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Readers, I need your input here.
I received an email this morning from a fellow reader who is going through a rough spot. I know that we have all been there to some degree at some point, and I know that there are more great ideas out there than I can come up with.
Please take a minute and leave some suggestions- for all of us to benefit from. I’m sure we can come up with a bunch of ways to keep the Christmas magic alive for young children, despite a non-existent piggy bank.
I’m writing this because I’m in need of some help and ideas. I am a single mother of 4 wonderful kids and I’m on disability. I am on a very limited income and things are very tight right now. I can’t afford the things my kids and I need, I can only afford to pay the bills and that’s it. With Christmas coming up it’s really bad. If you know how I can make this Christmas okay for my kids, please let me know.
And so, my wonderful readers, let’s hear it!
What are some extreme frugal Christmas tips?
coupons coupons coupons!! Keep your eyes out for the great deals at the drug stores for free items like this week at rite aid the little craft sets and candy and stuff. maybe consignment sales? sell some stuff you dont need on craigslist and use that money to buy a few small toys or treats.
i have been buying cheap clearance things little by little all year long so we dont spend any more money in december than any other month (too late to start that now though if u havent been doing it)
Most communities have 2-1-1, an information & referral line. Their specialists know all of the holiday assistance that is available in their community. If your city doesn’t have 2-1-1, you might start by calling United Way or similar social service agency like the Salvation Army.
Also, Goodwill & second-hand shops have some like-new items that you might clean up & wrap & put under the tree. It’s not a perfect solution, but might add some festiveness under the tree.
When we were at what seemed to be the worst financially, food seemed to be even at a premium. I made each of my two kids their favorite batch of cookies and wrapped them for under the tree. They were allowed to hoard them in their room and not share. It was a fun treat and they would sneak away here and there to snag one. They did even share! Walgreens always has their coloring books and crayons on sale now…3/$1. Perhaps you could call a local church and explain the situation. Let them know if you are receiving help from any other agency…some that normally don’t do might change their mind if you aren’t getting assistance elsewhere and let them know that just a small gift for each child is all that is needed. I know now we call churches to receive names so we can help others versus going through places that many already sign up for. If you are handy with sewing, fabric can come cheap at Walmart for some new pillowcases, flat sheets, aprons and such that doesn’t take too long and not alot of expertise. I agree with a previous posting…Craigslist is the way to go to try and unload something. Good luck, I wish I could help!
I second Craigslist, consignment stores, and the local church.
Your county might also have a Council of Churches that can help out, and contact Toys for Tots – not sure how to be a recipient, but I’m sure there’s someone who can direct you.
Also – craft supplies are usually inexpensive if you look for the right ones, use coupons and go during discount sales. Have each of your kids make 1 (or all) of their siblings a present.
Check with any local churches and see if your children can be placed on the “giving or Angel Tree” where people pick up names and get presents for kids who are less fortunate
I know there are usually churches that will help out, you may want to check with them. We even have a few friends that choose a family to buy for instead of buying for each other. It never hurts to ask friends and neighbors who may be cleaning out toy boxes to make room for new ones the children will be getting; we never turn down used toys and never throw toys away…you might come across things like-new! Best wishes, and I am praying that you find what you need to make this Christmas a blessing!
Look up your local Freecycle group and see what you can find there. People give away some GREAT stuff and there is always a lot of kids stuff posted. Its all totally free – you just have to be willing to pick it up. With groups all over the country, there’s sure to be one close by.
I second freecycle, people trade some amazing items, and there is never a day that goes by where I don’t see some sort of children’s item listed.
I don’t know if you have heard of Santa Cops they are wonderful You have to take you Id, Birth Certificates and proof of address. I don’t know where you are but different states have different days (i think) on when the last day is to sign up so maybe check that out if you can still sign up for it. we were in the same boat in money situation as you last year and my kids didn’t get much it was like 3 gifts per kid but it was better then nothing…we gave all the Credit to the police department that had come to our house and gave these gifts to the kids! Great organization.
I don’t celebrate the holidays, but last year at this time my husband got laid off so I went to the local food bank, and they did a special food box day where they had toys and clothes people could chose from. Then they also did a Christmas box of food too.
I got the lastest copy of Family Fun mag and on page56 is The cutest, cheapest kitchen EVER to make yourself!! This looks so awesome and I might end up making this myself!
1. Base unit seal two matching shipping boxes(ours are 18 inches square) with tape. Use a craft knife and str8 edge to cut out rectangles(our cabinet opening is 14 inches square; the oven opening is 10 by 12 inches).
2. Doors for durability and clean lines, use duct tape to edge the cutout rectangles. Make a pair of cabinet doors by applying a tape strip down a rectangles center, then cutting through the strip. For sturdy hinges, apply tape stripes overhanging the edges along the sides of the cabinet doors and the oven doors bottom. Set the doors in place, the press the overhanging tape onto the base.
3. Top units fold tape over the edges of a pizza box for the above sink window and more boxes for the stoves shelf unit. Attach the units with tape.
4. Sink and faucets set a rimmed plastic bowl into a round hole cut in the sink unit(it should be 1 inch smaller then the bowls diameter). Make holes for soap dispenser pumps.
5. Knobs gather colorful plastic bottle and jar caps. Insert a long bolt through a hole in each cap and through the base. Secure the bolt inside with a nut.
(for knobs, choose caps with holes in them, such as the tops of spice jars or squeeze bottle of shampoo. You can also make wholes with a hammer and nail.
Burners: Use permanent markers to draw coils on paper plates, then attach them to the stove top with strips of carpet tape.
Take some used food boxes for the children to add to their shelves and some no heavy canned goods.
If you need more help buy the mag.
This looks REALLY awesome!
Heres the link to make the kitchen.. found it online for you!
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/cardboard-kitchen-953500/
Make them presents. Use wantever raw materials you already have or ask friends for extra fabric, paint, clay etc. It’s very easy to make purses or bags, pillowcases, simple stuffed animals, room decorations, hair bows, jewelry.
Dollar stores also have a lot of things to get more “bang for your buck”
Or ask friends and neighbors if you could exchange them services such as baking or light house work for a little extra spending money.
Craigs List and Free Cycle! I did a lot of my shopping off of Craigs this year. My kids are young, so they don’t know the difference between used and new. We have a limited budget for out 3 kids and using craigs helps me get the most for the money. You can usually talk people down from their asking price.
Our library has a “store” where you can buy excess items. Some of which are in new condition. I’ve found books, dvds, cds etc., some for as little as 10c! It may not be available in all areas, but it might be worth a call to your local library to inquire.
We also have a few very affluent areas around here. Their library selection, I’m certain, would be better. But their second hand stores are to die for! It’s like raiding my sisters, or best friends closet! I have good luck there – even finding items with tags.
Good Luck, and God Bless!
PS – always check your library, or the magazines website before purchasing a magazine… The same article could be available on-line, and you’ve saved $3-$5 off the cover price!
1. Go to Grocery stores and ask for their empty boxes, snag several of their current ads too.
2. Go to $1.00 store and buy construction paper, glue, & markers
3. Make castles, kitchens, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. out of cardboard boxes.
4. Make menus, grocery ads, shopping lists, etc. out of grocery circulars.
5. Make fake food, chain garlands, stockings, decorations, and a whole lot more out of the construction paper
** Everyone knows that you can buy your child the biggest most expensive gift and all they want to do is play with the box it came in !!!
1. Go to the dollar tree, it is a nicer dollar store than most and has gloves, hats, socks, hair things, brush and comb sets, kid “makeup” toiletries, crayons, coloring books, dolls, army guys, books, candy, etc. If you don’t have one near you, try their web site, you can order most of what they sell on web site.
2. Post an ad on craigslist explaining your situation, someone might see it and be looking to unload a bunch of kid stuff – you could hit the jackpot! Also, look for things on sale on craigslist you might find for good prices. I got a radioflyer wagon for $20 last yr, beautiful shape, they didn’t know it wasn’t new.
3. Go to your local church and tell them you are really struggling and ask if you can be part of their secret santa program, toys for tots, whatever, they all have a diff name. If your church doesn’t do it, I know my catholic church will do it for people who aren’t catholic or in the congregation – just have to live in the community. If they can’t help w toys, they might help with a christmas meal – including treats which might be viewed as presents!
3. Have the kids do secret santa for each other but have them either make something for the person they draw, or do them a special favor. Then get each kid one nice thing and do cookies and treats.
Swagbucks! I have earned $25 to amazon.com in the past 1 1/2 months. It’s not alot but at least it’s something and there are always good cheap finds on amazon.
I also agree with Craigslist. I have found a lot of good toys for my son and have not paid a lot of money.
Check with the kids school and see if there is a scholastic order going out that will be back by Christmas. Considere ordereing each kids one of the $1 books. They usually have several brochures going at one time and each brochure has a different $1 selection to pick from.
I second the vote for crayons and color books. Anytime you can give them something that they can continue to play with, its a good thing.
Another idea is making Gingerbread people. You can use frosting to customize them for each kid.
I have been there also! Not a good place but hopefully things will get better soon.
I had never heard of this and we could have used it for years if I had only known.But I found out that there was a place in our community that was thru the churches in the area and if you called the SRS office or the health dept in your town they would give a voucher for how ever many children you had. They gave vouchers for food and for they also helped with some of the most outstanding bills I had at that time which was electricity fo heat. They helped by paying 200 dollars there! It was such a blessing!
They told me it was or anay body who lived in the county and it did not go by income it went by which bills needed to be paid first. It is a one time thing each year.
The toys for the children If I remember right I had to go to the National guard building and we picked out 3 toys for each child! They were allnew and what a blessing that was to be able to give some gifts Christmas morning!
Do not know if ever county does this but worth a call to the health dept or SRS office in your area.
God Bless You and your family this year!
I LOVE freecycle.org. I give stuff away all the time and others give stuff away for babies and kids. Just post an ad that your in need and what you’d like to have for the kids. You may be surprised at the responses you get
Make them a book all about themselves. I made my son one last year by printing pictures of family members and things that he loves, then gluing them to the large sides of empty cereal boxes. I printed 2 pictures with the names printed underneath on each page, and glued the entire page to the cardboard. I punched holes in the side and ran yarn through it to keep it together. Every night this is the first book that he requests! Some other cheap gift ideas – homemade play doh, homemade bubbles, tin can stilts (depending on their ages), a box of dress up clothes (go through your closet or check freecycle or the salvation army for gaudy dress up clothes), a homemade memory game made by printing 2 copies of a bunch of pictures that they would like and either laminate them or iron them between 2 sheets of waxed paper to make them a little stronger. Another hint – the plastic containers that fruits like strawberries come in – they can be used just like shrinky dinks. You just color a design, cut it out and bake at 225 degrees. The plastic containers with a number 5 in the recycling symbol on the bottom are the ones you can use. Takeout food containers, salad bar containers and strawberry containers from the grocery store are usually the right kind. Clean the container. Cut out a piece of plastic at least double the size you would like the final piece to be. If you want to make a necklace, bracelet or ID tag with your Shrinky Dink, use a single hole punch to put holes in the plastic. Make a least three holes with a single hole punch, all touching each other, to make one big hole. This will ensure that the hole will be big enough for a chain once the plastic shrinks. Using permanent markers in dark/bright colors, draw or write your design on one side of the plastic.
Using aluminum foil, make a small tray for the piece of plastic by folding up the sides. You could also line a small baking pan with the foil. Place your Shrinky Dink picture with the writing side up on the foil and put it in the oven.
Put the oven light on and keep an eye on the plastic as it shrinks before your eyes. Check it every couple of minutes and it should be done in less than 10 minutes. It’s done when it is at least half to one-third the original size and the plastic is no longer curled. Take it out of the oven and add a chain or put it on a string if you wish.
Sorry this is so long, but i have been there, and I know what it is like to not be able to do as much as you would like for your kids. Hope some of these ideas help.
Hey….everyone needs a little help sometime….In our area the Salvation Army signs up families for Christmas….they have a store where parents come and “shop” for presents for their children….each family gets so many presents per child they can pick out…they also get so many family items like a board game and a bicycle…they also get coats and food. Each child also gets an age appropriate stocking the parent can pick out. People will even help you load the things to go home. There is also a place for children to wait if you can not come without them….So you are the Santa Claus and the provider in your child’s eyes. It is a good program….I do not know the date that the sign-up is over but it never hurts to check it out! Also call the area churches….some of them have programs like this.. I would say good luck but if you are paying your bills and are able to have your children you already have some good luck….so I will say I hope your days get better.
There is also a place called Replay Toys in Warminster which sells gently used toys for super cheap!! Definitely check them out if you can.
I also agree on the churches, contact anyone and everyone. There are always people out there who want to help.
How old are your kids?
I was in your shoes one year. What I did for my daughter was get her one gift on her list and then I wrote her a letter from Santa, letting her know how good she had been this year and to thank her, he would bring her a gift on the 25th of each month until next Christmas. My daughter loved waking up on the 25th of each month and having a Christmas present waiting for her.
thank you everyone for your advice and ideas im useing the advice and trying out some of the ideas. thank you all so much.
There are some wonderful ideas!!
OK as I lay in bed wondering what to get my kids for Christmas and reading all the reply’s to this yesterday. Yes I haven’t gone Christmas shopping yet…anyways…what if you do like a secret Santa for your kids….they all put their names in a hat and pick one of he names and they have to make their siblings of things that you have around the house or that you can get and then mom can make each and every kid something special from her to!
I was reading what everyone else was saying and those were the things that I was going to say so I just want to tell you that I will be praying for you and your family. When I was little I remember a Christmas or two that there was only one little thing under the tree because my parents didn’t have it to give that year. It didn’t matter what was under the tree it was the other things that my parents did for us on that day. We listened to Christmas songs and sang along and they made Christmas an event not the fact that we had gifts or not! If you only can have one little gift for them then make finding the gift fun. Hide it and give them a clue and when they find that spot give them another clue ect… It will make the gift more fun. I pray that you can find some help! Jesus is the reason for the Season.
I have been in that situation before and I know it is hard. I did learn that in my area places like our electric company would take our currently due electric bill and split it into a bunch of small payments on the back end of our later due bills so that we had a little extra cash in our pockets. Maybe you could try that. Good Luck and Merry Christmas.
Oh, I also forgot to mention that you could also get intouch with your local homeless shelters and volunteer to serve Christmas dinner. It could really show your Chirldren the true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of giving instead of recieving. My family did that once when we were younger and it was truly a humbling experience and made us all greatful that we had even a roof over our heads. Also you would be able to have Christmas dinner with them!