Anonymous wrote:What is it that people are doing for Christmas that isn’t low budget? All of the stuff people are mentioning (baking, looking at lights, putting up a tree, doing crafts, going to Church) seem like normal Christmas things to do. What else are people doing?

A lot of the holiday lights shows - not driving around but things like the park based ones - are pretty pricey. ICE and other shows like that. Going to see at Nutcracker. All that stuff adds up, and fast.

That said, most of it can be replaced with similarly fun, free things. Alexandria's waterskiing Santa is free and a pretty neat performance. Driving around looking at lights - especially if you go to one of those neighborhoods that goes all out (there's one in Burke, for example) can be nearly as good as some of these lights shows. Strolling through a Christmas market is free even if buying stuff is not. There's free concerts like this one if you look around.

Anonymous wrote:What is it that people are doing for Christmas that isn’t low budget? All of the stuff people are mentioning (baking, looking at lights, putting up a tree, doing crafts, going to Church) seem like normal Christmas things to do. What else are people doing?

Ops kids want expensive electronics.

What is it that people are doing for Christmas that isn’t low budget? All of the stuff people are mentioning (baking, looking at lights, putting up a tree, doing crafts, going to Church) seem like normal Christmas things to do. What else are people doing?

What is temu???

Anonymous wrote:I'd try to get a tree and decorations, bake cookies, play Christmas music. If you have cable find the Christmas music channel. Watch Christmas movies on tv. Sign up for Toys for Tots, so your children get toys. Make a nice dinner. Read the Christmas story to your children from the Bible, so they know what Christmas is really about. Go to church. Make it a yearly ritual.

“Hey kids! We have to cut back on Christmas…but, good news! We are going to replace it with bible reading and sitting in church!” Maybe OP could also give the kids hair shirts instead of Christmas PJs?

OP—research all the free/low cost outings available in your area. Then make a calendar of the last 2-3 weeks of December and add in all the appealing activities you find. Then fill up the other days with things like family game night, baking cookies, various Christmas movies to watch, Christmas crafts, etc. You have time, so make Christmas about togetherness instead of gifts.

Do you belong to any rewards programs that you can trade in for gift cards--hotels, airlines, credit cards? I don't fly the same airline often enough to earn flights but I was able to cash in my Southwest rewards for two $50 gift cards for my teens.

Just be honest with them and do non-present Christmas things, like going to see lights or whatever.

If I were your relative or friend, I would buy your kids a Nintendo switch!

Anonymous wrote:Here are a few low to no cost activities my kid love--would work for varying ages:

- We have a book of Christmas cookies. Everyone chooses their favorite and we make it.

- We watch a favorite holiday movie with free printable bingo cards. Right now, my kids are teens and we do Die Hard. You should be able to find Home Alone or Elf and probably ones too.

- Paper chains, orange slice ornaments,

oops- submitted too early!

- Paper chains, orange slice ornaments, salt dough, cinnamon/applesauce dough ornaments.

- Coloring pages - this is only fun for one of my kids but she really loves it. Print a few coloring pages. Put on Christmas music. Sit at the table together and color.

- Christmas parades are free

- We go look at holiday lights, like many do. My teens are not so into it anymore, but I've been thinking we could make it a game, like if we had a list of things that you often see when you're driving around (burned out light, house with inflatables, house with blow mold lights, house with Snoopy decorations etc.)

- Go check out a bunch of winter and Christmas themed books from the library. Put them in a basket and read one each night.

Here are a few low to no cost activities my kid love--would work for varying ages:

- We have a book of Christmas cookies. Everyone chooses their favorite and we make it.

- We watch a favorite holiday movie with free printable bingo cards. Right now, my kids are teens and we do Die Hard. You should be able to find Home Alone or Elf and probably ones too.

- Paper chains, orange slice ornaments,

Anonymous wrote:At age 13, I would explain. If he is used to expensive Christmas gifts and then gets a lot less this year, he may assume that you are mad at him or fear that the family is going to become homeless. Kids are excellent observers but poor interpreters. I would let at least him know that Christmas will look different this year but the family is still stable.

Goodwill/thrift stores are a good idea, plus neighborhood list serves. Good luck!

I love this. Good to keep in mind.

Anonymous wrote:I'd try to get a tree and decorations, bake cookies, play Christmas music. If you have cable find the Christmas music channel. Watch Christmas movies on tv. Sign up for Toys for Tots, so your children get toys. Make a nice dinner. Read the Christmas story to your children from the Bible, so they know what Christmas is really about. Go to church. Make it a yearly ritual.

Firstly stfu about the religious stuff, no one on this board wants to hear it.

Secondly, no op should not sign up for toys for tots. That is for actual needy families, not families who can afford gifts but the kids want more than what the parents can afford

Op, this seems like a great time to teach your children gratitude and to learn not to be so entitled.

honestly the more gifts kids get, the less they a actually enjoy it.

either get them 1 or 2 slightly more expensive gifts. or maybe 5 really inexpensive gifts (under $20 each).

You'll all have a great day!

Merry Christmas!

I'd try to get a tree and decorations, bake cookies, play Christmas music. If you have cable find the Christmas music channel. Watch Christmas movies on tv. Sign up for Toys for Tots, so your children get toys. Make a nice dinner. Read the Christmas story to your children from the Bible, so they know what Christmas is really about. Go to church. Make it a yearly ritual.

OP, what very expensive electronics did the kids want for Christmas? Did you let your 8 year old think he was getting an iphone or something?

In that case, you need to decide very loudly that electronics aren't good for kids. Don't blame it on money, but just that you read some scientific article that said that kids shouldn't have electronics/cell phones/ipads whatever. Or they can have them when they are 15 or whatever.