the box through different bake sales and yardsales. The box would be opened and the money counted on Christmas morning and the children will have the oportunity of writing letters to the pre-arranged recipients of the gift at that time. Then the money will be sent to a missionary or special fund for those in need. The children will also be encouraged to choose one of the best gifts they receive for Christmas to share with another child who does not have the same privileges as ours might.

]]> By: Lindsay http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272729 Lindsay Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:46:32 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272729 My 9-year-old has a large extended family and each year she makes a homemade gift. Last year we went to Goodwill/Salvation Army and picked out different shaped vases, jars, and bowls from the millions of glass pieces they have there for $0.99-$1. Then we bought a bottle of Mod-podge at Michaels and a package of colored tissue paper at the dollar store. She had so much fun tearing up the tissue paper into small pieces and using the hodge-podge to glue it onto the glass pieces. it dries into a stained-glass look (a good idea to add a final coat yourself when the kids are done) and each piece was unique. the family loved it and it cost next to nothing. I found the idea at an art teachers' website here: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/elem40.html My 9-year-old has a large extended family and each year she makes a homemade gift. Last year we went to Goodwill/Salvation Army and picked out different shaped vases, jars, and bowls from the millions of glass pieces they have there for $0.99-$1. Then we bought a bottle of Mod-podge at Michaels and a package of colored tissue paper at the dollar store. She had so much fun tearing up the tissue paper into small pieces and using the hodge-podge to glue it onto the glass pieces. it dries into a stained-glass look (a good idea to add a final coat yourself when the kids are done) and each piece was unique. the family loved it and it cost next to nothing.

I found the idea at an art teachers’ website here:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/elem40.html

]]> By: Lindsay http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272728 Lindsay Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:40:57 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272728 My 9-year-old has a large extended family and each year she makes a homemade gift. Last year we went to Goodwill/Salvation Army and picked out different shaped vases, jars, and bowls from the millions of glass pieces they have there for $0.99-$1. Then we bought a bottle of Mod-podge at Michaels and a package of colored tissue paper at the dollar store. She had so much fun tearing up the tissue paper into small pieces and using the hodge-podge to glue it onto the glass pieces. it dries into a stained-glass look (a good idea to add a final coat yourself when the kids are done) and each piece was unique. the family loved it and it cost next to nothing. I found the idea at an art teachers' website here: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/elem40.html My 9-year-old has a large extended family and each year she makes a homemade gift. Last year we went to Goodwill/Salvation Army and picked out different shaped vases, jars, and bowls from the millions of glass pieces they have there for $0.99-$1. Then we bought a bottle of Mod-podge at Michaels and a package of colored tissue paper at the dollar store. She had so much fun tearing up the tissue paper into small pieces and using the hodge-podge to glue it onto the glass pieces. it dries into a stained-glass look (a good idea to add a final coat yourself when the kids are done) and each piece was unique. the family loved it and it cost next to nothing.

I found the idea at an art teachers’ website here:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/elem40.html

]]> By: Katie http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272727 Katie Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:36:03 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272727 We agreed on my husband's side of the family to forgo Christmas gifts last year and this year. The reasoning was that we wanted to spend time together and that feeling like we "had to" give gifts was actually hurting finances of at least some of us. His parents, who love to give gifts, find other times during the year to give and we've all made it a point to spend our money on travel to see one another and to call more often instead of buying Christmas gifts. This won't work for everyone, but it's been great for us. We agreed on my husband’s side of the family to forgo Christmas gifts last year and this year. The reasoning was that we wanted to spend time together and that feeling like we “had to” give gifts was actually hurting finances of at least some of us. His parents, who love to give gifts, find other times during the year to give and we’ve all made it a point to spend our money on travel to see one another and to call more often instead of buying Christmas gifts. This won’t work for everyone, but it’s been great for us.

]]> By: Mummy http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272726 Mummy Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:16:47 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272726 I have ten kids of my own and I also have 9 siblings in my family. We have no money for b-day or Xmas presents. We simpily tell the kids we are giving any presents this year but we'll play games and have have a party. It's hardest on the little guys because they don't understand but I get hand-me- down toys that I save for such occasions. I know this doesn't slove your problem for people who you really feel like you want to or should give presents to. I just try to be creative with those guys. I save gifts when I feel I can get away with in order to regift! OUCH! I can't believe I just admitted to that but it helps me save face and it's usually something I'd love to keep so I feel like it's a sacrifice of love. Am I awful for doing that? I also make these Xmas balls out of photos. Family members really love it. You cut out circles and use a pentagon shape to score the photos and glue all the edges. It Takes 12 circles. And then I glue glitter on the edges where they didn't meet all the way. I have ten kids of my own and I also have 9 siblings in my family. We have no money for b-day or Xmas presents. We simpily tell the kids we are giving any presents this year but we’ll play games and have have a party. It’s hardest on the little guys because they don’t understand but I get hand-me- down toys that I save for such occasions.
I know this doesn’t slove your problem for people who you really feel like you want to or should give presents to. I just try to be creative with those guys. I save gifts when I feel I can get away with in order to regift! OUCH! I can’t believe I just admitted to that but it helps me save face and it’s usually something I’d love to keep so I feel like it’s a sacrifice of love. Am I awful for doing that?

I also make these Xmas balls out of photos. Family members really love it. You cut out circles and use a pentagon shape to score the photos and glue all the edges. It Takes 12 circles. And then I glue glitter on the edges where they didn’t meet all the way.

]]> By: bekah http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272725 bekah Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:37:09 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272725 We are planning on starting a tradition as soon as our kids are old enough where we commemorate the gifts of the wise men on Epiphany. We'll be having our kids pick out something to "give to Jesus" for His birthday the same way that the wise men gave Him gifts. This will go to a suitable charity (such as the Jeremiah house in our area, a house for low-income and homeless mothers). We are planning on starting a tradition as soon as our kids are old enough where we commemorate the gifts of the wise men on Epiphany. We’ll be having our kids pick out something to “give to Jesus” for His birthday the same way that the wise men gave Him gifts. This will go to a suitable charity (such as the Jeremiah house in our area, a house for low-income and homeless mothers).

]]> By: Heather http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272724 Heather Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:05:45 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272724 One idea is to bless others instead of giving gifts. Most of us don't need anything else. So find a local rescue mission where you can volunteer to serve a meal, pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child will all your freebies and cheap deals you get http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ make a donation to www.worldvision.com and bless children with essentials make a donation to an orphnage in Africa so that children can have essentials http://www.africaourownhome.org/index.html or buy a few simple beautiful pictures and frame them http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=3882552 Pictures take up less space! One idea is to bless others instead of giving gifts. Most of us don’t need anything else. So find a local rescue mission where you can volunteer to serve a meal, pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child will all your freebies and cheap deals you get http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
make a donation to http://www.worldvision.com and bless children with essentials
make a donation to an orphnage in Africa so that children can have essentials http://www.africaourownhome.org/index.html
or buy a few simple beautiful pictures and frame them http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=3882552 Pictures take up less space!

]]> By: Heather http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272723 Heather Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:57:40 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272723 We give pictures of our children. We give pictures of our children.

]]> By: Maria http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272722 Maria Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:53:53 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272722 We draw names in my family, and then have a spending limit for that person. All the kids go together and get a gift for the parents. Other than that, we do handmade gifts and home-made food. I really feel that most adults don't want or need more "stuff" and that Christmas is about spending time focusing on family, friends and faith. When we've had to travel for Christmas, we don't buy presents because we spent our money getting there. In the times in our lives when my husband and I have had exra income, we've loved being able to buy and extra-special gift at any time of the year and never cared about getting something in return. We draw names in my family, and then have a spending limit for that person. All the kids go together and get a gift for the parents. Other than that, we do handmade gifts and home-made food. I really feel that most adults don’t want or need more “stuff” and that Christmas is about spending time focusing on family, friends and faith. When we’ve had to travel for Christmas, we don’t buy presents because we spent our money getting there. In the times in our lives when my husband and I have had exra income, we’ve loved being able to buy and extra-special gift at any time of the year and never cared about getting something in return.

]]> By: Nina Jackson http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272721 Nina Jackson Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:47:29 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272721 I've been frustrated about what to buy for the last few years, then it dawned on me. It's about giving from the heart. How much time I spend in line or how much into debt I go says nothing about how much I love my family. Last year for the first time, I created gift bags filled with home made gifts. From hand stamped stationary that was one of a kind to homemade jams and fudge every item was hand made and unique. WE were able to prepare for Christmas and not go into debt, everyone loved the gifts. The only people we bought for were our parents, nieces and nephews. The parents got gift cards that we purchased slowly throughout the holiday season. The kids just got something small to open and everyone had something good to eat. I’ve been frustrated about what to buy for the last few years, then it dawned on me. It’s about giving from the heart. How much time I spend in line or how much into debt I go says nothing about how much I love my family. Last year for the first time, I created gift bags filled with home made gifts. From hand stamped stationary that was one of a kind to homemade jams and fudge every item was hand made and unique. WE were able to prepare for Christmas and not go into debt, everyone loved the gifts. The only people we bought for were our parents, nieces and nephews. The parents got gift cards that we purchased slowly throughout the holiday season. The kids just got something small to open and everyone had something good to eat.

]]> By: Jayme S http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272720 Jayme S Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:29:01 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272720 My husband has a large family, so this year we're making it all about the kids. Instead of buying gifts for all the adults, the adults are going to draw a childs name and buy a gift for them only. We set a $25 limit for each child. The older children can get involved by helping select the gift for one of their cousins. We'll see how it goes this year. I'm definitely looking forward to it since all the adults seem to have everything already. My husband has a large family, so this year we’re making it all about the kids. Instead of buying gifts for all the adults, the adults are going to draw a childs name and buy a gift for them only. We set a $25 limit for each child. The older children can get involved by helping select the gift for one of their cousins. We’ll see how it goes this year. I’m definitely looking forward to it since all the adults seem to have everything already.

]]> By: Mom is Broke http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272719 Mom is Broke Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:02:02 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272719 Last year was a tough year for our family. Between the immediate family we could only give hand-made gifts that didn't cost anything. You had to think creatively and use my craft stash in the basement. I actually had more fun with the kids "sneaking" around to make their crafts, then going to the store to buy something. It was a good bonding between myself and each of the three kids. I personally made each child warm PJ's and a new quilt for their beds. They made football notebooks out of composition notebooks and scrapbook paper, safty pin braclets, handmade necklaces, crayon tin bucket, and picture frames of family vacations. My 9 year old son was asking if we can make our gifts again this year! By the way "Santa" still brought a few fun toys that I found throughout the year at good prices. Last year was a tough year for our family. Between the immediate family we could only give hand-made gifts that didn’t cost anything. You had to think creatively and use my craft stash in the basement.

I actually had more fun with the kids “sneaking” around to make their crafts, then going to the store to buy something. It was a good bonding between myself and each of the three kids. I personally made each child warm PJ’s and a new quilt for their beds. They made football notebooks out of composition notebooks and scrapbook paper, safty pin braclets, handmade necklaces, crayon tin bucket, and picture frames of family vacations.

My 9 year old son was asking if we can make our gifts again this year!

By the way “Santa” still brought a few fun toys that I found throughout the year at good prices.

]]> By: Megan http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html/comment-page-3#comment-272718 Megan Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:56:42 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/10/heres-my-dilemm.html#comment-272718 I feel like everyone has already said so much. But in my family the "adults" drew names, because it got so expensive. And set a $50 limit, or something. But could give gifts to kids. This year, we are using rewards points from our credit card to get gift cards for people (just got married this year, so it's our first Christmas). We also made our own vanilla and found cheap bottles online. I plan to package them up with a recipe of the vanilla, and maybe for cookies or something. It's relatively cheap, and simple. When we were kids, my mom had us make towels, ornaments, etc. Ornaments can be found for pretty cheap, and you can just swirl glue around inside for a cute effect, perfect if you have kids. We also used to do the cookie giving thing too! There is also the idea of buying someone a "goat" for Christmas. Where you donate to world vision to buy a goat for a family, in honor of another family member. Lots of options with that. I feel like everyone has already said so much. But in my family the “adults” drew names, because it got so expensive. And set a $50 limit, or something. But could give gifts to kids. This year, we are using rewards points from our credit card to get gift cards for people (just got married this year, so it’s our first Christmas). We also made our own vanilla and found cheap bottles online. I plan to package them up with a recipe of the vanilla, and maybe for cookies or something. It’s relatively cheap, and simple. When we were kids, my mom had us make towels, ornaments, etc. Ornaments can be found for pretty cheap, and you can just swirl glue around inside for a cute effect, perfect if you have kids. We also used to do the cookie giving thing too!

There is also the idea of buying someone a “goat” for Christmas. Where you donate to world vision to buy a goat for a family, in honor of another family member. Lots of options with that.

]]>