Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts

Give time not material junk Post By (Guest Post) (11/26/2007) I like the Idea of being able to give oneself by offering something that you are good at, so if you can cook offer food, if you are a ditch digger offer to turn your aunt's garden in the spring. I think somebody's personal time is the greatest gift anybody can receive. This year i don't plan to spend any money on my friends and relatives, except by travel costs to be together. Being inbetween houses i would have a hard time accepting gifts of a material nature right now, not because i wouldn't appreciate new tools, toys, tickets, or whatever, but there is no need and no place for more stuff to go RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By christmas.. (Guest Post) (12/03/2006) you can write a small book of memories you have had and color it or something dont do it in any specific order just all the years memories together you can tie it together with some old strips of t shirt and you can even draw or write on them to make them more memorable or you could just use ribbon, also make small pockets in the book and fill them with a small present --go to the beach and find a shell with a hole in the top (depending on how many kids you have) and other small, pretty and precious things to make a necklace or jewerly or just little trinkets. then you could go to a local church and get a nice bible and tell them god was with them and that that is the best present yet also you can make a small dinner and create a board game and rules and pieces so you can play after dinner decorate a tree (charley brown tree is very cute if you cant find one that suits u) with small trinkets or pine cones.. then make up a small story about something that warms them and make sure your family is together and then bless them and you can wake up the next day and tell them that for u everyday is christmas ...with them just being there. i really hope you have the best christmas you can and hope that god blesses you plenty. merry christmas and a very happy new year RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By wendi (Guest Post) (11/15/2006) I am in the same place that you are. I have five children my husband just started working only making 25 hours a week. You do not feel like decorating for christmas but you have to. All you can do is try to make it the best you can. Hang in there things do get better. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By AMYLYNN (Guest Post) (12/07/2005) THIS IS MY LAST ONE, THE MORMAN CHURCH HAS A WEB SITE AND ON IT YOU CAN GET A FREE LEATHER BOUND BIBLE, AND A CHRISTMAS DVD WITH JIMMY STEWART IN IT CALLED "MR KRUEGARS CHRISTMAS". I AM NOT A MORMON, BUT YOU DONT HAVE TO BE, AND JUST REQUEST NO CALLS OR VISITS. IT WILL COME IN ABOUT A WEEK, RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By AMYLYNN (Guest Post) (12/07/2005) ANOTHER IDEA FOR TEENS IS TO GO TO YOUR LOCAL BEAUTY SHOPS AND DRS OFFICES AND ASK IF YOU CAN HAVE ANY OF THEIR OLD MAGAZINES THAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO THROW AWAY, AND PUT THEM IN A GIFT BASKET FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, THE ONES LIKE COSMO GIRL, SEVENTEEN, YM, JANE ETC. PUT THE CD MIX TAPE IN THERE TOO, AND MAKE A LABEL FOR IT CALLED "SLUMBER PARTY KIT" YOU COULD ALSO INCLUDE A TIN OF HER FAVORITE HOMEMADE COOKIES. AND PRINT OFF A COUPON ON YOUR COMPUTER FOR A GIFT CERTIFICATE ENTILTEING HER TO ONE SLUMBER PARTY. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By amylynn (Guest Post) (12/07/2005) If they are small, then you are in good shape, because they will truly love anything. The homemade playdough is a good idea. If they are little girls, sew up some Barbie clothes from your worn out stuff, if you don't sew, ask a friend who does. You can also make Barbles or dolls blankets and pillows, and a little tote style purse. Another cheapie homeade gift is a shoebox lined with the bag from the inside of a cereal box and glued down. (this makes it waterproof.) Cover the outside with pretty paper. And fill with sand, for and indoor sandbox. Make "do not disturb signs for bedoom doors. MAke throw pillows for their beds, making a pillow shaped like each letter of their name. Burn a mix cd or tape of their favorite songs. Look in the paper for a free puppy or kitten. Ask an aquantance who lives on a farm if they would mind if you and your family could cut a cedar tree and collect pinecones. We live on a farm, and even people who could afford to buy a tree, ask us to do this for the experiance of it. We never mind, and I'm sure noone in your area would either. Decroate the tree with paper chains , cottonball snowmen, pipecleaner wreaths, clothespins reindeer, strung popcorn, burned out lightbulbs swirled in paint. For dinner, make stuffing from stale thirft store bread, (they give this away), and meatloaf stretched with bread, and of course bread pudding. For teenagers, the mix tape , and a cd holder (made from old clothes, the do not distirb door hanger, also make from old clothes. Go to mall and nab all free pefume samples you can. Make them a Christmas letter withe the samples on cardstock, and tape the samples in for words like : Dear Child's name, I just want you to know how "beatiful" (tape beautiful perfume here) you are. You are very "lovely" (tape lovely perfume here). You are "simply" .....you get the idea. I did this for my mom and mother in law. I worked in 17 samples. My dad is getting one with cologne. You can also do this with candy, from santa. : Dear bobby, AS I LEAVE THE NORTH POLE TONITE AND FLY OVER THE "MILKY WAY", I WILL BE BRINGING YOU "SKITTLES" OF TOYS. i ALSO PASS "MARS" AND "FIFTH AVENUE" IN NEW YORK. THE ELVES LET OUT SOME "SNICKERS" WHEN THEY SAW WHAT I WAS BRINGING YOU. ANYWAY, YOU GET THE IDEA. HOPE SOME OF THIS HELPS!! GOOD LUCK! ----AMY OH, 1 MORE THING, DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE FREEBIE BOARDS, I HAVE GOTTEN MOST OF MY CHRSTMAS STUFF THERE, INCLUDING A PURSE, NIKE SHIRT, PAUL MCCARTNEY CD,BEAUTY PRODUCTS, FREE BOOKS, GORMET COFFEE AND TEA SAMPLES FOR GIFT BASKETS AMONG OTHER THINGS. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By Maggie (Guest Post) (11/26/2005) Attend a church. There are many activities for the children during the holidays, including making crafts and singing christmas carols. One year way back when we had little money starting out, and 2 small children, a man from our church donated a Christmas tree and it was the best one on the lot, and they brought us a huge box of food on Christmas. Nowadays we are blessed with a beautiful home and everything we could possibly want, but that one Christmas stands out from all the rest as being the most memorable. Also, you could get just a few simple cheap board games, and bake and decorate Christmas cookies with the children, sing songs, play with them, love them. If they are small, make homemade playdoh. They will play for hours with it. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By janicej (Guest Post) (11/25/2005) When we were young and didn't have money for fancy Christmas decorations and presents, I would figure out how to make a special christmas ornament we could all make and decorate the tree with it. Every year we would make new ornaments and date them. Thirty five years later, we are still putting those ornaments on the tree. They help to bring back many special memories. We also played board games with the kids. To this day, they love playing games and have continued playing games with their families. We baked together and the kids loved it. Include family and friends in the things you do and the memories will be priceless. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post by ScotFinn (37) | (11/24/2005) Contact Even small towns usually have a church or organization that helps families in need. Do you have a thrift shop that might have something for a small gift for each child? Baking, helping serve a meal to the homeless, playing in the snow in Maine,making snowflake ornaments and other crafts can be such fun. We pulled taffy Christmas day in my modest household. Just love each other, that is what they will remember. Kindness and love go a long way to help a child form into a fine adult, money isn't the secret to happiness by a long shot. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By Carol (Guest Post) (11/23/2005) Eat a nice dinner (something the like) on your best dishes if they are old enough. The food doesnt need to be fancy... nor the dishes. Maybe just the addition of a real tablecloth or bedsheet to the table will make it seem special. After dinner, play boardgames or cards as a family. You can rent a movie or play in the snow if you have some... RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By rosa (Guest Post) (11/22/2005) We have not had any money for 3 years for gifts, but we are crafty. WHen my daughter was a teen ager, she had a favorite song, her girlfriend had a tee shirt made for her with the song title on it, I made her a pillow out of the shirt , she loves it. and it brings back memories for her. I made my boyfriend a tee shirt out of some material I had , with a ship on it he was in the navy, I cut out the ship and bonded it to the shirt , then used fabric paint around the picture of the ship, He still wears it, and it is getting pretty old looking . :-) -- How bout making a cupon book for your children, like a let them pick something special that they would like to do with only you ? I am sure that you could think of more things to add to the cupon book. Write a poem about each child, if you are a writer. Do you knit or crochet ? Make them a hat and scarf to match. Hope this will give you some ideas. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By sandy (Guest Post) (11/22/2005) there are so many questions i would ask my parents if i could. you could tape record some of your memories when you were the ages of your kids now. like how much food cost, or where you went to school, what you liked to do after school. freinds names. things your parents may have told you about thier childhoods. stories about thier births. have a Merry Christmas. i am sure your heart may hurt but i also am sure that if you make it special your kids will also think it is special. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By Cheryl from Missouri (Guest Post) (11/22/2005) You could write down stories (funny or heart warming) about different things they've said or done. Things that make them special, unique and loved. It will be especially meaningful in your own handwriting. I would have loved to have something like that from my now deceased mother. RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By Connie A. (Guest Post) (11/22/2005) Christmas is about giving not getting. How about baking cookies with your kids and as a family take them to an elderly person who would enjoy a visit from kids as well as the sweet treat. Your kids will learn the lesson that making others happy and putting a smile in someone elses heart is what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas and happy sharing ! RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By Charlotte (Guest Post) (11/22/2005) First are memories. Decorate your tree together. Make your meal as special as you can with little details like specially folded napkins. Play games together, especially table games. Read seasonal stories. If you have time and a few items around the house that can be recycled you can create some simple gifts for the children. This site has a ton of ideas > http://www.makingfriends.com Some of the ideas shown may spur your own thoughts as well. Simple things can be made special with a little bit of creativity. It is the love behind anything that is the most important. Best wishes! RE: Having a Good Christmas Without Gifts Post By (Guest Post) (11/22/2005) have you tried your local salvation army