Buying Presents for Holiday Season

[culinarius]

List of gifts to dry in oven or dehydrator:

Jar of pumpkin seeds (delicious)--wash off pulp, sprinkle lightly with salt, garlic or other, oven dry 175
orange, lemon or lime slices for snacks, drinks, plate garnish, potpourri - dry in oven or dehydrator
slit whole oranges at intervals, dry in oven; use for potpourri or holiday decorating
dry veggies in dehydrator and put in jars for soup mixes, dips, stews, etc.
  (frozen veggies are already blanched and can just be thrown on dehydrator trays)
jar of dried mushrooms, mixed varieties - use dehydrator
apple slices or wedges for snacks, potpourri, rehydrate for stuffing, add to wild rice - dehydrate
jar of mixed dried fruit (pears, bananas, apples, grapefruit, grapes, oranges)- dry in oven or dehydrator
  (sprinkle cinnamon on for added flavor)
string hot chili peppers and let recepient hang to air dry (beautiful and practical)
mixed dried onions and/or peppers to throw in soups, stews, dips, etc. - dehydrate
fruit leather; puree bananas, apples... dehydrate
jar of mixed raisins from varieties of dried grapes - oven or dehydrate (far better than store bought)
spaghetti leather; pour spaghetti sauce on dehydrator trays as for fruit leather)
dried jerky
air dry gourds; spray with matte or gloss acrylic spray for bright and vivid colors
bags of dried veggies, fruit, spaghetti and fruit leathers for bugging out or camping

[NapalmZygote]

Years ago the annual dialogue would invariably go like this:

NapalmZygote: "Mom, what do you want for Christmas this year?"
Mom: "Your undying love and respect <LOL>"

Finally one year I got a small metal picture frame in the shape of a heart and neatly printed "My Undying Love And Respect", signed and dated it, and put it in the frame.  My Mom died almost five years ago but that picture frame is still on display at my Dad's house, so I think it was a good gift.

[PoppyMcGee]

Last year I made everyone bath salts and homemade cookies. This, because the year before, we asked people not to give us anything and they did anyway. At least this way I had something to give.

I'm going to do something similar this year. I was thinking some kind of Xmas ornament (I saw some really cute ones made out of buttons, and I have ten billion of those) and something edible. Banana bread, maybe?

For the kids, we will buy them a few things, but most of their gifts will be homemade. (They are 4 and 2.) We are building them a little wooden kitchen, and I am making up a trunk of dress up clothes, mostly from thrifted stuff. I also have a couple other things in mind.

 Money is more than tight this year, so a lot of this is less a choice than it is necessity.

[kmaine2]

Last year I made everyone bath salts and homemade cookies. This, because the year before, we asked people not to give us anything and they did anyway. At least this way I had something to give.

I'm going to do something similar this year. I was thinking some kind of Xmas ornament (I saw some really cute ones made out of buttons, and I have ten billion of those) and something edible. Banana bread, maybe?

For the kids, we will buy them a few things, but most of their gifts will be homemade. (They are 4 and 2.) We are building them a little wooden kitchen, and I am making up a trunk of dress up clothes, mostly from thrifted stuff. I also have a couple other things in mind.

 Money is more than tight this year, so a lot of this is less a choice than it is necessity.

Poppy it is Ok.

 I have a friend who every year gives my little guy some playschool toy that was her daughter's. Although I appreciate that she doesn't spend the money and is reusing a toy, I am amazed that one little girl needed the entire Little People collection. WE just don't have the room for them all and I have brought them to our church nursery.

My little guy, 3, would be happy with a couple of matchbox cars and a few books, crayons and blocks. Simple toys that he plays with all the time. 

You have the opportunity while they are young to keep their expectations low and to have them appreciate the very thoughtful and creative gifts you do give them.

[girlofcelje]

Im giving my older boy some pots and pans and some kitchen supplies from my things for his place.My
daughter some baked goods and the youngest gets toys.She will also get some lip gloss I got from
a points card.Very cheap Xmas

[haggismudpie]

Dress-up clothes rock.  Get the most awful bridesmaid dresses you can find and do a little cutting. 

[Grower]

Dress-up clothes rock.  Get the most awful bridesmaid dresses you can find and do a little cutting. 

This phrase is redundant.

[cabacaba]

Interesting Posts....

We usually buy a airline ticket for our favorite daughter and her husband in the frozen upper midwest. They fly into Vegas. It is cheaper than flying into Bullhead City(close to where we live). We drive up and meet them and party.. The grandkids, we send them money... The way taxes are going up probably won't be able to do much next time.

I think it is terrible, to waste money by sending it to the overseas scams that supposedly "help" this or that group.. Give the the money to USA local charities and food banks. Our favorite charities  are the Salvation Army and Battered women shelters. Take care of our own first, you dummies...

[Ming]

Cabacba - Favorite daughter - don't tell me you play favorites....

[nomore]

There are a couple of good books to read on changing holiday consumption patterns and one DVD to see

Books: Unplug The Christmas Machine and Hundred Dollar Holiday
DVD: Reverend Billy Talen's documentary What Would Jesus Buy? (http://www.revbilly.com)

Hope this helps convert some thinking.

I'm going back to celebrating Buy Nothing Day (or if I slip & shop Only Buy Local & Buy Necessities Day) on Black Friday. I fell off the wagon last year and it only took one crowded Wal-Mart at a really early hour to remind me why Black Friday is a bad thing (and no it wasn't the same Wal-Mart where the temp employee got trampled to death by shoppers but I totally understood how that could happen & would rather not be in the middle of that kind of fracas again).

Since I buy well thought out well priced things to give as gifts all year long the holiday shopping season isn't as stressful as it used to be We've cut back already so this year's modest gift-giving won't shock anyone.

[MEA]

One year my dd (then 10) made drawstring bags out of old flannel nightresses for hot water bottle covers. They were linned and work a treat.

[byelka]

Years ago the annual dialogue would invariably go like this:

NapalmZygote: "Mom, what do you want for Christmas this year?"
Mom: "Your undying love and respect <LOL>"

Finally one year I got a small metal picture frame in the shape of a heart and neatly printed "My Undying Love And Respect", signed and dated it, and put it in the frame.  My Mom died almost five years ago but that picture frame is still on display at my Dad's house, so I think it was a good gift.

Dammit, this made me cry.

[Citizen J]

We have a ton of amazing artisans around here so at least once during the several seasonal craft fairs I take 50 or 60 bucks in cash and spread it around, try to buy a small item ($3-10) from as many of them as I can afford.  I don't feel cheap because having been on the tent-merchant circuit myself I know that small sales add up.  I always take cash so as not to enrich the credit companies or make the crafter pay the CC  processing fee.  I like knowing I helped local craftspeople, not corporate vampires.  Small gifts can be  cheaply shipped.

I confess this is extraneous shopping, in the category of pure consumption, but I have a soft spot for artists and craftspeople, and like to brighten their holidays too. 

[booklvr777]

Years ago the annual dialogue would invariably go like this:

NapalmZygote: "Mom, what do you want for Christmas this year?"
Mom: "Your undying love and respect <LOL>"

Finally one year I got a small metal picture frame in the shape of a heart and neatly printed "My Undying Love And Respect", signed and dated it, and put it in the frame.  My Mom died almost five years ago but that picture frame is still on display at my Dad's house, so I think it was a good gift.

I'm a mom and grandma, and this type of gift would mean more to me than absolutely anything someone could buy.  I guarantee you that your mom (and dad) felt the same way.  Good on ya--fabulous gift!

[wiccawench]

handmade for sure walking sticks out of ash..... food and cookies... gift basket.

this year we made photo and movie of the kids for all the family in Australia..... from the last 4 years (I have HUNDREDS of photos)

for my girls i am sending money as it really is up to them to decide what they need. (Grown up and mostly pinched for money).... oldest daughter has a 20 month old so i asked her to get him some wooden blocks.... i wish i was there to actually make them. But it is a close second....