I usually start shopping in Sept-Oct as we have to do cash only...do any of you happen to have any great gift ideas? I'm trying to come up with something for both sets of our parents....any homemade gift ideas would be awesome too! Thanks!
I'm starting to buy now, too. I've already picked up a few things that I've found on clearance. We're doing family pics for parents/grandparents this year ($9.99 package), so I'm just looking for frames for those.
If they live near you a membership to a zoo, nature center or museum is a great present. A state park pass is also a good idea if they like camping or daytripping. They can spend some time with your kids. (and you get the present of some alone time or time alone with an older or younger one) What interests do your children have that they could use to make presents? A child interested in art could paint them, or trace a picture of them together and color it. A storybook of your child's favorite memory of being with them would be so special. For me, experiences are so much more memorable than any storebought present. Advance discount tickets to see the nutcracker ballet together or another special event might be a good idea. If the event happens before Christmas, you could wrap a framed picture of the group of you at that event to open during present time.
I wish I could do homemade presents for my parents, but they do not appreciate things of that nature.
Well, one idea I had this year is that I notice Walmart will print pictures on just about anything....dishes, cups, mousepads.... Sixcloar, what if your dc made a special picture or drawing and you took a digital pic of it to have printed on something? Handmade in a sense and yet special enough for the grandparents? Just an idea. We make all of our gifts homemade so I'm keeping an eye on clearance aisles for things we can use. But this year is going to be very tight so our list will be very limited.
I haven't even started thinking about Halloween...actually we did a craft-thing with my church in August, so I made things for my inlaws. Mostly a rotating birthday calender that they can use every year.
I am making homemade vannila extract this year , I am including some recipes ( printed out on recipe cards) that include vanilla extract in them as well. Here is the site that I got the recipe from: http://www.kitchenproject.com/vanilla/4FoldVanillaExtract.htm For dh's co-workers I always make a big basket of baked goodies, mini muffins ( 3 flavors), bread, jams, cookies and hot chocolate mixes too. I start to stock up on the mixes monthes in advance from the clearance racks, I score muffin mixes for about 50 cents a box! 2 sets of parents get pictures of the grandkids ( we agreed years ago to not exchange presents with them) and the other set get gift cards to movies or restaurants. DD's friends get $5 gift cards to either Jamba Juice or Starbucks along with their favorite candy bar or gum. That keeps cost down and all the parents agreed this was good. For our friends ( dh and I) we have a big BBQ and everyone brings a dish and that is our present to everyone. Its a lot of fun too and it keeps cost low, this will be our 6th year doing this.
The kids made ice candles last year (http://www.ehow.com/how_5912_make-ice-candles.html) and I put together a photo book http://www.snapfish.com/photobookcategory for my parents. I put in pictures from all the activities we did (with them and some without) throughout the year. It's a nice hardbound book.
We spend $100 on each child, there are 2. The teen knows in advance and can choose what he wants. The youngest she is 5, will be surprised. I usually know what she wants. As far as our adult children, they will get cookies, home canned strawberry jam and a family photo. Our parents will be getting the same as our adult children, although I like the idea of 3angelsmom and the photo book. I can't believe it's the middle of Sept. and Christmas is just around the corner 7 paydays until Christmas!
Wow..I was thinking it was close but I didn't realize how close! I was thinking of making the home made vanilla, I came across a blog yesterday and there were some great sources for cheap vanilla beans and vodka is always on sale where I work so that will be great. Then I have to find some bottles but that won't be a problem, I may just use some ball jars. I want to finish my apron that I've got cut out so I can figure out what to do and make one for my grandma(s) and mil. She loved one that her aunt gave her so I'd like to make her one. I am hoping that dh gets a decent bonus this year, but I don't know since there's not been a lot work this year because that's what we generally buy Christmas with for everyone. But I will most likely pick up some odds and ends here and there and try and make it work out that way if not. We don't spend a lot on our kids and this year I plan on skipping presents for dh and I. And my birthday as well, I don't need presents.
I have been collecting gift cards and Amazon GCs from various places (doing my points, bzz agent, doing some surveys and stuff) I have one more round to go for the October birthdays. then I will have a little saved up for christmas with the same stuff..... I only order the stuff with free shipping on Amazon. So far I have gotten each of the girls 3 items for their birthday and now I need to start on Malcom's stuff, then we will do a lay a way for christmas gifts. So pretty much EVERY THING I pick out is free! I even got a buy one get one free halmark card. the kids make gifts for grandparents.
Our Christmas will be a bit different this year. We are going to Minnesota to visit friends and go through the Ozark mountains on the way home. We only have to buy for our own two girls and my friends 3 girls we will be staying with. We will be having dinner with my parents the weekend before we leave and my parens have said very strongly they do not want anything from us. They said they have been married 53 years and anything they needed they already have.
Oh, don't you just love Christmas! I start Christmas in September/October. I haven't started shopping due to lack of funds but I just can't wait. I have a bunch of cosmetic grade fragrance oils. So I am thinking about making everyone soap sets or muffin, soup or cookie mixes.
Odd ball here! For Christmas we celebrate by giving the boys three gifts like what baby Jesus got. We don't get too excited about the commercial side of Christmas.
That's what we do, but I've already begun looking for gifts. Financially, it's easier to buy a little at a time and as I find things at good prices.
Yes, I've been thinking about it for quite some time. This past summer, we had a Lenox store go out of business. I was lucky enough to catch it, as I don't usually shop in that area. I bought 3 or 4 gifts there - vases and potpouri(?sp) in teacups. Not my bag, but I also have the In-law grandparents who think that anything handmade, antique, or 2nd hand is all garbage, so they will be thrilled to get a name brand Lenox product for Christmas - even if it is crap. We were super tight last year - and this year is going to be even tighter. I found a Russian site (looking for recipes to tie in with History) and they have gifts from Russia as well. Beautiful carved wooden boxes, nesting dolls, all the way up to Fabrege' Eggs. Prices range from $8.95 - $$$$$$. I'm looking into it though, their measurements are in metric, so I've got to go back to their site and use their conversion tool to change it over to standard to see how big the boxes are. I will probably check at the Cracker Barrel clearance section as well. I bought a huge ceramic pumpkin last year for $5. It was supposed to be a punch bowl, but it was missing it's ladel (woohoo). I always find "classy" gifts at TJ Maxx and sometimes Homegoods. I prefer to give gifts rather than gift cards, because certain family members want a minimum of $25.00 on their gift card. If I should stoop to giving them a $5 card - Oh the scandal. I always make a trip to Old Time Pottery this time of year as well because they have the best prices on glassware, dishes, and other good deals as well. I'm also considering hitting the farmers market and making some fruit baskets (baskets from the thrift store of course). Christmas is the time of year, That I always live in fear. Crazy drivers come out to play, Some old lady took my toy away! On every corner bells are ringing, Inside the stores - cash registers pinging, Kid's can't wait for what Santa's bringing. I just want a nap.
I just spent half an hour to set up a thing on a children's book club picked out my 6 books for $2 picked my bonus books for $4.95 then couldn't do it because we don't have a credit card...... thought they would bill us.
Thanks for reminding me. I used to be a big layaway queen now I just need to do the envelopes I don't have any homemade ideas..but if you want to spend a little money. I bought my husband a auto picture frame last year at Walmart for $69 then added pictures of us on the SD card. He loves it and it is a big hit at the office I think everyone wants one now