Christmas is coming up fast. I mean Halloween will be here next month!!
I’m excited to get some cooler weather and I’m really looking forward to decoration our new house this season! The last few years, I didn’t really feel like decorating.
Getting back to Christmas – shopping!! Many of you will be shopping on line for all your gifts. I will do a little I’m sure. Make sure to check for coupons while shopping. Yes there are coupons for gifts, not just food. You can really save money with discount codes.
So, what are we doing different this year?
We decided not to but too much this year for the kids. I mean they will still have a great Christmas, but it just seems like sometimes we buy just because. We decided to do things different. We are going to buy gifts according to this:
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read/watch
Now – the something you wear could be a whole outfit. So it’s not we’re just going to go get a t-shirt and gift that. I am also asking the grandparents to gift an experience. Like a trip to the zoo or a movie and lunch. Kids remember that so more than a doll they got from Grammy.
We are also going to adopt an angel for the angel tree or something similar and have the kids pick out gifts to donate to a child in need.
We told the kids what we are doing and they seem to be okay with it.
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Are you doing anything different this holiday season?
Those are great tips for changing Christmas. Gift buying gets so overboard in most homes, including mine.
This is actually a really great idea! I tend to go overboard at Christmas time!
Sounds like a great idea. We should incorporate that while our kids aren’t old enough to know any different!
yikes! christmas is truly nearly here.
you have a lovely idea right there.
found your blog through the bloggymom blog hop. 🙂
We toned it all down a LOT several years ago, so they only get a few things now. But they appreciate them even more. We put more emphasis on the traditions now than the gifts. I love your ideas!
We are getting family portraits. I told my hubby we have to since the baby 🙂
The last two Christmas’ we stepped back with our buying. I wanted us to appreciate more what Christmas was really about. Not sure what we will do different this year. 🙂
I can’t believe Christmas is almost here. My grocery store already has stuff out for it. We’re going to Arizona to visit my family and I’m excited about that.
this is an AMAZING idea! I hope I can get my hubby on board with it.
This is one area that my husband refuses to budge on he goes WAY overboard.
That is a great idea. I always try to keep it simple, but always tend to go overboard.
The BEST possible gift you can give your kids is a green thumb- teach them how to grow food: For Christmas, consider buying each of them their own indoor herb kit- get yourself a few hanging baskets for strawberries, cherry tomatoes, peppers- even gerkins (tiny cucumbers) can be grown quite easily,indoors!!! most kits come with full instructions. The price of food is not gonna get any cheaper, believe me, so learning how to grow your own is a survival skill. Your kids will thank you someday for it.
What a great idea!
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately too and have decided this is the best way to go. My daughters get gifts year round and my oldest daughter has a birthday 3 days before Christmas so that only adds to it. I love your idea for the grandparents too – I think I might steal that!
I love this concept and totally agree! For the past 4-5 years now, we have adopted at least one teen in need during the holidays and filled their wish list. We also require our kids to donate old toys before receiving new ones Christmas morning. It’s all about giving!
That’s a great way to buy gifts!!!
This is a great idea!! We pretty much do the same thing around here. We want the holidays to be about the memories and the family dinners, not the gifts. 🙂
I’ve started Christmas shopping and have told the kids the same thing, they will not be getting as much this year. I’ve went overboard in the past and I’m not going to this year.