Fun and Thrifty Christmas Ideas / myLot

Franklinton, North Carolina

December 4, 2015 12:02am CST

I usually don't go overboard too much with the Holiday spending. My siblings and I have pretty much always agreed that we don't give each other gifts for Christmas. Also, we all focus on our own kids. It would get really out of hand if we all had to buy gifts for nieces and nephews. For those who get together for the big day, we always do stockings for everyone who shows up. I either make my own from things I have on hand, or buy them at the Dollar store. Everybody contributes to the stockings, bringing candy, small toiletries and toys. The other thing we do is, a White Elephant gift exchange on Christmas Eve. This is a fun activity, everyone gets a gift, and each of us only has to shop for, and pay for, one gift. That reduces the stress, and financial strain, and allows us to focus more on enjoying being together.

13 people like this

12 responses

The Horse

@TheHorse (220275)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Dec 15

I've been around a lot of families where they draw names, and each person has one person they buy a "bigger" gift for. Less festive, but more practical. I miss getting things from "Santa."

3 people like this

Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

4 Dec 15

Well, maybe if you are a good little boy, Santa will leave something under the tree for you this year.

2 people like this

Jlyn

@Jlyn10 (11965)

• Malaysia

4 Dec 15

@TheHorse It's called Mystery Santa and we are doing that in our office where we set a certain price for the gift. We like to keep it a secret of who buys for whom.

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Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

4 Dec 15

@Jlyn10 I hope your Santa knows what you want.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (472078)

• Switzerland

4 Dec 15

What is a "White Elephant gift exchange"? I do not spend too much for Christmas, I only buy a gift for my mother and one for my niece. My husband and I have decided not to exchange gifts between us.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (472078)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

@norcal This is a funny game, we should do the same.

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Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

7 Dec 15

@LadyDuck - It is a fun activity for a Christmas party where there are many guests. If you only have a few people it would not be as exciting.

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Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

4 Dec 15

Each person buys a gift. Then people draw numbers. Starting with number 1, they take turns choosing and unwrapping a gift. When it's your turn, you can either unwrap a gift, or steal a gift that has already been unwrapped. Each give can only be stolen 3 times.

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celticeagle

@celticeagle (168334)

• Boise, Idaho

4 Dec 15

We don't really do much for Christmas anymore. My grandson goes over to his bio dad's and its just my daughter and I. We always seem to end up getting each other something but give it when ever we want to.

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celticeagle

@celticeagle (168334)

• Boise, Idaho

4 Dec 15

@norcal .Yeah, things are just too expensive now days.

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Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

4 Dec 15

I have a brother and a sister, and all of us have spouses and kids, now some of the kids have kids. Sometimes, we all get together in one spot for the holiday. If we all felt like we had to get something for everybody it would really break the bank.

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Karen Waterson

@rosekiss (30414)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Dec 15

There are oinly 6 of us for Christmas, so it becomes more intimate, and I usually just give money to my son and fmily. I do buy something for my ex husband, and sometiems my daughter-in-law. The grand kids and my son, would rather have money, which makes it easier for me anyway.The white elephant game is a lot of fun, as the church we bleonged to when we lived in Indiana, would paly it all the time. It was a small church, but when we all got together, we had a blast. It is amazing thought that you could end up with anything in the game, which really made it a lot of fun.

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Karen Waterson

@rosekiss (30414)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Dec 15

@norcal Yea, it is more fun with a bigger group and when we played it when my ex and I were younger and so were our kids, we had the bes fun, that is for sure. i wish for you a very merry Christmas as well.

Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

4 Dec 15

White Elephant is more fun with a larger group. Have a Merry Christmas with your family.

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peggy baker

@softbabe44 (5816)

• Vancouver, Washington

4 Dec 15

That's a wonderful way to do things I know that white elephant gift exchange is a blow over cause you can really get some great stuff and the dollar store is the best place to get stuff the power of knowing the great topic.

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Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

4 Dec 15

The White Elephant exchange has the benefit of being an activity as well as a gift. It's fun to see which gift people want to "steal."

Reine25

@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

5 Dec 15

Being together is the best "gift' that we can have.. priceless

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Sherry

@norcal (4889)

• Franklinton, North Carolina

5 Dec 15

True, especially when you can enjoy being together.

snowy

@snowy22315 (182204)

• United States

5 Dec 15

Yes, that is alays a good idea. It gets difficult to try to buy presents for everyone. I like the white elephant idea.

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Jlyn

@Jlyn10 (11965)

• Malaysia

4 Dec 15

I like to call it Mystery Santa cause we don't want to reveal the names of the persons buying the presents, so nobody knows who bought for whom and they can keep guessing.

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Teep11

@Teep11 (7673)

• United States

4 Dec 15

Sounds like some fun family activities take place on Christmas. That's good. No one should over spend on any holiday but it appears that so many have decided not to spend too much this year.

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Sharon

@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

4 Dec 15

I love the idea of a White Elephant gift exchange. When my Mom and Dad were still alive, we would draw names among all the adults and it really did help to only have to buy one gift.

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