Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

This topic has 23 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 6 months ago by Kristen.

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November 4, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Crystal Wagner
Participant
I’m resurrecting this topic from last year. I thought I would share what we are doing this year. It’s only a little of a cost savings, but is a huge time and headache saving. We buy gifts for the grandparents and a few aunts/uncles but everyone gets the same thing – a picture calendar of our girls. I usually buy them when one of the on-line services has them on sale. We also buy for the kid cousins. The younger ones are all getting the same thing this year: nature study bags. I filled them for $13 each and bought everything in bulk so it was super simple to do an assembly line filling. They include (from Oriental Trading) denim drawstring backpack bag, bug catcher net, bug tweezers, magnifying glass, bug tongs with clear globe, (from Miller Pads and Paper) nature notebook, and a Peterson’s First Field Guide (about $6). So for less than we would have otherwise spent on a gift, they have something that they will use that is educational, no one else would give them, and they might actually remember it. Everyone else in the family gives toys. I refuse and will only give books and educational stuff like this. It makes it simple when everyone gets the same thing. 🙂
I am applying the same theory to birthday gifts this year too. Everyone gets the same thing: a reading bag. We made up ones for family and friends that we know their birthdays. We also have extras made up so we can grab them when we have unexpected parties to go to. They cost about $7 each and we made them in bulk also. They include (from Oriental Trading) bright colored tote bag, 7×7 design your own book, colored pencils, pencil sharpener (from dollar store), animal ruler bookmark, magnetic bookmark that we make, ribbon bookmark with a charm that we make, and two extra make your own books (I used one piece of colored cardstock, two pieces of computer paper, and two decorative brads). My mother-in-law helped me write a poem to include with the gift so the recipient would know what it is.
Crystal
November 4, 2009 at 2:13 pm
missingtheshire
Member
We had an agreement with family close and extended that we would only give home made gifts or none at all. One year when money was especially tight, we took the best photo of our children that we had taken through the year, made copies, made frames out of card and scrapbook supplies, and gave those. That was one of the presents my mum and dad loved the most and it was easy to do. We also give homemade toffee, cookies, chocolate peanuts (peanuts mixed into chocolate and spooned onto a tray until cool – about a heaped teaspoon each time) – all these go into decorative boxes we have made, or glass jars that we have collected through the year. When the girls werre small, they loved making nature notebooks – illustrated and also newspapers about their pets – we would copy these and send them out – everyone was highly entertained. I also make aromatherapy gifts, massage oil, bath oils etc and wrap them up in pretty packaging. We actually like taking the commercial out of the holidays, because it then stays focused on the real meaning of the season. We always do a tree, with our collection of old family german glass ornaments, and our Nativity set always is on display – but as for gifts, our whole family have always been very good about not expecting gifts – which has made it much easier for all. Mum when she was alive made clothes for the girls and me and knitted sweaters for my husband – so the handmade thing was and is big in our families. There are so many great ideas on this post – I think a lot of people will be looking for simple Christmas celebrations this year, how nice it would be if it became the norm, and we could all banish the commercial nonsense. Fort our own girls, they get 3 presents, one larger one and 2 small ones, we stick to a budget and the girls have always understood we base their gifts on the Wise Men taking the three gifts to the baby Jesus. Often times the gifts are books, as the girls love books like I do, and some of the books are expenive and make up the large present. Anyway, thanks for restarting this post, it gives loads of great ideas. Love to hear if anyone has new ideas.
November 5, 2009 at 9:04 pm
csmamma
Participant
Is it that time of year again already? Crystal, I’m so glad you brought this up again! You have some great ideas – love the nature study bags!
Missingtheshire, we too have done the “Wise Men” gift giving since our oldest was a baby. Our dc know that our limit is 3 gifts and this has worked out wonderfully.
We’ve discussed going on a family-get-away for a weekend, in place of those 3 gifts, but sadly received a few frowns on that one ; Maybe next year.
I too would love to hear more ideas! Heather

November 6, 2009 at 2:52 pm
RobynN
Member
These ideas are great. Here are some gifts I’m making this year:
For my young nieces and nephews, I am making felt board playset, I designed it to be 12×18 when open, it folds up to 9×12 and has a pocket on one side to hold the felt pieces and handles for carrying. Cost is around $5.00 ea
I am also making winter gift baskets for the adult couples we buy for consisting of: homemade cocoa, homemade chai tea, marshmallows & mint chocolate chips, candy canes, cinnamon sticks, popcorn, mugs, candle, blanket,confetti bean soup & Texas cornbread mix along with soup bowls. It sounds like alot but the cost is around $18 for 2 people so only $9 ea. Possibly less if I can get items on sale.
I am making my own children a few items this year as well.I’ve done alot of research on homemade gifts so if anyone is interested I can share some blogs that I got some ideas, tutorials and patterns from.
I spend too much money on my children (they got laptops last year customed ordered from HP) so this year my hubby cut my budget to $2000. I’m really going to try not to go over my budget and if possible spend less. Keep the ideas coming.
November 7, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Misty
Participant
Robyn I wish my budget was anywhere near yours I’m jelous!! Though ours isn’t that much our children also like csmamma said know that they get very little and it’s the thought that counts. We only can spend aobut 100 a piece (times 6) and about 15 on stocking stuffers. So I am LOVING the idea of “3” gifts relating back to the 3 gifts the wise man gave. I will run that by my hubby, but he’s out being a MAN hunting for bambi! (PS he got a nice doe this morning PPS I’m a vegitarian so it’s all with Gods grace that I understand this manly thing… sorry off topic there for a minute LOL)
Keep coming up with idea’s I love it. Also we have done in the past family gifts, like games so that the money doens’t come out of one of the kids funs, we just take a little out of everyones. Misty
November 8, 2009 at 12:38 am
meagan
Participant
The thing that has helped us the most is shopping year round. This enables us to be able to buy decent gifts for extended family, but not pay as much. It’s amazing what goes on clearance throughout the year. We bought my 9yo sister-in-law a $50 gift for only $15. Normally, by the time November actually roles around we have bought all the cousins/young children in the family their gifts at about 75% off. Also, I love layaway. Not many stores have it, but I frequent the ones that do.
November 8, 2009 at 1:36 am
Kelly Bond
Participant
On the topic of Christmas gifts, if I’m able to stray a bit…How do you handle it when you know that others’ expectations for gifts are not what you can/want to give? I have always enjoyed making gifts but I know that certain extended family members really don’t want them. I have also shopped thrift stores for gifts, but again, this is not necessarily what people want. To me, this whole gift-giving thing really puts a damper on my Christmas season every year. I’d rather give to charity! That’s what excites me. I have considered donating in peoples’ names but I just know they want gifts. How do you balance between giving people what they want and staying true to yourself by giving gifts you are excited about? We are on a very, very limited budget. Thanks!
November 8, 2009 at 3:45 am
missingtheshire
Member
It is so sad that in our society many equate Christmas with gifts and money, when we should really be celebrating His birth. My own feeling is that you should continue to give homemade gifts, as to me they are more precious than anything store bought – and you should be happy knowing that you have put your love and time into those gifts for the people you love. If some of those people are not appreciative, then I don’t feel that is your problem, that is on them… don’t let that worry or upset you. Hearing about the hassles and pain gift giving can cause makes me very grateful, that my own family gave up extended gift giving a long time ago, and value any little handmade thing we may offer, and we don’t always give something to even family. Maybe you could suggest that in the future gift exchanges are limited, or stopped all together especially for adults in the family. Christmas has become so commercial and the joy has gone for many people, my prayer is that we can all get back to the real meaning, and leave the commercial nonsense behind. One of the reasons the world is in so much trouble, is that we have become nations of greedy people who equate love with money and so many live way above their means, buying more and more stuff – our parents and grandparents had a much better handle on the whole money thing, we could learn a lot from them – people say we are progressing, I don’t think we are going in the right direction. So hold your head high and give handmade gifts and take no notice of those who are less than gracious or appreciate the love that you give with your meaningful gift. Christmas is a blessed time for us to rejoice, not be sad about the monetary value of things. I like your idea of giving to charity. Maybe you could make a donation to your favorite charity, and let your family members know you made a gift in their names – no-one should be offended by that. Bless you and do not worry – yours is one heart that is in the right place, at least in my book.
November 8, 2009 at 4:24 am
Kristen
Participant
I come from a large family (youngest of seven) and this is what we have been doing forever! We draw names and our limit is $25 dollars then we have a list that Mom/Grandma keeps and everyone writes down something within that dollar range that they could use or would like. It doesn’t always mean they are going to get it but it gives us an idea anyway. For the kids as they graduate from high school their name is added to the hat. THe younger ones get something from their god parents which is at least one member of the family. The dollar amount for the kids is less ($10-$15). And we gave up on birthdays llllooonnnggg ago:) For my own family of six we don’t draw names yet but I will switch to that eventually. Right now it’s about $100 for each including stockings but this year it might be even less. I like the idea of making things but it is hard to come up with new ideas every year. These tips I’ve read have been great! Especially the 3 Wise Men gifts.
One idea that I have is to give some of your favorite recipes written out on pretty recipe cards and maybe some of the ingredients to go with them if possible? I do a lot of canning in the summer and fall and make extra of stuff to give as gifts also. Like apple butter, apple pie filling and peach syrup.
I would also try not to worry about people looking down their noses about home made gifts. They don’t know the true meaning of Christmas in my opinion.