Christmas gifts for family- on a budget ideas

sweetsunnyc · October 2012

I was wondering if anyone else had thought about Christmas gifts this year- As most of our focus and money will go to the new baby and our two other kids, I was wondering if any one had any ideas for good, cheap gift ideas for the rest of the family- specifically our parents and sisters. I will not be working at this time, so we are trying to stick to a tight budget while I am on ML.

twister22 · October 2012

We are in the same boat. For family we are doing a lot of homemade gifts (edibles, soaps, etc.) Pinterest has a ton of great ideas.

calico61979 · October 2012

we aren't really worrying about christmas gifts for our parents. None of them want us to worry with it since we will have a new baby and since we are short funds. I am going to put together a book on shutterfly for each set, but they probably won't get those till after the fact. I have three $20 off coupons so that will come in handy for each set of grandparents. I am sure your family will understand if you can't afford to do much or have time for gifts.

caymanianseminole · October 2012

twister22:
We are in the same boat. For family we are doing a lot of homemade gifts (edibles, soaps, etc.) Pinterest has a ton of great ideas.

This!

One year I baked each of my Uncle's their favourite cake for Christmas. Then for the rest of the family, I gave them a mason jar with homemade cake mix and a jar of homemade hot chocolate. Everyone really enjoyed it - and even with the cost of the Mason Jar - it cost me less than $5 per gift .

itsmevkb · October 2012

Last year I decided no more expensive gifts for our parents (who don't need anything anyway). So, I found a few good, easy, crafty ideas on Pinterest and helped the kids to make those. We made birdfeeders in the shapes of stars and hearts for my parents (super, super easy, just mix gelatin and birdseed and put into cookie cutters until they harden) and then for my in-laws I used the kids' handprints to make a painted christmas tree on canvas.

Definitely check out Pinterest, there are millions of ideas.

wesandlauramcdonald · October 2012

We too are watching the Christmas budget this year. I plan on making holiday wreaths out of reclaimed fabric. The only cost is the wire hoop! Plus, it gives me something to keep me distracted. I've already made one for LO's room and it's totally cute!

sweetsunnyc · October 2012

Thanks for the good suggestions! The idea of Christmas gifts this year have been stressing me out!

MrsKH19 · October 2012

I actually started buying Christmas gifts in July! Yankee Candle had a lot of their Christmas gift sets from 2011 on sale for over half off. For a majority of my IL's we will be buying gift cards or gifting the Yankee Candle sets. I'm due right before Christmas so I plan on buying my family's gifts around black Friday or the very beginning of December.

aelhunt · October 2012

One year I bought some glass serving plates ($20) and then added some decorative wire and stones to them and filled then with cookies. So it's a gift and a nice platter they can keep.

GigiFairy · October 2012

This is torturing me too. I don't even know where to start, everyone will probably get DS and by then DD nice things and I'd feel terrible to not get them at least a little something. I have to start planning it.

eli_belle · October 2012

Last year I did gift baskets for parents/ILs/grandparents, etc. I included homemade jam, some sort of pastry/cookie mix (dry ingredients) I put together in jars. A small thing of tea or coffee. Tins full of homemade cocoa mix. Even though everyone got a gift basket, I was able to customize each to take into account everyone's preferences.

awolloff · October 2012

This year I'm planning on making "my first Christmas" ornaments for the grandparents (and I'll keep one). I saw it on Pinterest. One of those clear, glass ornaments and a baby handprint in paint on the outside. I'll probably handpaint a year on it too. I'm due Dec 3, so I'll be home for a few weeks before Christmas. I'm just planning on getting the supplies early.

Also, I saw something on Pinterest for Cinnamon ornaments that you make with apple sauce and cinnamon and bake. They work as air fresherners too. I think I'll make them in the future and attach one to the outside of a gift.

magnoliablossom00 · October 2012

We are in the same boat. My family never spends a lot. I want to try to keep the focus on being together and having sentimental items, not spending a ton of money (which wouldn't make sense anyway with 2 kids and hospital bills!).

I agree with PPs- definitely look on Pintrest. I saw a really cute plate on there with kids' footprints in the middle (in paint) and it said "MistleTOES". Then, you clear glaze it and bake it to seal the paint. The only cost would be a white plate and red/green paint. I think we will do that for both parents for gifts. I also saw a cute print out of my mom's favorite Christmas song (in lyrics). I might print that and put it in a red frame for her. I think it would be sentimental without costing a lot.

GL!

18Emily · October 2012

I love the books you can make on Shutterfly. My SIL did that last year for my parents and they adored it.... parents don't really expect or want gifts anyway and this is one they actually will use to show off their grandkids to everyone.

laura1 · October 2012

18Emily:
I love the books you can make on Shutterfly. My SIL did that last year for my parents and they adored it.... parents don't really expect or want gifts anyway and this is one they actually will use to show off their grandkids to everyone.

We usually do a photobook or photo calender from shutterfly or snapfish. Last year I also found some cute picture frames that said "I Love Papa" or "I love Nana" that my parents could bring to work and keep on their desks.

Auki13 · October 2012

awolloff:
This year I'm planning on making "my first Christmas" ornaments for the grandparents (and I'll keep one). I saw it on Pinterest. One of those clear, glass ornaments and a baby handprint in paint on the outside. I'll probably handpaint a year on it too. I'm due Dec 3, so I'll be home for a few weeks before Christmas. I'm just planning on getting the supplies early.

Also, I saw something on Pinterest for Cinnamon ornaments that you make with apple sauce and cinnamon and bake. They work as air fresherners too. I think I'll make them in the future and attach one to the outside of a gift.

Just an FYI- getting an infant's hand-print is pretty tricky (especially on something slippery like an ornament) , so I would recommend doing a foot-print the first year. I love the idea of a personalized ornament, I just know I wasn't aware of how difficult it is to get a little one to uncurl his/her fist the first few months after birth when I tried doing it on a mug!

elvinnoe · October 2012

elishamurrell:
Last year I did gift baskets for parents/ILs/grandparents, etc. I included homemade jam, some sort of pastry/cookie mix (dry ingredients) I put together in jars. A small thing of tea or coffee. Tins full of homemade cocoa mix. Even though everyone got a gift basket, I was able to customize each to take into account everyone's preferences.

This is what I'm doing this year. I'm making jars of cocoa mix with marshmallows, stew jars (w/ dry ingredients, beans, seasoning..), stuff like that. The nice thing is that everyone in our family is pretty much equally broke, so no one feels like the odd ball with a really expensive or really cheap gift. And pinterest is the best!

mama2many · October 2012

We aren't really big gift-exchangers on either side of our family thankfully. But, we do gift one (usually baked) family gift each. Typically for DH's family, I make a nice sweet bread or something similar with some homemade jelly for his parents, brother's family, and sister's family. For my mom & step-dad I make a couple's gift like matching garden aprons. I do make something more special for my baby niece, a toy or new outfit, but my sister & her SO get the pre-mixed mason jar stuff or something like a quilted table runner. My brother typically gets something manly or food, and a bit of money (his Bday is the 28th). But, we don't exchange with aunts/uncles, grandparents, cousins, or any of DH's nieces/nephews.

LittleFish1 · October 2012

My mom always used to talk about how she wanted photos of my sister and I together. We take a photo together from time to time and frame it. Or fill one of those premade multiphoto frames, or put together a photo calendar. Can give a framed photo of your household family with the new LO included. Does not need to be formal either.

Ashley5704 · October 2012

Im in the same boat. I'm already trying to buy some Christmas presents here and there because I know once my baby girl gets here, i will not have the time nor money to focus on Christmas presents.

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