"Today, I emphasize a most basic principle: home production and storage. Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community?" (President Ezra Taft Benson)
We may never see any of these things happen but there are many things that can cause hard times for us... job loss, health and many more. We have lost two insurance companies here in Iowa and I think about those under threats of forest fires and how their insurance companies changed their coverage unexpectedly. We cannot be prepared for everything but being prepared for some things is better than no preparation at all.
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/home-and-family/how-to-avoid-christmas-debt-when-youre-short-on-cash/ - I love her nothing new for Christmas and her gift rules.
https://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/easy-frugal-homemade-christmas-gift-ideas/ - some different ideas.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/151785449921625674/ - this has lots of frugal gift ideas.
https://justbrightideas.com/gifts-in-a-jar-ideas/ - I liked dehydrated salsa in a jar and apron in a jar.
https://momsoffaith.com/2013/11/101-frugal-christmas-tips/ - great ideas here as well.
https://www.littlehouseliving.com/100-frugal-or-free-christmas-gifts-for-toddlers.html - great ideas!
https://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/frugal-handmade-christmas-gifts.htm - I like their ideas.
http://www.frugaldebtfreelife.com/main/0-christmas-gifts-idea - more ideas.
https://fabulesslyfrugal.com/diy/20-homemade-christmas-gift-ideas/ - I like the melted snowman candy.
https://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/31-Simple-Homemade-Christmas-Ornaments
I think there are great ideas in all of these sites. I really like the idea of buying used, it's fantastic! I have received used gifts and loved those gifts.
Try to think how you could make a very frugal Christmas.
https://www.advantageccs.org/blog/how-to-be-frugal-during-the-holidays
https://leisurelydoesit.com/save-for-holidays-how-to-create-budget/
https://www.littlehouseliving.com/easy-frugal-holiday-treats.html https://www.nbcnews.com/better/business/how-taking-frugal-month-can-help-you-save-big-holiday-ncna812706
https://premeditatedleftovers.com/naturally-frugal-mom/15-christmas-crafts-for-kids/
The best thing is building traditions.
https://www.parents.com/holiday/christmas/traditions/classic-holiday-traditions-for-your-family/
https://www.cozi.com/blog/50-holiday-traditions-for-families/
Be content. Joy is in giving and service, both things that give peace and happiness.
This is a fairly new tradition my husband and I started a few years back...
We also make Christmas jerky...
I freeze a rump roast and the night before I make it, I take out of freezer the next morning. In a large bowl I put liquid smoke and a medium bottle of soy sauce. Then I slice the roast into the bowl giving it a stir now and then. I put it in a dehydrator and dry till done (when it bends but is like leather).
When the kids were little they decorated the tree and had eggnog and cinnamon knots and it was great fun. Back then we bought those bread sticks in a can that you whack on counter. Take them apart and dip them in melted butter then dip in a sugar cinnamon mix, fold into a loose knot, and then bake them. This also can be done with homemade bread dough.
For our tradition, my husband and I go on a Christmas date to the used bookstore and find what we would like then we go eat out. We do this is in place of gifts.
We always read The Candle in the Forest.
Those are a few of our traditions share some of yours in the comments below!
Your traditions are lovely. I made beef jerky for the first time a month ago and it turned out great. I plan to gift it to all the men in the family.
ReplyDeleteOur traditions. We always take a box of cookies to snack on and go for a drive to see all the Christmas lights in town and neighborhoods. Hubs and the children decorate the tree, my job is to attach the hooks and hand everyone ornaments. My children aren't little anymore, it's just become the way we decorate the tree. On Christmas Eve my children and anyone else who happens to be here decorates sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles while Hubs and I are back in our room filling the stockings. Also, we read the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve. Those are some of our traditions we have more but all are quite simple. My youngest is 16 the other two are adults but they come home and still expect to do things "like we did when we were growing up".
Ginger
We read the same scriptures while having eggnog and those cinnamon knots you make me want to come have cookies it just shows we can have simple inexpensive traditions and they mean the world to our kids thanks for shating
DeleteHi Becky,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your helpful post on frugal and homemade Christmas ideas. For years we had an elderly widowed lady that lived next door, all of her family lived out of town. Every year we would have her over to watch us decorate the Christmas tree and served hot chocolate and cookies, and play Christmas music. My husband, daughter and myself had such fun with her and she would sit smiling away drinking her hot chocolate and eating her Christmas cookies. Another evening we would stop at a store that sold fresh popcorn in bags and get one for each of us and drive around town looking at Christmas lights. She was like a grandmother to our daughter and we had such fun with her! I miss her greatly.
Julie
What a sweet story I think doing those things are wonderful you probably made quite a difference in her life how kind thanks for sharing
DeleteHi Becky,
ReplyDeleteI forgot to tell you that I love your tree, ornaments overhead, handmade ornaments, and of course your two sweet kitties! Your home is beautiful!
Julie
thank you it was not very nice when we moved here our house was built in 1879 a mile from here then in 1910 it was moved here and back then the houses moved here because of the railroad they built a town a mile away thinking the train would go thru there but it didn't and how they were moved is on logs the houses were pulled by horses and the house rolled on the logs when the log came out the back they would run it to the front over and over that is a lot of work the house when we moved here had been rental for years and was slated to be torn down it was so Gross no cupboards or counters and most discussing but over the yrs we added on with a basement under it so a place to go in during tornadoes
DeleteWhat a lovely room with the high ceiling and the ornaments. I will enjoy going through all the links you have here. My husband and I always give ourselves tickets to live music sometime in the coming year. We have many memories of those concerts. Our youngest son and his wife lived across the street from a grocery store for many years and they always said that if there was a disaster they would just run over there and stock up. I think they had no idea how it would have been there at the store with everyone having the same idea.
ReplyDeletethat is the part we added on yes the store would have many people but they would have gotten there first
DeleteIt is just me & my DH. I always pick a tabletop tree to decorate. I have a nice collection of cute different colors. Then I decorate it with all my frugally found ephemera that I think will look cute on it. This year I am doing a fantasy tree.
ReplyDeleteFor gifts my DH & I buy a lot for our animals. They are our babies. We do set a budget. They have so much fun receiving their presents. I can say they are still playing with them to. We do tend to spend practical for their presents. We also buy for the outdoor animals.
We both love children so much. There are no little ones in our life. We buy for those who have no families. It is really important to us since DH & I were both pretty much abandoned. We always include teenagers too.
Gifts for us. Something small and sentimental. It doesn't need to be expensive. It is usually books. We do the dinner out too.
I was just telling gus kitty that I thought Santa was going to give him a gift I make them something with catnip they love it. Thanks for sharing ps I LOVE books I keep saying they keep the house from blowing away in storms..
Delete