Christmas Gifts - Yes, Already!

In early Dec start cooking up a storm.
I made blackberry jelly then baked breads and filled baskets that i get from garage sales.

This year we are making luminaries out of bean cans and I am getting little candles to go in them.

Get Christmas fleece on sale, soon, and make pillows and blankets

Felt and buttons, seew the buttons on felt in a Christmas designm the frame.

Remember it is the thought that counts, I like homemade cookies, candy, or I've also gotten homemade kahlua, spicy mustard, a nice Christmas towe or potholder, a nice candle. Nice calendar.
One year my daughter's favorite present was a box of 64 crayons!

One thing I found that doesn't cost anything BUT your time and effort is to give a coupon for babysitting, dog sitting, cat sitting. You can offer your time as little or as much as you feel is reasonable.

Lastly, if this is not an option because of distance, and there is someone with whom you share special memories etc. You can grab an old photo and Walgreens, and I am sure some online places like Vistaprint can turn it into a puzzle that you can give.

Have fun and keep the spirit:-)

T. Nelson

Drawing names seems like a good option, or the ever-fun white elephant gift with a dollar limit, say $10.

Update: we no longer buy for the adults (except grandparents) -- just the kids. We made this arrangements w/ our siblings and all breathed a sigh of relief.

There is no standard protocol. Each family decides for themselves how they want to handle Christmas gift giving. As S.H. says there are many ways to gift or not gift.

I suggest you talk with your extended family to work out a solution that is helpful for your immediate family. Agree to no gifts, set a dollar limit, give to only the children, draw names are all possible ways to do this.

You can always do a "family gift" like a gift card or movie/popcorn/Dots basket.
Or just buy for the kids and do a grab bag among the adults--say O. $50-75 gift per person?

I have a cousin in law who feels this same way. They are a one income family, she does stay home so to save money but still be able to make a nice gift for everyone (it's just her way, she can't leave people out) she learned how to make soaps and candles. She bought plain, brown paper lunch bags, punched holes at the top and wove ribbon through to tie up our gifts. She stuffed 2 of her soaps and a nice candle in the bag and believe it or not, I loved it! It was simple yet chic. If you want to take the time to make gifts like soaps, you could tie them up super cute and so everyone still has something but it doesn't break your bank:)

We have a large extended family too, so several years ago we just started drawing names. Adult/teen draw, $50 limit, kids $25.
It makes shopping SO much easier, so much less stressful. It's great to only be responsible for two gifts (you can give it much more thought!) Also, it evens things out financially, some of us are very well off, but most are on pretty tight budgets.
I will say, it was hard to get the die hard shoppers on board (like my MIL, lol!) but it has really made Christmas so much more enjoyable over all :)

my ILs # 35+.....& this # will only increase, because only a handful of the nieces/nephews are married. In fact, only 5 of the 14 have their own children. So, I know that when all is "said & done"....we'll need a rental hall to gather!

We used to draw names. Then we had the younger generation draw names. & then we had the youngest generation draw names.... Now we're down to just gathering & playing games....& of course, making memories!

It's been 2 years since my MIL passed away. Our gatherings are almost nonexistent....so we'll see what happens in the next couple of years.

Since you do receive gifts, try to have some handmade gifts or something simple for each person. A nice framed photo, a family photo book or calendar, a box of homemade cookies.....all of these gifts are easy & fairly inexpensive.

Another option would be to start drawing names....it worked for years for us!

When I was a kid one side of my family would put kids names in a hat and everyone was responsible for one niece or nephew.

Many people go into debt... during the Christmas shopping period.
It is, avoidable.
It is, really not a necessity.
You simply explain, (which you should be able to do with family), that you have a lean budget.
Or you sock away, a little money here and there, for Christmas shopping until then. And ONLY use that.
Only paying with cash. Not credit.

Or you all do grab bag gifts.
Or you simply set a certain amount to spend on gifts, across the board.
And stick to it.

Personally, I refuse to go into debt or spend more than we can, over Christmas gifts. My kids comes first. Our immediate family.

I know some big families, that 'have to' (they say) buy Christmas gifts for upwards of 20 people, each year. Not including, their own kids or their kids' friends, etc.
That is, way too extravagant.

We have a lean budget. I stick to it. I don't not buy more than I/we can.
I don't get emotional about it.
Money is finite.
Debt is not.
It is a choice.

Or, just buy a bunch of Poinsettia plants, put a cute ribbon on it, and give that to everyone... who comes over or to anyone's home/family that you have to go to.
Or a thing of cookies.

Two options.
1. A nice family gift for each family
2. Each adult draws the name of another adult and then they shop for just that one person.

For us we shop for our parents.
Nieces and nephews are $20 each max.
The BILs/SILs all agreed to NOT buy gifts for each other. Saves us at least $150 a year not having to buy for the extra 4 people.

My thoughts...

Eliminate giving gifts to the adults. OR, do a name exchange so you are only buying for 1 adult.

If you know you visit certain homes during the holidays, plan to take a 'token' gift for the 'family' such as a poinsettia, or a game that can be enjoyed by the family, baked goods, or a bottle of wine if they don't have kids. That way, you are not going empty handed, but you haven't broken the bank.

Only buy gifts for the kids. OR, if you have a lot of kids on a particular side of the family, do an exchange with the kids, too.

Personally, I LOVE to give handmade gifts. LOVE. But, I have to say, that I have found that I don't spend much less when it comes down to it... and I put in a LOT of time and effort making things... so this year, I decided to cut myself some slack (I'll be about 34 weeks pregnant this Christmas), and not make ANY gifts. And as much as I enjoy making and giving them, I am happy not to have the stress of it this year.

I would let them know around Thanksgiving time that your budget doesn't allow you to give gifts to everyone, that you're concentrating on your immediate family, you, hubby and the kids. IF they still choose to give you something that is their choice, and you shouldn't feel guilty.

Since you do want to do something i would make/bake/buy cookies and candy and do up little gift bags, you can find cute holiday "take-out" ones at dollar stores. Another option would be to make some cranberry walnut or other bread, (I use Pillsbury mixes and doctor them up) wrap loaves up in clear plastic wrap and pretty cellophane and ribbons. Everyone always loves homemade goodies and they don't break the bank : )

One gift per family is in option. A board game. A movie lovers gift basket of popcorn, movie rental coupons, and movie size candies. Ice cream sundae basket full of the glass sundae cups, toppings, sprinkles, etc. You can get cute dishes for these things at Dollar Tree,

I always buy some extra generic gifts for those moments when someone shows up with something and you haven't gotten anything for them. Chocolates, wine, liquour, something along those lines. Even nice bath products, etc. The sales here are always so great so I always pick up stuff when I see a really great bargain. The other thing you can do is to have a small item for their children. This is always appreciated and then you don't need to worry about the adults.

Pictures of your baby. Start looking at Snapfish or Shutterfly for photo book deals. Last year for Christmas Snapfish had awesome deals and I made a very nice photo book for my parents and in-laws. This year I think I am going to do a calendar of both the kids and that is what they will get. I also make little gifts like homemade mustards or candy (peanut brittle) and fudge and give those away. Big hit with the dads.

Carrie:

I know your pain! This is what we did:

Name draw and limit gift to no more than $50 - there have been some years it was lower.

If that doesn't work for your family - try baking and doing "hand made" things...if your husband is crafty with wood - you might be able to make a trivet for them...with their family name on it.

If you are crafty - my girlfriend made non-sew fleece blankets of the person's favorite football or baseball team - it could get expensive - maybe make it for the family instead of just one person...

Hope this helps!!!

I made presents. Sometimes food specialties like jam in jars and I'd give several to each person in pretty wrappings. I shopped all year for small gifts that wound up as nice presents. At garage sales I found things that only needed a little repair.
I made doll houses. My husband made our daughter a cradle for her dolls and I painted it and made a blanket for it.
To this day I shop for gifts the whole year deciding who should get them at the time it gets close to Christmas.
I also made embroidery for family members. I'm good at needlework. I raised my children on a small budget but I'm creative and you can be too.

It's the thought that counts. I have my kids make ornaments for the extended family. It's cheap but a lot of thought and hard work went into them. That way you don't feel like you left anyone out.

The adults do a grab. We pick a name and then have to make something for that person. We can't buy a gift. That's fun too.
:)

We do stocking stuffers with a $10 per person budget for my husband's siblings. You could make the budget bigger or smaller depending what works best. Also, draw a name gift exchange for extended family. Everyone draws one name and gives one gift.

We have a large extended family too. My family lives in another state and several years ago as the family got bigger, they adopted a "family out of the hat" process. Each family (my parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, my brother) all put their respective families names in a "hat" and draw one out - doesn't matter who you get, that is your family to buy a gift for. $25 total is the limit. I started putting our family name in the hat just a couple of years ago - I have to say it is much easier to buy 1 gift for the entire family (we often have to send gift certificate since we are out of state and I often get the same in return). After we did that for my family, I suggested it to my hubby's family since his parents are divorced and each parent has another family (who is grown and has families of their own, whew!). We did the same "family out of a hat" thing and it worked well - the only problem was that we did for each side, which made us give 2 gifts - one for his maternal side and one for the paternal side. but still, giving a total of 3 "family" type gifts (ideas might be movie tix or dinner or movie rental etc) instead of 20 individual gifts so it was much better.

Other ideas are doing a "white elephant" gift for all adults - limit $10, then have everyone over at christmas (instead of dinner, you could have each family bring 1-2 appetizer type dishes and have a party like social) to draw numbers and each person picks a wrapped gift and that is their gift. - you still only have to buy 1 gift per adult who participates. We are doing that this year and the small kids still get a small gift - could have your kids make for the other kids or buy something small at a dollar store, etc.

I know it is hard, Good luck!