Christmas will be a little slim this year....

due to the wedding next year. The family understands though, we just can't spend an exorbidant amount of money on gifts when we have other expenses.

Same here...We are doing something like a secret santa at my house this year. We are going to pick names out of a hat, and then set a limit onto how much you can spend on that person. After that we are going to buy the kids gifts. I think Danielle and I are going to set a limit on what we can spend on each other. I would rather put the money into our joint account and use it for the future...

same here! although everyones so happy were getting married i doubt they will notice

I know this going to sound horrible since most of you are paying for the wedding on your own- this probably sounds selfish - but I moved away to live with FH and we are living right now on his loans until I find a job - well since FFIL has refused to help with the traditional groom things and my family is very traditional so they have left these things to us. (rings, rehearsal dinner, honeymoon and our gifts - and other small things)

This would not be an issue if I was working but we are struggling because FH gets almost nothing (his school controls what they can take- he is looking for a job right now too but around here the jobs are scarce) anyway we asked my family if we could limit the amount of money we spend on each other for gifts (and I asked them NOT to buy us ANYTHING since they are giving us the wedding) well - they yelled at me and called us selfish and said well instead of flying home for stupid dress fittings and a shower I don't need, (she is already telling family members that they were TOO generous to us at our e-party so they shouldn't bring a gift to the shower) I had family who was very generous to me and I couldn't be stingy and what was 100$ person for a few family member gifts. -

OMG that is just insane. We are definitely limiting what we are spending on x-mas presents this year. We are limiting it to $25 per person. We wanted to do a secret santa with FH's siblings but the didnt respond to that (hmm....) -

Next Christmas we are giving everyone cards with lots of love! - we just cant afford otehrwise - our wedding is 15 days after christmas!

We just got married in October and are in the same boat!!!!

We did a secret santa with DH's family and since they all flew out to Italy for our wedding, they were short on $$$ too, so they loved the idea! (phew!)

For DH and I, we are only spending a set amount on each other (and it's a very limited amount). But we plan to be as creative as we can with what we've got.

The important part is having each other and being with familiy and friends. I love the holidays!

There are lots of ways to be thrifty and I plan to be especially creative this year.....

Good Luck bargain hunting everyone!