Penny Pincher Christmas - help!

[xmas_wilbret]

My wife and I come from very generous families, and we were and are spoiled rotten by our parents and others. Our Christmases as a couple are just as bad - budgets out the door!

This year, with a baby on the way, and the money not flowing like it used to... we need to force ourselves to restrain.

Do you have any tips on how to give gifts without breaking the bank? Or other traditions people have that are just as fun, but don't cost much?

One idea I had was to buy stuff within the budget we set, but only one item for her and the rest for Wilbret Jr. (diapers, etc) That way she still gets to unwrap stuff.

[Sickie Ickie]

Lots of stuff to do for pennies. I'll start- ever string a popcorn and cranberry garland?

[xmas_wilbret]

When I was a kid we'd string popcorn. Do you remember construction paper ring garland?

[Mummy deer-est]

I'm doing both of those things this year (am also "pinching) and will do paper snowflakes -- the 3D ones from the santasprojects site.

It is simple, but I keep a list of who I need to buy for with the pre-determined amount next to the name. Once I reach that price, I check off the name and do not buy any more for that person, no matter what. Its easy for me to lose track and overspend if I don't do that.

We also make food gifts -- if you package them nicely, they look like you spent more! Also, for yourselfs, if you get cheap wrapping paper, then wrap everything! Wrap stocking stuffers, wrap a pic from the sonogram, wrap your "heart" for her. I have also heard of a family that wraps things they already has (one per person) and opens them on Christmas eve...kind of like re-discovering something you had forgoten about, and appreciating things you already have.

I'll keep thinking...

[BlackRose]

Wilbret - I'm in exactly the same situation as you are. Here's what we are doing this year.........

We set a small budget for each other for gifts and made a pact not to buy anything baby related. It was tempting to get a jump on that stuff but this is our last Christmas just the two of us. So we decided against buying that stuff for each other.
For other people, we (meaning me) made a lot of gifts this year (most but not all). That way we got away with spending a lot less and the gifts mean more because we (meaning me again!) made them ourselves. Our families know what we are doing and understand completely. Our parents have even said that they are considering this kicking boy that I am carrying to be the best Christmas present. Even though he's not due until 4/1. (Hubby said I should show up on Christmas day with a big bow tied around my belly) We even inspired some other family members to make gifts too since it seems that a lot of us have gotten away from what Christmas is really all about in the first place. And I'm more excited about giving and receiving gifts this year since I know that some of them are going to be handmade. It makes our last Christmas together special.
Hope this helps and let us know what you decide to do!

And Congratulations!!!

[Clarice]

I bake and make candy to give as gifts. Between our growing families and friends it was getting difficult to purchase gifts for everyone and stay in a reasonable budget. So now all the families and friends get goody bags, and the spending limit on children is $10.00, with the exception of our children and our granddaughter.

[NJWilk]

We usually go totally nuts buying, especially for each other, but we're trying to keep it in check this year. My main gift to my partner is to tackle the to-do list on the fridge that I kept ignoring. So I'm alternating stringing lights and painting my train with cleaning ceiling fans and touching up woodwork and mopping floors (and the list goes on and on and on). Made a commitment to spend as much time doing that as I do decorating this month.