We’ve all been anticipating it for weeks now, and we’re down to the last 2 weeks before Christmas. Last week I added a new poll to the sidebar asking how much you were planning to spend for your kids this year. Considering that most people reading this blog are frugal spenders I’m surprised to see that currently 36% of the voters say they’ll spend upwards of $250 on each child for Christmas! Considering our ability to bargain shop, that means some of our children could be receiving $500, $750, or even $1000 worth of gifts. Granted, if you have teens that’s easily understandable. For us, we’re currently in the baby/toddler phase, so fortunately our kids don’t want or need high dollar items. Since I put the poll out there, I thought I’d share what we’ll be giving to Little One and Turkey for Christmas this year.
He’s also getting a Circo floor puzzle that is similar to this one. It was originally $7.99, but I bought it for $1.98 during a post Christmas clearance at Target.
Little One’s main gift to be unwrapped by the tree is the LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table
She’ll also be getting the busy ball train
She mostly just rolls and I really want her to crawl.
Her stocking will have some gerber yogurt melts, a book, and some more cute socks with shoes printed on them (I’ve seen them too many times at Target to pass them up) Including the socks that I’ll pick up soon, it will be about $11 for her stocking.
Total spent for Little One’s Christmas is about $20 including tax. Original retail was about $85.
Why so little for Christmas you ask?
- Turkey still has presents from last year that he’s never played with and he has lots of gifts from this past birthday as well. Little One has all of his old baby toys in addition to the new ones she’ll get.
- We downsized considerably when we moved to Tyler, so there’s just not as much space.
- I want the kids to enjoy and appreciate the things they have, and to learn to be creative and interact with others when they are bored.
- Because we watch most of our programming on video or directly from the network websites, Turkey doesn’t see toys on TV to think he has to have. We like not having a 3 yr old begging for a Tickle Me Elmo or Zhu Zhu pet, or whatever this years latest craze is.
- I truly believe that Christmas shouldn’t be all about the gimmes. By limiting gifts now, hopefully we’ll be instilling in our kids that Christmas is about a Savior and not toys and a man in a red suit. I’m hoping to continue the tradition of 3 gifts at Christmas into later years when the kids can understand more about the 3 gifts of the Magi.
Now if I could just figure out the best gift for Hubby……
Fabulous! Thanks for sharing these practical tips. I’m right there with you. It is harder though with teens as they are inundated by media. Still, I’m limiting what I spend on them by getting good sale prices. Even though my daughter is getting a laptop, she will pay for 75% of it and I got it on black friday as well.
I grew up this way also, One HUGE present from “santa” and necessities like clothes, underwear and socks from mom and dad, and sometimes one or two toys.
It wasnt until i started dating my boyfriend that i learned not all families are like this. His family had part 1 in the morning, part 2 in the afternoon, I literally was floored and found out that they put it all on a credit card and pay year round for it. I looked at him, and said i hope you realize that will NEVER happen. If we dont have the money we dont have it! This year they are doing things like how my family does them, the 7 yr old is really upset and cant believe he isnt getting things like he’s used to. They want him to learn the real meaning, but not let him know money is tight. I grew up to be thankful, and knew my rents did the best. I think this is great there are ppl still willing to be thrifty and not spend spend spend!