When my children were younger, I would take each of them on a separate day to the thrift store and let them pick out a gift for each member. They really had to think what each person would want and then we'd go to McDonalds for a Happy Meal. When my mom passed and we went through her things, she still had some of the gifts from my kids. It was special for them to see that those gifts were indeed special.
I like how you mentioned you don’t say “we don’t have money” as to not stress out the kids. My mom would say that all of the time growing up and it did make me anxious and uneasy
Love it, ditto. My home schooled kids are 12-22. Our routine is: all year long when they "want" something I tell them to put in on their list. We each have our own running list posted on a board. (This is good for forgetful parents too.) When bdays or holidays roll around I have a list to refer to when relatives ask for gift ideas as well. It's also a great way for the kids to look at their list 6 to 12 months later and realize they didn't actually want some items.
My sister took us all to a local production of A Christmas Carol as our present one year and it was so great. We went from homeschooling to public school and I’ve worried about the materialism too,. It hasn’t been bad at all.
We have simplified our Christmas over the years. We focus on needs vs wants. My teen asks for a couple of items in each category. I buy throughout the year for neccessities and watch for things I know she will like or want. I also take a week off during Christmas. When she was younger, I could not afford such a luxury. Now we get to spend that extra time together and it has made the holidays more enjoyable. I go "on strike" from big box stores (grocery is ok) from November to January to avoid the chaos in stores so all shopping has to be done beforehand. Another way to take away the stress many people feel at this time of year. Going into debt over a holiday is insane and I am teaching her there is more to life than keeping up with everyone else. Another great video! ❤
I am currently living in an area where one of the shopping centers exhibits Christmas Trees that have been decorated by local businesses and organizations. They are auctioned and the money raised goes to charity. We go see the Christmas Trees and that's free. Also as we're driving at night we take different routes to places that we're going so we can see different Christmas decorations. There's a nearby church that has a religious decorated area with a manger that's drive through and it's free. Last year they had free refreshments inside. They also had a goat petting area. They take donations. We enjoy seeing the free decorations wherever we go. There is a free parade but we haven't been to that in the past because it's been too cold for us.
I am the SAME with saving the bigger gifts & purchases for Christmas! Even for toys, we actually do not buy toys at all during the year so I actually do get them new toys and view it as a “toy refresh” we only get toys for Christmas and birthdays during the year so it makes it more fun for Christmas.
I love Black Friday lol!! I do take advantage of that & prime day! It helps if you have a running list to avoid the marketing, but in terms of using those days to take advantage I absolutely agree!
I know this might be off topic too, but I don’t follow the rule of thumb of “spend 100$ each” for kids. People tell me they do this, and I personally feel like trying to meet a number costs me more money and it is not realistic for different ages! You can get buy spending way less for little kids, too, as typically their items are not as costly as what the older kids like. 😅 I just try to get them each a few things they like, want, need without complicating it.
I have been considering a new idea with my teens where they actually purchase their own special gift and then open them in front of each other and explain why they picked it and why its special. Kindof a family bonding/learning experience for new hobbies and interests
No gifting at all. Christmas is a family holiday, and it's about spending time together, having good food, and be grateful for the life we have. My daughter gets everything that she needs all year around, not expensive, and not needed presents on Christmas. Just my 5 cents 😊
You're such a thoughtful person (re: peer pressures can be different for homeschooled vs private/public schooled kids). It's definitely something that we navigate as our kids are in public school 💛
Good, Sound, Solid and Mature Advice. I Agree!! Christmas is Not About How Many Gifts are Under the Tree. It's About "GOD and FAMILY"!! I Absolutely Loathe all This "Commercialism" and the Pressure to "Spend, Spend and Spend"!! So Unnecessary. Thank You for this Video!! Stay Safe and GOD BLESS!!
I have had tons of medical bills this year, so I told one of my sisters that I was buying for her grandchildren this year but if it was ok with them we wouldn’t exchange gifts this year. They said “ sounds good”. I feel a little bad- We don’t really even hear from them very much, other siblings make the effort to stay in contact. I’m thinking it’s the habit of buying for them that’s nagging at me?? You taught the girls well- her roommates should be very appreciative for her financial advice. Well done! I’m sure Falcon will pick up those same lessons as well.
We don't have a heavy gift-giving culture -- holidays are centered on family meals and celebrations, and going to services -- but I also do as you do and target a major purchase for a birthday or holiday. For instance, my eldest recently moved into their first apartment, and I'll be getting them a small microwave. We love the aquarium, so we'll renew our annual family membership. Younger son will get driving lessons. When they were little, their grandparents sent a box of presents; now they prefer gift cards.
Christmas has become too commercialised. So have all the holidays. My family always celebrated it in a big way even back in the 70s with my folks. But it was focussed more on family bonding and socialising with friends, church. It was less commercial in the last century.
We fona 4 gift rule with my 3 children plus small finstional gifts in their stockings instead of junk. For extended family, we buy memberships to activities thet last all year and restaurant gift cards.
We do something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. As well as simple advent and family traditions. Grandparents really over do it sometimes. The Christmas of 2019 we purchased giftcards for each month the following year and then everything shut down. I love the trips and memory making gifts however, we rarely leave the farm. In our twenty five years here, It has not been easy finding capable and willing help to run the farm while on vacation.
I have a budget line item for Christmas/bdays. I’ve noticed in your very stripped down budget you don’t have that so how do you have the money available to do your Black Friday shopping for example?
I’ve been able to collect Amazon gift cards this year from affiliate links 😊 So I am planning on shopping Amazon this year. Although, we are doing very few presents since we do have a bigger trip planned. We are saving money for that beyond our budget, which I *think* I talked a bit about in my recent budget video.
While my kids were growing up we used to sit around the table and think of everyone we could send Christmas cards to. The list got bigger every year. We recieved a lot of cards too and we would open them at dinner time, and then tape them to the wall is the shape of a Christmas tree. Some years the tree was really big. With Postage stamps being expensive maybe as a family you could draw a fun Post Card of your own and have them printed up and send those out. Its a nice way to think of others.
This may be a great idea for a video lol. Short answer - being frugal means being mindful with your money, not necessarily not spending money. So, no, I am very happy spending my money how I want and not on things I don't want.
@laurijohnson7754 Well, I am autistic and am really good at calculating and making lists lol. It’s literally the way my brain works and takes very little effort. But also, this is what I talk about on this channel so, yeah, it seems like its the entirety of who I am, but I have 23.5 hours a day where I am doing other things lol.
When I saw the last video and you mentioned your daughter's new circumstances, my first thought was that she was going to teach them money management. So cool and such an opportunity for them all to learn and grow together as friends. My mom and I used to see who could save the most money on our weekly grocery shopping. Now, I don't even shop weekly, so that is even better. Thanks for another great video. Have a blessed day.
Enjoy your content. If you have not surrendered all to Jesus as yet, please do. Serving the Lord is the greatest investment you could ever make. Blessings to you and your family.
We saved 100% of the money we spent on Christmas Easter Halloween Ect. By not celebrating them anymore 😅 I know a lot of people won't agree with that decision but it saved us so much money it's Unbelievable 😂
We've honestly debated doing this ... at least with our toddler. I would really like to completely get away from the tradition of presents - mainly the expectation of presents. So I totally get!
@@raisingwildflowers I stopped celebrating holidays and giving gifts 10 years ago. It is so freeing. Besides, I got complaints about my gifts. I am not a good gift giver, and my people dislike gift cards.
I don't agree with the peer pressures homeschooled vs public school thing. I went to public school but because my parents never had name brand stuff, I never wanted it, never even crossed my mind. Video games were fairly new back then, but I only wanted them because my cousin had then not because of kids at school and I didn't ask for them but saved my own money to buy them. Cellphones were becoming a thing, but I never wanted one and didn't have one until I wasn't living at home. My kids are homeschooled but all of their friends except one go to public school, they aren't influenced by the public-school kids. I really think it's just about how you are raised. My kids are well aware that we don't have a ton of money and always have been. My 13-year-old doesn't have a phone, has never used a computer and doesn't really want either. She has a fire kids tablet that's 7 years old and is fine with that. We don't really have much in the way of video games either. If you just ask my kids what they want it's always "I don't know", but if you give them a toy book they will circle or mark several things.
@@NomadicIslanders Yes, but it's not like my kids don't see that and their friends have that. All my kids' friends had phones at like 6-7, didn't make my kids want it anymore. My 13-year-old literally says she doesn't want a phone, she'd never use it. My kids all have a kindle fire kids tablet. My oldest was 6 when we first bought them, but my others were 2 when they got theirs; they do not leave the house. All my kids' friends have ps5, xbox whatever, switch, 64, game cubes, ect but that doesn't make my kids want them. We do have a switch and a 64 but my kids aren't allowed endless time to play them and will go weeks or months without touching them at all. My kids' friends all have name brand clothes and shoes but we (the parents, grandparents, ect) don't wear all that so it brings no interest to my kids. My kids just wear jeans and a t-shirt most days, no particular brand and whatever shoes we found that fit at the department store. They've never wanted nike, jordan, or any of that other stuff. It's about how you raise them, we didn't raise our kids to sit around and stare at screens. Parents set the expectations of what kids want by giving them all the technology as a babysitter anymore, starting at basically birth. Kids don't know life without technology constantly around anymore. There has never been TV to watch or games to play when traveling, shopping, or going out to eat. My kids bring a notebook and colored pencils to restaurants and draw or sit and have a conversation with the people at the table. We also eat dinner every night at the table as a family with no tv or electronics. I never brought more than a small coloring book or one small quiet toy even when my kids were babies. And I can say I've seen both sides because my kids' older siblings were glued to computers, phones, tv, games.
I get this. I don't have much perspective of what it would be like if my kids did go to school. I think one would be a bit more heavily influenced than the other just based on personality. The other doesn't care AT ALL about name brand/what people think (she is autistic to be fair lol).
Nothing wrong with being frugal and saving money. They are trying to build a home on their land. So money doesn’t grow on trees, you know! Plus, I’m sure they have a lot more fun than you do.
She does work. TH-cam is her job like so many others on this platform. Here is a concept you should have learned in preschool: if you don't have anything nice to say then you don't say anything at all. Perhaps you are on the wrong channel.
We do a 4 gift rule for our grandchildren. Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.
We do an outfit, a book and a toy for each grand.
I love this !!!!
thats miserable
When my children were younger, I would take each of them on a separate day to the thrift store and let them pick out a gift for each member. They really had to think what each person would want and then we'd go to McDonalds for a Happy Meal. When my mom passed and we went through her things, she still had some of the gifts from my kids. It was special for them to see that those gifts were indeed special.
I like how you mentioned you don’t say “we don’t have money” as to not stress out the kids. My mom would say that all of the time growing up and it did make me anxious and uneasy
I have made this mistake, and trying to work on it!!! 😩
Love it, ditto. My home schooled kids are 12-22. Our routine is: all year long when they "want" something I tell them to put in on their list. We each have our own running list posted on a board. (This is good for forgetful parents too.) When bdays or holidays roll around I have a list to refer to when relatives ask for gift ideas as well. It's also a great way for the kids to look at their list 6 to 12 months later and realize they didn't actually want some items.
My sister took us all to a local production of A Christmas Carol as our present one year and it was so great. We went from homeschooling to public school and I’ve worried about the materialism too,. It hasn’t been bad at all.
We have simplified our Christmas over the years. We focus on needs vs wants. My teen asks for a couple of items in each category. I buy throughout the year for neccessities and watch for things I know she will like or want. I also take a week off during Christmas. When she was younger, I could not afford such a luxury. Now we get to spend that extra time together and it has made the holidays more enjoyable. I go "on strike" from big box stores (grocery is ok) from November to January to avoid the chaos in stores so all shopping has to be done beforehand. Another way to take away the stress many people feel at this time of year. Going into debt over a holiday is insane and I am teaching her there is more to life than keeping up with everyone else. Another great video! ❤
I am currently living in an area where one of the shopping centers exhibits Christmas Trees that have been decorated by local businesses and organizations. They are auctioned and the money raised goes to charity. We go see the Christmas Trees and that's free. Also as we're driving at night we take different routes to places that we're going so we can see different Christmas decorations. There's a nearby church that has a religious decorated area with a manger that's drive through and it's free. Last year they had free refreshments inside. They also had a goat petting area. They take donations. We enjoy seeing the free decorations wherever we go. There is a free parade but we haven't been to that in the past because it's been too cold for us.
I am the SAME with saving the bigger gifts & purchases for Christmas! Even for toys, we actually do not buy toys at all during the year so I actually do get them new toys and view it as a “toy refresh” we only get toys for Christmas and birthdays during the year so it makes it more fun for Christmas.
I love Black Friday lol!! I do take advantage of that & prime day! It helps if you have a running list to avoid the marketing, but in terms of using those days to take advantage I absolutely agree!
I know this might be off topic too, but I don’t follow the rule of thumb of “spend 100$ each” for kids. People tell me they do this, and I personally feel like trying to meet a number costs me more money and it is not realistic for different ages! You can get buy spending way less for little kids, too, as typically their items are not as costly as what the older kids like. 😅 I just try to get them each a few things they like, want, need without complicating it.
I totally agree 😊 I definitely don’t feel obligated to spend as much on my toddler as on my teens. Their needs are so different!
@@raisingwildflowers Exactly!! 🤗
Yes this what I do now !!!! It’s best way and he looks forward to it then ! I think works way better
We also like to give experiences
I have been considering a new idea with my teens where they actually purchase their own special gift and then open them in front of each other and explain why they picked it and why its special. Kindof a family bonding/learning experience for new hobbies and interests
No gifting at all. Christmas is a family holiday, and it's about spending time together, having good food, and be grateful for the life we have. My daughter gets everything that she needs all year around, not expensive, and not needed presents on Christmas. Just my 5 cents 😊
You're such a thoughtful person (re: peer pressures can be different for homeschooled vs private/public schooled kids). It's definitely something that we navigate as our kids are in public school 💛
Good, Sound, Solid and Mature Advice. I Agree!! Christmas is Not About How Many Gifts are Under the Tree. It's About "GOD and FAMILY"!! I Absolutely Loathe all This "Commercialism" and the Pressure to "Spend, Spend and Spend"!! So Unnecessary. Thank You for this Video!! Stay Safe and GOD BLESS!!
Another fantastic video we like to bake cookies and we watch Home Alone
Great video Katie. You have done so well with your kids! Pat yourself on the back❤
I have had tons of medical bills this year, so I told one of my sisters that I was buying for her grandchildren this year but if it was ok with them we wouldn’t exchange gifts this year. They said “ sounds good”. I feel a little bad- We don’t really even hear from them very much, other siblings make the effort to stay in contact. I’m thinking it’s the habit of buying for them that’s nagging at me?? You taught the girls well- her roommates should be very appreciative for her financial advice. Well done! I’m sure Falcon will pick up those same lessons as well.
I'm sure it will be fine please don't worry gifts are just items you have medical bills to sort and every bit counts.i wish you all the best🌈
I will always comment on your videos and say how much I love them -from a fellow frugal sister. ❤
Oh thank you! 😊 ❤️
We don't have a heavy gift-giving culture -- holidays are centered on family meals and celebrations, and going to services -- but I also do as you do and target a major purchase for a birthday or holiday. For instance, my eldest recently moved into their first apartment, and I'll be getting them a small microwave. We love the aquarium, so we'll renew our annual family membership. Younger son will get driving lessons. When they were little, their grandparents sent a box of presents; now they prefer gift cards.
Well done to you and your family, I love the common sense you have!😊
Thank you so much 😀
Christmas has become too commercialised. So have all the holidays. My family always celebrated it in a big way even back in the 70s with my folks. But it was focussed more on family bonding and socialising with friends, church. It was less commercial in the last century.
We love to give experiences
We fona 4 gift rule with my 3 children plus small finstional gifts in their stockings instead of junk. For extended family, we buy memberships to activities thet last all year and restaurant gift cards.
We do something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. As well as simple advent and family traditions. Grandparents really over do it sometimes. The Christmas of 2019 we purchased giftcards for each month the following year and then everything shut down. I love the trips and memory making gifts however, we rarely leave the farm. In our twenty five years here, It has not been easy finding capable and willing help to run the farm while on vacation.
I have a budget line item for Christmas/bdays. I’ve noticed in your very stripped down budget you don’t have that so how do you have the money available to do your Black Friday shopping for example?
I’ve been able to collect Amazon gift cards this year from affiliate links 😊 So I am planning on shopping Amazon this year. Although, we are doing very few presents since we do have a bigger trip planned. We are saving money for that beyond our budget, which I *think* I talked a bit about in my recent budget video.
While my kids were growing up we used to sit around the table and think of everyone we could send Christmas cards to. The list got bigger every year. We recieved a lot of cards too and we would open them at dinner time, and then tape them to the wall is the shape of a Christmas tree. Some years the tree was really big. With Postage stamps being expensive maybe as a family you could draw a fun Post Card of your own and have them printed up and send those out. Its a nice way to think of others.
Sounds wonderful.
Great video
All done with Christmas shopping i get my Christmas gifts the day after Thanksgiving for the next Christmas
I get mine after Christmas when everything is 75% off
I get 50 percent off
Thank you for the video.❤❤❤
The Black Friday deals, aren’t really deals any more here in Southern California! on Black Everything is so expensive.
Do you ever get tired of being frugal
I wonder that too. I think she spends every waking hour calculating and making lists.
@@laurijohnson7754 You hear her talk about being frugal because that is what her channel is about.
@ I know.
This may be a great idea for a video lol. Short answer - being frugal means being mindful with your money, not necessarily not spending money. So, no, I am very happy spending my money how I want and not on things I don't want.
@laurijohnson7754 Well, I am autistic and am really good at calculating and making lists lol. It’s literally the way my brain works and takes very little effort. But also, this is what I talk about on this channel so, yeah, it seems like its the entirety of who I am, but I have 23.5 hours a day where I am doing other things lol.
We understand that season is season of Jesus our lord!! Teach them about family tradition
When I saw the last video and you mentioned your daughter's new circumstances, my first thought was that she was going to teach them money management. So cool and such an opportunity for them all to learn and grow together as friends. My mom and I used to see who could save the most money on our weekly grocery shopping. Now, I don't even shop weekly, so that is even better. Thanks for another great video. Have a blessed day.
You want to see something mind boggling? Watch how much is spent for Christmas on the Dougherty Dozen.
I watched and 😳 Not only the money but the STUFF. It seems so overwhelming lol
I can't believe it's actually real. The consumerism. It makes me sad as I think the kids would be happier with less?
That woman is a disaster. I had to stop contributing to the train wreck.
💜💜💜
Enjoy your content.
If you have not surrendered all to Jesus as yet, please do. Serving the Lord is the greatest investment you could ever make.
Blessings to you and your family.
We saved 100% of the money we spent on Christmas Easter Halloween Ect. By not celebrating them anymore 😅 I know a lot of people won't agree with that decision but it saved us so much money it's Unbelievable 😂
We've honestly debated doing this ... at least with our toddler. I would really like to completely get away from the tradition of presents - mainly the expectation of presents. So I totally get!
@@raisingwildflowers
We did it for religious reasons.
But the money we saved was just a bonus tbh 💯
@@raisingwildflowers I stopped celebrating holidays and giving gifts 10 years ago. It is so freeing. Besides, I got complaints about my gifts. I am not a good gift giver, and my people dislike gift cards.
I don't agree with the peer pressures homeschooled vs public school thing. I went to public school but because my parents never had name brand stuff, I never wanted it, never even crossed my mind. Video games were fairly new back then, but I only wanted them because my cousin had then not because of kids at school and I didn't ask for them but saved my own money to buy them. Cellphones were becoming a thing, but I never wanted one and didn't have one until I wasn't living at home. My kids are homeschooled but all of their friends except one go to public school, they aren't influenced by the public-school kids. I really think it's just about how you are raised. My kids are well aware that we don't have a ton of money and always have been. My 13-year-old doesn't have a phone, has never used a computer and doesn't really want either. She has a fire kids tablet that's 7 years old and is fine with that. We don't really have much in the way of video games either. If you just ask my kids what they want it's always "I don't know", but if you give them a toy book they will circle or mark several things.
Yea but these times are very different than back then. Even toddlers have big electronics now like iPads.
@@NomadicIslanders Yes, but it's not like my kids don't see that and their friends have that. All my kids' friends had phones at like 6-7, didn't make my kids want it anymore. My 13-year-old literally says she doesn't want a phone, she'd never use it. My kids all have a kindle fire kids tablet. My oldest was 6 when we first bought them, but my others were 2 when they got theirs; they do not leave the house. All my kids' friends have ps5, xbox whatever, switch, 64, game cubes, ect but that doesn't make my kids want them. We do have a switch and a 64 but my kids aren't allowed endless time to play them and will go weeks or months without touching them at all. My kids' friends all have name brand clothes and shoes but we (the parents, grandparents, ect) don't wear all that so it brings no interest to my kids. My kids just wear jeans and a t-shirt most days, no particular brand and whatever shoes we found that fit at the department store. They've never wanted nike, jordan, or any of that other stuff.
It's about how you raise them, we didn't raise our kids to sit around and stare at screens. Parents set the expectations of what kids want by giving them all the technology as a babysitter anymore, starting at basically birth. Kids don't know life without technology constantly around anymore. There has never been TV to watch or games to play when traveling, shopping, or going out to eat. My kids bring a notebook and colored pencils to restaurants and draw or sit and have a conversation with the people at the table. We also eat dinner every night at the table as a family with no tv or electronics. I never brought more than a small coloring book or one small quiet toy even when my kids were babies. And I can say I've seen both sides because my kids' older siblings were glued to computers, phones, tv, games.
I was definitely teased in school for not having name-brand clothes. It may also depend on where you live.
I get this. I don't have much perspective of what it would be like if my kids did go to school. I think one would be a bit more heavily influenced than the other just based on personality. The other doesn't care AT ALL about name brand/what people think (she is autistic to be fair lol).
So many strange responses to their vids from strange people.
Hey Katie, would you share your deals for Black Friday? 😊
I can! Let me do some more research on the deals this year and I can do a video :)
Im sure it will be very helpful for many of us 🤗
Do you ever just stop calculating every aspect of your life and have fun?
What a strange question. Do you really think that a 10 minute youtube video is representative of her whole life?
@ no but she seems to think she has every aspect of her life worked out… except working to earn money
Nothing wrong with being frugal and saving money. They are trying to build a home on their land. So money doesn’t grow on trees, you know! Plus, I’m sure they have a lot more fun than you do.
Well you have to make plans if you dont want to hit rock bottom
She does work. TH-cam is her job like so many others on this platform. Here is a concept you should have learned in preschool: if you don't have anything nice to say then you don't say anything at all. Perhaps you are on the wrong channel.
There’s nothing Christian about Christmas.
That's on you.