Anyone else feeling the Christmas Crunch on their wallet?

[lafsalot]

A friend of mine, who is similarly finding herself financially strapped this year, has given the gift of time to her family. She's sending little promissory notes telling the recipients that she will do four hours of service (ie cleaning, yard work, babysitting, etc). Thought it was a great idea that would be appreciated by many ~ Cathy

 

[Linda/NJ]

I agree homemade ideas people love & really appreciate it. I always set a budget, and a money limit on each person & stick to it. Glad me & my hubby have a small family, he just buys for me and his parents, he has no siblings. I buy for hubby (even though he says not to) my Dad, my brother & his wife & a very close Aunt & 2 best friends. Don't drive yourself nuts, I am sure people will understand. It is the thought that counts not how much you spend

 

[Laurie_Duke]

With the new house and the cards this year....I am making all my gifts, for friends and family, kids not included.

I love to cook and bake for people, and everyone has there favorite of mine, so I am making....bars...cookies and pastries for everyone and putting them in tins with bows....

Tins at the dollar store....and all the ingredents from my kitchen....bows make by me...

Plus I am adding a little extra love to the treats, in hope that everyone understands the meaning of my new home....this alone is my Christmas and Birthday present for the next 10 years !!!!!

Laurie

 

[Coco'smommy]

Holidays can be rough, especially with the economy in the shape it's in. I am fortunate enough to work for a very kind, wonderful man who makes sure my family and I are taken care of at christmas. I budget out ahead of time anyway but usually I can take care of it with what he gives me. But...as other's have said and what I have had to do in the past...can't go wrong with baked goods! Another thing that my siblings and I do is that we decided a long time ago that we were not going to exchange gifts between ourselves or for our children. We go in on something nice for mom & dad and then we each take care of our own children and that's it. My husband and I do exchange gifts but it isn't supposed to be anything crazy. Hubby usually spends way more on me than I do on him but he knows my limit and if he chooses to spend more than that...it's on him. I also say, put some baskets of goodies together or make up some of those Jars with ingrediants in them that folks only have to add liquid & eggs to and hand those out with a small ornament or something.

 

[mancin]

One thing my friend and I decided to do for people at work last year was to make jars w/ baking ingredients inside. You arrange the ingredients in a certain order so it's "pleasing" to the eye... so one layer would be flour, the next chocolate chips, etc. Then we put a bow on the jar and attached the recipe. It was fun to do and relatively cheap if you only have a few. All they have to do is throw the ingredients together and bake! There are books out there for ~$15 with all sorts of recipes and instructions on what order to put them in. We picked ours up at a craft store.

or make up some of those Jars with ingrediants in them that folks only have to add liquid & eggs to and hand those out with a small ornament or something.

Just saw your comment, this is exactly what I'm talking about!

 

[Loke]

Use Google and search for ideas on what to make. You can make ornaments, candy, wreaths, picture calendars. Hmmm, I can't think of anymore at the moment.

 

[Silverstar]

Well I just lucked out yesterday and today.

The only gifts I was going to buy were for work. One for my boss and one for the Xmas exchange we do every year. Turns out......I drew my bosses name. So I will spend less money than I thought.

Plus, the founder of the organization gave me a gift certificate for two nights at one of Houstons most prestigious (sp?) hotels. Had to be used by Christmas though :( . So, I offered it to my parents for a Christmas gift. So they are coming into town and they don't have to bunk in my one bedroom apartment.

Now, all I need to do is pay all my bills this month

 

[Shanz]

Xenaprincess....im 18 and i still get pressies! If i was yor son id be mad :S your right.. 10 $ does do a lot..like go to the movies or something with it. Come to think of it my whole famil still get presents My mom still buys for my brother and sisters... theyre all intheir 30's

 

[Loke]

I don't think anyone should get mad for not getting presents. I quit getting presents from aunts and uncles at 18. My kids now get them though. By the time I was in my late teens I realized presents weren't necessary, Christmas is expensive and there has to be a cut off at some point.