How DO you do it? People go so overboard on Christmas now, how do you manage to keep Christmas affordable?

We've had "homemade" Christmases, which were some of our very best. We've also had "$5 Christmases" where that was the limit we could spend on someone else. It makes you get creative, and it is actually a lot of fun.

We don't do the "Santa" thing. Our tree is up, and already has a growing collection of things under it. The only time that didn't work was the year of the "Dynamic Duo", when my now teenage daughters were 2 and 3 years old.

We also have some boxes under the tree. We leave the boxes open so we can put things in it as we get them.

One for Napavine - my husband's parents, sister (and her husband and kids), and our oldest son (and his wife and daughter) all live in that area, so we just bundle everything and send it in a single box to one address.

One for my sister who lives alone in Ogden.

And one for Iraq, where our oldest daughter is this Christmas. We'll be sending her mostly useful stuff, but then, that is what we've always done.

I look at Christmas as a time mostly to meet needs. Usually our kids don't need more toys. They often need clothes, hobby stuff, and books, or even tools. We like to keep it useful and lasting.

How do you do it? How do you keep the whole guilt and buying thing from overwhelming your time and budget?

Laura
Mom to Eight

Our holidays have always been low-key; we are Quaker. Our kids aren't driven to want the latest computer games, toys, or clothes. Each kid gets a book, and an item pertaining to a hobby or interest. Sometimes we volunteer to serve a meal at a shelter, and then take the kids skating or sledding in the afternoon.

We do not exchange gifts with other family members. To be honest, no one else wants to purchase for 14 kids. An uncle with no kids of his own usually gets us family gifts, such as puzzles or sports equipment. A great aunt takes the kids out for a jolly toot which includes lunch and maybe a movie, usually in December or January.