In the Spirit of [Early] Christmas Questions on Here, Lean Christmas Ideas?

Be a bargain hunter. I look on Ebay and have a set price I will pay for certain items, because I don't believe paying the same amount off a stranger that I could get it for in a store. Search the free columns in the newspaper. Go to real discount stores like liquidation store, Ollie's, Big Lots, and dollar stores. You can get the same stuff there for 25-50% less than from the actual stores. Have a Christmas account or special hidden jar to save all that extra pocket change in, because it really adds up. Learn to make stuff is always an option.

i like your sugary cereal idea! my kids would love that - they've never tried fruit loops and they're desperate to.

Anyway, when we were little we were as poor as church mice, and one Christmas my parents made all of our presents. It was wonderful. One of the best Christmases we ever had. My mother sewed us ragdolls with old material scraps, my father made my sister and I dollshouses, and a wooden garage for my brother, they made us bean bags and all sorts of other things. We still have the dolls houses, and the memory of that Christmas is beautiful. They used wood and material scraps and leftover paint and icecream sticks etc. I don't think they paid for any of it.

I saw these really cute ornaments made out of bird seed - you can google bird seed ornament - you put the mixture in a mold and put a straw in for the hole, and then put string through it. I'm planning on making those for people I normally would give a $10 gift to - neighbors, aunts, coworkers, etc.

My most memorable gift was when I got the coveted Cabbage Patch Doll in elementary school. My mom put it in a GIANT box and wrapped the big box. I had to unwrap the box and literally climb in and sort through tissue to find my present. So fun!

During really lean years we got gifts that were things we needed but special anyway. Underwear were always in our stockings. but sometimes they might be the silky ones instead of just the regular cotton, socks were there as well but might be cool ones instead of just tubesocks. there was always a food item taht made its way to the dinner table. my son got black olives, one son got pepperoni, daughter got marachino cherries get family games and things you can do together as a family passes to the zoo along with a disposable camera for each of them, passes to the skating rink or a fun park nothing expensive but stuff to do together. get them each a gingerbread house and let them make it. Not sure if you do other family members but if you do make them a family fun basket you can get everything you need at the dollar store and it will be a huge hit plastic bucket for popcorn, box of microwave popcorn, a couple bottles of pop, some candy and a couple old black and white movies and a deck of cards. its a new years eve night all in one basket. our kids love these baskets and we give them out as gifts for lots of kids in school.

How about thinking about paring down who you buy for first. If you normally buy for extented family how about suggesting a White Elephant this year, set a Dollar amount at $10 or $15. Or just buy for the kids, and again set a dollar amount. We also live on limited funds; we buy for our boys first and then for our parents (I have a younger brother that is only 13 so we buy for him also). This year we are thinking of fun homemade gifts we can do, it is going to save us a ton. Check out this website for fun gift ideas.

http://christmas.yourway.net/

Everyday there is a new idea or item.

For my son, solidly HALF (if not more) of his gifts are "needs" or things I would be buying anyway. Clothes, sporting equipment, favorite foods, etc. New PJs are ALWAYS wrapped and opened on xmas eve. Ornaments, quilts, pillows, hot chocolate mugs.

I make a lot of stuff for xmas (starting EARLY... Like... you know, January. LOL mostly stuff I didn't get finished in time). Grandparents -ours anyway- LOVE photoalbums. Which are a time consuming pain in the keister to make. Similar, I got all the "kids" together one year for a family photo. I learned how to make truffles and truffle stuffed figs a few years ago (super easy, but tiiiiiiiiiiime consuming). Costs me about $80 to make 500. Yeah. Next time you even THINK of paying $4 for a fig, or $2 for a truffle, know that you can make your own for 16 cents. I'm sure the shoppes do it for a fraction of that cost. I can throw in a small $10 bottle of port, and have just given a "splurgy" gift. For my dad, one year I got him beer. 20 kinds of german beers. I'm thinking of revamping that this year with microbrews, or maybe irish. Then, of course, are the hand-me-down electronics. iPods, cameras, computers, etc. Free.

I seriously love home made gifts. I know not everyone does, but I just think it's so cool that someone spent time on it.
I have given crocheted scarves, no sew blankets (more like a throw), cookies in a jar (you add all the dry ingrediants and put the recipe on it..you can do the same with soups). This year I was thinking of making candles for everyone.
The best memories I had from childhood was opening a ceramic tea set my aunt made for me. I loved it, and it probably only cost her 10 bucks to make. From my parents..the best gift hands down was my puppy I got at 4 (they got if for free, lol). Sorry I know those probably dont help.
=)
PS..if you don't have Ross do you guys havd DD's, Marshall's or Burlington Coat Factory? All of those places have great gifts for under 10 bucks. I got this awesome fashion necklace for 7.99 at Burlington yesterday.

Well, this year we decided to do quality instead of quantity. That doesn't mean that we are not spending *alot*, it just means we are going to be more *aware* of the gift and make sure its something they really LOVE as opposed to a bunch of little things they won't like as much just so they have a lot to open. I hope you find some things that work for you! =)

I think the sugary cereal is a great idea!!! Very creative!!! There are a lot of little toys under $10, but do they really need junky under-$10 toys? Probably not! I think cozy PJs are a great idea. You could make it a family tradition to get new fleece or flannel PJs every year (we do that for my boys for Hannukah and they love it). We also get DVDs for our kids, which aren't "cheap" but you can get some good ones inexpensively, especially on overstock.com or even amazon. I noticed 7-11 sells used DVDs for under $5. My kids always love getting movies.

My kids love Jigsaw puzzles. I just bought them one for $17 (at a fancy store store in NYC). I thought way overpriced and then started thinking that there must be neighbors of mine who have puzzles they have done already and we could swap. Maybe you could do something like that if your kids are into puzzles (since you usually only do them once).

Have a wonderful holiday!!!

Go to Costco or a discount store where you can buy a bunch of empty CDs...(if you divide the amount per each one... one gift can cost pennies but mean a lot if you are willing to put some time and thought into this one.) and burn your favorite songs... or make it even more special and personal and burn songs that make you think of that particular person and customize for each individual... then with a paint pen, list the songs with a note especially to that person. I guarantee... they will be touched by the effort and it's always special to know someone put the thought of you into a gift you give them.
I also love empty books! They are like a metaphor to me... I always tell my kids that their life is like a book and each day is like a page just waiting to be written on! You could buy a bunch and write on the first page some kind of special personal message... You can get them at a good price at Ross, or The Home Store or even the Dollar store...
Hope that helps? At least it's a start. This site is amazing with some smart women who are very creative! I am sure you will get some great ideas!

For the females (girls and women) in my family, I have come up with a gift that I feel really good about. I have beautiful little cloth purses ($5 each) made by girls who were rescued off the streets in Burundi and are learning a trade. (A friend of mine is running this project). Inside the purse, I am putting very pretty rafiki (beaded necklace/braclet) ($10) sold by Free the Children. These rafiki's are made by women in Kenya and by buying one, you are feeding a child in East Africa for a month. Both items are really pretty, you are helping children who really need the help and the total cost is $15 instead of the usual $50 that we put. The individual receiving the gift can feel good that this gift has benefited others. I may chose to put a little something in the purse for each individual.

I would start looking for clearance items. I dont know where your from. But, I see at Walgreens, CVS that they have a buy 3/$12 deal on toys. I am getting a few myself. :) Amazon is good too! :)