| 1. Write down each person you are buying a gift for. | | | | look through each bin you can get some very nice |
| Put down the amount you intend to pay for each | | | | new looking items. Shop early in the morning when |
| gift. Add it all up. If you need to shorten your list do | | | | they first open up. We have gotten very nice items |
| so. You might have to cut back on the amount of | | | | this way. |
| each gift. Do whatever you have to so that you | | | | Another thing is to be upbeat and calm. If you can't |
| stay within your budget. | | | | afford the thrift store items or anything at all try to |
| 2. Get free samples and products online. There are | | | | convey to your family the most important thing is |
| places you can sign up for free samples and free | | | | being together. Your gifts could be singing a special |
| products. Some of these you can use as gifts. You | | | | song to each other. Or reading a Christmas story. Put |
| can put the samples together in a little basket. I have | | | | on a play. Make this Christmas the best ever. |
| gotten several free cookbooks that I plan on using | | | | Christmas is not about gifts. Somehow we have all |
| as gifts this year at Christmas. | | | | forgotten what the true meaning of Christmas is. I |
| 3. Shop at your local thrift store. In our area the | | | | know it is hard to help children understand this. It is |
| thrift stores have bins of discounted items that you | | | | hard to see them upset and feeling hurt. God bless. |
| can get at $1.00 per bag. If you take your time and | | | | |