frugal charming old fashioned Christmas

[bluebird]

Let's brainstorm! Money is tight for everyone and we all want to get back to the true meaning of Christmas. How can we do that?

The plan this year is to buy for our two kids who live at home, photo albums of our new house and life for my and and the inlaws, food of some sort for ds and dil.


A few years ago we have very little money. We took turns putting books into the cart at bargin books. When the package came, it was wrapped. We all shared in unwrapping the two boxes on Christmas morning. We are all book nuts. The dollar tree works for stocking stuffers.

[mom]

Hi,

Sketching or painting is pretty inexpensive. The kids could use poster paint or whatever is
Non-Toxic and make a handprint for Grandma, then maybe put it in a cheap picture frame from the thrift store.

Crocheting a winter neckscarf is pretty inexpensive.

Blessings,
Dawn

[mom]

Taking cuttings from yours or a friends houseplants, and root them and pot them up, That might make a nice living gift for someone.

Blessings,
Dawn

[mom]

My mom use to make potholders when I was a kid. That could be an inexpensive gift.

Sure hope everyone starts chiming in, it could be a great thread.

Blessings,
Dawn

[megrayau]

We tried last year to donate to a Charity like TEAR fund, but each family member wanted to do thier own charity. It didn't work as we had hoped but at least there wasn't a heap of money spent on things no-one really wanted!
I keep looking for things that will help my own kids get back to the spirit of the season, but it is hard!

[Sammi1961]

Connie, thanks so much for starting this thread!

One idea if you have young children is to trace their hand prints on a plain dishtowel, sew one end so that a dowel will fit through with string or ribbon for hanging, add a bit of ruffle on each end and it makes an inexpensive keepsake for grandparants.

We definitely need to cut back on Christmas this year. I plan on making spiced tea (aka Russian tea) for gifts for friends and family this year. Haven't decided on what else yet. Dh always makes homemade fudge as gifts too.

[kathymac]

DH has 4 co-workers in his department. He likes to give them something every year, but it can get expensive. This year, I am scouting out inexpensive baskets which I will fill with homemade goodies - mini loaves of orange cranberry bread, biscotti, pizelles (Italian cookies) and fudge. I plan on finishing them off with a cross-stitched ornament.

We have two elderly relatives who love to read. I have found a book for each of them in Barnes & Noble's clearance section ($5.00 each). I will make each of them a cross-stitched bookmark.

DD1 is planning on making small scrapbooks for her two best friends. Since we already have all of the supplies, all it will cost her is the price of the small photo albums. We will look for them at the dollar store or on sale at a craft store.

I think home made gifts are so much better than store bought any day. So much more thought goes into them.

Kathy

[kathymac]

Meg, we have a local charity here that does an "Angel Tree" where they place the names of children whose families can't afford Christmas presents. DD1 and DD2 each pick one child and buy a present for them.

Kathy

[Coll]

Maddie has almost $75 saved to donate to our Wildlife rehab center.
This is her project, of course I help. When she does something for me she gets alittle pay, or I just put money in here and there. She is so excited about going to donate it.

[RobertaD]

We have always picked two names off the Angel Tree hosted by Salvation Army in my area. We did pick one name last year even though we couldn't really afford to as DH had just started working. But this year we wont be able to at all as unemployment doesn't cover all the monthly expenses.

I have been picking up little things as the year goes buy to make into gifts for family. Picked up 10 magnetic footprint notepads at Goodwill for $.49 each. Will use some of them for teacher gifts with a handcream & lipbalm (from Avon of course, grins).

Roberta