Christmas on a Tight Budget: Take time to Observe

Before you decided what gifts you will actually write down for all the people you love in your family, in your circle of friends, and gifts for other people's children, take a couple of days and observe and really notice them as an individual.

For me, this means I'm observing my husband, each of my children, my sisters, and a few close friends.  Now this isn't some covert, CIA investigation but rather just a time to really engage with each one and see what floats their boat.  Just because your daughter really liked "One Direction" last summer doesn't mean they are the same group that she listens to 24/7 today.  Likewise, last year your husband may have longed for a certain shiny, electronic item but maybe he has moved on and is focused on a new hobby this year.

Of course, some people are known for their hobbies, standards, and collections of things that they love.  Some people love certain items and we know that about them.  My grandpa loves cashews and I always include a can with his gift.  I have one daughter that loves shiny, stud earrings.  She will get a pair in her stocking. 

What's the point of this week of observing?  Hopefully, this year, Christmas gifts will have significant meaning for each of the people we choose to bless with a gift from us.  Something that shows how much we love them and know them and want to bless them.  Not just another a gift card we picked off the spinning rack because it was the last dang minute and we have to be at Aunt Sally's house in an hour!  Not another trinket that will end up in next summer's yard sale.

For my little kids I'm going to try to notice what toys or activities they chose on their own to play with this week.  What items do they keep going back to?  Who's their favorite character?  When they have quiet, alone time what type of books do they choose?  When allowed to watch TV, what shows do they watch?

For my older teens I will try to have conversations about what new trends they like in music and clothes.  I will ask what's the latest songs they've downloaded, I'll look at their viewing history on Netflix and the DVR.  I will ask if there is some place they've been wanting to go and see or go and do.

Here's a worksheet to help you observe your family and loved ones this week. 

"It is better to give than to receive." 

Let's make this more true this year than ever before when we observe and carefully select gifts on purpose with purpose!

Cheap Family Fun for the Weekend of October 3-5th

Looking for something to do this weekend in the North Florida area?  Here's some ideas!

Amazing Grace Crop Maze provides a seasonal interactive educational agricultural experience for families of Clay County and Northeast Florida - fall family fun on the farm!

Amazing Grace Crop Maze will be open to the public Fridays and Saturdays from October 3 until November 8 and during the week for field trips. Attractions include: crop maze, hay ride, corn crib, pumpkin patch, corn hole, scarecrow throwin', steer head ropin', duck races and more!

Location 2899 Wisteria Farms Rd, Green Cove Springs, FL, 32043
Cost:  $11 for each person age 4 and up.  Discounts for military, first responders, and teachers!

We took the Starke Elementary third graders to this last year and we had a fun time.  The kids really enjoyed the old-fashioned game area and the hayride.

Bonus:  Pack a picnic lunch and go the the huge park right down the road.  You can't miss it!

In addition, Roger's Farm in Alachua County opens this weekend!

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Home Depot offers The Kids Workshops for FREE how-to clinics for children. Projects include the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin. Ages 5-12

On October 4th kids will be building an EMS truck.

Location:  All Home Depots (click to preregister)
Cost:  FREE
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The Annual Butterfly Fest is this Saturday at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida campus.  A celebration of wings and backyard things! Explore the lives of bats, bees, birds and butterflies at this fall’s ButterflyFest while celebrating wings, wildlife and biodiversity. Enjoy the Butterfly Plant Sale beginning Friday, Oct. 3 through Oct. 5, one of the museum’s largest plant sales of the year with more than 150 species available. Learn about butterfly gardening, native pollinators, conservation, backyard wildlife and more. Experience butterfly releases and come dressed in your favorite pollinator attire for the Pollinator Parade!

Location: 3215 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32611-2710
Cost:  varies by which activities you participate in; many are free

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 Fire Safety Expo

Gainesville Fire Rescue's 1st Fire Safety Expo will be the kick off event to Fire Prevention Week. On Saturday, October 4th from 10 am to 2 pm there will be live demos and activities for families to participate in including spraying the fire hose, story time, a craft, and tour the Fire Engine.

Location: Gainesville Fire Rescue Station #3, 900 N. Waldo Road, Gainesville FL

Cost:  Free

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 And something for families with older kids: 

Gold Head Haunted Hike and Costume Ball

When: Saturday, October 4, 2014,  6:30 pm

Location: Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, 6239 State Road 21 Keystone Heights

Cost: $5.00 for hike and costume ball.

Prepare to be scared! Use discretion bringing sensitive children. No pets or strollers allowed. Please wear appropriate footwear. The hike is approximately one mile long over an unpaved trail.

After the hike, come and enjoy our costume ball/DJ dance party.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Website: www.floridastateparks.org

Christmas on a Tight Budget: Out of the Mouths of Babes! Learning from Past Mistakes

Planning a Christmas on a Tight Budget?  Me too!  

Today I am sharing some real-life, this actually happened Christmas stories from my life as mom. 

 

Let me take you back to when I only had three kids.  Yes, when you have seven kids, three  gets labeled as "only three"!  Back in the year 2003 I was feeling guilty that my six year old daughter, Christin,  did not have a "Bitty Baby" like her friends did.  Being that she was the big sister and halfway to seven, getting just a Bitty Baby seemed childish to me when according to the American Girl Company, the historical dolls should be given at age 8 and Bitty Baby was for girls aged 3-7.   

 

I knew she was not ready for Kit or Felicity so instead I chose to buy her the Bitty Twins (boy and girl) and their double stroller, several outfits, highchair and  books about the Bitty Twins.    If you know anything about American Girl dolls, you know that all of that cost around $400.  Yes, I now know I was crazy!

 

The kicker?  For that entire next year her birthday gifts, Easter basket, and special rewards revolved around more stuff for her dolls.  As Christmas list time came around again she practically begged not to get stuff for those dolls.  She did like them, she did dress them up and stroll them around a bit, but I had pigeon-holed her into that marketing scheme.  Because the dolls were such an investment I felt like she needed to collect all the pieces.  Today, that little girl is 17.  She barely remembers the dolls at all.  When asked what her best Christmas gift was from growing up she always responds, "Talking Angelina from Rugrats".  Ironically, she received that annoying doll the same year as the Bitty Twins.  It didn't have extra parts, or clothes, or a catalog of stuff to go with it.  Angelina simply had a button that you pushed and she spoke different phrases from Christin's favorite show "Rugrats".  

Fast forward a few years to when my daughter Ciarra was around five years old.  I'm sure at that age she had created a list for Santa.  I always try to buy the kids at least a few items from their Santa list.  A week before Christmas I noticed that the other two kids had more gifts to unwrap than Ciarra so at the last minute I went out and bought more stuff for her so that items would be even.  Two days after Christmas I noticed that she had not played with a few items that she had unwrapped, so I gently encouraged her.  You know in that mommy voice of "I see that some of your gifts haven't been touched, why don't you try them out today?"  She looked at me very matter-of-factly and said, "Those weren't on my list.  I guess Santa got my list mixed up with someone else.   I don't really want them.  I like my list stuff better."  Well, Out of the Mouths of Babes!!!

Thinking back on these events, I can clearly see my mistakes.  My intentions were pure; I wanted to give my kids my vision and version of the best.  Since then I've tried to really see what they want and need and give them their version of the best.  I haven't always hit the mark but I keep that picture of Angelina and Ciarra's voice in my head when shopping for my kids.  

What past Christmas mistakes have you had to learn through gift-giving?  

How does it influence your decision making when buying gifts?