fiddledeedee32It’s that time of the year again. Yes, that one, where you get stressed out for a good month (or even two or three) trying to buy your kiddos all the new, cool toys and trying to get everything on those Christmas lists. Oh, the joy of the season! You’re basically still paying for last year and you’re trying to figure out how your wallet is going to hold up!
Here are some of my tips on how you can have an amazing Christmas with your family and have some happy kiddos on Christmas morning without going into debt in the process!
Time for some Christmas magic!!
Dollar Tree
First, I know a lot of people think it’s crazy & don’t think you can find good stuff at the Dollar Tree, but yes, you can!
Believe it or not, you can find name brand items such as, Disney, Hot Wheels, Mattel, Nickelodeon and more!
If you have kiddos that like Hot Wheels, they have tons of die cast cars to choose from and even racecar tracks!
For those Barbie lovers, they have several Barbie clothes, shoes, pets and other accessories! Grab a couple outfits and put them in a gift box! Which they also have at the Dollar Tree!
You can find a ton of stocking stuffers as well! Christmas candy, plush animals (they put out Christmas themed ones), stickers, bubbles etc.
Here is a list of other items at the Dollar Tree that are worthy of being wrapped up and put under the tree.
Books
Puzzles
Action figures
Colorforms
Legos
Coloring books & Crayons
Games
Check it out, I think you will be impressed!
Let’s talk online shopping.
Online shopping may not be for you and I understand. Some people just like to go out to the stores. I get it.
However, if there is something on that Christmas list that your child wants but it’s a little on the expensive side, you might want to start by having a look online! And if you have Amazon Prime, that saves on the shipping fee!
Some stores will have online only sales when we start hitting the holiday season.
Also, sign up for coupons in your inbox, it might not seem like much to get $1.00 off of an item but if you add the money saved together from your coupons, it may surprise you how much you saved!
Save those EBAY BUCKS! They do add up! I save mine all year and then at Christmas I can buy some presents with that as well.
Next, speaking of online, sign up for surveys to take in your free time while you’re watching TV! Hey, $20.00 is a gift! It’s an easy way to earn a little money.
Secondhand.
Now I know that a lot of people shy away from this one. But, maybe just think about it. Many thrift stores have items that are in perfect condition or even brand-new items! Just give your items a good wipe down or wash! Your little ones don’t care where their presents came from. As long as there are no stains, rips or dents. You will save big! Just a few ideas would be, baby doll stroller, baby highchair, dollhouse etc.
Antique stores have amazing collector’s items, so if you have a coin collector, or vintage toy collector etc., head to the antique mall. You and your recipient will be glad you did!
Also, always check your Facebook marketplace!
Homemade gifts.
I love to make homemade gifts. It’s just so personal and it shows that you put some hard work into it and the recipient will appreciate that so much more than a store-bought item. Here are some ideas!
Paint on a canvas.
Make a wreath.
Crochet a blanket, scarf, oven mitts etc.
Grab some scrap wood and a few nails and make a squirrel feeder.
A junk journal.
String art.
Print a picture of family, a favorite vacation etc. and put it in a nice frame.
Those are just a few ideas. There are so many things you could do. Just try to use what you have on hand. If you’re a crafter, I’m sure you could figure something out! 🙂
Savings.
The last tip I wanted to talk about is savings. Come up with a savings plan and put some money aside each month throughout the year. You can find several different savings plans online! Just put the money in a jar. Or if you wanted to, you could open a savings account just for Christmas money! When you go shopping and get change back, put that change in your savings. You’ll be surprised how much you can save through the year!
With all these tips, you should be able to give your kiddos an amazing Christmas without breaking the bank. I know we have always managed to have a nice Christmas following these.
If you have any tips that you would like to add, please drop them in the comments so we can all help each other out! I would love to know if you have tried any of these. Let me know how they helped you! 🙂
Have a beautiful Christmas everyone!
Until next time.
All my love,
Angela xoxo