Raising a family of 6 on a budget, I understand the stress that Christmas can create, a time when we feel the urge to overdo everything: gifts, parties, meals, and decorations. Of course, all of these activities and preparations cost money and can distract everyone from the real reason for the season.
Last year I wrote a book that lists many of the ways that I celebrated the holiday season as I raised my children on a tight budget – Frugal Seeds 101 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season on a Budget. The book can be read FREE with KindleUnlimited and is available on Amazon in e-book and paperback.
I would be humbled if you would take a moment to check it out, thank you.
We save a ton of money at Christmas. How? We simply don’t have it anymore. Each grandchild gets a $25 gift budget and that’s it. Been doing it for years. Try it. You may like it.
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We have definitely have cut back over the years but I still have all 4 kiddos at home………I love that you have figured out what works in your family and keeping it low key is very, very important. Too many people lose their mind and are paying for Christmas for months, if not years. Thank you Cindi for taking time to comment, I really appreciate it.
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I apologize for taking forever to send you mail. My schedule is crazy and unpredictable. I plan to reply to your letter once I am done school (by then we might be moving). I too try to live frugally and this year, I am really not in the mood to make big Christmas purchases. Traditions get tiresome after a while and it’s hard to believe that Christmas time is right around the corner.
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Hilary, I will be thrilled to receive a letter when the time is right for you……..even 6 months from now! 🙂
Simple celebrations, in my humble opinion, are the best…….enjoy the moments as they come! Thank you so much for stopping by……it is SO Good to “see” you!
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I plan on sending mail once I am done with school. School has been beyond stressful. It makes it impossible to relax or focus on anything productive, even during my days off. Like your daughter, I too am in nursing school and I keep getting kicked out of clinical practice due to COVID outbreaks. 🙁
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Oh NO! I am so very sorry. I know that my daughter is stressed out of her mind with her school demands. She was doing COVID testing earlier this week and I just about freaked out. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with all of this…….sending you gentle hugs 🙂
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I did a COVID-19 nose swab earlier this week and it was negative. Despite that, they still transferred me to a new unit. It’s only a matter of time until this unit is on outbreak. I feel like a ping-pong ball being tossed around from hospital to hospital and it makes it very challenging to get good at anything or get enough hours when I’m never in one place for very long. I’m worried about finding a job after I’m done school. I can’t get a letter of recommendation now so that really sucks. At this rate, I’m just hoping to finish this semester and pass.
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Oh Hilary, I cannot imagine just how frustrating this would be! Prayers sent up for you to finish this semester on a high note!!!! Sending you gentle hugs.
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Thanks for the generous offer Wendi. I’ll check it out.
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Thank you!
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My pleasure
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A great idea, Wendi, I have bought a copy.
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I am DEEPLY humbled that you would purchase a copy……..thank YOU so very, very much.
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My pleasure, Wendi. I am looking forward to reading your ideas.
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thank you SO SO much!
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I’ll check out your book, Wendi and thank you for sharing it. I have always done simple Christmas’ as we were always on a tight budget but that’s not what that holiday should be about anyway. I always got my children something they needed for that occasion. Shoes, sheets, even a new bed once. All were needed and we made it pretty to receive. Everyone got books not toys. I’m not a Christian per se but a woman of deep faith. Kindness is my spiritual practice all year long and I try to amp it up during a holiday season when so many find themselves alone and lonely. I was the gathering place for orphaned adults and families. That was expensive but so worth the money and work. I can no longer do it as my health challenges me to stand long for cooking and cleaning. But there are small, inexpensive ways to send kindness out into the world. I bake and gift that when I’m able. I look forward to new ideas from you. My daughter is getting man pajamas like mine for Christmas this year. So comfortable to sit in bed and work in as covid is keeping her here. $10 a pair on sale made going out to find them early a blessing. We just wrap with gusto. 😉 Happy weekend, Wendi.
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Every time I read your comments I become even more overwhelmed by the love and generosity of your spirit and soul. I can imagine all the love you poured into each person who walked through your door and what an amazing blessing you were and continue to be to all those you have come to know.
I have to be honest, I am not sure my book will give you any new ideas as you are such a creative individual!
Thank you for sharing part of your heart here with us. Many blessings.
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I checked out your book and loved the inclusion of verses. I am very sad this year that we won’t get the immersive Advent experience in church because of Covid. Celebrating Advent as a faith community always keeps my family focused on Christ, not presents.
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Oh Elizabeth, thank you SO very much for your kind words! Advent is my favorite time of year and this year due to Covid we are in the same boat………it is very sad. So, we will do our nightly Advent reading at home but you are right, it is not the same. Thank you again for your kind words!
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You are very welcome.
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mine too……..I LOVE Advent services and will miss them greatly.
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I need to check this out and with some of my followers at the end of the month. I used to work in retail for many years and Christmas was so stressful for my husband and I . When I left retail after I had my second child I decided not to go back and concentrated on my kids instead. Sometimes I would help a friend out with her shop but I never liked the rush and stress of a retail/commercial Christmas. Staying at home baking sweets, watching old movies, making ornaments and not going into debt was a much better way to celebrate the holidays. We would go to live nativity plays and make gifts for charity craft sales. So much fun when we celebrate the way it should be celebrated. I will have to borrow my daughter’s Kindle or have her set up an Amazon account so I can read your book. I know it will have all kinds of frugal ideas in it. Have a beautiful week and I will keep your daughter in my prayers, that is so scary about testing for the virus, I would be so scared.
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You are so very sweet, God bless you! I have worked retail and you are right, it is soooo darn stressful during the entire holiday season. It sounds as if your family had a beautiful holiday season…….I can’t imagine anything else in your household! 🙂
Thank you for your prayers for my daughter, I am not happy about her doing COVID testing with such few weeks of nursing school under her belt……….and she is only 17! 🙂
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Whoops, meant to write that I will share your link to your book on my site later this month or write up a new post when ever I find time that is.
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awww………..thank YOU so very much!!! I am deeply humbled and appreciative!
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Thank you for sharing!!… “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” (Mother Teresa)… 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and each and every day is filled with love and happiness!… 🙂
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Thank you so very much Dutch and I love the quote you included! 🙂
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I got this last year, and really enjoyed it. Highly recommended!
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Awww……….thank you so very much for your kind words, I am so humbled! 🙂
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