Christmas Past, Present and Future

Hi everyone. I feel like I have been away forever. The past few weeks have been so busy baking my gingerbread men even though I enjoy it so much. We had a super great Christmas this year. Like many of you all of our Christmas’s haven’t been Christmas card perfect. There have been some very interesting ones.

There was the year I got married. The wedding was 5 days before Christmas. Then there was the year my husband was overseas and I and my 5 month old (who he hadn’t seen yet) had to spend it with out him. The next year I had my son just 9 days before Christmas which kept me busy with a toddler, new born and a house with no walls or kitchen.

Then there was the year my husband left us at Christmas time and 5 very lean Christmas’s only to have my son and I get sick with CFS shortly before Christmas number 6. There were the one’s with Tawra on bed rest with babies or having surgery etc.

So as you can see we have had our ups and downs with Christmas as many of you have had too but no matter what was happening or how hard it was that year Christmas was still Christmas. There was still the magic, the peace, the joy and that special feeling that is always there.

We still put up a tree. Some years it was small and ugly, others it was huge and beautifully adorned and more often then not it ended up looking a little worse for wear by the time our favorite pet had eaten the ornaments off it or knocked it over.

We always had gifts and something special for Christmas dinner so no matter what the circumstances it was nice.

This year and last year were extra nice. I thought I would give you an idea of how we spent Christmas because sometimes people have a strange idea of what a frugal Christmas is like. I think they imagine it to be a cross between Little House on the Prarie and Mr. Scrooge which it isn’t at all.

We usually have our main Christmas doings on Christmas Eve. We get together about 5 o’clock. This year we had to do things a little different. A blizzard was hitting our area so we started at noon instead so we wouldn’t get snowed in. “Nan” (me) usually arrives with the car packed with presents. I have the trunk, back and front seats just packed from top to bottom. Of course the grandkids go crazy when I drive up.

This year though I had Mike stop by the day before to pick up the presents while the weather was still nice. I could just see me trying to unload mounds of beautifully wrapped gifts in 50 mile an hour wind and snow.

I had just finished the last of my gingerbread men the night before and thought I would have almost 2 days to wrap gifts when I decided to send everything home with Mike. I went from have 2 days to 3 hours to wrap  50 gifts. To say I was moving was an understatement. I also had to go to the store to get the last minute things I needed for Christmas Eve dinner.

My house looked like a Kansas tornado had tore through it to say the least.

Christmas Eve the blizzard had started that morning. My son and his family stopped by and picked me up so I wouldn’t have to drive in the mess. We got to Tawra’s and Mike’s and her house was incased with Christmas lights from top to bottom.

We always eat first of course. We had a ton of food. It wouldn’t have matter if we got snowed in because we had enough food to feed 11 people for a week instead of just one meal. We had dips, chips, ham, relish dishes, several salads, crescent rolls and so many desserts, candies and cookies we had to have a separate table for them.

There was lots of laughter and joking and teasing. We ate and ate and ate. We then usually go to Christmas Eve service at church but this year we watched Pastor Bob Coy on the internet. After that we have one of the kids read the Christmas story and have a special time of remembering why we celebrate Christmas.

Me and a couple of grandkids pass out the piles of gifts to everyone then we take turns and each person opens a present one at a time. I like doing it this way because it is fun to see the person’s reaction to the gift you got them and it seems to have more meaning then if I was just tearing into my own gifts and not paying attention to anyone else.

It’s then the usual jumble of trying on new Christmas slippers, hats, gloves or coats and of course putting together and playing with new toys. I’m not sure who likes playing with the toys the most the kids or the dads. : ) Through out all of this we keep taking “food” breaks until we are stuffed.

It was so beautiful. Tawra’s living room is banked with large windows so the whole time while we were doing everything we could see the snow coming down. Nestled in the corner by the windows was her big beautifully decorated tree and in the other corner a fire burned in the fireplace. It looked like something out of a Christmas movie. Except when we had to finally put out the fire because the wind was blowing too hard and the girls and I almost knocked down the tree as we were laying on our stomachs crawling way under it to get the last of the gifts. : ) : )

When it started getting darker and the snow much deeper we decided we had better head home.

Usually on Christmas morning Santa comes and there are a few more gifts to open. I get up early and go to my son’s house first to see what Santa left and give them my “Santa” sacks. I put candy and a small gift in a cute sack and tell the kids that Santa left it at Nan’s house by mistake and was for them.

I then head out to Tawra’s and spend the rest of Christmas Day there because my son’s family goes to his in laws and Tawra and Mike have no in laws close by to go to. This year though I was snowed in so I collapsed with my new warm socks on, wrapped in my new throw eating more chips and dip, downing a 2 liter of Pepsi. (Well I didn’t quite drink the wholeeee thing) and watched Christmas movies all day.

Yes it would have been nice to be with my family but it wasn’t to be. I don’t believe in sitting and feeling sorry for myself if things don’t quite work out. I try to make the best of plans that didn’t turn out like I thought they would and  for me that was chips, dip, Christmas movies and lots of Pepsi. : )

I had a wonderful Christmas. Not just at this time of year but all through the year I am moved to tears at how God has blessed me. I want to thank all of you our readers who sent us well wishes and have been part of the blessings that God has sent our way this year.

I hope you too had a wonderful Christmas but if it was not to be and this season brought you heartache I pray so much that God will comfort you this coming year and  the next year and Christmas will be one of peace and joy again for you.

Jill

Continue reading Christmas Past, Present and Future …

From Living On A Dime Blog » Living On A Dime Blog.

Christmas Past, Present and Future

Hi everyone. I feel like I have been away forever. The past few weeks have been so busy baking my gingerbread men even though I enjoy it so much. We had a super great Christmas this year. Like many of you all of our Christmas’s haven’t been Christmas card perfect. There have been some very interesting ones.

There was the year I got married. The wedding was 5 days before Christmas. Then there was the year my husband was overseas and I and my 5 month old (who he hadn’t seen yet) had to spend it with out him. The next year I had my son just 9 days before Christmas which kept me busy with a toddler, new born and a house with no walls or kitchen.

Then there was the year my husband left us at Christmas time and 5 very lean Christmas’s only to have my son and I get sick with CFS shortly before Christmas number 6. There were the one’s with Tawra on bed rest with babies or having surgery etc.

So as you can see we have had our ups and downs with Christmas as many of you have had too but no matter what was happening or how hard it was that year Christmas was still Christmas. There was still the magic, the peace, the joy and that special feeling that is always there.

We still put up a tree. Some years it was small and ugly, others it was huge and beautifully adorned and more often then not it ended up looking a little worse for wear by the time our favorite pet had eaten the ornaments off it or knocked it over.

We always had gifts and something special for Christmas dinner so no matter what the circumstances it was nice.

This year and last year were extra nice. I thought I would give you an idea of how we spent Christmas because sometimes people have a strange idea of what a frugal Christmas is like. I think they imagine it to be a cross between Little House on the Prarie and Mr. Scrooge which it isn’t at all.

We usually have our main Christmas doings on Christmas Eve. We get together about 5 o’clock. This year we had to do things a little different. A blizzard was hitting our area so we started at noon instead so we wouldn’t get snowed in. “Nan” (me) usually arrives with the car packed with presents. I have the trunk, back and front seats just packed from top to bottom. Of course the grandkids go crazy when I drive up.

This year though I had Mike stop by the day before to pick up the presents while the weather was still nice. I could just see me trying to unload mounds of beautifully wrapped gifts in 50 mile an hour wind and snow.

I had just finished the last of my gingerbread men the night before and thought I would have almost 2 days to wrap gifts when I decided to send everything home with Mike. I went from have 2 days to 3 hours to wrap  50 gifts. To say I was moving was an understatement. I also had to go to the store to get the last minute things I needed for Christmas Eve dinner.

My house looked like a Kansas tornado had tore through it to say the least.

Christmas Eve the blizzard had started that morning. My son and his family stopped by and picked me up so I wouldn’t have to drive in the mess. We got to Tawra’s and Mike’s and her house was incased with Christmas lights from top to bottom.

We always eat first of course. We had a ton of food. It wouldn’t have matter if we got snowed in because we had enough food to feed 11 people for a week instead of just one meal. We had dips, chips, ham, relish dishes, several salads, crescent rolls and so many desserts, candies and cookies we had to have a separate table for them.

There was lots of laughter and joking and teasing. We ate and ate and ate. We then usually go to Christmas Eve service at church but this year we watched Pastor Bob Coy on the internet. After that we have one of the kids read the Christmas story and have a special time of remembering why we celebrate Christmas.

Me and a couple of grandkids pass out the piles of gifts to everyone then we take turns and each person opens a present one at a time. I like doing it this way because it is fun to see the person’s reaction to the gift you got them and it seems to have more meaning then if I was just tearing into my own gifts and not paying attention to anyone else.

It’s then the usual jumble of trying on new Christmas slippers, hats, gloves or coats and of course putting together and playing with new toys. I’m not sure who likes playing with the toys the most the kids or the dads. : ) Through out all of this we keep taking “food” breaks until we are stuffed.

It was so beautiful. Tawra’s living room is banked with large windows so the whole time while we were doing everything we could see the snow coming down. Nestled in the corner by the windows was her big beautifully decorated tree and in the other corner a fire burned in the fireplace. It looked like something out of a Christmas movie. Except when we had to finally put out the fire because the wind was blowing too hard and the girls and I almost knocked down the tree as we were laying on our stomachs crawling way under it to get the last of the gifts. : ) : )

When it started getting darker and the snow much deeper we decided we had better head home.

Usually on Christmas morning Santa comes and there are a few more gifts to open. I get up early and go to my son’s house first to see what Santa left and give them my “Santa” sacks. I put candy and a small gift in a cute sack and tell the kids that Santa left it at Nan’s house by mistake and was for them.

I then head out to Tawra’s and spend the rest of Christmas Day there because my son’s family goes to his in laws and Tawra and Mike have no in laws close by to go to. This year though I was snowed in so I collapsed with my new warm socks on, wrapped in my new throw eating more chips and dip, downing a 2 liter of Pepsi. (Well I didn’t quite drink the wholeeee thing) and watched Christmas movies all day.

Yes it would have been nice to be with my family but it wasn’t to be. I don’t believe in sitting and feeling sorry for myself if things don’t quite work out. I try to make the best of plans that didn’t turn out like I thought they would and  for me that was chips, dip, Christmas movies and lots of Pepsi. : )

I had a wonderful Christmas. Not just at this time of year but all through the year I am moved to tears at how God has blessed me. I want to thank all of you our readers who sent us well wishes and have been part of the blessings that God has sent our way this year.

I hope you too had a wonderful Christmas but if it was not to be and this season brought you heartache I pray so much that God will comfort you this coming year and  the next year and Christmas will be one of peace and joy again for you.

Jill

Continue reading Christmas Past, Present and Future …

From Living On A Dime Blog » Living On A Dime Blog.

Christmas Past, Present and Future

Hi everyone. I feel like I have been away forever. The past few weeks have been so busy baking my gingerbread men even though I enjoy it so much. We had a super great Christmas this year. Like many of you all of our Christmas’s haven’t been Christmas card perfect. There have been some very interesting ones.

There was the year I got married. The wedding was 5 days before Christmas. Then there was the year my husband was overseas and I and my 5 month old (who he hadn’t seen yet) had to spend it with out him. The next year I had my son just 9 days before Christmas which kept me busy with a toddler, new born and a house with no walls or kitchen.

Then there was the year my husband left us at Christmas time and 5 very lean Christmas’s only to have my son and I get sick with CFS shortly before Christmas number 6. There were the one’s with Tawra on bed rest with babies or having surgery etc.

So as you can see we have had our ups and downs with Christmas as many of you have had too but no matter what was happening or how hard it was that year Christmas was still Christmas. There was still the magic, the peace, the joy and that special feeling that is always there.

We still put up a tree. Some years it was small and ugly, others it was huge and beautifully adorned and more often then not it ended up looking a little worse for wear by the time our favorite pet had eaten the ornaments off it or knocked it over.

We always had gifts and something special for Christmas dinner so no matter what the circumstances it was nice.

This year and last year were extra nice. I thought I would give you an idea of how we spent Christmas because sometimes people have a strange idea of what a frugal Christmas is like. I think they imagine it to be a cross between Little House on the Prarie and Mr. Scrooge which it isn’t at all.

We usually have our main Christmas doings on Christmas Eve. We get together about 5 o’clock. This year we had to do things a little different. A blizzard was hitting our area so we started at noon instead so we wouldn’t get snowed in. “Nan” (me) usually arrives with the car packed with presents. I have the trunk, back and front seats just packed from top to bottom. Of course the grandkids go crazy when I drive up.

This year though I had Mike stop by the day before to pick up the presents while the weather was still nice. I could just see me trying to unload mounds of beautifully wrapped gifts in 50 mile an hour wind and snow.

I had just finished the last of my gingerbread men the night before and thought I would have almost 2 days to wrap gifts when I decided to send everything home with Mike. I went from have 2 days to 3 hours to wrap  50 gifts. To say I was moving was an understatement. I also had to go to the store to get the last minute things I needed for Christmas Eve dinner.

My house looked like a Kansas tornado had tore through it to say the least.

Christmas Eve the blizzard had started that morning. My son and his family stopped by and picked me up so I wouldn’t have to drive in the mess. We got to Tawra’s and Mike’s and her house was incased with Christmas lights from top to bottom.

We always eat first of course. We had a ton of food. It wouldn’t have matter if we got snowed in because we had enough food to feed 11 people for a week instead of just one meal. We had dips, chips, ham, relish dishes, several salads, crescent rolls and so many desserts, candies and cookies we had to have a separate table for them.

There was lots of laughter and joking and teasing. We ate and ate and ate. We then usually go to Christmas Eve service at church but this year we watched Pastor Bob Coy on the internet. After that we have one of the kids read the Christmas story and have a special time of remembering why we celebrate Christmas.

Me and a couple of grandkids pass out the piles of gifts to everyone then we take turns and each person opens a present one at a time. I like doing it this way because it is fun to see the person’s reaction to the gift you got them and it seems to have more meaning then if I was just tearing into my own gifts and not paying attention to anyone else.

It’s then the usual jumble of trying on new Christmas slippers, hats, gloves or coats and of course putting together and playing with new toys. I’m not sure who likes playing with the toys the most the kids or the dads. : ) Through out all of this we keep taking “food” breaks until we are stuffed.

It was so beautiful. Tawra’s living room is banked with large windows so the whole time while we were doing everything we could see the snow coming down. Nestled in the corner by the windows was her big beautifully decorated tree and in the other corner a fire burned in the fireplace. It looked like something out of a Christmas movie. Except when we had to finally put out the fire because the wind was blowing too hard and the girls and I almost knocked down the tree as we were laying on our stomachs crawling way under it to get the last of the gifts. : ) : )

When it started getting darker and the snow much deeper we decided we had better head home.

Usually on Christmas morning Santa comes and there are a few more gifts to open. I get up early and go to my son’s house first to see what Santa left and give them my “Santa” sacks. I put candy and a small gift in a cute sack and tell the kids that Santa left it at Nan’s house by mistake and was for them.

I then head out to Tawra’s and spend the rest of Christmas Day there because my son’s family goes to his in laws and Tawra and Mike have no in laws close by to go to. This year though I was snowed in so I collapsed with my new warm socks on, wrapped in my new throw eating more chips and dip, downing a 2 liter of Pepsi. (Well I didn’t quite drink the wholeeee thing) and watched Christmas movies all day.

Yes it would have been nice to be with my family but it wasn’t to be. I don’t believe in sitting and feeling sorry for myself if things don’t quite work out. I try to make the best of plans that didn’t turn out like I thought they would and  for me that was chips, dip, Christmas movies and lots of Pepsi. : )

I had a wonderful Christmas. Not just at this time of year but all through the year I am moved to tears at how God has blessed me. I want to thank all of you our readers who sent us well wishes and have been part of the blessings that God has sent our way this year.

I hope you too had a wonderful Christmas but if it was not to be and this season brought you heartache I pray so much that God will comfort you this coming year and  the next year and Christmas will be one of peace and joy again for you.

Jill

Continue reading Christmas Past, Present and Future …

From Living On A Dime Blog » Living On A Dime Blog.

Christmas Thank you Notes

From: Robin Souder
At Christmas time, the kids are so excited to get
the mail and find greetings from loved ones and
friends.  Although Christmas cards are dwindling
more and more with each year as the technology
age expands, the acknowledgement and gratitude of
a gift is still of crucial importance in our
family.  As the cards come in, I ask the children
to pick out their favorite designs.

Most of the time, the opposite side of the front
of a Christmas card is blank.  In that case, I
cut the front from the card and turn it into a
postcard for my kids to use as a thank you
postcard, a notecard, or a gift tag.

As a thank you for a Christmas gift, the front of
the card is perfect.  I draw a line down the
center of the blank side vertically to resemble a
postcard.  I let the child write the thank you
message on the left side with the address on the
right. Postage for postcards is cheaper than a
letter.

I know most people will say that an email is even
cheaper, but I am finding that those who send a
gift, love seeing the handwritten thank you of a
child, or an adult for that matter.  ( especially
those gift givers who are from an older
generation.)

Cherish those who have come before us, as they
have enlightened us with the beauty of
personality, character and the work of the hands!

Continue reading Christmas Thank you Notes …

From Living On A Dime Blog » Living On A Dime Blog.

Christmas Giving

Beyond our annual tithe, we give an annual Christmas gift to charity. The first year we were married, we filled a box for Operation Christmas Child. This is where you fill a shoe box with small toys and necessities for a poor child in another country. It is a nice program, and one Dan and I thought would be fun to continue with our children.

Our second Christmas together, though, we found a charity that we agree with so whole-heartedly that we give to it as our Christmas gift now, and are strong advocates for it.

Gospel for Asia is an Asian mission agency that sends people in Asia to be missionaries to Asia. This often has more of an impact over sending missionaries from America to third world countries, where the American missionaries often continue to live an American lifestyle, instead of taking on the lifestyle of the native people.

For my non-religious readers, Gospel for Asia does a lot more than typical mission work. They have an amazing livestock program. You can give a pair of chickens or rabbits for $11, a pig for $55, a goat for $60, a lamb for $130, a cow for $375, and a water buffalo for $460. Among many other options including a donation to their medical program, you can give a blanket for $5 or a biosand water filter for $30. These go to needy families and needy communities.

This is something we try to get our church involved in as well. A children’s Sunday school class could raise enough money to give a pair of chickens. That pair could produce a flock of chickens that could lay up to forty dozen eggs a year. That makes a huge difference to a truly needy family.

A Sunday school class could also raise money for a Bible for $3, a musical instrument for a missionary for $5, or materials for Vacation Bible School to be taught to children on the other side of the world for $5. This does not need to be limited to Christmas time giving only, but could be incorporated throughout the year, a pair of animals given while you teach on Noah’s ark, and raising money for Vacation Bible School during Vacation Bible School over the summer.

We have been giving a bike to a missionary each year for $105. A missionary on foot uses much of their time travelling. A bike makes a big difference on how many people can be reached. We have money set aside for this gift this year.

Another option that I saw this year was something for the “Untouchable” caste in India. It is a child hope pack that allows a child of the “Untouchable” caste to go to school. For $50, “your gift helps provide school uniforms, books, tutoring and help with homework, at least one nutritious meal each day and a yearly medical checkup.”

One thing I love about Gospel for Asia is that whether you have a little or a lot to give, you can know you are making a difference. There is really so much they are doing to help both physically and spiritually. I would encourage people to go to their website and poke around a bit. They have a bunch of free downloads of books, video, audio and more books, so even if you have nothing to give to them, they can still be edifying to you, as they have been to me.

With Gospel for Asia, “one hundred percent of all contributions designated for use on the mission field are sent to the mission field.”

Continue reading Christmas Giving …

From Under $1000 Per Month.

Start Planning Christmas Gift Shopping – Frugal Challenge

It may seem a bit early to be thinking about shopping for Christmas gifts, but, if you’re like me, trying to save as much money as I possibly can, you should probably start today.  Planning a more affordable Christmas this year doesn’t have to mean cutting out all the gifts, decorations, food, and fun.  You just need to start early, use your creativity, and base your shopping on good judgment.

Christmas time is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration.  If you are burdened with debt because you overspent on gifts, your heart will not be light and full of good cheer.  Those expensive gifts can become a burden that strips away the joy of the season.

Let’s look at some basic strategies for slashing the overspending that can occur at Christmas time.

Plan Your Gift Budget – This is so basic you would think that most people already do this, but many don’t, and that is where the trouble starts.  Don’t start with a gift list, start with writing down exactly how much you can afford to spend on Christmas gifts this year.  Don’t forget that you’ll need to budget for the rest of your Christmas expenses, too.  Things like decorations and food need to be budgeted for, so keep the total expense in mind.

Make Your Gift Recipient List – Write down everyone you normally buy a Christmas gift for.

Remove Some People From That List – This may seem a bit difficult, but you are almost guaranteed that after you go through your list, you’ll find someone that you really don’t need to buy a gift for this year.  If it makes you more comfortable, just move their names to the bottom of the list so you can remember to do something for them, even if that doesn’t involve buying a gift.

Plan Dollar Amount For Each Recipient – Write a dollar amount behind each name that you now have on your list, then add it up.  Are you outside your budget for gifts?  You’ll need to go back then and rethink each amount and adjust the figures until it fits within your gift budget.

Make Your Gift List – Now you can go through your list of names and start jotting down ideas for each person.  Because you’ve created a budgeted dollar amount for each individual, your ideas now have a limit.  The problem most people get into when they shop for gifts is that they create a gift list with gift ideas first instead of dollar amounts first.  To save your budget, always start your gift list with the dollar amount to be spent for each gift recipient.

Start Your Shopping Early – Yes, there are some great bargains to be found as you get closer to Christmas, but the panic that sets in usually ends up costing us more than we planned.  Last minute shopping narrows your choices.

Re-Think Gift Shopping – Consider more inventive options for at least some of the names on your list.  Shop smart and thrifty by looking through bargain basements and resale shops.  Yes, even a trip through the second-hand stores may prove to be rewarding.  You’ll never know what kind of fun and funky finds you’ll come across.  For instance, you might find great vintage jewelry that would be just right for a teenager.  You may even stumble upon some antique books.  And, what little princess wouldn’t like a big box of sparkly gowns to play dress-up in?  You’ll find racks of bejeweled, lacy, and shimmery dresses on the bridal and special events racks in most larger thrift shops.  Check it out before you head to the mall.

Homemade Gifts – If you are creative, if you can follow a pattern, if you can cook, or if you just have a desire to make something nice, put your skills to work and make a gift.  Something as simple as a pretty jar filled with bath salts can be just the right gift to give a friend in need of a relaxing moment. Gifts made from the heart are always appreciated.

Leave Yourself Off Your Gift List – If you’re tempted to buy yourself stuff while you’re shopping for gifts, you’ll need to give yourself a stern talking to!  There are so many lovely things out there in the store aisles and they all seem to be calling your name.  That is what is called “marketing to the impulse shopper.”  If you have no control, give your list to someone else who has more self-control and is willing to do your shopping for you.  Know yourself and avoid this pitfall.  Your budget can’t take it!

This is my frugal challenge to you.  Hold onto the joy of Christmas gift giving by setting your gift budget within your means.  Don’t go into debt in order to give gifts that you cannot afford.  Your family and friends would not like it if they knew their gift caused you a hardship.

Continue reading Start Planning Christmas Gift Shopping – Frugal Challenge …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.

Food gift ideas for Christmas

With the increasing popularity of the de-cluttering and eco-friendly movements in recent years, I’m noticing an increased interest in food gifts at Christmas time.

Those who “have everything they want”, who live in a small home or apartment, or who are trying to reduce their physical impact on the environment, are usually not interested in the knickknacks that have long been popular Christmas gifts. To be honest, there are a lot of people who don’t care for such things. But those who are de-cluttering and living eco-friendly lifestyles REALLY dislike them.

As alternatives, the suggestions I’ve seen from those people include food gifts, theater or sports tickets, movie passes, park and zoo passes.

These are actually good options for frugal families too.

So let’s talk about food gifts. If you look around for food gifts, you’ll find a lot of great options both for homemade and for store-bought items.

You will have to get over the fact that a lot of store-bought food gifts seem expensive compared to regular groceries. They aren’t meant to be regular groceries. They are meant to be gifts. You want them to have seasonal flavors, pretty packaging and feature ingredients you don’t normally see or brands you normally don’t buy.

Some ideas:

• Gourmet coffee. The first picture you see in this post is seasonal coffee from Millstone. I saw that display at Wal-Mart in Monroe, Mich. There are several varieties but that peppermint one sounds good! Almost any coffee shop has flavored beans or fresh ground coffee you can purchase to take home. Fair Trade coffees are the coffee of choice at many churches as a social justice project, so ask your church pastor or secretary if they know of a local supplier for Fair Trade or have some available for sale. If you’d like a homemade Christmas coffee mix, here’s my recipe.
• Homemade cookies and candy. You can buy the baking ingredients as soon as you see the sale and coupon deals begin (ahem, now!). In some cases, cookie batter can be prepared and frozen ahead of time. To present the treats, you can buy paper goodie boxes and cardboard cake platters at any store that sells cake and candy supplies, such as Flour Garden or Crafts 2000 in Monroe, Mich. You can also buy favorite goodies at a charity bake sale. Just wrap the goodies carefully for the freezer if you need to store them for more than a day or two.
• Cocoa mixes. See my second picture. I saw this selection of cocoas at Big Lots in Monroe, Mich. You can also get single serve gourmet cocoa packets at the grocery stores this time of year. This is a nice idea for a family with children; or a stocking stuffer for teenagers or college students.
• Boxes of chocolate. If you know someone is on a diet or diabetic, maybe you want to pass on this idea. But a box of chocolate has long been a popular hostess gift. If you live near a Russell Stover or other specialty candy store (I visit the Russell Stover in Dundee, Mich., two or three times a year), you’ve got a huge selection to pick from. Boxed candy also frequently goes on half-price sales at the drugstsores this time of year.
• Regional or seasonal wine or beer. Again, this is a gift idea where you need to know your audience. If they aren’t drinkers, don’t get alcohol. But if you do make that choice, go to a supermarket or liquor store that is known for having a large selection of beverages and ask the clerk where you can find the regional or seasonal labels. For example, there are Michigan beer and wine selections stocked at the Meijer store in Monroe, Mich.
• Holiday dinner. You can order a catered or heat-and-serve holiday dinner for another family at many supermarkets. Omaha Steaks also has a “gifts under $50″ selection.
• Fruit box or basket. You can buy pre-wrapped fruit baskets at the supermarket or order them from a gift company, but that’s not the only option. You can find school groups and clubs that sell fruit boxes, or order a holiday fruit box from Angel Food Ministries. If you want to present the fresh fruit in a basket, look for cheap baskets at the thrift stores.
• Restaurant gift cards. These make nice co-worker and teacher gifts. You can often buy restaurant gift cards from a school or church fundraiser. Great Lakes Scrip is one of the services that handles fundraiser campaigns in the Monroe, Mich. area. Local readers: there also are Monroe-area restaurant gift cards in the Mistletoe Market auction items (watch www.monroenews.com for details).
• Coffee shop gift cards. This is a less expensive alternative to sit-down restaurant gift cards. Think coffee in the morning, coffee beans to take home, pecan rolls, or sandwiches.
• Grocery store gift cards. This is an obvious gift for a family on a budget. But they also work well for college kids who want to stock up their dorm room with snacks.
• Meat and cheese boxes.When I get those for Christmas, I save them for munching during New Year’s or during the college football bowl games.
• Gifts in a jar. These are the baking mixes that are gifted in a pretty jar. Mason jars are hard to find now because canning season is done, but I did see some on a clearance shelf the other day. There are several cookbooks that feature just these kind of treats. The Organized Christmas web site also has a nice collection of recipes. Note: if you are gifted with a Gift in a Jar, be sure to rinse out and save the jar. Give the empty jar to a friend who cans if you don’t preserve food on your own, because they are certainly re-usable.
• Holiday versions of year-round treats. Have you seen the Little Debbie holiday snack cakes? They work very well for “kid treats.” Since they are individually wrapped, I usually buy a box every year to divide up for stocking stuffers. Here’s some of the product line I found at Wal-Mart in Monroe, Mich.

Notice that I didn’t mention fruitcake. But if you know the person you are gifting likes fruitcake, go ahead and get them one!

Continue reading Food gift ideas for Christmas …

From Monroe on a Budget.