The Cheapest Christmas Ever!

Have you ever said "I wish we didn't have toso they won't fall on
spend so much money on Christmas?" or "I wishchildren when they are open. Decoupage the
we could have Christmas without going into debt!"inside lids and bottoms with wallpaper, newspaper
Well here is your answer - tell your family thator wrapping paper.When buying clothes out of
next Christmas no one is allowed to buy a new,season, buy them a little larger for next year.
expensive gift for anyone! Yes, I really said that.Also if you find a really good buy but it is a
Tell them that all presents must be from garagelittle large get it anyway. If it will save you
sales, tag sales, yard sales, auctions, handmade ormoney when the child gets a little larger, it is
made over.You really need to start now, or startworth the storage. Bed
next spring/summer, hit all the garages sales andspreads; comforters and sheets are always
auctions that you can. Find items that your familyfound at sales. This is a good buy if you find your
collects, things from sports teams that they like,color or design. Used
such as T-shirts with silly sayings, posters,sheets, etc., are also great to send off to
glasses, etc. Pick up craft items that will look cutecollege, camp or in kids rooms.Educational toys
around someone's home. You can find games forabound at garage sales. Be sure and ask if they
the kids by the carload and puzzles abound forwork, even better carry a couple of batteries
that person who lives to do puzzles. You won'twith you
believe how many golf clubs you can find,and try them out. Dead batteries are usually the
bicycles, tricycles, baby toys and clothes. You canreason toys don't work. If you need to find baby
find records, cassettes and videos (old classicsthings, go to
make great gifts). Did you know that a 45 recordneighborhoods that tend to have younger
of Elvis in the cardboard cover was found for afamilies. Older neighborhoods with older homes will
quarter recently and a collector offered thehave more things since
person $150.00 for it. Think how many gifts youthey have had longer to collect. Older or middle
can collect over the summer for a quarter to aaged families will also have good children's furniture
dollar. The person who collects cats or bears cansuch as playpens,
double their collection just from items you find.high chairs, etc., since they usually have
You will be amazed at the silly things you can findgrandchildren who have outgrown these items.My
at garage sales for that special brother, sister orfamily did this several years ago and the floor
best friend.Look at items as they will look cleanedwas covered with gifts, hundreds of them. What
up or painted. Pieces of furniture like cabinets,fun you can have
bookcases, dressers can look terrific if sandedopening something silly or watching the face of a
and restained or painted the color of someone'sfamily member as they unwrap a collectible. The
room theme. You can make them match bypeople in your family
addingwho are crafty can present everyone with a
wood cutouts, decals, or ornaments. Cute 2 andbeautiful handmade item that they will treasure
3 drawer end tables for playrooms, a home officefor many years. The year
or kids room can bewe did this we had absolutely NO BILLS, NO
painted with each drawer a different color orCREDIT CARD DEBT or empty bank accounts.
painting stripes. Knobs can be painted or replaced.Try it one year and you will
Old trunks, footprobably be hooked plus you will be amazed how
lockers, old part metal suitcases can be madenice it is to not have to worry about paying for it
into neat storage or toy boxes. Be sure to fix lidsthe rest of the year.