Well I started today with a trip for some specials on coffee and holiday meal things at Dollar General. We're trying to keep it under $200 total this year! We'll see how it goes.  Really looking forward to the black friday sales!

DH

• Fleece grey camo winter hat for stocking - $3.00
• Gift can of chocolate covered cashews for stocking - $2.00

Mother-In-Law

• Scrapbooking items (papers, stencils, raised stickers) - $4.00
• Silver 8 x 10 frame (for one of our wedding pictures) - $2.00 

My Mother

• Silver 8 x 10 frame (for one of our wedding pictures) - $2.00
• Set of quilted coasters I'm working on - free (using charm packs of amy butler fabrics and quilt batting leftover from another project)

My Father

• Stetson gift set (his favorite) - $4.00
• Tin for homemade chocolate covered raisin clusters - $1.00

 Our Nephew & Niece

• A felt basket each, red with white fur trim and a black leather belt & buckle to fill with candy - $2.00 (total)
  

 Christmas Spending - $18.00

Well, mine isn't a frugal as everyone else. I have a Christmas budget: $25/person for family members, $100 for DD & DH & $25 each for their stockings, $10 or less for Sunday School & daycare teachers, one friend I exchange gifts with, & step-nieces. Some years we give a toy to Toys for Tots for an Angel Tree. Usual Christmas budget is around $700. I spread the shopping between August & December so it's not a one time big hurt. I reuse boxes, bags, bows & buy Christmas cards & paper after Christmas cheap. I'm cheap the rest of the year so I can give without regret for Christmas.

I picked up a few things at Walgreens yesterday to add to the Christmas pile.

• Stocking stuffer candy for the kids.
• $3-Christmas themed kitchen towel and mitts for my oldest who has her own home.
• $1- two Christmas cookie cutters for my daughter.

We ordered the holiday Angel Food box as a Christmas gift for our oldest. As part of the "food basket" we are giving her, I am adding the towel, mitts and cookie cutters. To complete this gift set, I intend to purchase a cookie mix, a few silver ball ornaments and the homemaker/frugal living book we are making.  I will also be giving her a mini stocking with a little candy and something personal like nail polish in it.

 

Christmas Spending  $51.12

 

 

Hi everyone,

$78.00 on 5 gifts for brother's kids...these have to be shipped to KC but they're ready to go.

$75.00 dollhouse for 5 yr. old granddaughter purchased with 20% off Q from Toys R Us. Came with free camper so 2 gifts in one.

I haven't yet purchased for my 8 month old granddaughter but I think she'll be easy.  I have a few ideas for her.  She really giggled when we showed her Elmo at the store. 

$100.00 WII Fit for DIL as well as other misc items.  She likes to have things to open.

$200.00 cash for DS.  He's purchasing something for his Jeep and I wasn't going to even try to figure out what to buy.  I bought a Match box Jeep and wrapped them together with a note.

$200.00 for sub-woofer for 16 yr. old DS's car.  It was actually $350.00 but he's paying the difference since $200.00 is the limit.

I've made all gifts for friends and co-workers and they are ready to be wrapped.  I will also put together inexpensive gift baskets of homemade treats for the neighbors.

DH and I both got our gifts back in July.  I bought a pink netbook computer to play on in the living room and he bought a new seat for his motorcycle.  His seat was actually more than my computer...

All I have left is the supplies for my baking and I found cinnamon oil at WM yesterday and stocked up.  I also need stocking stuffers but that's easy too.  I can do alot of that at Walgreens.  I have $100.00 budgeted for the stockings including a handful of scratch off lottery tickets for DH.  Its the only time he plays the lotto.

 

 

Lee:

$75.00 dollhouse for 5 yr. old granddaughter

Which one did you get? I am hoping I can put the cash aside for a dollhouse as my younger daughter's gift. Those things are not cheap.

 

The Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee interactive one.  I think she'll really like it.  My mother runs a pre-school and she said the little girls really enjoy it so that's why I chose this particular one. 

I just checked Walmart.Com and they sell it for $54.97, however, Toys R Us is giving the camper free which sells for $30.00 so I think Toys R Us is the better deal in the long run. 

Lee:

I think she'll really like it.

I hope so. I think all little girls should have a doll house. Big ones should have one too...this is why I have a large wood one sitting in my parents' attic waiting for the day I have room to enjoy displaying it.

 

 

I always wanted one when I was growing up but mom always said we didn't have the room. When I was 16 I dated a boy whose older brother was a cabinet maker and he offered to make me one for Christmas however, we broke up before Christmas so I didn't get the house.  From what I heard, they gave my dollhouse to one of their nieces. 

I found DvDs for $1 at a local grocery store. I bought my mom and husband each a copy of the original Miracle on 34th St. It's both their favorite Christmas movie.

Christmas Spending  $53.12

I love that movie! I have it on dvd. bought it for myself.

found a Ben 10 (cartoon) dvd game brand new for $4.99 at value village today for the kids.  probably up too $400 for xmas shopping.  most is a blend of birthday/xmas shopping.