I'm really trying to get rid of the clutter, do the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace, and simplify my life. It's Aug. and Xmas is really weighing on my mind on my mind. Gifts for other then immediate family members should be easy this year because I'm trying to use up my stockpile of gifts but my 4 DDs gifts have me boggled. I don't want to by them a bunch of crap just so tey have presents to open but I don't want them to feel shorted either. I've asked them to think about there wants and needs regarding gifts but so far my 15 yr old says a tatoo, belly button pierced, laptop, cell phone and a car. My 10 yr old doesn't want anything, the 3 yr old wants everything and the 1 yr old well no wants yet. Are there any ideas regarding Xmas if I'm trying to simplify and be frugal?

A couple of ideas:

Once I read that Xmas gifts for kids should be 4 simple things: something to read, something to wear, something to eat and something to play with. These could be four simple things or you could get fancy with it.

Try buying one big family gift- tell the kids ahead of time that there will be ONE big gift- a trip, a spa day, something the whole family wants (new stereo system, etc) and then buy each a couple of little gifst to go with it for each kid.

This might work best with the teenager: set a budget limit for each child. Ex- tell dd you can spend $100 (or whatever) per child, and then let her decide what she wants. As a teenager she should be old enough to understand, and it could be a good budgeting lesson for her. You could total up the costs of everything she's asking for and compare it against what you can spend. She may not like it, but if she can understand where you are coming from maybe it will be easier. Besides, this way she will really getting things she wants (instead of you having to try to read her mind and everyone being disappointed if she doesn't like her gifts). To take it even one step further, you could have her help you be "Santa" for the little ones... get her in on the buying, keep track of costs, etc. Some kids really like that.

Xmas gift buying is always tough. Good luck with it- you are wise to plan ahead!

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

1. Start buying now; one or two people a month should help you make good progress. Save the kids for last because their wishes/wants could change a lot in four-five months
2. Don't feel you need to go overbudget to please anyone.
3. If you need "filler" items for your kids, focus on practical things like character sheets, a special beach towel (OK, maybe Christmas isn't a great time for that), clothes, etc. or stuff you would have to buy anyway.
4. Suggest trading names w/adult siblings

I'll try to think of more.

We don't really buy our kids much right now - He just turned 2 and she is 8 mo - so we've left it to Grandparents (like we could stop them anyway).

One thing that we are trying to incorporate is only having 3 gifts each. We heard it on Focus on the Family. Jesus only got 3 gifts at Christmas - so why do we need more?

I've picked up some things at garage sales for ds. I found a Thomas the Train train set (battery operated) that had hardly been used - got it for $8. He will LOVE it and at 2 he has no clue and doesn't care where I got it. I've gotten some other toys that way as well.

A friend of mine purchased a kitchen set for her daughter at a Goodwill - the stickers on it were missing. She contacted the company that made it to get new stickers and if I remember right - she got them for free. Her daughter got a very neat kitchen set for a very small price.

Just some ideas...

I'm almost done buying for the godchildren children (5 total with a $20 limit each) & we exchage names for the neices and nephews on my side (4 total $20 each) they are almost done too. We cut out exchanging names for my siblings (8 brothers and sisters) and now we buy a $10 girl gift and a $10 boy gift and do some game with that. I have the girls gift but I'm struggling with a boy gift, any thoughts? Godmothers (3)are done I spent $13 each, godfathers I still need gifts for (3 gifts needed). Both sets of parents I just put $50 aside and go in on a big gift. I still need to buy DH siblings gift and I'm buying a family gift so if there's any ideas out there would love those too. Teachers are done and so are the other oddball gifts. So I'm in need of ideas for men ($10 - $15 limit) and ideas for family gifts. Now that it's in writing I'm not doing to bad just those dang kids.

I like the idea of 4 simple gifts and the 3 gift idea like Jesus. I do set a spending limit of about $150 for the 2 oldest and the 2 youngest I just pick up gifts as they go on sale I usually spend about $50 -$75. Not fair but nobody notices.

We exchange names among the nieces and nephews and the adults play dirty santa in my family. That way we buy 4 nice gifts and recieve 4 nice gifts. For my kids last yearI had them make a list of 10 things they wanted. They get 5 of them and then any extras that they need (new jeans, shoes, socks, underwear, ect...) They are so excited that they got what they wanted they never realize how many they are opening.

i shop clearances all year and load my gift closet for x-mas and birthdays. i have 7(nieces/nephews) to buy for and 7(young cousins to buy for) and 5(aunts/cousins)that we buy real small gifts for this year i got a soap kit from micheals to make the gift for the adults.. i try to buy 1 or 2 items a month then i save my kids for last..

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Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

What the heck is Dirty Santa??? Is that like a gift exchange???

We stopped buying gifts for every single person about 2 years ago. We do a gift exchange now. We now each buy a $50 gift (but I think we may bring it down to $25 this year) and we wrap them. Each person picks and the person next in line can either pick an unwrapped gift or steal any gift that has been previously opened. DH threw a fit when I suggested it and it ended up being so fun that he was thrilled by it. Last year every single person was so happy with the gifts they received.

I still want to know what Dirty Santa is...LOL

~Susan

What you described is a version of Dirty Santa. :D

We don't exchange outside of immediate family & Grandmas' except for one side and that is kids only and I only spend $5 per kid (shopping clearances so that they get a nice gift).

For our family my dh and I disagree, I would buy more, but he says less. The kids get 2 from Santa, 2 from Mom & Dad and 1 from each other. Clothes and books are included in the count. Shopping clearances through out the year, I normally only have to buy the biggie from Santa closer to Christmas.

Since both kids' bdays are around Christmas I normally put away a good bit of their gifts for them to have later in the year. I am still taking out gifts for my dd and her bday was in Jan. (Grandmas give them way too much!!!)

I might mention the 4 gift thing to dh and compromise with that. That would be 1 gift from everybody.