2006-11-15 05:08:15 · 24 answers · asked by carissa_shafer 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Make a gingerbread house and decorate it.
Make cookies and have your children deliver the cookies to the neighbors.
Make paper snowflakes
Make fruit loop and popcorn garlands
Make an orange clove air freshener (stick whole cloves into an orange...they smell awesome)
Drive around and look at Christmas lights
Visit Santa in the mall
Attend free Christmas actives at Churches or community centers
Make Christmas cards for your friends and family
Snuggle on the couch with mugs of hot chocolate and tell your kids how much you love them and what they were like as baby's
Watch all the classic Christmas movies with special snacks
My Christmas memories are more about what we did than what I received. The traditions of Christmas are really important to kids.
2006-11-15 11:07:36 · answer #1 · answered by 3B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go find a craft store. Buy some inexexpensive crafts to make as gifts. The time you share together making them for people, and each other, will be the best gift you could give give or receive! Ornaments are great, because year after year, the memory is there. Plus the people you give them to, will realize you didn't have money, so you gave of yourself. What a Merry Christmas it sounds like! I remember my first Christmas tree when I moved away from home. It was just a little one that you put on a table. I didn't have a lot of money for ornaments, so I took pill bottles, and little boxes and different things I had around the house. I wrapped them in shiny paper and taped a hook on them. Well that was 30 years ago, and I still have some of them, and they still go on the tree! Merry Christmas everyone!
2006-11-15 05:17:02 · answer #2 · answered by rebecca_sld 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find SOME money. It doesn't have to be much.
Then put some TIME into it.
Get a tree or a branch, I used a large weed one year. Some lights if you can get em, one cheap strand will do it. Play music yourself if you don't have good music. Roast a turkey or a ham with spuds or whatever you like. Maybe a pie. Get out photos of past ones, let old folks tell stories, then the middle age people tell stories, then the kids. Everybody has to listen. No electronic devices allowed. Then if there was money or time, exchange gifts. Maybe if there wasn't, just tell people what you like about them. My Oma got only an orange for Christmas when she was a kid and was glad to have it. They were POOR!
2006-11-15 05:15:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no money is not a problem as to many lose the real meaning of Christmas.you can contact the Salvation Army and/or Marine Corps for toys for the kids. the Marine Corps League usually sponsors a family dinner starting around 11:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving and Christmas.there are families there with their children as well as adults. make your Christmas gifts and decorate the tree with homemade ornaments. get a throw a way one time use camera and take some pictures. have the kids make drawings for gifts as these will be treasured years later.
2006-11-15 10:06:55 · answer #4 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have any decorations, put them up everywhere. If you have lights, but can't afford the electricity, put them up. Maybe plug them in on Christmas day for just a little bit as a treat. Make some decorations from scratch using construction paper and tinsel if need be (they are very inexpensive at your local Walgreens or wherever).
If you can't afford a tree, go to the community tree for your town regularly. Pick up swag from the tree to make your home smell nice and add color.
Put on Christmas music on the radio to keep Christmas in everyone's hearts. If you have a few CD's, so much the better.
Don't go overboard with what little money might be there for Christmas for your children. Give what you can with love. If you can't afford that, you might be eligable for "Toys for Tots."
If you're so inclinded, fill Christmas day with Church, reading tabout the Nativity and watching specials and listening to music. Spend time with your kids and remind them how special they are to you.
That's what Christmas is about anyhow.
2006-11-15 05:17:11 · answer #5 · answered by spacejohn77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the answers are good suggestions. I will add my ideas. Instead of gifts create a special box of treats for your kids. Spend extra time baking giant size cookies & spending lots of time decorating the cookies. Cut out paper snowflakes with your kids & decorate a wreath or small artificial tree with them. Take them for rides at night to see all the decorations on the houses in your area. Plan a day/evening of singing Christmas carols & another for watching a lot of Christmas movies (some churches have these movies which can be borrowed for no money or a small fee). If you are able, plan a big dinner for family/friends/neighbors & spend the time being cheerful with these people. Peace to you & your family.
2006-11-15 05:21:14 · answer #6 · answered by curiousgeorge 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can try making some gifts for your children, from things that you have around the house. Or even get a few dollars and go to a thrift store in your area, many of the items look brand new. Sometimes you can call social services and they will let you know about progams like a secret santa type of thing where your children can get gifts. Good Luck to you and I hope everything works out for you this Christmas, I wish there was more that I could do.
2006-11-15 05:14:37 · answer #7 · answered by Urchin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Concentrate on your attitude. Keep upbeat and happy even if you have to fake it. My Mom was a single parent and had no help from my father. She managed to give my sister and I the very best Christmas memories anyone could have by doing small things. Making a pan of brownies with crushed candy canes on it, playing Christmas music weeks ahead of time, letting us make decorations with household stuff and telling us how beautiful they were. It's all in your outlook. Your kids will pick up on your moods. We rarely got anything for Christmas morning other than a few small items and still some of the best memories of my entire life. It is not the material stuff that counts, it's the people who you love and who love you....
2006-11-15 05:13:52 · answer #8 · answered by Rich B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Charity, there's many groups out there that is willing to help! Find web-sites that also can help. If you have the internet how is it you have no money? Money don't make Christmas love does. If you wrap your love in a gift from the heart, someone will benefit from this I'm sure. Christmas is about giving not always getting...
2006-11-15 05:16:32 · answer #9 · answered by Vernon T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spend time with them! Presents are nice, but I think your kids will probably enjoy spending the holidays together as well. Maybe you can tell them you're going to forego presents this year and give to those in need and do some volunteer work at a shelter. This will teach them the benefits of helping others and will make them appreciate what they do have. You can also cook together or make gifts for each other. Most kids just want to please their parents and as long as you make not having gifts a positive thing, they will experience a happy holiday anyway. You don't have to tell them that you're not giving presents because you have no money--don't dwell on the negative or they will too. Happy Holidays and Best wishes!
2006-11-15 05:13:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋