My fiance and I are pretty much paying for our wedding by ourselves, so needless to say we're on a tight budget. Any ideas on how to get through Christmas without spending a fortune? We both have big families and don't want to forgo presents altogether, but we are looking for some ideas that won't break the bank. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!
vickyp0o1215
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
I know how you feel. We are actually in the middle of deciding whether to postpone our wedding a SECOND time due to finances.. so Christmas will definitely be on a TIGHTTT budget. We will probably do gift cards. 25 30 dollars each for close family like parents, siblings, nieces/nephews.. everyone else gets the black friday specials from Kohls/JCPenny/Macys etc.. you can really grab steals!!
gonzalezm3
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
I am in the sameeee scenario! I'm worried about christmas gifts cause around that time, I will be buying my wedding dress too! yikes!
Im getting Married
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
Black Friday is a great way to save (just make sure you are really getting a deal)..coupons are another good way.
Also, try buying a few things here and there when they are on sale.
hthrblk
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
I am sure it changes according to family, but we were able to be upfront with ours. So we agreed that instead of presents for all, we are just doing the kids this year. None of the adults were offended, and actually were very supportive! So we plan on baking small cookies and cakes and putting them in pretty tins that we can give to the adults...
Good luck... Heather
Spring143
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if you start now you def can find deals. have you been to the site www.ltdcommodities.com? they have cute stuff that would make nice gifts for less/ i was thinking about this too!
mojo718
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Great ideas so far! Thanks for the input!
KrisD72310
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
Posted by hthrblk
I am sure it changes according to family, but we were able to be upfront with ours. So we agreed that instead of presents for all, we are just doing the kids this year. None of the adults were offended, and actually were very supportive! So we plan on baking small cookies and cakes and putting them in pretty tins that we can give to the adults...
Good luck... Heather
I like this idea!! We just bought for the kids last year and did a secret santa between the siblings and stuff. It actually worked out really well!! I love the idea of baking though. This can be a fun and yummy gift to make!
JessNicole7EM
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I'm really scared about this too.
I was actually thinking of starting to buy gifts now - I know it sounds crazy but if I can spread the cost out when I have an extra $20-30 here and there it won't be like a huge chunk of money in November/December. I'll just stick all the gifts in my closet and only buy if I think I'm getting a good deal on something.
aryana0611
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
if you can stick to just children. i am sure that your families will understand that due to the wedding you cant spend tons of money on gifts. also some stores have layaway. maybe you can put some things on layaway now and pay it slowly till it gets closer to xmas. good luck.
AngnShaun
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
we usually give all of FH's little cousins like $20 (they just keep adding more kids tho, LOL), and we do a kris kringle with all the adults $50... we do a kris kringle with the adults in my immediate family $50... and we do a kris kringle for my neices and nephews...
i think we will still do that and we will agree to not get each other anything...
FrenchToast13
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
I've been stressed about this to! FI's family always does a secret santa exchange, so we have a limit of $50-100 for only one person, and then we all buy for his 2 nieces, so luckily that's not a problem. My family, unfortunately, is much bigger, and for the past few years my cousin and I have tried to get them to adopt a secret santa rule. So far someone has always agreed to it, then gone off and bought presents for everyone, so at the last minute we all have to go out and do the same. Stupid, I know! This year, people might be more willing to do a secret santa with the economy, or at least if we could do a secret santa for the big gift, and then set a very small limit for all other gifts, so everyone gets everyone else just a little something, instead of the usual craziness. We'll see, I guess!
MikesBride2B
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
Have you taken e-pics? If not, you could just go to a portrait studio and get some pictures taken of you and FH and them put them in some nice frames from Michaels and BAM! Beautiful, personal Christmas gifts!
Obviously it won't work for everyone but its definitely a solution for extended family.
cavvento
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
I usually go to the Christmas fair in Union Square every year where there's tons of unique stuff. You can get little trinkets and negotiate down prices and because they are so unique, people think you spent a lot more than you did.
peaches42587
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im all about black friday. i buy almost all my christmas presents that day. also theres a website i think its restaurants.com and you pay $10 and get $25 gift card for the restaurant.
also what about using points on your credit cards to buy gifts and gift cards. i acumulated so many points over the past year that i had enough for a $250 gift card for bed bath and beyond.
I was just thinking about this the other day - I think we're going to start buying now...
FutureJOC
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
For the past 3 years now, my family has decided to do a Kris Kringle so everyone only has to buy 1 present. We do one amongst the Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents and the Cousins do a separate one.
It seems to work out a lot better for everyone involved because everyone is struggling nowadays.
If that can't work, just tell everyone that you are trying to save for a wedding so you have set a budget on how much you can spend on gifts for each person. I'm sure they will understand.
Tfridkin
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You can make holiday girts I made gel candles one year and photo albums another year
kris_gets_hitched
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Re: Christmas Presents on a Wedding Budget?
A few years ago, money was really tight for me yet I still wanted to do something for my close friends and family. I spent an afternoon baking batches upon batches of cookies and packed them into little cookie boxes that I got at the dollar store. I made a big assortment of drop cookies (ie., chocolate chip, pecan, oatmeal raisin) and then for each individual, I made them a personal gingerbread man. I had FH drive me around to drop off the cookie boxes at each house and wore a Santa hat Everyone LOVED them. It's kind of become my 'thing' around the holidays now.
