Easy giftideas

I also do the baking thing. Since my mom passed away I am the only one who makes her candy the way she did. So I buy everything from a cheap grocery store and just cook away. The kids help me dip the candy. I get little gift bags and fill them up and give a bag to everyone in the family I also give some to my kids fav. teachers (they love it because they get so many apple gifts they get sick of them). But I am thinking that this year we may do the ornament thing. That is a wonderful idea and the kids will love working on them. Now you got my brain rolling with ideas. Thanks so much :)

Hi Puddle...it's really nice to know that other people are doing this too and in your case, carrying on your mother's tradition, that's what Christmas is about to our family. That's what you'll remember, spending time with your kids and they in turn will remember spending time with you too :) and the big plus is you make your family members and teachers happy ;)

Ya know i also bake at Christmas time, kinda to carry on the tradition as puddle, but i find it's VERY expensive to buy all the ingredients! Maybe i just have expensive recipes! :shock:
But the none less i still do it every year. Me and my girls get together and spend a whole day in the kitchen baking and chatting ALL day! NO GUYS ALLOWED!
:D
Ang

Ang, I go to store like save a lot or Aldi and get most of the ingr. And after Thanksgiving a store here called Fleet Farm has a huge block(I think it's a 10 pound block) of real milk chocolate on sale for like $12 instead of the grocery stores at almost $4 a pound. I used to spend almost $100 just to make all my candy but now I have cut that in half by going to the cheaper store. So what if it's not name brand it still tastes good when your done. and no one sees the labels anyway lol. I find my son in the kitchen more than my daughter when I am making the stuff (and he is 15) I think he will be a good cook where as my daughter will eat anything out of a can instead of taking the time to cook something.

My dad just gave me a 5 pound block of carmel so I am going to try and make turtles this year. My son is excited about this. He has plans on how we are going to do them.

I told my kids about the glass bulbs and my daughter said I will do them. So I guess while my son and I are making candy my daughter can decorate the bulbs. I can't wait. Now I am hoping I get laid-off again in Dec. I have lots to do now lol.

I'm glad the Christmas Forum was brought back- there are some interesting things and tips here.

I do some baking too. What I also do is, during the year I hit garage sales and find canning jars, if you can't afford to buy them new. Years ago I bought this book about different things you can make with the jars, like cookie mixes, brownie mixes-everything in the jar you need! I tied a colorfull ribbon around the top with a piece of fabric-and had alot of gift!

I also hit the dollar stores during the year and start buying- I found note cards with matching pens, some small toys, bubble bath, etc--then by the time Christmas comes I was on my way.

Of course, like I mentioned in another post- If you haven't paid bills,groceries, etc., first- it defeats the purpose of getting out of debt.

My sons are grown now- they don't remember the gifts when they were young. but the time I gave them doing fun, silly things-like "gift Certificates" for the holidays- a movie with mom,popcorn, candy and a renal movie, etc--this gave me more time to get the money together since they got these at Christmas.

We also cut way down on gift giving too. We ran up a lot of debt at Christmas trying to buy for all the realtives- no more!! When all the kids were young, they drew names, adults too. Now that all are grown, we all just send Xmas cards with a photo of us or something we like..karen

Oh puddle i have the "best" recipe for millionaires and it's easy too!
Always a big hit!
Now plz pass that caramel.
:D
Ang
P.S. And Bossy i find that my 5 yo grand likes the dollar store gifts better than anything else! GO FIGURE! ;)