Yes, I'm thinking about Christmas already. Well DH and I have really cut back but I still have a problem. My son attends preschool. He has a teacher, 3 aides, and 3 therapists. Last year I did gift cards to Dunkin Donuts, but that was so much $$$ with 7 people to buy for. I've decided to make Hot Pepper Jelly and Cranberry Walnut Jelly, pair them with some nice crackers and give those as gifts this year. DH says no way, it will make us look cheap and teachers get so many homemade gifts already. This is different because they can serve it during the holidays or re-gift it if they want. We just don't have the $$ to give gift cards. It really put a dent in our budget last year. What do you think?

I usually make a set of greeting cards (from photos) and some flowers!! they seem to love them!!!

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That is a very nice gift. We have made little decrotive covering for baby food jars before and filled with candy to give to teachers. I never thought it made us look cheap. We just had alot of teachers (aides, Sunday School teachers, etc) that we wanted to remember.

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I am in the same place. My oldest is in middle school he has seven teachers, my dd is in first grade with all the aides, teachers, and specials she has 7. By Christmas my husband will have 12 employees to remember and his boss. In the past I have done homemade chocolate but at this rate I will be making candy for a month to have enough for everyone.

My husband is a teacher and last Christmas he was given lots of gift cards for $5 to Starbucks, and he doesn't even like the place. His favorite gifts were the homemade ones, so I think something like jelly, or cookies or the like would be very appreciated for these people! It shows that you put effort into making the gift, and who doesn't like homemade stuff?

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~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

I think the homemade gifts with a handwritten note would be wonderful!!! Giftcards can be great if they are to a place you enjoy, but don;t require as much effort or thought as a homemade item. I think the teachers should love it, and if its not to their taste then its something special they can serve to guests.

I think that is a great gift!

I am a teacher and I am not a classroom teacher, so I don't get a ton of gifts, which is fine. But, I really appreciate the gifts and cards that I recieve, because even if it is just a card, it is just nice to be remembered. I have one student who gives me a box of cookies every year that he makes with his mom and he is so excited about giving them that seeing him that excited is one of my favorite gifts and I look forward to it.

You know, this probably sounds scroogy, but i just don't give gifts to all those people. I know folks that give to thier mailman, newpaper boy and hair person, neighbors, where does it end?? I do love and respect my kids teachers, but I simply cannot afford to give like that. Even 5.00 gift cards add up- if you are giving to teachers, coaches, band directors, scout leaders.

I do think homeade items can be a good gift, and, if packaged nicely, in a cute basket, with alot of ribbon, can really look nice for homemade. The problem with this, is by the time you buy the ingredients, and then the basket and ribbon ( even if you get it at the dollar store) you probably spend the same as you would if you got gift cards.

Just to also let you know that my sis is a teacher and she NEVER EVER eats anything homeade- into the trash it goes. She has sort of a I dunno.. phobia about homemade things- I guess she's seen the condition of some people's kitchens. People let thier cats walk on counters and are less than hygenic sometimes. Of course I'm not implying you are cruddy- but some folks are, and since she has no idea who is who, she tosses all homeade goods in the trash.

If I were you, I'd probably go in to wal-mart and have a bi ol huge package of pictures taken at thier portrait studio. ( they give you a whole pile for pretty cheap) and give those out with christmas cards to everyone you know. In the card, write a personal message about how influential and special they are to your son. I know I would perfer this sort of govt over homeade jams or trinkets. I'm a very practical person though.

You will find, as your child gets older, he will have loads of teachers in his life, and you simply cannot give to them all. In middle school the kids have EIGHT teachers- and even moreif they do sports, orchestra, ect. I simply cannot give to all those teachers. A card will have to suffice. My sis, who I said was a teacher says that she never ever expects any gifts from parents or students, and is never offended if they don't give her one. She does like pictures and cards though.

Unplug the christmas machine girlfriend.

I think the idea is a good one but I am like girlscoutmom's sister. I don't eat things if I'm not sure about the person who made them. I guess it would depend on your familiarity with the teacher.

But I do agree about homemade gifts being the way to go. Not only are they less expensive they are more thoughtful. Boys don't know! lol

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