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  1. Great post Melissa! I agree. We actually only do stockings at Christmas time, and then spend our money on a family outing or something special for the kids to do in the new year. So far it is working well… we will see when the kids get older!

  2. We do two to three gifts at Christmas depending on our expenses. This is also because we have a daughter whose birthday is Christmas Eve. Plus, nine times out of ten, they end up breaking or destroying a toy within days of getting it. For every new toy they get, they have to give one up as well.

  3. It’s funny I wrote a similar post about the amount of gifts we give our kids during Christmas. This is my second Christmas as a mom and I’m struggling with this. Love your post and you have some great points and great ideas. The most important thing is to teach our kids the true meaning of this holiday.

  4. I set a limit of $20 per kid that I have to purchase a gift for. It adds up real quick though and if I aim to spend under the $20

  5. Great ideas. We always try to limit to a certain number of gifts cause let’s face it, life isn’t getting any cheaper. I love the four gift idea of something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read!

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  7. Budgeting is very important in the holiday season! It is the most memorabe time for families , but the most costly too…Love your blog

  8. This year we are going to put a real focus on gratitude, not so much that my children aren’t grateful, but we don’t want them to get that way with age. Love these tips, will be pinning these to keep them through the season.

    1. Thanks so much Jess!!! I appreciate it! I’m with you, as my kids get older, I want to make sure they are thankful!

  9. I totally agree with this. As I grown, I’ve realized that my favorite parts about the holidays are the movies, the food, the time with family – gifts have really taken a backseat.

  10. I agree with all of these. We always set a budget and limit gifts to a few special things and some stocking stuffers. It’s so wonderful to do things like making a paper chain or decorating cookies that are super fun because we are together but that don’t cost a lot. And of course, we try really hard to emphasize why we celebrate Christmas in the first place! Lots of Bible stories and baby Jesus crafts 😉

  11. I love your traditions. I particularly loved the one of serving others…I like volunteering for an organization yhat serves homeless people around the holidays.

  12. We are trying to cut back on the number of toy gift and replace with experience gifts. I would love to just go on a cruise during Christmas week, but I think my kids would miss the traditional stuff. Maybe when they are older.

  13. Thank you for this post! I was diagnosed with breast cancer at Christmas time two years ago, so Christmas has a much more reverent feel for us as a family. We now try to focus more on family togetherness rather than get caught up in the hustle and bustle. I’m cancer-free now, but the memories of that scary Christmas still motivate me to focus on what really matters during this season. Your ideas are great!

    1. Hi Stephanie- thanks for sharing! So glad to hear you are cancer-free! I can only imagine how that time really underscored what’s important in life! I’m glad you liked the ideas in the post. I hope you have a wonderful holiday this year!

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