Frugal Christmas Gifts

[Artemis Windsong]

Now is the time to start shopping.  I know a lot of people are finished already.  I would like to get frugal but useful gift ideas.  I have 7 men to buy for and 7 women.  3 GrGS, 2GrGD.

Some of my best:

Men - a set of 4 tie downs from Menards at around $10.
       - magnetic reacher and a magnetic tray
       - mechanix gloves

Women - winter scarf and gloves
             - fashion scarf and pin
             - any jewelry
             - fleece jackets I got very reasonably priced one year.

[marvholly]

AA
Idea for the grandkids: Several years ago DD2 (2nd grade teacher) suggested I give magazine subscriptions. Kids LOVE getting their own mail & they get something every or every other month.

Idea for the adults (for next year): accumulate travel sizes of personal care items, free samples from the internet, free items from the drug stores, cheap items from Target $1 spot......fill small basket or gift bag.

[Shooby]

Lots of adults would enjoy magazine subscriptions. If you know their interests you could order someone interested in cooking the Taste of Home magazine or Rachel Ray or Food Network. Those are excellent magazines.

[Shooby]

Can you buy group items? Like for a family, you could send a family gift instead of individual gifts? Perhaps a honey baked ham or something like, etc might be cheaper or about the same as buying individual gifts.

[Sam_2.0]

We've set a $10/kid budget for nieces and nephews since we have 7 to buy for. Here's my plan:

8yr old nephew - set of books (Percy Jackson, Captain Underpants? ). Plan to get from half.com

6yr old niece - puzzles and art supplies from the Dollar Store. She's getting an art table from her parents.

9 month old nephew - book and animal from Kohls Cares line or from IKEA.

3yr old quads - will try to get a family pass for some kind of experience, maybe a movie.

Not buying presents for the baby this year since he will be 3 months old and wont know. Maybe have his sister buy him something for $5 or less.

DD will be hard to reign it in, but puzzles, new coloring books, and art supplies will make the list. I tend to like educational or consumable things that will keep her attention longer than the trendy toy of the month.

Probably nothing for DH and I. He gets season baseball tix every year, and I want a vacuum so I will find one on sale and call it good.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Just about every woman on my list this year is getting wool socks.  Costco has some really nice ones, pack of 4 for $12......but last month I was able to get them for $9.  They are very warm, not overly thick and you throw them in the washer and dryer, no special treatment.  So I have a bag of them in my bedroom, just need to figure how to divvy them up.

I am going to be with my entire family this year, and since we are traveling, gifts must be small so the kids are getting g/c.

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2014 10:48:20 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Just about every woman on my list this year is getting wool socks.  Costco has some really nice ones, pack of 4 for $12......but last month I was able to get them for $9.  They are very warm, not overly thick and you throw them in the washer and dryer, no special treatment.  So I have a bag of them in my bedroom, just need to figure how to divvy them up.

I am going to be with my entire family this year, and since we are traveling, gifts must be small so the kids are getting g/c.

are you sure they all wear them? 

[Alyssa]

I bake cookies, cupcakes and other treats for the holidays.  That's all I do each year, and yes, I do enjoy baking with love.

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2014 13:54:23 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Nov 10, 2014 11:29:09 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

are you sure they all wear them? 

There are people that don't wear wool socks?  The Walk of the Penguin Mich If you find someone who doesn't like them,  send them to me!

the thought of wearing wool socks makes me start itching.  I also can no longer wear wool sweaters and had to get rid of all my cashmere sweaters.  however, I also don't wear socks except for athletic low cut/almost no-show socks.

[Tiny]

If you drink Coke products (or work somewhere where you have access to 'recycle' boxes and caps) Coke Rewards offers magazine subscriptions for 'free' with enough points. You can enter up to 100 points a week and it looks like mag subs are 250 points. It might be too late for this holiday but perhaps for the future.

I use my coke points for movie tickets.

[Artemis Windsong]

I was unable to send the mag. scripts to another address besides mine.  I gave up on Coke Rewards points.  It's too much trouble with nothing I can use.  The movie tix are not good here. 

E-rewards is another I quit for the same reason.

[Alyssa]

catchmyparty.com/blog/diy-marshmallow-snowman-cupcakes

Try these for Holiday parties and treats for kids.

[Happy prose]

One year for neighbor's kids, I did a basket with 'make your own ice cream sundae' stuff in it. It was a big hit. Back then people went to video stores, so it also had a card for 2 rentals. 

[Alyssa]

Nov 11, 2014 18:38:43 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

One year for neighbor's kids, I did a basket with 'make your own ice cream sundae' stuff in it. It was a big hit. Back then people went to video stores, so it also had a card for 2 rentals. 

That is what Christmas is suppose to be all about.  Giving a gift of thought, not the most expensive gift to please someone.  When I was a kid, I think my mom spent less than 30 dollars on me at Xmas, but today, people are going into debt and spending thousands of dollars to please their kids, boyfriends, husbands and wives.  We all need to be more practical when gift giving, because there is no way I would out myself in debt to try and please someone on Xmas or birthday.

I do remember getting gift cards from video stores in the past, and today, me and others exchange food items (homemade), and pictures.  Sometimes I get a gift certificate to a restaurant, but I prefer homemade food over restaurant food.

[TheOtherMe]

My former neighbor used to bring me a plate of home made candy and cookies.  I especially liked the fudge.  No I didn't need it, but I enjoyed it.  

[steff]

I've done a variety of homemade food gifts. 

boxes filled with cookies, brownies, fudge, &/or peanut brittle (if only I could perfect my Mamaw's divinity recipe *le sigh*)
homemade hot chocolate mixes with chocolate dipped spoons (throw in a couple of Dollar Store mugs)
small jars of apple butter or pear preserves (a little bit of Xmas fabric & ribbon for the jar tops)
mini bread loaves (chocolate, strawberry, cinnamon, etc)
mini gingerbread cakes
mini iced cakes (my mom makes everyone their own little 2 layer iced cake to take home Xmas eve.  we all get to request what we want)
pans of cinnamon rolls (I'm doing this for this year. We get together on Xmas eve & everyone will have a pan of rolls to take home for Xmas morning)
homemade Christmas ornaments with each person's name on it.  (they have TONS of affordable clear balls you can fill with glitter at hobby stores or a box of colored ornaments/glue gun/glitter for names.  Can also become a tradition each time a new family member is added)
make a copy of your favorite pic of a person/event from this year & frame it (Dollar store frames)

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

My family's grown so large with new generations, marriages, etc - we (the adults) usually get together around Oct or early Nov to draw names - so only 1 adult gift to buy.

The older kids have started to join in on that. Younger ones still get spoiled rotten.

The last 2 years, we've switched it up a bit and made a game of it for the adults. It's the "Gift Steal" or what we call the "Grinch Who Stole My Gift".

We buy one generic gift for an adult - those gift get piled in the center of the floor, and then a deck of cards is used.

Depending on how many adults are attending, that's the numbers on the cards you use. 2 (lowest) through 6 or 9 or ten (depending the size of your gathering). Ace is left in the selection of cards. The higher the card, the better (Ace being highest).

The person who's drawn the "2" card chooses a gift from the pile and opens it - then the next person, "3" has the choice to choose a gift from the stack or steal the gift that person "2" has opened. Person 2 then goes to the end of the line. So it continues with opening/stealing. If you steal a gift from someone, you give them the gift you're giving up. If A person gets their gift stolen and they wind up as the last person at the end of the game, they then are in the best position.

They get to steal any of the opened gifts from someone else.

Tons of fun, an little expense.

[snapdragon]

What I am doing this year is I'm making up "family movie boxes" so each family or couple will get a box or tote with 2/3 types of micro popcorn, some red vines, junior mints and something else. Than since they all have favorite movies or what ever they can use them when the whole family is going to watch a movie. 

I believe this will be a nice change. It might not work for them but at least I know it won't get tossed or re-gifted.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ:  around here, we call that a "Yankee Swap" and is a ton of fun, especially if folks use "regifts".  

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Yes - we always have a great time doing it that way. And it's really cut down on the whole expense of gift buying the last few years we've done it. Especially with how large the family and extended family has grown.

[kadee79]

Last year, for my grands who were then in Japan....ages 14 & 16 last year....I sent a pan and all the ingredients for them to make fudge! Actually, I sent enough stuff for them to make one chocolate and one peanut butter!

That was a lot easier than me making it, packaging so that it wouldn't get smashed and then shipping it...cost for shipping was the same since it was going into military flat rate boxes.

This year they are here in the states and I have NO IDEA what to get them.  DGS just recently got a used car, but he already got floor mats for it....that was what I was planning.

DGD is a study"holic". Has her nose in a book or is doing art all the time. She should be able to get a full academic scholarship!....straight A's! She really isn't into "girly" stuff!

[Artemis Windsong]

Snapdragon:  My Grkids buy every DVD, game, etc. out there.  They are adults with jobs.

I am wrapping gifts for the GrGrs and gift cards for the rest even though I bought Xmas pins for all the females already.  Closeout last season.

I have been painting pictures at a local studio and might give a couple away.

[Deleted]

Nov 17, 2014 18:47:41 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Last year, for my grands who were then in Japan....ages 14 & 16 last year....I sent a pan and all the ingredients for them to make fudge! Actually, I sent enough stuff for them to make one chocolate and one peanut butter!

That was a lot easier than me making it, packaging so that it wouldn't get smashed and then shipping it...cost for shipping was the same since it was going into military flat rate boxes.

This year they are here in the states and I have NO IDEA what to get them.  DGS just recently got a used car, but he already got floor mats for it....that was what I was planning.

DGD is a study"holic". Has her nose in a book or is doing art all the time. She should be able to get a full academic scholarship!....straight A's! She really isn't into "girly" stuff!

for DGS, an MP3 outlet in the car (if it doesn't already have one) so he can listen to his iPod

[Peace77]

Nov 17, 2014 18:47:41 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Last year, for my grands who were then in Japan....ages 14 & 16 last year....I sent a pan and all the ingredients for them to make fudge! Actually, I sent enough stuff for them to make one chocolate and one peanut butter!

That was a lot easier than me making it, packaging so that it wouldn't get smashed and then shipping it...cost for shipping was the same since it was going into military flat rate boxes.

This year they are here in the states and I have NO IDEA what to get them.  DGS just recently got a used car, but he already got floor mats for it....that was what I was planning.

DGD is a study"holic". Has her nose in a book or is doing art all the time. She should be able to get a full academic scholarship!....straight A's! She really isn't into "girly" stuff!

For the new car owner, how about an emergency kit for the car?  Jumper cables, flashlight, etc.

for the bookworm, how about a book light and gift card for Barnes & Noble.  There is a book light  I was given that's fabulous.  It ilooks like glass, the size of a page with a black edge.  You place it on the page you're reading and the light goes behind the glass.

[busymom]

Nov 13, 2014 3:16:35 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

My family's grown so large with new generations, marriages, etc - we (the adults) usually get together around Oct or early Nov to draw names - so only 1 adult gift to buy.

The older kids have started to join in on that. Younger ones still get spoiled rotten.

The last 2 years, we've switched it up a bit and made a game of it for the adults. It's the "Gift Steal" or what we call the "Grinch Who Stole My Gift".

We buy one generic gift for an adult - those gift get piled in the center of the floor, and then a deck of cards is used.

Depending on how many adults are attending, that's the numbers on the cards you use. 2 (lowest) through 6 or 9 or ten (depending the size of your gathering). Ace is left in the selection of cards. The higher the card, the better (Ace being highest).

The person who's drawn the "2" card chooses a gift from the pile and opens it - then the next person, "3" has the choice to choose a gift from the stack or steal the gift that person "2" has opened. Person 2 then goes to the end of the line. So it continues with opening/stealing. If you steal a gift from someone, you give them the gift you're giving up. If A person gets their gift stolen and they wind up as the last person at the end of the game, they then are in the best position.

They get to steal any of the opened gifts from someone else.

Tons of fun, an little expense.

  We do a version of this too, but we roll the dice to see who gets what.

   I've been saving up my Bing points, & turning them into Amazon gift cards.  You can buy a lot through Amazon! 

[azucena]

Nov 18, 2014 7:37:41 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

Nov 17, 2014 18:47:41 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Last year, for my grands who were then in Japan....ages 14 & 16 last year....I sent a pan and all the ingredients for them to make fudge! Actually, I sent enough stuff for them to make one chocolate and one peanut butter!

That was a lot easier than me making it, packaging so that it wouldn't get smashed and then shipping it...cost for shipping was the same since it was going into military flat rate boxes.

This year they are here in the states and I have NO IDEA what to get them.  DGS just recently got a used car, but he already got floor mats for it....that was what I was planning.

DGD is a study"holic". Has her nose in a book or is doing art all the time. She should be able to get a full academic scholarship!....straight A's! She really isn't into "girly" stuff!

For the new car owner, how about an emergency kit for the car?  Jumper cables, flashlight, etc.

for the bookworm, how about a book light and gift card for Barnes & Noble.  There is a book light  I was given that's fabulous.  It ilooks like glass, the size of a page with a black edge.  You place it on the page you're reading and the light goes behind the glass.

Link to this booklight please? It would be perfect for my daughter.

[Peace77]

Nov 18, 2014 15:14:20 GMT -5 azucena said:

Nov 18, 2014 7:37:41 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

For the new car owner, how about an emergency kit for the car?  Jumper cables, flashlight, etc.

for the bookworm, how about a book light and gift card for Barnes & Noble.  There is a book light  I was given that's fabulous.  It ilooks like glass, the size of a page with a black edge.  You place it on the page you're reading and the light goes behind the glass.

Link to this booklight please? It would be perfect for my daughter.

It was like this one:  www.amazon.com/Intsun®-reading-Flat-panel-Reading-Paperback/dp/B00LN28ASS/ref=sr_1_7?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1416493977&sr=1-7&keywords=booklights+for+books

[Ombud]

@sroo4, I can't tolerate wool. I break out in a terrible rash

Peace77, I love the new car emergency kit idea!!

Alyssa, I bake too. A mini loaf or 1/2 dz mini cupcakes per bag . Sis makes packets of biscotti, another makes soap, niece does peppermint bark and so on. So we'll bring 10 packets. We put 1 packet in each bag and every family that comes gets to take home a bag to enjoy.
snapdragon, borrowing your idea for DS & DD 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

What I am doing this year is I'm making up "family movie boxes" so each family or couple will get a box or tote with 2/3 types of micro popcorn, some red vines, junior mints and something else

I'm stealing this for the age appropriate kids in DH's family. There are a ton and I can't compete with whatever expensive stuff their parents lavish on them. 

This is something inexpensive and  if they don't appreciate it perhaps the parents can enjoy it.

No micro popcorn though, one SIL saw something on the news and now all micro popcorn is banned from her house and I don't want to risk offending her. So I am going to divvy up a bag of regular popcorn instead.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Nov 17, 2014 15:31:04 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ:  around here, we call that a "Yankee Swap" and is a ton of fun, especially if folks use "regifts".  

We have fun playing that game after Christmas Eve dinner. The whole family comes here for a traditional Russian Christmas Eve meal. Wait for the first star then dig in.