christmas gift giving
 

We have a very large family so on 1 side we draw names for the adults and just do 1 $25 -$30 gift to the person you draw. On the other side we do children. We also do parents and grand parents but try not to spend more then $40 each. I look for clearance deals and sales all year long when i see something that screams someone in our family I buy it early and keep it. Example I found a cashmere sweater at the mall for my Sister for only $25 - it was on clearance 75% I found it last spring. Have had it forever in tupper wear but it will make a great gift.

I would rather buy something for someone I can afford and that they really like then just buy something that is why i shop all year. I also combine my sisters 5 kids into 1 present about $50 but then they can get something nicer then $10 each - this year it is a wii game

I've got a few ppl to buy for.

My bf's sister (we do a name draw among his siblings and S.O's)
My bf's parents
My bf's two nieces (we give them a gift from both of us, but I'll likely do the buying and paying)
My bf
My mom
My dad
My brother
My 2 best friends
A close family friend
My two god daughters (One's 15, one's 5)
And maybe something for my brother's gf, since she'll be spending christmas with us.

The economy hasn't hit quite so hard here in ablerta, so I'll probably spend an average of $50 an adult and $25-$30 for the kids. I'll like spend a few hundred dollars. We get our company bonous on halloween, so that usually goes toward xmas gifts.

Peachcake - excellent instructions here:

http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.co...-ornament.html

I've painted the outsides and the insides, in different years. The swirling looks really neat!

Manda - where do you find your baskets for your gifts? I'm having a hard time finding inexpensive baskets this year.

Dollar Tree. 1 dollar each, or sometimes they have 2 for a dollar. I also have garage saled for them, starting early Sept/Oct, and amassed a collection over a year for a quarter each or so.

I'd like to try decorating my own tree with homemade ornaments, since store bought ones can get so generic. I'll take a look at those instructions... Thanks!

That website is full of stuff! yay!

Most years we do a gift to everyone in both my husband and my immediate families, their spouses, PLUS all the neices and nephews and the surviving grandparents. That number, however, is now 20 people -- It has gotten completely crazy. This year, both my sisters and I went to my mom and laid down the law. THe grown ups are NOT buying gifts for each other anymore. Stocking stuffers OK, big present no. We are just buying for the kids.

I can't enforce the rule on my husband's side, but that family is smaller -- and his brother got divorced this year (WOW, not very seasonal of me to be happy about the divorce because it is one less present to buy...but there are other reasons to be glad it is over. The present thing is just a happy byproduct.).

Oh, and my husband and I always buy a gift together for us -- generally tickets to a play or something else date related. Then there are Santas gifts to my boys.

My guess is around $700 total -- I actually have $1000 set aside in a rainy day account for Christmas. NO credit carding it this year. I am done with that. We paid our cards off last year around Christmas, and are MUCH happier to pay as we go.

They seem to be REALLY into it, especially now that we play a game with the gifts. It is a fun game..but still..gift buying season stresses me out because I can't think of things to get and I'm trying to stay within my budget.

Wow! Lots of awesome ideas!!
This year my guy, myself, and his family are going to New Orleans for Christmas/New Years, his dad says it's the gift to the family and we dont have to do presents. (Still will tho). I really enjoy shopping for other people, but usually spend too much. Might think about a homemade Christmas this year. Amanda's baskets sound great!

Perfect, thanks. I've been to a few dollar stores already and haven't found anything....I guess I just need to broaden my horizons. It's amazing what you miss when you aren't specifically looking.

I had some really ugly baskets a few years back and DH spray painted them for me. They actually turned out really great.

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Schumeany - isn't it a wonderful feeling to pay as you go? I like the combined gift for you and DH...we do that as well. It takes a lot of the stress out of buying for eachother.