(Caution: This is a long post. Grab a cup of java.)
I’m amazed at how much money is spent at Christmas time.

(Last year, Amazon had a huge markdowns and free shipping.)
Can I have your attention please??? Really, I need your attention!
Listen carefully!
You do NOT, I repeat, do NOT,
have to spend a HUGE amount of money to have a GREAT Christmas!
I’m NOT talking about buying toys at the Dollar store either.
(Sometimes the toys there are more expensive and break too easy -
which in my opinion is not worth buying.)

(My girls loved their Barbie house.)
Want to know the secret???? Are you ready???
Here it is …You just have to have a plan!
- Write down everyone you have to get a gift for!
I have 28 people this year. (Don’t forget teachers and family members.) This makes it so much simpler to remember when you are out and about.
- Draw Names.
If you come from a big family, think about drawing names. Both my hubby and my family draw names for each sibling and spouse. Instead of 16 people, we only give to 4 people.
- START EARLY!
(YES – THIS IS IN ALL CAPS FOR A PURPOSE!!!)
Again, I say – START EARLY and DON’T wait until the last minute!!! I look at shopping for gifts as a game. Finding the right gift for each person for MY price. If I find it, then I win!
- Set up a limit for each gift.
(This is where my family needs to stop reading. I mean it – Go somewhere else!) I only try to spend $5.00 a gift – ever! (However, I do spend more on my kids.) Most of the time, this works great! Having a cash gift envelope makes it more fun to stay on budget.
- Let the gifts have meaning and a theme!
When I give a gift, it usually has a meaning and a lot of thought has gone into it. I also loves themes. I’ll share some of my gifts that I’m giving soon. (Yes, almost all my shopping is completed.)
{One of my most fave gifts I ever received was a ceiling fan and it had nothing to do with the fan itself. I’ll write a post about it soon, to explain why!}
- Don’t clutter someone’s home! (This one is not really a true $ saver but just a special word to hopefully make someone wiser.)
I know I just said let the gift have meaning but if the thought doesn’t extend to the receiver, let it go! Get a second opinion, if you question if an item is going to make a person happy! I truly don’t want more “junk” in my casa so sometimes even though I think it is cute ~ I need to “really” think of the other person and their tastes, to make sure it is not considered “junk” in their home.
-
Shop all year round!
I’m on constant alert for deals and sweet buys. I try never to buy retail price ~ Really, look at those clearance items ~ you might be shocked to see some of the finds!

(A sweet find last year ~ it was totally in our budget.)
Places I like to shop at for some great deals!
- Kirkland’s ~ They send out a weekly coupon.
- Hobby Lobby ~ They also have GREAT deals and a weekly coupon.
-
Amazon ~ (That link is not what you think but what I got my kids. HUSH, if you go to it.) Amazon has some major deals before Christmas. In fact, we already got our kid’s gift from here with free shipping and earned a gift card.
(My sister bought a mask and made a cape last year for my little guy. He still wears it.)
Okay, BLOGS are the best source to know where to find the deals!
I do NOT have time to actually go to every store
but I consider BLOGS are in my personal shopping team.
I use them to score big bucks!
These are some of my fave ~wheeling and dealing~ blogs!
(They have no idea I’ve listed them.)
Just a few gift ideas…
Need Christmas Cards????
How about 50 FREE of them babies?
I’m talking free shipping as well. I already ordered mine.
ETSY!!!
This site is so cool!
Everything is
handmade and you can find basically
ANYTHING in
ANY COLOR
! I know most of you bloggers know about this site but there are so many who don’t.
Old Fashion Bartering
Don’t assume EVERY price is the bottom price.
TRADE Services
Teach piano for free babysitting. Can’t stand the teacher’s kids– cook meals for the teacher on a weekly basis.
(Hallmark ornaments are found best after season.)
Theme Ideas
Monogram Basket
(Monograms are so inexpensive especially at Kirkland’s and Michaels.)
Just a God Themed Basket
Everything in a basket has to have a meaning. I gave something like this to my sister for one of her bridal showers.
- Dove Soap - to remind her that the Holy Spirit is in her marriage.
- All Detergent - because God is our All in All.
- Matches - To keep the fires burning at home at all times.
- Pillowcase Cover - That the marriage is honorable and the bed is undefiled – it needs to be protected.
There are so many possibilities that one could come up with for themes.
Dinner Basket
Make a basket with all the goodies for a romantic meal.
A friend did something like this for my family. We were out of town for a couple of weeks and they were watching our home for us. When we came home, they had bought cereal, milk, spaghetti sauce and noodles. I’ll never forget that feeling of not having to rush to the store the next morning. That was one of the biggest blessings ever!
(Hobby Lobby usually marks down their goodies 1/2 off during the entire year.)
Last but not least… Look for FREE shipping! GOOGLE it!
I hope this encourages someone to have fun while shopping for this Christmas Season. You truly do not have to spend an arm or a leg.
Blessings to you!!! You are loved!!!
Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
This
Works for me!