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Its got me to thinking

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3:59 PM, 2007-Dec-3 .. Posted by rildapeel1

I understand how it can be when buying for extended family. Ours got so big we don't get together any more. Our families out grown our homes. HEHE! I know you will do great in what ever you decide to do. God led her to the best choices I pray. In Jesus' Holy Name!!

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7:14 PM, 2007-Dec-3 .. Posted by gokings13

Amy,
I love your blog!
This will be the last year we do the 'gift' thing......
The Lord is moving in our family and taking us on a different Spiritual direction.
Too many years this dilemma has plagued us, and this will be the last! Praise the Lord!
But if you must give tangible gifts, I sure would give things that edify the Lord, and that Shines the Light!
Laura

Edited by gokings13 on 2007-Dec-3 at 6:15 PM

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8:25 PM, 2007-Dec-3 .. Posted by Laura

We knocked our spending limit from $25 per person this year to $15 per person (for our gift exchance with each family), and it is still tight, but progress is progress.

A hint for the 17 year old nephew - I have the same problem, I had my 17 YO nephew's name last year and again this year, and he, like many teens, has expensive taste. I accidentally discovered last year that some of the mall stores that the teens love (American Eagle, Aeropostale, Abercrombie) that are waaaay overpriced actually have excellent clearance deals. Last year I bought 4 shirts for under $25, spending a total of about $12 on each gift (two shirts for each nephew).

So hubby and I headed there again this weekend, and I found a nice polo shirt for my nephew at Aeropostale for 60 cents. Yep, you read that right - 6 dimes, for a $30 shirt. Their clearance was marked 75% off the lowest tagged price, and the shirt was already down to $1.99. With that great deal, I bought two regular priced tee-shirts at a twofer deal - one for nephew, one for hubby, as well as a clearance tee for hubby, and only spent $28 for all four shirts.

I'm not up much with current styles, but I know the kids like to flash namebrands - and though I don't necessarily want to encourage it, I do want them to enjoy their gifts - so my only rule when going in is to make sure the store logo is visible on the shirt, or the shirt looks really nice. That way, I know they will appreciate all the "money" I spent, LOL!

Just an idea - I don't know how far you are from a mall, but the websites often have great deals, too. Of course, this doesn't focus on the Christ part of Christmas, but it does enable us to stay within budget, which for us, is what we strive to do to please Him.

Blessings!

I know what you mean

9:45 PM, 2007-Dec-3 .. Posted by micandme

Hey, Amy... I know what you mean. I've made gifts for the past 10 years of our married life. I'm running out of ideas, and the finances aren't any better this year. Yikes. It's always finding that SPECIAL gift that means something that is so great. And harder to do with extended family because we don't know them as well. My neice loves Lori Wick, so I gave her two of my like new books by here. I can always check them out of the library. She was thrilled... she didn't care that they weren't brand new, and it didn't cost me anything, except a trip to the library once a year. :) When you hit on those... Christmas insanity is easier to take and it's easier to focus on the REAL reason we celebrate this wonderful time.

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1:00 PM, 2007-Dec-4 .. Posted by Lynne

Amy,
My husband always gives $ to his teenage nephews so they can purchase what they want. I think you should just give the amount you can afford and not worry about it.
The very best Christmas present our family has gotten was three years ago when we bought an inexpensive ping pong table and put it in our unfinished basement. Everyone loves to play it.
Fortunately, my kids are old enough and mature enough that they realize we only have a certain amount to spend at XMas.
Beyond the sprit of Christmas, I think you are teaching your kids to live within their means, and that may turn out to be the biggest gift of all.