The economy is stressing everyone out I know. It’s stressful to us because Mike doesn’t have a salary (other than the part-time one from church). The bulk of his money comes from the handyman/remodeling work he does and that is just not a consistent income. Some months we have a pretty good amount of money coming in and some months we scrape by, by the skin of our teeth. It’s pretty hard to budget when you don’t know what your budget is going to be from one month to the next. Or even one week to the next. I know that if all else fails, I can go back to teaching - even if it’s just subbing - because one thing that’s always needed is subs. But I’d really rather not.
So, what does one do when Christmas is coming (and a little girl’s birthday a few weeks before that) and you’re trying to be frugal? Well, if you have a fairly impressive fabric stash like I do, you make Christmas gifts for all the kids on your list. Most of the kids will be getting quilted pencil rolls similar to this one. My newest nephew will be getting a quilt like all the other nieces and nephews got a couple of years ago. I’m doing some special top-secret sewing for my goddaughter. And the rest will be getting other things that I haven’t totally decided on yet. It all depends on time and resources.
Mike and I don’t usually exchange Christmas gifts - other than little things - since our anniversary is in January anyway. We save the Christmas money that we’d spend on each other and use it for the after Christmas shopping that we enjoy. LG is getting a major birthday present in a newly refurbished canopy bed with brand new bedding and a new mattress (courtesy of Grandma). She’ll get a few things for Christmas but not too much this year. I’m sure Santa will visit, though!
My dad will get his traditional photo calendar of LG and my cousin will get a photo calendar with some of my favorite photos I’ve taken throughout the year. And other than that? If we can’t pay cash for it, it won’t be purchased. I know the sewing will be a lot of work, but I think it will be worth it. And maybe it will help me get back to what Christmas is really about anyway - remembering the birth of our Savior and giving from the heart to those you love. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to do either one of those.
