Fru-Gal Friends

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Fri 10 Nov 2006, 12:51 pm

We used to buy for everyone which was 9 gifts (not including me,dh,dd,dd,dd or ds) and then we started to exchange gifts for my family (left me buying for 6 and I always purchased a small something for my mom and her dh making it Cool

but this year we are doing homemade family gifts. Which leaves me putting together 3 gifts. I have included the pets also and made up snacks for cats and dogs and have them in the freezer. I will be making mini loaves of breads, cookies, brownies and some soup gift jars. I have everything here so no cost really. I am putting these in cute Christmas bags which I have left from last year. The little kids will be getting homemade Gingerbread cookies (provided I can find some cookie cutters cheap) with some little tubes of decorating gel and $5.00 gift cards to McDonalds. With the decorating gel and gift cards I will be spending no more than $25.00 for all.
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Vicki

Very Valuable Member Joined : 13 Oct 2006 Posts : 262

Okay, yes, we did it (Christmas for $100) but it was when my first dh was changing jobs and my 3 children from that family were small (8, 7, & 4). I made almost ALL of my christmas and the $100 was sent to me from my sister/best friend. I made my children clothes for their cabbage patch dolls out of cloth Christmas table clothes I got from a thirft store and the "panties" were made from my dh's white military shirts. My son's cabbage patch clothes were made from my dh's winter blues, and cackies(sp). I made my dad & his wife homemade noodles, a loaf of homemade bread & homemade jellie (the jelly I had made earlier that fall). My mom got the same. My dh got a few new socks/underwear. I made bread & jellie baskets for my in-laws and that was that. For the kids, I wrapped the little doll clothes in a different package per set and so it looked like they had a lot of presents under the tree. We had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade bread, corn & green beans that I had canned and a pumpkin pie for our dinner BUT it was on the good china, with lit candles and holiday music playing on the old record player. You know, when I think back...it was wonderful.

My dh#2 doesn't really get into the holiday so there is no help in the kitchen (dh#1 loved to help cook), the boys are a little less appreciative than the first set of kids (and I have no one to blame but myself and dh because I want/wanted to give them things I wasn't able to give my daughters that I lost), so it is all so different.

Any how, it can be done and it should go back to that for us anyway. Christmas is about Christ and family. Guys, as we all get older, that all changes. It seems after the parents pass it is harder to get all together, families live farther apart, lives get busier, etc. When I was little, it was nothing for over 50 to be at my Granny's house for dinner. All the sisters, sils, and granny would be in the kitchen cooking and visiting, we kids would be playing or listening to my Grandpa and all his sons playing the fiddle, banjo, piano, etc. So much love...and my present from Granny was a flannel night gown that she had pieced together from a bunch of old gowns she had...and oh, I almost forgot...a flannel Santa that she had cut out and sewed on the collar. I wore that thing until it held together no more. I could have never put a price tag on that gown.

Sorry to rattle...just miss the gifts of Christmas past.
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DEBBY/OK

DOMESTIC ENGINEER... I work in the field of love and guiidance of young children;.

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Fri 10 Nov 2006, 12:59 pm

Debby that is a wonderful story. Very touching. I talked with ds(9) and dd(5) this morning and told them that although they were only getting 3 gifts from Santa they would be getting lots of other things that would be considered gifts and they looked at me. I said I would be giving them the gift of my time every day while they are on break from school. We are doing a nature walk one day and collecting items to do a craft, sugar cookie decorating and baking, ornament making day, game day, etc.. and dh is trying to get the week off between Christmas and New Years to spend time with us and possible take kids to see his mother in South Carolina. They were so thrilled with all the new ideas that they could care less that they were only getting a few gifts. We have always gone overboard giving each child anywhere between 10-15 gifts some expensive and some not but needless to day that is way too much!! Things are changing around here and for the better!!
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Vicki

Very Valuable Member Joined : 13 Oct 2006 Posts : 262

I am so sorry to rattle...Things are just changing so in our world and have changed in my life. I keep praying daily to give me the type of family life that I so loved. Maybe some day dh#2 will see it from my eyes.
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DEBBY/OK

DOMESTIC ENGINEER... I work in the field of love and guiidance of young children;.

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 368

That does sound like a wonderful memory, Deb...

All this talk of cutting back on holiday budgets really makes me want to see "how low I can go"~ laugh

Even though I don't charge anything on CC's during the Christmas season,really, I just use the cash that we've been saving for this very purpose all year long....I could make it a challenge to see what our "comfort' level really is, and pocket the rest in our emergency account(like usual) or even our vacation fund(Oooooo,there's an idea! oh wait...I should be "scaling" back with my vacations,too! Aaaaah!)OR....put it toward the principal on our mortgage! The possibilities are endless with "found" money!! lol!

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1693

Debby~ You are SUCH a wonderful mother and you are in my prayers...I hope your heat can heal from your past...you are wonderful! Your memories are inspiring thank you for sharing them!

Vicki~ your story about your kids and how they accept your situation this year and how they are excited about your fun days...goes to show how you raised them! Good job to you my friend! You are a great mom!

kim

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Sat 11 Nov 2006, 12:27 pm

I annouced the 3 gifts and my kids looked like I had two heads but they accept it I buy gifts for the family anew old nintendo I got a yard sale and a bunch of games .. I brought uno for them to play and I have stack of board games books for the girls and the list goes on and on my kids my Grands neices nephews . MY HUSBAND.... no even shopping the way I do and I am all frugul all the time I pretty sure I am over $100 we have 12 baskets to make up
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 368

I have done the 3-gift thing for quite a few years for my kids, and they really don't feel like they're missing out at all. Afterall, they DO get stuff from others,too(like Grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc.)

I have kinda fallen away from it only because they are getting older(my youngest being 10). Now one big gift seems to "do it" for them~ Laughing

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Sat 11 Nov 2006, 3:02 pm

in our house we have kids from the baby John Franklin to my oldest who is 29 we have 4 under 5 1 under 10 two tweens and 6 grown children... so my house is a zoo and I am the keeper the older ones dont expect alot the guys like the baked good and the girls like frilly but the little kids we go overboard and we are having a new baby in the spring so we buy for that baby ... I am done know except for my husband he either wants a new Chainsaw or a new truck or fishing equipment or nothing .. we have a date the first Saturday of the month he better tell me or I may just get him socks (hehehehehe)
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Sat 11 Nov 2006, 5:10 pm

Well I finisihed my dd(5) and ds(9). They each are getting 6 gifts and my cost ended up being $200.00 per child. We had set the goal at $225.00 per child so I am under and the older 2 girls will be under also. So my christmas will end up being under $1000.00 which is close to $800.00 less than last year. Still way too much but baby steps right??
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Vicki

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Sat 11 Nov 2006, 10:22 pm

here a few more MYO easy bake oven recipes

White Frosting Mix
2 cups powdered sugar -- sifted
3 tablespoons instant nonfat milk powder 6 tablespoons vegetable shortening
In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and milk powder. Stir with a wire whisk to blend. With a pastry blender cut in shortening. Spoon about 1/3 cup of mixture into each of 8 small bags. Seal tightly. Makes 8 packages. For chocolate frosting, add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa.
To use: Combine 1 package of the above mix plus 3/4 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Stir well with a spoon until smooth and creamy. Makes about 1/4 cup frosting. A drop or two of vanilla may be added if desired.

Brownies
2 1/2 T. sugar
1 t. oil
1/8 t. vanilla extract
4 t. chocolate syrup
2 1/2 T. flour
Sir together sugar, oil, vanilla, chocolate and flour until the batter is smooth. Pour batter into greased and floured pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Chocolate Cake
6 teaspoons flour
4 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
3/4 teaspoon shortening
1 pinch salt
6 teaspoons milk
Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa, shortening and salt. Add milk and stir until smooth. Pour into greased baking pan that comes with the toy oven. Bake for 12 to15 minutes. If you want white cake, omit the cocoa and add a drop or two of vanilla with the milk. Makes 1 serving.

Quick Cake
2 tablespoons commercial cake mix -- such as Jiffy 1 tablespoon water
Mix cake mix and water. Place in greased toy cake pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Makes 1 serving
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Sat 11 Nov 2006, 10:39 pm

Wow, some of you ladies have such a lot of gifts to sort out just for your home family! Good going this year Vicki and cheapy, the 3 gift idea is great. Usually, in the past I have either got DS one big gift and a few smaller ones, or several smaller gifts. I suppose I"m lucky (money-wise) in just having one child. But when you add the costs of the extended family it can mount up quickly. I've learned to economize with my side of the family but it's harder for DH's side as he doesn't want to 'scrimp' (or 'economize' in my terms...lol) on those gifts. I reckon for my side of the family I've spent approx. $100 (or less) for 9 people (adults & kids), I have yet to add postage costs but that worked out very budget friendly compared to what I would've spent some years ago even though I couldn't really afford it. I'm sure it'll easily cost 2-3 times as much for DH's family (but I started back in June Wink

).
This year I've been spreading the cost of gifts for DH and DS and been buying gifts they NEED (or will use), nothing big (or greatly expensive) but thoughtful gifts, plus I watched sales etc. thoughout the year. It's harder to buy for DS now as he has a little part-time after school job and because he can buy his own 'stuff' it's hard to keep track of what he has! This year I reckon I've spent the least on him ever, so far he's had a few dvds I know he'll enjoy (plus we can watch them together also and I got them on sale!), a nice trendy leather bracelet, some satiny boxers for bedtime during our hot Xmas weather, a new wallet he really wanted. I think I'll get him some vouchers from the bookstore to put in his wallet as he's a massive reader and I've lost track of what he has or wants so he can choose for himself after Xmas (I might add a new bookmark). Lastly I will get him snackfood and his favourite chocolates so I'm sure his prezzies will come in around $150 or so. DH's will probably work out similar or less.
I dislike gadgety gifts, they're rarely worth the money. Last year and this I've been sticking to entertainment, clothing, food (or drink!) and toiletries etc. At least they all get used!!!
Lastly I'll have to add the cost of food but there's NO WAY I could bring it in for $100. I'm reckoning, this year, somewhere between $700 - $800 for the immediate family (gifts and food goodies), extended family and a few good friends. Also I'm happy to say NONE of this will go on our credit card this year!!! cheers

I'm happy with this figure and I may be able to trim it better by next year, I'm learning heaps of new habits Very Happy

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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1693

My personal goal this year is to keep it all under $1,500. Last year I tried to do really well and spent over $2,000. So I am working towards that...
Skin~ sounds like you did very well! Good job!

kim

Subject: Re: Christmas Ideas Mon 13 Nov 2006, 7:23 am

Everyone seems to be doing really well this year with reducing their Christmas expenses. I am already setting my goals for next year and hope to have it lower.
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Vicki

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1693

I am SOOOO excited!!! I asked DH if he could make DD a doll house for Christmas...and he said at work they have VERY thick cardboard (needs to cut with a saw!!!) and he can have as much as he wants for free!!! He can even put screws in it, it is so thick! So we are making DD a doll house and I am going to paint the rooms her fav colors and make curtains out of scrap fabric that I have ...use felt for carpet and paint tree trunks and hot glue fake leaves on the outside walls to make it look real, she will get a few new dolls and I will fix up all her old doll house furniture and get some new to use in the new house! YEAH!!!!
This will be her "big" gift and will cost next to nothing!!!!

kim