I have 2 kids (grandparents), 6 grandchildren (all grown), and 18 great grandchildren (oldest ones are 6 years)! What do I do at Christmas when I live on low income Social Security?
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The best gift you can give is yourself. You may record stories of your youth, memories of them when they were young, or stories about people who have passed away. They would also appreciate old photographs or treasured recipes. As the saying goes, they need your presence, not your presents!
How about searching through all your family photos and giving your children a nice inexpensive photo book, one enlarged and framed special photo of them or even just an envelope full of their childhood photos?
You may or may not want to write out a special memory to go with one or more of the photos too!
These memories are gifts that only you can give!
Play Christmas related games with small token gifts from the Dollar Store. Have each person draw a slip from a jar with instructions such as sing a song, act out a name of a show, etc. or perform a trick, etc. Complete a verse from a carol, instruct how to wrap a gift box, etc.
do you do any crafts >> anyting underlined. handmade by grandma will be cherished in time..... stockings, pillowcase, afghan, quilt, a set of 5 handmade greeting cards and stamps, handmade christmas ornament personalized and with the year added....
These are some great ideas already posted, but might I suggest you keep the memory ones for the adults? Old photos in a Christmas card might really please them.
But for kids - oldest at six years - you can't begin to enter the battle of high-tech plastic and gizmos. I know, I've been there!
What about a money card? Using change up to a dollar ( or even 50 cents ), stick the coins to thick card in the shape of a face. They'll be just as pleased because it means they can choose something to buy all by themselves.
As for babies, a few thrift-shop containers for the coins you'll be giving them over the years, and just one coin on a card. Maybe with a photo of the baby on the front, if you can get one. Might be a nice record of how they grow and change.
* I don't mean expensive shop cards. Craft stock card might replace all those and be more individual into the bargain. Hope you have a lovely Christmas!
Sounds like a great family!!
You do not say if all of your family lives close by or if they are in other cities - or how many you will see at Christmas so it is possible you will have to mail some gifts?
As you clearly know - living on a fixed income can make it very difficult to purchase gifts for such a large family.
At Christmas time - I have had to discontinue "gifts" for grownups and just concentrate on the children.
I have found it is so much easier to buy things all through the year - Dollar Tree, Big Lots, many thrift stores, church sales, and generally any time I see something any one of the children might like. I store these and then decide which gift to give to "who" later in the year. I also try to do this for their birthdays.
Also, many children and grownups like to receive a nice piece of clothing and things like this can be found all year.
Although this is too late to start, maybe it might work for 2017?
But perhaps you still have time to shop at the dollar tree and even Thrift stores before Christmas. Children do not usually know the cost of a gift (or care) so most of the time they just want a gift that was chosen with their "likes" in mind.
Concentrate on gifts that have to be mailed first so you can get these on their way. Shipping can be very expensive so keep that in mind when buying these items.
Do your grownups still expect a gift from you? If so, maybe a nice inexpensive card with a gift card to their favorite store/eatery. Only you would know how much to place on each card - even McDonald's/Burger King/Starbucks can be a welcome treat.
I tend to try and make birthday gifts more special for grownups and children as this is their "special day" and maybe not as many gifts as at Christmas.
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