I know that some of you have got it all together - you've been shopping all year-round and have saved a lot of money on your holiday shopping and for all I know, you're already done. 
For the rest of us, it's time to determine your gift-giving plan now. Money is tighter than ever for most families this season, and credit cards are not the answer.
Instead, sit down with your family members and map out a plan for how you're going to handle gift exchanges this holiday season.
Here are a few gift exchange strategies you and your family members may want to consider:
The name draw. Each family member draws a name and buys a gift for that person. Every person buys one gift and gets one gift. You may want to simplify this even more by drawing just for the kids or drawing for family gifts. You can have more fun with this by playing Secret Santa.
Homemade Christmas. Consider making a rule that any gifts you give to each other must be handmade.
Recycled Christmas. Instead of a handmade holiday, consider a recycled one. Anything you give to each other has to be either made from recycled items or come from a secondhand store, garage sale, your own storage closet. This is a great way to celebrate a green Christmas and save some green.
Make 'em laugh. Decide that instead of traditional gifts, you'll exchange gag gifts. Remember to be funny, but tasteful. You don't want to be the one who makes Aunt Edna cry with a mean-spirited joke gift. You may find great inspiration from the dollar store for these gifts, or using your computer to design funny magazine covers, family trading cards, etc.
Play a game. My husband's large family has a Bingo game
Share an activity together. Instead of buying gifts for your family, consider sharing an experience together. A friend of mine said he and about 20 of his relatives took a sleigh ride and went sledding instead of exchanging gifts. Others may go to a sporting event, a musical, or even a movie.
Consider donating to charity. Rather than exchange gifts with each other, some families will buy presents for other families in need. (Check with your Salvation Army chapter for ways you can help). Others will volunteer as a group at their local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Joining together for a great cause can be a bonding experience, and can help the kids realize the true meaning of Christmas.
Don't exchange gifts at all. Many people would be relieved at the idea of not having to buy a gift, or figure out what to do with a gift they've received. What's important is that you're spending time with people you care about. Make a memory instead of a purchase on the plastic.
What is your gift-exchange strategy? Do you do one of these things or something else? Please share!
Photo credit: Mysza / CC BY 2.0
Be sure to check out other Frugal Friday posts at LifeasMom.com.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Determine Your Gift-Giving Plan Now
8 comments:
For extended family we buy one unisex gift and then we draw numbers. Each person in order either gets to choose to unwrap a present or steal one from someone that already has a present then number one gets to choose at the end to either keep their present or steal any of the other ones. It makes it a fun game.
We only have grown up children ( no grandchildren) so each year we go to the Twin Cities and each pay our own way to see a play. We have seen White Christmas, The Lion King and more. This year it will be the Church Basement Ladies Christmas.
Lots of great ideas here!
We buy for alot but set a limit of $25 per person and save money in a Christmas fund all year.The kids get more than the $25 though... and all gifts are an equal exchange.
Love the ideas--great summary! For the adults in my family, we draw names to exchange one gift in the $10-$15 price range. Every year we change the theme-books, socks, Christmas ornament, favorite color. This year it's music!
I love the bingo game idea
Bev
beverlydickison@sbcglobal.net
With my husbands LARGE Latvian family in Iowa, we do a themed liquor exchange. This year's theme has already been announced: Drinks with a place name in them. You have to buy all the ingredients for the drink and artfully arrange them in a box or basket. Then we do a white elephant drawing, and take to stealing each other's selections. Hilarious.
The kids? They do a drawing and toy exchange, so nobody is buying a toy for each of 10 kids. Everybody buys 1 toy. Easy. The siblings with no kids usually get all the kids a little something, so obviously the kids all like their single Auntie Laura and single Uncle Rick the best.
My household has decided that all children get Christmas gifts and adults are given a gift on their birthday. This way all birthdays are spread out and we have time to get each one a gift. So.. We have 5 children to get a Christmas gift for.
My son and I make the gift shoe boxes for Samaritans Purse. This is our second year doing this. At work we all pitch in to sponsor a family of about 3 for Christmas. I am always responsible for the Christmas stockings stuffed with goodies.
This year we have decided to give supplies (hygiene) to a home for hospice men and women. We have also decided to give to the Ronald McDonald House.
That covers it.
Since I am on a strict budget this year, I decided for my kids (16 & 12) to buy 12 creative/inexpensive gifts). Starting on the December 13, they can each choose one gift out of the box. Haven't bought the gifts yet but some ideas are chapstick, make-up, lottery tickets, holiday mug for coco. Target has a holiday section with some neat gifts. Anyways, just a thought. For Christmas day, they each will open one gift that they picked out. :)
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