Ending the Guilt...Ending the Stress...
I am starting to dread Christmas any more. The whole meaning is lost over the stress of presents and having enough money to buy them. Every year I go into debt buying all my family and friends presents because I feel guilty if I don’t get something nice. Well I’ve finally had enough!! Not going to happen this year!!
We decided while I was still pregnant that we wouldn’t have huge Christmas’s for the boys…we didn’t want to start something that we may not be able to continue. Plus we wanted to teach them the true meaning of the holidays. But then we spend so much on everyone else that it defeats that purpose.
Well this year we will have just bought a house. We won’t have cash on hand for everyone’s gift… And quite frankly I think the house we are providing our children the up most importance. I don’t want to go further in debt just for some holiday that has lost its true meaning and gone completely Americanized Materialistic!!
Not to say that is that I don’t want to give…I like to give hence why I go in debt to do so each year. I’d like to make things this year for those on my list. Does anyone have any good gift making ideas?? And while on that thought, Chad’s sister has six children…. any ideas for them? They’re seven and under in age… I was trying to think of an inexpensive combined gift for all.
Anyone??
We decided while I was still pregnant that we wouldn’t have huge Christmas’s for the boys…we didn’t want to start something that we may not be able to continue. Plus we wanted to teach them the true meaning of the holidays. But then we spend so much on everyone else that it defeats that purpose.
Well this year we will have just bought a house. We won’t have cash on hand for everyone’s gift… And quite frankly I think the house we are providing our children the up most importance. I don’t want to go further in debt just for some holiday that has lost its true meaning and gone completely Americanized Materialistic!!
Not to say that is that I don’t want to give…I like to give hence why I go in debt to do so each year. I’d like to make things this year for those on my list. Does anyone have any good gift making ideas?? And while on that thought, Chad’s sister has six children…. any ideas for them? They’re seven and under in age… I was trying to think of an inexpensive combined gift for all.
Anyone??
posted by Kate Michele at 1:20 PM
21 Comments:
a good idea for big families is to do a secret santa...everyone puts their name into a hat and then every one pulls one out! that way everyone gets one gift and everyone gives one gift...none of this seven gifts nonsense.
i agree completely with you...the life you are providing for your boys is the greatest gift of all!
I thought of that...but she'd be buying more for her kids than...since I only have two kids. It wouldn't really be distributed enough.
Movie tickets,a big puzzle they can all work on together,bake them something they can eat,go to Hobby Lobby and get a sun catcher making kit...make each one a sun catcher for their window. Cheap and easy.
Just some ideas...:)
I hear ya on $$ and Holidays. Used to be about family time and now it's about who can get the bigger gift.
So long as I get my gift, that's all that matters ;)
Hmm, not sure if the combined gift is such a good idea - kids tend to get pissy if they don't get something of their own...
Well of course Mr. Jones....Master I could never forget you!!
One idea is to do up a home made gift basket for your sis and her kids. Whatever you can bake yourself or a few nice treats that don't cost too much and maybe a few inexpensive party favours to cover kiddies pressies. Most kids are happy with crackers to pull and the toys and jokes that fall out. They are into the fun side of it, not the big expensive pressies side of it. A hat, a Cracker to pull, a party favour AND a balloon for each of them and maybe a bag of sweeties. They will think it heaps (esp at those ages)and your sister gets a few foodie goodies that always helps to feed the family. Simple is always better and it means she won't have to expensively reciprocate as well.
Hope the idea helps.
btw - adoptive niece ... most welcome.
I hate christmas, with a passion. Nobody gives a rat's ass about the true meaning of the season. Everyone just wants a fucking gift. Festivus for the rest of us!
I'm at a loss. I always get kids gift cards... then they can shop for themselves. ugh.
There are 11 kids in hubby's family. Instead of buying for everyone, we now have the kids draw names and buy only for that child. I have 3 kids so ... only 3 gifts. The kids like it too because they get to be involved. The adults also do the grab thing so we only buy for 2 people instead of the 6.
I make these cute little snowmen -- almost no sewing. Everyone I have given them to seemed to like them.
I got this one for ya Katie. Long time ago when we had no money I made homemade gifts for my mom/sister/girls in the family. They loved the gifts. I took dry milk and baking soda, and a scented oil and bought a pretty bottle at the dollar store and made homemade milk bath. Put a pretty red ribbon around it and viola! bath products. My mom to this day still asks for that stuff. I made sachets for drawers with dried potpourri and scented oils. Usually same oils I used for the milk bath. I can give you the exact recipe if this is something you'd like.
For the slew of kids in your family? Board games. Cheap, yet will keep them busy for hours.
A few years ago our families decided to no longer give gifts to each other but to pool all our money and find a kid on the salvation army tree and give that kid or his family [whoever was on the tree] a christmas they normally wouldn't receive. This will be our fourth year to do so. It means more to me then opening a gift on Christmas morning.
You could always take up candle making like I do. There are some really great ideas you can do with candles. They make really nice gifts for the adults and arent too expensive at all.
Hand made pillar candles with colored craft wire wrapped around in various designs. Can even hang a charm/pendant off of it, which can be used on a necklace or bracelet.
It's an idea.
We're still pretty broke after the anniversary so our Christmas gifts to each other are going to be on the small side.
I'm thinking of just getting everybody a gift card to a gas station or some socks that talk everytime you walk.
Target gift cards... something for everyone there and kids love having credit cards...
I am having the opposit issue with my husbands side of the family... no one wants to buy ANY gifts for the kids (we used to have each kid draw a name and buy a 25$ gift for that child so every child gets one nice gift...) Now they dont want to do that...
It doesnt sound terrible but Christmas is the ONLY time we gather as a family with his side... no one remembers any of the birthdays on his side (so my kids dont ever get bd cards or gifts or even a call on their bd) so I just feel like if we give up Christmas gifts then my kids will get NOTHING from that side. Idk why I should care if they all dont(not to mention that I am Jewish lmao), but I do. Oh well sorry to ramble on and on!! cheers!! Kate
I'm with Trojan. Good ideas. The simple stuff, presented with love, always works with kids. They don't understand (thank God) that Christmas is all about greed and lust.
Good for you that you're teaching your children the right way to go about things. Santa is a figment. Mom and dad are real. Your children are lucky.
Aggie: I thought of that...a big basket of paper for the babies!! They love to rip it up!!
Kimmy: YES!!!
Marc: fantastic idea...you'll have to email me with instructions!
YSB: what will the socks say??
Anthony: [sniff..sniff] you always make me tear up. I'm such a damn emotional GIRL!!!!!
i would do a board game package for the families.
get a pack of uno, maybe the game operation, LIFE, and bundle them up..bring back family games night for them!!
:)
The little kids might like little toys like those balls that you swing into cups, or paddle balls. They're young enough that a little something to play with will be fun.
I have made candle votives with tissue paper decoupaged on them (very easy and cheap). I've also made "cookies in a jar" which is all the dry ingredients in a mason jar with a cute card attached with instructions. There are tons of recipes online. You could make personalized bookmarks or homemade cards with a few craft supplies. Email me if you want specifics.
We bought a house this year too, so we're going cheap and simple too.
Oh, I forgot my biggest money saver. I make up gift certificates for an activity for us to do together....in January. It spreads out the celebration into a month where people are not busy. Then I buy the tickets in January to spread the cost. We've done a comedy show and a hockey game (2 for 1 tickets!), or maybe the zoo or children's museum or somewhere you can get a deal or group discount.
Spending time together is way better than things!
6 kids under the age of 7?!?!? I can't imagine having one!!!
I hate christmas. bah humbug!!
You should have this one down already.
Take the boys to Wal-Mart get there picture taken for the $5-8 package price. Buy picture frames on sale and give all the grandparents, and other adults a picture of the boys for X-Mas.
I like the goodie baskets for the kids.
I like to cross-stitch, but other than that, I'm not so good at gift making. Although, I do a lot of baking and give cookie git baskets to a lot of people.
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