November 11, 2009
If you have not read the story about the family we are trying to help this holiday season please take a minute to read it before you move on and read the post for today. PLEASE HELP
This season instead of spending money create a few new holiday traditions. You may be in the habit of getting pizza for a simple Christmas Eve dinner. This year begin a new tradition and make pizza from scratch. You can purchase crusts with sauce packets included or make your own. The just raid your food storage and check the fridge for leftovers and enjoy this time together as a family making your own amazing creations.
If you normally give gifts to friends and neighbors, this year make some homemade rolls or muffins and take a few on a paper plate with cute wrapping and sing a Christmas Carrol or two. We did this a few years ago with a loaf of homemade cinnamon bread, very inexpensive, and took it to a friend who had recently remarried. The new husband was fifty something and he was so touched he said no one had ever come caroling to his home before. So much better than spending the night watching movies or delivering a more expensive gift.
Many years ago we began delivering small gifts to friends by placing them on their doorstep, ringing the bell and running like mad! When we had a rough year financially and could no longer do gifts for Christmas we asked our children what the one thing was that they wanted to do for Christmas. I wasn’t having stockings filled or new jammies or the traditional new ornament, it was door bell ditching. So, again the homemade bread came out and we had a blast! And, it was all cheap!!
If you normally give your kids an ornament each year, make them. You can even take a pine cone, add a little glitter and a Christmas ribbon. f you normally give pajamas why not get some inexpensive white t shirts and tie dye, paint or use fabric crayons to decorate them.
If you normally stop for fast food while traveling, brown bag it. We had a tradition in our family that the only time I purchased sugary cereals was when we were on vacations. The individual size boxes make fun snacks while traveling and can become a tradition for your family too. One year I packed carrots, before the days of mini carrots, as part of our lunch, and the kids spent an hour biting the carrots and creating sculptures.
Remember the most important gift you can give family and friends is the gift of your love. You can do that in so many ways that require little or no money.
