I do worry about what we’ll do as our son grows older. And the other children in our family too. Teens are so discontent these days…
.-= niki´s last blog ..WFMW…Bringin’ Back Game Night =-.

I make a good number of gifts for my children, and they are practical gifts that are needed items (like pajamas, or a new dress for the girls). This year I am making dresses, pajamas, and slips. Lst year I also made dress-up clothes for my boys.

We give home-canned items (pomegranate jelly, apple butter, etc. and other homemade gifts to others as well. Consumable gifts don’t add to the clutter.

We also give books, and I buy some of them used as well. My oldest daughter is getting a set of American Girl books that look like new, but cost me 1/3 the price of new ones!

For stockings for our children, they get candy, nuts, a clementine, a small toy (sometimes; this year it will be printable paper dolls and paper toys), and something practical, like socks , tights, barrettes, or hair bows. Last year my 3 yo and 5yo boys were SO grateful for new socks!

We will also give used clothes (bought at garage sales or consignement stores). This year I am giving one child a dupioni silk Christmas dress that I bought at a used children’s clothing store for $10. She will be able to wear it to church as well several times, and then it can be passed down to a younger sister.

I have a page on my site for sewn gifts and one for frugal gifts (that aren’t sewn) as well as a page for helping others when you don’t have much (or any).

We’ve had some tight Christmases the past few years where everything we gave was handmade. I’ve enjoyed that tradition, and this year I am grateful to be able to buy a few small things, though it is still tight.

BTW, their birthday present was (each) an mp3 player that I got at CVS on clearance for $10. It wasn’t an ipod, but they loved it.

When the kids were little, we also had things disappear on the way home from grandma’s. It was our way of keeping things from getting out of hand, and it kept our gift closet well stocked. My best friend did the same, so we often passed them to each other’s kids.

When they were small, my children played at a certain neighbor’s house just one time- the playroom was so chock full of toys that you could hardly move. The kids all went from one thing to another to another, never stopping to enjoy what they had in hand. It was so totally different from how they played at home, where they stayed with one thing for a good while. I think I prefer them to have an attention span of more than 30 seconds, even if it means they are “deprived” in someone else’s opinion.

We do Hanukkah also and we started a tradition of a book a night as their gift. I find them used or via scholastic or book fairs. It’s something that will always be age appropriate.

Thank you!

I hate to sound like a Scrooge, but I wish most of my inlaws would just either go with the “pick a person and spend a certain amount” or no gift at all. Last year I received earrings more suited to a 12 year old that were enameled monkeys, Christmas jewlery (like Christmas tree earrings and a necklace), a blown glass figurine, and some other stuff. I thanked everyone profusely for their presents and then annoyed my husband to death by giving almost everything to charity. If it is not something I will use, why keep it in the house? And even if its only a small amount of money that’s spent, if it’s not useful (or wanted) to the recipient, why spend the money at all?

I keep suggesting that we ask his parents about doing a “Secret Santa” and setting a limit (and giving lists) for one person or even a family, instead of trying to find useful and meaningful gifts for $5 or less for each member of the family (even at $5 that’s a lot of money as he has a lot of family members)–but each year I’m shot down by the suggestion.

We never go into debt but the griping and everything that my husband goes through just prove to me that he doesn’t enjoy it at all but keeps on doing it for tradition’s sake.

I enjoy Christmas so much more with my family where we give modest gifts to the children who are 17 or younger only and then just spend time enjoying each other’s company than I ever do with his family who are always so stressed about gifts and trying to pretend I’m elated over a set of monkey earrings.

One of the ways I’m prepping for the higher cost of digital/video/older kid items is by earning Swagbucks for Amazon GCs, keeping an eye out for deals well in advance (months ahead), and buying refurbished. My SIL has older kids and has always bought Ipods and such from Apple refurbished, they’re 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of new.
.-= Gina´s last blog ..FREE Kids Clinic at Lowe’s =-.

But again, I’m interested to see how that $50 works as they get older! :) Let me know what suggestions you have!

PS I’m so totally excited about all the new toy coupons that have come out recently. I’m really hoping to find some great prices on those items to take care of Christmas for our toddler ;)

Renae- Great idea of buying toys used. If I pay only a fraction of the cost for an item, I don’t mind nearly as much if we decide to give it away when the thrill of it wears off and we need more space.

Lauren- Aren’t toys these days just HUGE? The grandparents who gifted Sadie her play kitchen for her bday had to search far and wide for one that wasn’t overwhelming large.

You also bring up a good question- will we continue with the $50 budget as our kids get older? I really don’t know. The amount will still be based on the same principals, but perhaps we will raise it as the kids get older and inflation rises.

I really want my girls to retain the wonder and excitement of gifts, and they won’t have that sense if they are inundated with them. And they receive so many gifts from extended family members as well.

We’re also trying to start a tradition of “adopting” two angel tree children from the Salvation Army tree, the same age as each of our girls, to try to get them thinking of others first.

I wonder if you will do the $50 “rule” when your children become preteens and teenagers.