Mom Dot Christmas of Dreams Party Day Three!
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DAY THREE QUESTION
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Do you budget for the holidays? Do you always stick to your budget? Share with us any budgeting tips you may have!
Oh, I’m the LAST person you want to ask this to (or maybe the first). I have a strict “don’t shop for anyone ever” policy. Every job I’ve ever had, I used my employee discounts to get gifts, until the big job at the airlines. As badly as I’d love to give tickets away, my parents, spouse and kids flew free anyway so there wasn’t much else to give. At the pet store job, I gave pet supplies. When I worked at the Record store, it was CD’s. When I sold Mary Kay for 15 minutes, everyone had great skin that winter.
Now that I’m a SAHM, I’ve phased all gift giving out. I pretty much did anyway. For the parents, I always personalize something. I Google the words ‘coupon code’ and a store name, and get the list of sites that have the latest online discounts at every store online. I’ll start searching for coupon codes at Vistaprint, Snapfish, Kodak-you name it. Whoever has the best online savings deal is who I use. There is no gift better than a personalized one.
I typically will either get a photo mug, photo calendar or any other personalized item that’s on special. Search the web. I got all my gifts virtually free last year. This year, I’ve already made a few gifts and I haven’t spent more that $5 on any of them. I know my daddy’s reading this, but I’m sure he can appreciate my frugality. Wouldn’t want his girl breaking the bank! Plus, it’s the creativity that counts. Those calendars take FOREVER to make. You can personalize every birthday on them. I’ve made photo books and magnets. Just search around.
I’ve gone to craft stores and painted flower pots and put my kids hand and footprints on them.. I found a picture frame that fits a 5×7 on one side and put each of my kids on a 5×7 clay thingy on the other side.
One year, I put Jake in a onesie and gave him paint and a huge sheet of paper. I let him go to town painting and I took pictures. When he was done, I printed off the pictures and bordered the finished product with the pictures I took, in chronological order. I gave it to my mom and kept the now tie dyed onesie for myself.
I have a standing agreement with my husband and siblings to not get anything. If I need something, I’ll buy it myself. I don’t want to have to wait for a holiday and I don’t want money wasted on something I absolutely don’t want. Besides my parents, the only person I shop for (besides the kids) is my sister. I LOVE getting her stuff. She is so easy to shop for, all I have to do is find unique jewelery and it’s done. I never spend more that $10 on anything.
With my boys, I usually don’t get anything. I think last year we finally insisted on buying something for Jake, because we hadn’t yet. He has so many toys, he doesn’t play with half of them. We got a scooter that Target had on sale for $20. He was thrilled. His main thing is to be able to be around family, that’s what makes him happiest.
Every year, I put off shopping until about now. I bought my moms gift yesterday and only did because I got it for $3 (including shipping). Since I’m flying up, it’s getting shipped right to her and she’ll throw it under her tree. When I get there, I might throw some wrapping paper around the box it came in, but why waste the paper?
My daddy is getting ——, which he asked for and is just about free to do (thanks, daddy!). Jake asked for a little CD player that I found for $9 for his room. Josh is only going to be 9 months old so he gets nothing. He has all of Jake’s toys. In fact, I’ll probably be giving most of those to charity this year. He seems to prefer a waffle to any other toys.
I am a frugal ruler. My girl Sarah and I are going to be making a badge (and a shirt, if i can find one on sale lol). I always get at least 50% off each grocery bill. I never spend over about $30 total at Christmas. If I get a free offer for signing up for something, like a free photo mug for signing up at snapfish, I’ll sign up and make it then hold on to it until the next holiday. If anyone ever needs advice on how NOT to spend money, email me cause I’m your girl!
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Ooh…frugal girl! I am too, but I could use some tips! Love the painted onesie idea!
Check out my new Family FotoFun Friday feature on my blog!
What great ideas for shopping frugally. I wish I put a little more effort into finding good deals!
Ok, $30??? I’m in awe. I like your ideas thanks for sharing them. I come from a big family but last year we decided to do $25 gift cards for each participant to any store or restaurant and we play the white elephant game. That was our gifts to each other and it was a lot of fun. I think we’re doing it again this year.
I’m signing up for your newsletter. Looking forward to any tips you pass on.
Ha! I guess I’ll email you for tips ;o)
50% off grocery bills? I need to be your shadow!
Is there any chance I could hire you as a personal shopper? You have it down to a science! Holy Cow. I am sooooo not worthy to be even visiting your blog!
Dang girl!! You are my hero!!! No joke!!
I think this is fantastic!
Wow! I try to be a frugal shopper, too, but I was stunned when I saw your $30 total. But I have so many more people to buy for. I start Christmas shopping in the summer because:
1. I love to shop!
2. Better chances of finding great deals!
Great tips, you are an inspiring shopper!
I’m envious of your tactics, and like the painting idea. Since my Little Dude is older, I may have to try that with a plain white T-shirt next year (too cold to head outside for this activity now), and then do the picture and frame it for my mother-in-law. I know she would like it.
Dude, that is amazing!
I’m right there with you on being frugal and the personalized gifts. You’re a girl after my own heart
Wow! You really have it together on getting good deals and you know just what you want to get! That’s awesome.
I sold knives for about five minutes. he he he
I LOVE the ideas that you’ve got! I try to make gifts every year to save money, but usually still end up spending some!
Wow, I need you on my team!!!!!!! My dh would love it if I were like that.
You are now my official “God”.
WoW!
Totally love that pic btw.
I hear ya!! We wouldn’t spend nearly what we do, but it’s kind of like “free” money when we get the bonus. I finally became a coupon shopper!! Last week I averaged 68% off!! Woo Hoo!!!
I make the calendars every year as well. Check out my site for yesterdays link to Snapfish’s photo book FREE from Oprah (you do have to pay shipping) if you don’t already know about it!!!
Those are great personalized gifts. I’ll have to steal a few of your ideas.
I go for the free or almost free things as well. In fact, I use some of the prizes I win on blogs or product reviews as gifts. Last year for my mil I made magnets with pictures of each of her grandkids on them using those clear flat rocks, modge podge, and magnets. She loved it, and she them all up on her fridge. I’m thinking of doing something similar this year.
Julie, You are incredible!!! What are you doing telling me how wonderful am I when you are all that and 100 times more! Oh, I am so not worthy.
I’ve pretty much cut out gifting too. When I got married and moved off across the continent, the first thing I did, after the first Christmas away from my home town, was to tell all my friends we needed to stop gifting. It gets crazy enough as it is without having to throw in shipping too.
I’m not as good about doing homemade gifts…there’s not much incentive when we barely gift.
Dh and I never get each other anything either. But, I will be inspired by you and attempt something homemade….uh, maybe next year. LOL!
Very cool! I like the personalized stuff!
Yep, I’m all for the personalized gifts… and the homemade gifts. I’m all over that!
I’d say the $$ I do spend… it’s on my boys. Things they’ve said they like… we don’t buy them much through out the year… but at Christmas I try to get them a few items they’ve talked about. Usually they are not the latest and greatest… cause I will only buy on sale.
Cheep cheep!
You know me… I write checks, let everyone buy themselves what they want. If you & Ry can burn Buffy and me the BSG series for xmas/birthday, that’d be cool. If not, I’m finally running low on Fahrenheit cologne….
I think it’s absolutely amazing that you are so frugal. I try, but when it comes to Christmas I lose all willpower.
These are some fantastic ideas! Thanks for sharing!