Christmas gifts

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I decided to start this thread as a result of facing the reality of my financial situation and after reading the Santa Claus thread. If you are from a large family, how do delicately give Christmas gifts that are of a low value? Does anyone have good ideas about what to give parents who have given so much, yet that doesn’t cost a lot of money? I am one of 8 and all but 2 of us have decided not to exchange gifts (the two are 17 and 19). Plus I have step parents. My daughter’s father and I agreed that we’ll help our daughter make gifts for the other parent, which helps. I feel guilty b/c I am not planning on buying my 2yr old daughter gifts (she’ll be given so many by other family members, I might as well put that money into my account to save for purchasing a condo for she and I to live in). But, I still have 2 nephews, 2 siblings, 2 parents and 2 step-parents to give a gift to and I have about $200 to spend.

ANY ideas would be appreciated (and would help ease my stress level).
 
I love to get homemade baked goods.

One year I put my mom’s pictures in an album for her. I like to give books.

I hate dollar store presents. Several of my relatives give my kids these. They break in hours and the kids cry. I’d rather they gave my kids books from the used book store or nothing at all.

I would love for one of my SIL to volunteer to watch my kids. Or, to sneak over and clean my house.

That would be better than ten sweaters or bottles of perfume.

I think the best presents are the ones that show you really care about that persons’ needs or desires.

And, I love socks, esp cute ones I’d never buy for myself because they cost more than the plain ones.

It is really great to have all your shopping done by advent so you can just focus on the spirituality of the season.
 
Go to the library and see if they have any of the Tightwad Gazette books. Amy Dacyczyn has tons of practical, inexpensive, but very good thrifty gifts.

One of the things she makes is a pot holder out of pockets from old (thrift store) jeans. She then uses another portion of the jeans to make bean bags for a kids’ game. She also has grometted purses made from jeans, and braided rugs. Her directions turn out a nice product, looks like it came from a craft fair instead of your living room or kitchen. I know, I know- I wear thrift store jeans, too. But sometimes the knees go, but the rest of the jean is in really good shape.

If those don’t get you, Amy’s husband and she make candies and decorate the container themselves.

The library should also have other books on creating keepsake ornaments, quilts (don’t have to be big, just made to hang on the wall for a spot of color), crocheting, knitting, glass craft, etc.

There’s always the “coupon” book for free baby-sitting, house cleaning, car washing, dog grooming, etc.
 
For adults i usually keep my eyes open year round…Plus i love to antique shop as well as flea markets…nothing better than haggling:)

Also i always go to the end of season sales because you can always find things there…

For kids its always so hard, but i find that younger kids always love new art supplies (fingerpaints, crayons, markers etc) Or books or magnets…(my son who is 2 loves his dino magnets)…

For the older kids(jr high and teen years) if you don’t want to spend a lot I highly recommend Itunes gift cards…thats what i gave out last year and they were a big hit…it lets them choose they’re own music and burn whatever they want to a cd…

Anyways good luck:) i have got to start shopping too, but i am waiting till October for the big Flea Market/Antiques they have out here…
 
If it doesn’t sound too weird for you, I also shop at clearances, evne if the item is not seasonally realted.

One year, I got a lot of the thick flip-flops for my sister-cousin who had a swimming pool (this is before they became the only thing people wore on their feet). People would come to her house to use the pool and track their bare feet everywhere. She squirted them with disinfectant after the people went home. I picked them up for 10 cents a pair. Another year, I got her and other relatives an assortment of beach towels. One year I hit a sale on Leatherman Micas, a small all-in-one tool made of stainless steel.

People like the odd stuff at Christmas if it’s good. They don’t care what you paid for it. The beach towels brightened things up considerably in the photos.
 
I thought about trying to make candles this year. Tightwad Gazette had an article on making beeswax cabdles. I also like the quilt hanging idea.
 
I hate ebay because of some of their policies - like not selling homeschool books, etc. However, I have found some wonderful stores on there, that I really can’t beat price wise, and all my girls love their jewelry. Prices well again you can’t do any better

I have bought quite a bit from these folks. The only thing is all the rings come in size 7. But then now days, young girls will wear them on whatever finger they fit. 😃 So that has never been a problem.
stores.ebay.com/JewelryAuctionsTV_Rings_Silver-Gem-Rings_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ1765372QQftidZ2QQtZkm

This a few things with no problems, and it was ok, but their reviews are not the best…
stores.ebay.com/SilverShake-com_Under-3_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQsclZ1QQtZkm
 
OK, these are a few suggestions that were used with my family.
  • purchase gifts only for the kids
  • adults pick a name to buy a present for
  • everyone pitches in for the parent gift
  • for the larger families, pick a name for presents - no matter the age
  • ask all involved in gift giving to limit items to a certain dollar amount
  • youngest children usually only play with the boxes and wrap anyway, so buy a stuffed animal, get the dangerous stuff out of the way and let them have at it
  • purchase a family gift instead of individual ones
My family is really big on gift cards. By the time you add up a bunch of different gift cards, the kids have a big day of shopping and they get exactly what they want. No need for exchanging.
 
My dad is the greatest to buy for. The things that make him happiest is a economy-size pack of socks and a cold six-pack of Bud Light.😃
I had a friend who had a large family. Every year they would have a theme, and everyone would bring a gift in line with the theme. Then, they would draw numbers and take turns picking gifts. Sometimes the gifts were gag gifts, sometimes they were nice. I really liked their tradition.
 
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