HELP! We have a huge list for Christmas gifts this year?
we have 13 immediate family members, me and my husband. Times have been better but now we have our first apartment together and my husbands job is a seasonal job. He is looking for another job but is having a hard time finding one for when January comes. I am a hair stylist and for some reason, this week and the one before have been slow. It has its ups and downs since I just became self employeed. If only I knew if my husband will have a job in January I would be less worried. We don’t have pictures to make collages, and I would not like to give just cookies or popcorn tins. What is something we can give to everyone that is affordable and something they would enjoy?
It’s also awkward when people outside the family give us gifts and we didn’t get them anything.
I’m all about the Christmas meaning, going to church and celebrating the birth of our Lord. I’m not going to tell everyone “we are tight on money” because then a bunch of questions will fly our way and we don’t want anyone to feel bad. I’m not even going to bring up that we are watching my husbands job situation, ha, last time a family member asked about him having a job, they called 100 times a day wanting to know if he found one yet. Family always asks how my job is going, I always say “great”.
…. Bah humbug lol
any suggestions?
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8 comments
Jaq S on March 1, 2010 at 1:49 pm
go on mypoints.com you can earn points and get free gift cards
Paola on March 1, 2010 at 2:00 pm
SAVE MONEY, LIVE BETTER ”WALMART” LOL joking dont have nothing
You Ask I Answer on March 1, 2010 at 2:11 pm
credit card
CazzyBear on March 1, 2010 at 2:26 pm
for the younger family members, try arts and craft ideas.
For the older ones try baking them something.
Jennifer on March 1, 2010 at 2:50 pm
You could make the classic homemade coupon book. Like watching the kids for a day, or doing the laundry.
You could fill up jars with little slips of paper with writing on them and say nice things on each one.
You can write a letter to each person telling them just how important they are to you and how much you appreciate and love them.
The last one is my favorite. I got one last year from my Dad and it was the most memorable gift I have ever received.
Good Luck!
J C on March 1, 2010 at 3:06 pm
you can do this even in the best of times…take the amount you can spend on christmas, and divide it amongst the number of people.. then make a donation to an animal shelter for that amount.. then on your computer or in cards, tell each person that such n such amount has been donated to the such n such foundation in their name, and tell them you were making sure their gift served a higher purpose. this is truly a gift that gives n gives again
Jen on March 1, 2010 at 3:20 pm
I would make everyone (or each adult maybe) a little jar of cookie or brownie mix. You can personalize a label, add a festive ribbon, etc. If you do cookies, you can also include tie on a cute cookie cutter.
I bought a lot of my gifts online through Oriental Trading Company – there are a lot of crafty ideas. You can buy ornaments to personalize, mugs, kid’s activities, etc.
You can also shop for deals if you have time – go to discount stores (even dollar stores!) and make little goodie baskets for people out of things they like. A video (Wal*Mart has a good $5 bin) and a bag of microwave popcorn is a good relaxing idea. One year I also got some cheap (but cute and festive!) Christmas mugs and stuffed them with a couple packets of hot cocoa, a mini box of chocolates (I got them in the $1 section at Target), and an ornament. Use a paper shredder to shred some wrapping paper or tissue to stuff the mug with the items and make it look cute.
Honestly, it really IS about the thought.
alk0509 on March 1, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I really have to second Jennifer’s suggestion for the coupon book. My brother and I did something similar for our mother when we were too young to shop by ourselves, but too old to have the school Santa shop.
Along with that theme, you could also plan little outings or get-togethers with your friends and relatives, to let them know individually that they are special to you, and you can show it year-round instead of just during the holidays.
You can also find cheap items in many stores. Waldenbooks’ “Bargain Books” section has great hardcover books for as low as $5, and that could be a really personal gift for someone who likes to read, for example. Stores like FYE also sell ‘used’ DVDs that are just as good as brand new ones, and come with guarantees. No one has to know
Also, classic board games and children’s toys are much cheaper than newer games, and you can all sit around and play Monopoly together, and share your time.