Suggestions on saving money for Xmas/Hanukkah

My dad is buying gifts from thrift stores. I don’t mind. You can find nice things at thrift shops. How do you stretch your holiday dollars?

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We buy one expensive present for each kid. Then they do secret Santa with each other, usually thrift store gifts. It all works out with our big family. For extended family, we buy family presents or do secret Santa.

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My aunt has that game where everyone buys a present worth $20 and you get to steal someone’s present :gift:. Everyone gets 1 present to take home. The kids though get presents from everyone.

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We’re giving each other things we have made. I’m framing some family photos for my wife and giving my daughter some new arrows I cut and fletched to her standards. I’ll be happy with some new undies and something crocheted from my kid. Our focus this year is to try and get gifts under trees for disadvantaged kids and to support the local food bank. Inflation is out of control. Too many families are choosing between buying food or paying utilities now.

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I was thinking of giving everyone gemstones this year. That im making with a rock tumbler kit. I got the rocks from some glacier fed rivers.

Sir Level the rock tumbling geologist :disguised_face::cowboy_hat_face:

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Did you find them taking tumbles from your bike? LOL.

:stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

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Passing along older tech gear is a good idea if you upgraded.

Guess anything useful you don’t need anymore can be a gift. Not just tech. Kitchen items. I have tons I need to donate or can be gifts.

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Daughters getting 5 grand for her light therapy room (she’s autistic). And other than that, I’m not really celebrating it. I firmly believe it’s purely for children, not sit-down a bar and get arseholed lol.

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I start shopping and planning really early. I buy things that aren’t going to be on sale (those two new Pokemon games are pre-ordered, bought a pair of red contacts my daughter’s been bugging me for, etc). The other items (electronics), I try to wait for Prime Day. I avoid Black Friday for the most part except for last minute items or when I don’t know what to get someone. This year, I’m just getting my 19 (will be 20 at Xmas) year old son a pre-paid credit card. He can’t get a real one because no credit, and I am not co-signing, so it’ll be a financial gift and a long-term benefit gift if used well.

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I just get my gift shopping done early and don’t buy too much expensive stuff. I usually get one “big” item for my mom and dad, and then I just get gift cards for my other family and friends. I also make homemade sunflower seed brittle and peanut butter fudge to give away. I don’t spend over $500 for everything…but it still helps to start early and spread the spending out, cuz even tho $500 isn’t considered a huge amount, it is a lot for me.

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I have bought some presents from second hand shop.

I started buying in January and try to find things on special and put aside til Christmas.

You could make your own presents.
I’m not good at making things except I made a konungalänk that was stunning and gave necklace and earrings in real silver to Julie.
I sawed the silver by hand and got sore hands.it took a while.
She probably never wears them.

One could make jars of homemade jam or preservatives.

Or bake buns or bread to give as a Christmas gift.

You can also gift your time or service such as I said I would help my boyfriend clean his apartment he rents as a Christmas present.

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Oh yezz i was tumblinzzz down the mountains

:mountain: :cowboy_hat_face::partying_face:

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Yo! Did I say you could derail my thread dude??? :wink:

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sir level master derailer of threads at your service

:smiley::smiling_face::hugs:

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