Christmas for Less

[Karen]

My idea is to do the collage for the gradnparents. get a couple of affordable frames and sand the finish off of them (unless I can find raw wood frames) and then Have Hannah paint and decorate the frames, put the collage inside and gift them for Christmas

If you have a Christmas Tree Shop near you, they usually have a good assortment of frames in affordable prices.

[cassiesmom]

My family has done a "pick one" gift for the past 2 Christmases. Not sure yet if we are doing it again this year. There are 12 and we each pick one name. Then you shop for only that one, plus whoever else you would like to give a gift individually. I give to my mom and dad. In 2010 I had already made a shopping list when the idea was suggested. I don't especially like it because I feel funny not giving a gift to everybody, but it is much easier on everyone's budgets. I am not sure yet if we are doing it again this year.

Sparks19, my sister-in-law has family pictures in two frames that her best friend made for her when the two families went on vacation together. Now their kids are either married, engaged or off to college but it is still fun to look at those framed photos from when the kids were younger I love the idea of having your daughter decorate the frames! I wonder if a craft store would have unfinished wood frames? Or maybe Ikea?

[sparks19]

here is another great deal. At www.babiesrus.com you can get a free plush Disney nursery blanket with the purchase of eligible items. Follow this link for details on ordering

http://savingdollarsandsense.com/201...h-blanket.html

I basically bought exactly what this write up details. Those little baggies are SO handy even if you don't have little kids lol and even handier if you do have little kids running around. So I got those baggies and a tinkerbell plush blanket for $2 shipped

[caseysmom]

here is another great deal. At www.babiesrus.com you can get a free plush Disney nursery blanket with the purchase of eligible items. Follow this link for details on ordering

http://savingdollarsandsense.com/201...h-blanket.html

I basically bought exactly what this write up details. Those little baggies are SO handy even if you don't have little kids lol and even handier if you do have little kids running around. So I got those baggies and a tinkerbell plush blanket for $2 shipped

Did you sign up for the freeshoprunner? I am afraid to do that...

[sparks19]

Did you sign up for the freeshoprunner? I am afraid to do that...

I did. I figured I'd give the free trial a go and see what I think of it so far so good but I'll probably cancel at the end of the month

[caseysmom]

Okay thanks, I was afraid i would forget to cancel but others say they even remind you.

[sparks19]

Okay thanks, I was afraid i would forget to cancel but others say they even remind you.

yeah they send you an email to remind you and I also set a reminder in my phone lol so it will alert me

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Did you sign up for the freeshoprunner? I am afraid to do that...

I signed up for a free trial over the summer and canceled before the month was out, and wasn't charged. A few months later, I got an email offering a whole year free! So I signed up for that, though I wish they had more stores available. I just hope I remember to cancel next year!

[sparks19]

You can get $13 off any order from www.inkgarden.com right now and just pay shipping. I made my mom a mousepad with some of her favorite photos of Hannah and all I paid was $3.99 for shipping

http://www.inkgarden.com/Content.asp...d-01a19bc5eaeb

[sparks19]

At Toys R Us you can get A Buzz Lightyear Operation game for $1.00 you can get it in store or online... online you would have to pay shipping unless you have a shoprunner trial or membership

[sparks19]

My family has done a "pick one" gift for the past 2 Christmases. Not sure yet if we are doing it again this year. There are 12 and we each pick one name. Then you shop for only that one, plus whoever else you would like to give a gift individually. I give to my mom and dad. In 2010 I had already made a shopping list when the idea was suggested. I don't especially like it because I feel funny not giving a gift to everybody, but it is much easier on everyone's budgets. I am not sure yet if we are doing it again this year.

Sparks19, my sister-in-law has family pictures in two frames that her best friend made for her when the two families went on vacation together. Now their kids are either married, engaged or off to college but it is still fun to look at those framed photos from when the kids were younger I love the idea of having your daughter decorate the frames! I wonder if a craft store would have unfinished wood frames? Or maybe Ikea?

Yeah in my family we pretty much just buy for our parents and all the kids. the siblings don't buy for each other anymore. now we just buy for each others children but... there are a lot of children LOL.

I did a quick search online and found some unfinished wood frames but I'll check out michaels too since I have a 40% off coupon We also have a neat little store called "Lancaster Creative Reuse" and it's basically a drop off for all your left over craft items that you aren't going to use and then they sell them for pennies and they often have picture frames so I may be able to score one there for less than $1 lol I'll have to do some checking around. I can't believe I'm almost done christmas shopping lol

[happylabs]

My family has done a "pick one" gift for the past 2 Christmases. Not sure yet if we are doing it again this year. There are 12 and we each pick one name. Then you shop for only that one, plus whoever else you would like to give a gift individually. I give to my mom and dad. In 2010 I had already made a shopping list when the idea was suggested. I don't especially like it because I feel funny not giving a gift to everybody, but it is much easier on everyone's budgets. I am not sure yet if we are doing it again this year.

Sparks19, my sister-in-law has family pictures in two frames that her best friend made for her when the two families went on vacation together. Now their kids are either married, engaged or off to college but it is still fun to look at those framed photos from when the kids were younger I love the idea of having your daughter decorate the frames! I wonder if a craft store would have unfinished wood frames? Or maybe Ikea?

I have 4 brothers and sisters, their significant others, their children and now some grandchildren of my sisters. Years ago we went to the just buying the parents a gift routine. It worked for me. Then my second-to-oldest sister started buying us all gifts again. I love that she has that Christmas spirit but I just cannot afford to give to all 4 of my siblings. I asked her to not buy me a gift as I cannot reciprocate but she continues and now my other sister started buying gifts for all of us. I guess they are better off financially than I am.