Don't let yourself feel bad over a slim budget. We all have years like that. I've never had a big or even average budget. We've always had good Christmases, though. I have a friend whose family had a Thrifted Christmas last year. No new gifts were allowed unless they were made by the giver. I think that was an absolutely fabulous idea.
I've always used thrifted things. It's the way my kids were raised; and fortunately, my step-mom saw great sales and thrifted items as victories! She passed that on to me; and, I passed it on to my kids. They were happy with the gifts that I made or bought for them new or not.
Be blessed, dear reader, and have yourself a happy, joyful, Jesus centered Christmas filled with all the peace and rest you can grasp! May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. II Peter 3:8
Go forth and be creative and thrifty!
Laura
Suggested reading:
Laura
This year Christmas is going to be hard on a lot of families.
ReplyDeleteSo if your able to buy a few toys or a bag of groceries
To donate please take the time to do so.
It will warm your heart and brighten someone's Christmas.
It doesn't take a lot of money to do. But the impact
Is big.
I grew up very poor. No electricity, no heat and little food.
I remember the Christmases with nothing.
This is a gift I give to my soul .
There is a lot of evil in the world today
but there are lots of good people too.
As Christians we are to be the light in the world.
Let us remember what we are celebrating.
The greatest gift ever given.
Wishing you and your family a warm loving
Holiday season.
Thank you for your warm wishes. You're so right about giving what we can. Thank you for the reminder to share what we can. I remember a time when we went through a winter with no heater. I awoke in the morning, I put hot sudsy water in the sink, started water for tea, and preheated the oven. I baked daily to help heat the house and feed four little mouths. Then, after breakfast, we'd pile together on the sofa like a bunch of kittens, cover up in blankets, and read aloud or do school work together. I always knew if it got dangerously cold, we could go to the library or to stay with friends.
DeleteHappy Christmas!
Laura
So very true - money has nothing to do with Christmas. I wish more people understood that, and let the commercial part go some.
ReplyDeleteTo God all the glory - AMEN
You are so very correct, Cheryl. I am glad that expensive gifts were never part of our life. Things like bicycles were not for Christmas or birthdays. I didn't want to set a precedence.
DeleteHave a wonderful week!
Laura
Laura, I love the idea of a thrifty Christmas. One of my best childhood Christmas memories is the year that my mom made our gifts. I remember each gift.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol,
DeleteWhat a wonderful memory. I remember that many years I needed and wanted to make gifts. I also remember taking all the children to pick up black walnuts to sell for Christmas money. Oh, they were hard times, but they were good times. HOw I miss those days. ~smile~
Happy Christmas Carol!
Laura
Thrifted is wonderful! I have also been a "scrounger" nearly all my life. I dressed my children in thrifted clothes since birth. So many cute baby outfits for pennies!
ReplyDeleteOne year, I mentioned to DH that I felt I could make good, steady use of a KitchenAid mixer. He thought he would have to buy me a $$$$ new one. Oh NO you don't I told him--just wait until after Christmas. I found a brand-new one on FB Marketplace for only $100 !. A young man had bought it for his fiancee. She told him in no uncertain terms to get it out of her face!
I happily bought the mixer, and then gave him some advice: gifts to your fiancee before marriage do not include household appliances, LOL! I suggested that he get her a nice piece of jewelry so she'd stop being mad at him.
I would love a wholly-thrifted and/or homemade Christmas.
Oh Sue, your response made me smile. I was one of those few girls who would haved loved a KitchenAid Mixer!
DeleteI hope you have a very happy Christmas.
Blessings,
Laura
I love that idea. A thrifted Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWe should never feel or put pressure on others to do gifts a certain way. ~smile~
DeleteI always make most of the gifts we give. Our kids seem to appreciate them and now the grandkids do too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
That's the way it is in our family, too. I start making Christmas and birthday gifts immediately after Christmas!
DeleteHello! I am so glad you popped up on my reading list! You are always full of wonderful advice. Blessings for a wonderful Christmas season, my friend.
ReplyDeleteWe are all about thrifting Christmas gifts here.
ReplyDelete