Cost free christmas

[tgavin71]

Every week I recived a newsletter from the simple savings website. It is under the heading secrets to saving money in the google adds that show up on the right hand side of the screen.
Anyway each week a tip is picked as the best and the author gets free membership for the year.
Most of the time the advice is good but doesn't affect me in any way. That is until today.
This is the tip that won it this week. Hope I am allowed to do this. I just thought it was such a great idea from M. Wilson.

Abundant free gifts from the library
Our family enjoys a wonderful Christmas every year, with heaps of presents for everyone - yet none of us have to spend a cent! I started this system of 'free gift giving' some years ago, when I was raising my young daughter alone and wanted to be able to give her plenty of Christmas presents without going overboard on the cost. Each year, our family selects books at the local library - some of which are huge and very expensive publications - which we gift wrap in Christmas paper and place under the tree. There is a terrific selection of beautiful books, novels, magazines and tapes to choose from. Everyone gets an abundance of gifts to unwrap and several weeks of fantastic holiday reading on a wide range of topics. The givers have a chance to select special books to suit each person - depending on their favourite authors and particular hobbies and interests. At the end of the summer holiday - the books go back to the library. Choosing our free gifts from the library is just as much fun as buying them for each other from a shop and the element of surprise is still the same for the recipient. An excellent way to treat the family with some fine reading and entertainment over the Christmas break - and at no cost at all!

I took my kids to the library after school and they had a ball picking out "presents" for each other and mum and dad. We are only doing immediate family as we have to be able to return the items a couple of weeks after christmas. The "presents" are gift wrapped under the tree. Can't wait till Christmas day!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Re: Cost free christmas

I imagine a lot of people would be horrified at this idea. Some would think this is a point where one crosses from frugality into cheapness. Are the books really a gift, or just another holiday obligation, as the recipient must make sure to get the book back to the library before it becomes overdue? Are the books really a gift, or just a way for the giver to pretend they gave a gift?

Well, I guess there is philosophy behind such gift-giving and the process will work best if both the giver and the recipient are ~on the same page~. If both agree that we do not need to personally and individually own everything that is useful to us or that appeals to, and that it is actually better to own less, this giving of borrowed books will work best.

That said, I have a friend who did this one year for all her friends. I thought it was great. Really liked the book she picked for me, too! I was new in town. Returning the book became my first visit to the big downtown main library. So that was cool.

[creditcardfree]

Re: Cost free christmas

I think I could get away with this for several family members, but not all. I think it is a very creative idea that many should consider regardless of financial status. I also would be very pleased with a gift like this.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Cost free christmas

I think that would be acool 'gift' for and from kids..maybe for and from adults who are totally on the same page, but most of my family doesn't read much less visit a library!

I would love this gift, I go to a library often but most of the time is spent in the kid section, fortunaly I like childrens books!

[Cheetahwoman7]

Re: Cost free christmas

Reminds me a bit of what my mom used to do. She would find pictures of the special gifts that she wanted to give us, like a watch, a sweater, a game, then gift wrap them and set them under the tree. We'd open up the box and find a miniature picture of what she'd be giving us AFTER Christmas, once everything was on sale and more than half off.

It was fun going with our mom to pick out our own gift based on the picture she had given us. It cost a lot less and it helped us realize that Christmas wasn't about getting a gift on "that" day, it was more about the services we went to and spending time with family.

We had very little money. Two adults and four kids living in a 2 bedroom house didn't make for much extra spending cash. Mom was a part time waitress and dad worked nights as a projectionist. Our larger gifts usually came from Goodwill. (i.e. our bikes) All of us kids were only 7 years apart. We were an enclave!

Although I don't use my mom's technique, I do spend time trying to find just the right gift for everyone. I don't give money or things that someone might buy themselves, but I truly think of who the person is and what would bring them joy. Must be why it takes me so long to find the right gift with so many stores carrying the exact same thing.

CJ

[simpleyme]

Re: Cost free christmas

sorta in line with this thread when my oldest was a baby I could not afford gifts so I wrapped some of his toys and he joyfully opened them ,he was about a year and a half old
wished I could do that now LOL !

Re: Cost free christmas

Simplyme......that reminds of what I did when my two oldest were about 2 and three. Thier birthdays are 6 days apart (only a years dif in age) and I was so broke at the time. They had so much stuff back then I would put some up without them opening it. I just took things they had already been given and re-wrapped it, they never knew the difference and had a great birthday!

[tgavin71]

Re: Cost free christmas

We only do it for our immediate family. All the items remain in the house and are all on my library card.