How SS has changed my Christmas...how bout' you?

[kcsunshine]

I don't think you skimped and they probably don't either. Your gifts were from the heart and took lots more time and thought than a bunch of cr-P snagged off of a clearance table on Black Friday!

Hope you are feeling better.

Thanks! I don't know what hit me, but I'm tired of running to the BR.
Dh took the gifts to his sisters and said they loved them. He even brought me back a plate of goodies and remembered not to give me things I couldn't eat (sweets).

 

[lalaland]

I'm sure your bad luck on getting sick had nothing to do with your gift -giving! Hope you feel better soon, and hope you can take time to slelep and pamper yourself today!

 

[Farmfresh]

Sometimes we have to be the example for our friends when it comes to gift giving.

Think about it. What shows more thought, love and care that our homemade gifts? It makes many purchased gifts, and especially the holiday gift card, look like a cheap after thought even though they often cost lots more money than out humble gifts!

I have many friends that I have "showed the way". One made us a homemade lemon pie for Christmas (with a dish of the GF filling just for me!). Another one gave me a very thoughtful gift that she bought at a thrift store, a VHS copy of "the Natural History of the Chicken"! Gifts like these don't cost much, but obviously show the thought and care my friends have picking out my gifts. I wish everyone had good friends like mine!

 

[savingdogs]

We have gradually scaled back our Christmas giving over the last couple of years. I no longer send Christmas cards except in special cases where I need to write a note to someone, or a thank you. Other than that I e-mail greetings individually or phone people I really care about.

For immediate family members that we see on Christmas day or around the holidays, I took two days off work and made edible gifts this year. I recycled Christmas baskets we recieved last year or the year before, found a few items at dollar stores or goodwill (candy dish for mom, wine cork trivet for wine collector brother) a few weeks before and then filled it up with stuff I made on the last two days.

I became interested in raising goats on BYH and then that morphed into being interested in soap on BYC. So I made some homemade soap and everyone got a bar. I also gave some of my homemade laundry soap to family members, to my daughter and sister with the recipe, and to my mom with a promise that she can have more whenever she needs it. I decorated the containers (also recycled) that I gave them the laundry soap in. I know that sounds trivial but the equivalent in store bought laundry soap would cost more than 10 dollars and I like this kind much better.

I put our beautiful farm fresh eggs from our chickens, the soap, banana nut bread, strawberry jam and homemade almond roca in the baskets along with a little hand painted watercolor in a simple frame I did for both my sister and my mom of places we liked to go together and the trinkets I had collected for each one.

I feel really good about this year's gifts.
For my two sons at home who are teenagers, we gave them checks to spend at the store at the sales. The stuff they need and want is marked down ridiculously right after the holidays and I told them they are old enough to understand they will get more for their money if we waited a few days. This was not thrilling to them but builds their character, and on Christmas day they had gifts and goodies from my mom who is generous and gives each one a couple of things.

This was a rather stress free way to handle the holidays for me, I think I'll plan to do the same next year. But I've learned alot on these computer blogs from all of you and I appreciate it!

 

[FarmerChick]

actually gift money to spend after christmas is very frugal...lol

you can get double the amt. of items you need. can't go wrong there at all.

in fact next week I am hitting Kmart and Walmart and Target etc. to see if they have the 70-80% off toys to pick up a few things for my daughter for next year. I never mind spending $10 on a $50 toy..lol

 

[kcsunshine]

I sent our 2 grandsons a Christmas card with money (we don't get to see them often and I can't even keep up with their size changes, etc.). The sweeties called me yesterday to thank me for the card and money. Guess there's hope for their raising after all.

 

[Farmfresh]

actually gift money to spend after christmas is very frugal...lol

you can get double the amt. of items you need. can't go wrong there at all.

in fact next week I am hitting Kmart and Walmart and Target etc. to see if they have the 70-80% off toys to pick up a few things for my daughter for next year. I never mind spending $10 on a $50 toy..lol

Point is taken! Anytime you can shop a sale for things you need you win!