What are you doing to save on Christmas this year?

If it were left up to me...we would all sit around and laugh and cry together and just not hand out gifts. But it isn't left up to me.

We don't buy things for many people. We're stationed 1100 miles from home right now, so we are never home for Christmas. Since we got married, we stopped buying things for my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. My siblings and I decided several years ago to stop buying presents for each other, because there are 6 of us, and that adds up fast. We just buy for the kids, which is only my two nieces and my son. We also buy for parents, and sometimes my husband's sister, and then each other. That's it.

We watch for sales year round for things for Elliott, since he definitely gets the lion's share of the gifts. We didn't really cut back on things we bought for him this year, but we have been saving money all year long, so that we won't be going into debt over it.

I am buying books for my nephews and making gifts for the rest of the family.

Sounds like a good way to spend the day to me, Alta.

We are cutting back on the dollar amount we are spending. I think I have cut it back about 25% this year. I am making more gifts too. Knitting scarves, making apple butter, plan on doing some baking and of course, the gift of time as you suggested earlier this evening...

we will be less gifts, we used to buy for the whole family, but now we will just buy for the really close ones. parents and for our little one

Save? LOL...I'm actually spending more this year than I have in the past.

I'm doing my part to stimulate the economy. More debt than ever before. I had at first planned to be frugal and work within a budget, but it just didn't work out for me when I set about getting people what they really wanted. Computers and Nintendos ain't cheap.

I don't think we've spent more- we've actually spent a lot less, but because of frugal shopping practices that weren't available last year, plus some contest prizes and more gift cards than last year, I'm able to provide more for Christmas this year. Raegan is going to be in clothes heaven, I think- I packed 1 large box with probably 10 shirts, a new bra & matching panty set, 2 purses, and a sweater. Then I packed a regular clothing box with 3 more sweaters. Then another clothing box with 2 cord jackets (like jean jackets, but made from corduroy- green for one, and black for the other). I also did 1 with a jean skirt and a sweater, and I still have 2 sweaters and a jean jacket left for her. But at the age of 12, she's really getting into clothing. ;) The most I paid for any of it was about $1 per piece.

Andrea- nothing wrong with spending more if you want to! It's not Christmas yet, and I have a feeling I'll wind up spending more yet that I didn't anticipate. ;)

There's not much we can do to save. We already spend an average of $10 (or less!) per gift as it is.

The exceptions to that rule: My mom, Gideon, Clint. That's it if we can help it. If desperate and down to the wire (usually a day or two before Christmas) we might spend more just to HAVE a gift to give, but we aren't thrilled about it.

Spending what we spend to travel leaves very little left for gifts.

In previous years, I spoiled the kids rotten at Christmas... The bottom line now is that they have very little space for their stuff (the boy's room doesn't even have a closet) and my daughter still has toys in the package unopened in her room. They rarely play in their own rooms-the eldest boy is addicted to video games and tv, my daughter does nothing but read and write most of the time, and the 4 year old loses everything.
My husband finally called me out on this and this year they'll each get one gift from us says their dad. Quite frankly I am annoyed at the messes the boys constantly make, and my daughter not using the gifts she "wanted" so badly. So part of me agrees with hubby and part of me still wants to spoil them, but the money isn't there...

Trying to save as much money as I can on gifts, and trying to budget overall. :-)

buy less gifts, spend less money

less gifts and no gift exchanges between friends :-(

I actually buy a few gifts all year long whenever I see a really good sale. I had a few things tucked away in storage.

I always go to the after Christmas sales and buy tape, wrapping paper ect. and put them away in storage for the following year.

I am spending about the same as last year. I make some of my gifts, mostly foods and I shop all year long. I hate to pay full price for anything.

I will buy about the same as last year. They all say what they want and I go buy it!

You are so awesome Heather!

I do all the things you do, and it sure saves me a lot!

We will be gifting less. There just isn't any way around it for us this year. Most of our family is in other states and so we ahve the added cost of shipping everything too.

I am doing homemade Christmas gifts for most of the family. I will be spending only a few $ to buy some supplies for that. But it will come to only about $2/person.

For Maddie we are using a $50 adn $25 gc from Amazon that hubby and I got from Mypoints. Then a couple months ago we got a little bike at a garage sale for $5 that is still in great shape and looks practically new and she will get that too. Altho she is still a little young, by the time it gets warmer she should be able to ride it.
One good thing about this year is that we live closer to family so we don't have to mail gifts out. BIL and his wife are visiting around Christmas so we don't have to mail anything to them. FIL is driving down in a couple weeks to bring us some stuff so we don't have to mail their gift and we will see all of my family around the holidays and I am sure we will see SIL because she is only a few hours drive away.

We spent quite a bit in the past few years on mailing gifts home for Christmas so this will save atleast $20-$30 for us just from not having to ship any packages.

We got simple gifts for kids in the family, but are spending quality time with adults instead of giving things.

getting all I can for free

I think I am going to spend a little more this year, since I was able to earn some gift certificates on Gather

I'm trying to be more frugal, but also more practical with my gifts--giving people what they need in addititon to what they want. My kids don't get a whole lot. They are still quite little. They are just so excited to see stuff under the tree that it really doesn't matter how much there is or how much it cost. I wish that could go on forever with them, I would be golden at Christmas. Just as an example, my then 2 year old daughter told me last year that she wanted Santa to bring her 3 books and 4 toys. So that's what Santa did! I kept it even with her younger brother. Both got 3 books and 4 toys.

I like that, Cathy, starting them with very little at Christmas. I think when you start buying more, the kids expect it, so if you start out not getting them many things, they don't expect to see a ton of presents each year.