Search Results for: blog christmas shopping as a couple

Making Christmas Simple

A simple Christmas can have wonderful meaning. Often, the less that we have, the more that we have to appreciate the wonder, the joy, and the glory of the season. This applies to both using up too much time and too much money. A couple of days ago, we picked up a few bags of bird seed from a discount store. That inexpensive purchase was one of the best ones we have had this season. It brought a number of colorful song birds right to our window. In the early morning hours, a hot cup of coffee and some time … Continue reading →

Shopping with Grandma and Grandpa Part IV

After selecting several articles of clothing for my daughter, my mother-in-law and moved on to looking for some clothes for my son, which was surprisingly more difficult than shopping for my daughter. Since jeans were a must, I set my attention on scouring up all the different styles of jeans. The perfect pair was a straight fit jean in a darker wash with a dragon embroidered on the left pant leg (my son is currently fascinated with dragons). Much to my dismay they did not appear to have his size, but the saleswoman was able to track down a pair … Continue reading →

Making This a Stress-Less Christmas

We are just a few days away from Christmas. If you were to ask me if I feel ready, I would have to honestly say no. But at the same time, I’m not sweating it. Gift shopping-wise, I am fine. In fact, this is the easiest I have ever had it. No adults are exchanging and the only other children in the family are my nephews. But my sister and I agreed to not buy for each other’s kids this year. My children want money, so I don’t even have to pick their gifts out. So in this department, I … Continue reading →

Easy and Popular Christmas Gifts You Can Make

This year, why not cut your holiday gift budget in half or even more by making some wonderful homemade gifts. Forget the crocheted potholders and the macaroni art, the following popular gifts will be appreciated and used. In fact, they are so popular, you might even find a couple of them among the gifts that you get! Baked Gifts From cookie platters to quick breads, baked goods can certainly hit the spot during the holidays. Pick up some inexpensive dishes, loaf pans and other containers at your local thrift store. Pretty containers that your gift recipient can keep are much … Continue reading →

Nightmare Shopping Trip

I’m not referring to the time when your 2-year-old had a meltdown in the middle of Target when you refused him the toy snake he wanted. Or, the time when you had to battle a gazillion other parents to snag the last Zhu Zhu for your kid’s Christmas stocking. Or, the time when your eyeball was nearly knocked from its socket by a mother who just had to have the box of electric blue Peeps you were fingering. No, I am referring to a real nightmare shopping trip that ends up with you and your spouse in jail and your … Continue reading →

What to Get at the Post-Christmas Sales

I’ve never been one for Boxing Day (or Boxing Week, or Boxing two weeks…) sales. I usually find myself so stunned after Christmas is over that I don’t want to move for a few days, let alone enter in to the consumer frenzy that is the time after Christmas. Didn’t we just go through that before Christmas? However, I must admit that I do enter the hallowed halls of the mall after Christmas upon occasion, usually do to an accident. Maybe I’m going to the library and I just happen into the place, you know? If you find yourself in … Continue reading →

Christmas Eve 2010

6am: I woke up a little earlier than normal (actually I got out of bed earlier than normal) in order to take a quick shower and start a fire in our fireplace before anyone else was awake. I’m now comfortable sitting in my living room trying to organize my desk and the work I have to do in order to attempt to avoid it for a period of time. While today is just the “day before” Christmas it carries with it a special kind of feeling of excitement. I just heard the buzzer go off on my cup of tea … Continue reading →

Ways to Reduce Stress on Your Marriage at Christmas

Yesterday I looked at some of the pressure on couples during the Christmas season and a couple of suggestions for easing the tension. Here are some other suggestions you might want to consider implementing. Don’t go overboard with gifts. Some people are generous by nature and love to give gifts. I admit I’m a person who loves to buy presents for those I love, so this is something I have to watch. But it can backfire and have a negative effect. The problem with going overboard is twofold. Firstly, it is not helpful if you spend more than you can … Continue reading →

Christmas Shopping at Five Below

If you happen to have a Five Below store in your area, I recommend visiting it now for some frugal Christmas shopping. It looks like they are just stocking the shelves, so if you want the best selection, don’t wait. Don’t have one of these stores where you live? Apply this info to any local discount store. This past week, my husband and I found ourselves in Target looking for yet more Halloween candy. We decided to do two trunks for our church’s first trunk or treat event and didn’t want to come up short (to see how we did … Continue reading →

Why Black Friday Shopping and Kids Don’t Mix

What kind of parent takes his/her children shopping on Black Friday morning? I posed that question last year in a blog and got a variety of answers. Personally, I wouldn’t dream of dragging my child out of bed at 3, 4, 5 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, so that she could sit in a cart while I tried to score deals on Christmas gifts. But that’s just me. Apparently, some parents don’t share the same philosophy. Take for example the Georgia couple that ditched their kids last week, so they could snag Black Friday deals. According to police, instead … Continue reading →