Are you doing anything different this Christmas?

**Sara Noel** · 08-01-2004, 05:03 PM

from last Christmas? Making any changes? Planning any better? Creating any ways to save on the holidays?

I'll admit, I'm pretty far behind on my holiday planning.

We've really pared down on gifts already, but I will definitely be cutting down on toys. I need to go through their playroom and weed through old toys and broken toys and see what we have and make better decisions on what enters this house toywise.

I'm going to start gathering some cookie, bread, and treat recipes now and see what I can freeze ahead of time. If you have any, please post them.

**homesteadmamma** · 08-01-2004, 05:06 PM

We are having another pioneer Christmas where everything is made. Last year was nuts and so rushed, we didn't enjoy Christmas at all. Were starting early this year and going to make it way more relaxed and fun.

Two years ago we had a pioneer Christmas and it was the best Christmas we had.

I'd like to surpise everyone this year by renting a cabin. I haven't checked into that yet, but plan on doing so once Sept. rolls around.

**Sara Noel** · 08-01-2004, 05:08 PM

That cabin idea is great!

**guest2** · 08-01-2004, 05:10 PM

We are heading over to Montana to spend the holidays with my parents, my 2 brothers, my soon to be SIL and my new nephew. It will be the first time in years that we have all been together on the holiday. I'm planning on making a variety of cookies for my MIL and FIL and packaging them up in freezer zip lock bags so they can freeze them and then just pop a few out and zap them in the microwave for that fresh cookie taste. They do not want us buying gifts this year except for the kids, so I'm making things instead.

**sunshine** · 08-01-2004, 05:35 PM

Lots more homemade gifts this year (trying to use as much from my stash as possible)

Pared down the list of those we swap gifts with-- already had discussion with them, and it went well. I think most were as relived as we were.

Focus more on Christ and our faith-- we used to be pretty good at this when the kids were little, but we're kinda gotten away from it.

**Michelle** · 08-01-2004, 06:27 PM

Dave & I are making gifts for each other, and we've cut way back on our plans for what to buy the kids this year. We were toying with the idea of going somewhere for the holidays, but we've got some unexpected expenses that have just come up, so I'm not sure if we'll be able to do so.

**forestdale** · 08-01-2004, 10:03 PM

I'm hoping my sister will come up for christmas this year. If she does we'll have a traditional Aussie christmas at the beach. If she doesn't we'll be having our usual christmas lunch at home with our kids and friends.
We decided years ago that we are over christmas gifts - we still give a few but only to our kids, the focus for us is on being with our friends and family and letting everyone feel loved.

**QuilterMom** · 08-02-2004, 08:23 AM

We are being the mean auntie and uncle this year. We aren't sending money to our nieces and nephews starting this year. They don't call and say thank you and don't send a thank you note. (They are all old enough to do either). We make ds write thank you notes for everything he receives and then he gets upset when no one sends him one. Anyway, I'm sure some of you will disagree with this decision, but please don't flame me for it. It's mine and dh's decision. It will save us $70.

We'll also not be spending as much on each other. There's just not a lot we want or need. Dh will be making some things for ds hopefully (a puppet theater and a toy chest) out of scrap wood from all our remodeling projects if he has time.

**Darlene** · 08-02-2004, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by QuilterMom
We are being the mean auntie and uncle this year. We aren't sending money to our nieces and nephews starting this year. They don't call and say thank you and don't send a thank you note. (They are all old enough to do either). We make ds write thank you notes for everything he receives and then he gets upset when no one sends him one. Anyway, I'm sure some of you will disagree with this decision, but please don't flame me for it. It's mine and dh's decision. It will save us $70.

We'll also not be spending as much on each other. There's just not a lot we want or need. Dh will be making some things for ds hopefully (a puppet theater and a toy chest) out of scrap wood from all our remodeling projects if he has time.

No flaming here just a~Good for you! It's rude of them not to thank you. If they can't take the time to show you they appreciate your gift then I guess they really don't care if they have one. Did their parents have them write when they were little? Even though it was like pulling teeth at times my kids wrote those thank you notes. Basic manners is what it is. Sorry for the rant,lol.

This year I want to start early & do more baking for gift giving and our own enjoyment.:santa:

**Sinclairwife** · 08-02-2004, 10:16 AM

We won't be spending much this year on gifts, last year we were strapped for months after the holidays and had a hard time paying bills and our rich nephews and niece are rude when we see them. I don't believe in rewarding bad behavior.

Other than that we'll be going to my parents' house again this year.

**Mom23boys** · 08-02-2004, 02:26 PM

I am making a few homemade gifts and the rest will come from the gift closet that I accumulate and add to year round. I have some great gifts in there that I have gotten for FREE or next to it like 3 palm pilots, playstation games, board games, etc. I get most from refunding and rebates, point programs or great online deals!!

**gkp1031** · 08-03-2004, 07:30 AM

We haven't really started to plan yet, but I do know that we will but back our spending quite a bit this year. Everyone seems to expect to much of us every year and we're finally going to put a stop to it. I hope to start making a list soon!

**DawnM** · 08-03-2004, 06:38 PM

We've pared down the amount we're spending this year by about 20%.

I've started a scrapbook for my DM and my IL's for this Christmas and will add to it every year from now on with pictures throughout the previous year ... instead of buying them gifts. None of them need a thing and it gets hard to think of ideas. I'm doing the same for my cousin who just became a Grandma last year .. and my DB and his boys with a Heritage Album of our family going back to the middle 1800's. They are the only extra people we give to outside our immediate family and DS's girlfriend. I'm pretty proud of myself with coming up with this idea.

I think they'll all be thrilled with the scrapbooks.

We're not going up to Canada to see family this year. We all voted we'd like a travel-free Christmas. It's a bittersweet decision but it'll be a more relaxed and less expensive Christmas.

I'm only going to pick one crafty thing to make (usually a decoration for the tree). Same goes for baking. Everybody will pick their one favorite and I'll do those so we have a little variety.

Just overall keeping things as simple and family-oriented as possible.

**Early Bird** · 08-03-2004, 08:24 PM

Well ... I'm starting:

Found a Pillow Pals dog for DD#1 at a garage sale. It's in my stash.

Found a small Rapunzel doll for DD#2. Also a Polly Pocket set. Stashed.

Bought some Peppermint Pigs on clearance. [Apparently, they're traditional in some areas.] ($2 apiece, instead of $11.) Will probably give to neighbors, along w/ some choc-dipped pretzels.

Started the annual newsletter on the computer; collecting funny things the kids say and do.

Probably will buy DH some sci-fi dvd's; his choice.
DD#1 will probably get to pick out some music or some room decorations.
DD #2 still likes toys.

Bought Yankee Candles on clearance last Jan -- teachers' gifts.

And I've got vanilla beans steeping in a bottle of vodka for Christmas baking.

**ScrapMama** · 08-04-2004, 04:16 PM

We are putting our focus on Christ this year, and will be paring down on what we usually give in gifts. I started buying early this year and have a stash of barbies to dividie between my girls and one rescue heroes vehicle for ds.

We have a Christmas fund started at our bank which will pay out in November, but I'm hoping that we'll have all of our gifts purchased by then.

I am bidding on a watch for MIL on Ebay right now, if I win that, she'll get that, a Gold Canyon Candle(I get them at 20 percent off), and special gift from the kids. We're also ordering a huge thing of meat and lobster for them and that will be their big gift from us.

We are getting my Mom a gc from Macys for $50, I almost have all the points I need on Mypoints.com for that. She really doesn't do much for us, but I wanted to get her something. We'll give my brother a gc to his favorite clothing store.

I'll be baking more, but we have cut a lot of people off of our gift giving list. I'm tired of giving gifts to people who never even give us a Christmas card.