Need Cheap Christmas ideas!

[Mermaid02]

that was days ago Loreli. Is it right for her to by following someone just to make rude comments?

I didn't mean that makes it "Okay" to stalk and be rude....... I just think that's where it's coming from.

Back to our regularly scheduled Christmas on the thrifty side thread!

 

[dakcp2001]

that was days ago Loreli. Is it right for her to by following someone just to make rude comments?

It is very "junior high" like. And a ridiculous waste of time.


back to the Christmas Thread!!!!!! Onward and forward.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

Your both right.

OP talk to the kids. They should know already that money is tight so let them be a part of making the best of things. LIfe isn't about the things but the family, love and laughs that you have.

 

[minniebeth]

Christmas (holiday time including all the holidays ) is a time of love, peace, and joy. A time to celebrate families, friends and our communities. I LOVE the ideas on this thread, thank you for sharing, everyone! We are trying to get away from so many material gifts and get back to what's most meaningful (and keep on budget )

This thread will definately motivate me to impletment these ideas into our holiday activities!

Thank you!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Last year my husband and I actually spent Christmas by ourselves.

It was wonderful! We have started some new traditions.

Christmas Eve we go to Mass and make a big dessert buffet at home. Christmas Day we go to celebration Mass and then to the VA home to celebrate with those that may have no one.

On Christmas day we exchange stockings with limit $40 and new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

After Christmas, my husband and I shop for each other. New Year's Eve instead of going out, we have a private party at home and celebrate the new year with what would be our Christmas presents. We just call them New Year's presents. It saves us money and takes some of the stress out of the holiday shopping and makes us really enjoy what is important.

 

[minniebeth]

Last year my husband and I actually spent Christmas by ourselves.

It was wonderful! We have started some new traditions.

Christmas Eve we go to Mass and make a big dessert buffet at home. Christmas Day we go to celebration Mass and then to the VA home to celebrate with those that may have no one.

On Christmas day we exchange stockings with limit $40 and new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

After Christmas, my husband and I shop for each other. New Year's Eve instead of going out, we have a private party at home and celebrate the new year with what would be our Christmas presents. We just call them New Year's presents. It saves us money and takes some of the stress out of the holiday shopping and makes us really enjoy what is important.

These sound like such wonderful new traditions!
We still give my kids, even though they are getting a little older, new pajamas on Christmas Eve. They say they will continue that tradition when they get married, even before kids, so I love that they think it's that special!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My kids enjoyed holiday shopping at thrift stores when we cut back last year. My husband did get reemployed. When that occurred we followed through on big gifts we had planned. But DH and I did without. Our children were not expecting it though...they did a very frugal Christmas list that year.

We listened to TONS of holiday music and enjoyed viewing Christmas lights and watching Christmas specials.

My kids, on their own, "shopped" through their own things to give to cousins who are younger.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Cheap gift from kids that everyone loves-
Last year we took AOL (and other old cds) and painted them green then had the kids make thumb print berries in red. We took there pictures and covered the center and poped a ribbon up top (after we drilled a tiny hole). Total cost: $3 for two bottles of paint, and ribbon.

 

[C.Ann]

It is very "junior high" like. And a ridiculous waste of time. .

Seeks to be an epidemic lately - worse than usual..

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Anyhow - Christmas!!!

Baking cookies - choose the least expensive recipes - still yummy!

Christmas music - a must have!

Make a count-down calendar to Christmas - inexpensive craft..

Check your small local papers for special activities in and around your neighborhood - some are often free!

Christmas books and videos from the library..

Lots and lots of online Christmas web sites - everything from games you can play online to ideas you can print out of fun activities; recipes etc..

Decorating - make it last! A little each day (in terms of the house) - hot cocoa & cookies, with candy canes for stirrers for treats..

Very inexpensive holiday plates, napkins, and cups at the Dollar stores with lots of variety to choose from.. Get several patterns and use them whenever they are conducive to what you're serving.. (Also stick the napkins in the kids lunch boxes..)

Caroling around the neighborhood - as well as nursing homes..
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So much to do that doesn't focus on gifts.. I'm sure it will be a great holiday for you and your family..

 

[Handbag Lady]

I tend to find sugar cookie dough on sale around the holidays so I stock up on them and you can too. Then, go to the dollar store and find any kind of candies. Then, make your own festive cookies. Honestly, the pre-made dough is cheaper than making your own.

Volunteer. Nothing helps me when I'm down on my luck than helping up my fellow man.

Can you kindly ask your outer rim of family friends that this year, can we NOT do gifts? This way, you can concentrate on your immediate family.

But, you CAN do homemade Christmas cards to send out! That is always fun!

Have a contest with you kids to see who can make the best paper-plate star for the top of the tree using household items only. (Glue left over from school supploes, ribbons from previous presents, odd-ends of wrapping paper, toilet paper sprinkled with glue and glitter, etc. ) Then, have everyone vote on them in a blind ballot but make it clear no one can vote for their own.

 

[minkydog]

Okay, so with DH still not working, Christmas will be a bit tighter (major understatment alert!) this year.

So, I am looking for your cheap ideas on making the season more memorable/special. I don't mean (necesarily) gift wise.......but more ways to make the whole season fun....make it last.

So, lay 'em on me!!!
Thanks!

A lot of churches and other groups have free concerts. One of the things we do is load up the kids in the car, turn on Christmas music, and ride around looking at the lights. We have some outdoor lights and the kids like to put them on the bushes. The kids love to make cookies, you know, the slice and bake kind. That's $2.00 worth of fun, right there. You can do a little "elf on the shelf". We don't have an elf(and I'm not going to buy the darn thing!) but we have a manger scene. So I moved Baby Jesus around every day until Dec 24. Go to the library and check out books to read aloud. My kids love to hear "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. The description is hard to slog through, but the kids know the story so they can stay with it.

I remember one year that was particularly lean. We really didn't have much extra. But we had enough to help out a local daycare for the babies and children of a battered women's shelter. I had some extra diapers, some bananas, some oranges, a box of unused markers, a gently used coat my DD had outgrown, a pan of brownies, and a bag of new socks, so I loaded them in a laundry basket and took them down there. Their faces just lit up! These were kids who weren't going to get much, if anything for Christmas. It did my heart good to see their mothers so grateful for such a little thing. Perhaps you can find a way to help someone else who's down on their luck. It doesn't have to cost a lot. Just give your time and consider what it will mean to the receiver. I promise you, it will make your Christmas.

 

[freddog]

Great ideas! I'm loving reading them! Thanks!