How to Create Christmas Without Money?

Hi 1babygirl. A small kid would be blown away by a pet. I don't mean a dog or cat. She would probably be excited by a couple of goldfish in a bowl, or if you have a small animal rescue, you might be able to get a hamster if you can find freecycled tank and supplies, as long as you can afford to replace food and bedding. A little kid would find a pet amazing.

even still the toys all seem to be getting super small. so even if you had 20 of these things there is no wow factor. I was talking about this with one of my friends how everything is so tiny that when you get it all set up it looks sad. Last year I took 2 big rolls of ribbon and unraveled it tossing it around the room and leading it up the stairs. it helped that wow factor. (and it wasnot a big mess to clean up either.) My 4 year old is getting a razor scooter w/ light up wheels. It was $20.

have you contacted local places like Goodwill and Salvation army? I know sometimes they keep bikes in back for these exact situation.

Make a tea set out of dishes from the dollar store. Buy a few dishes, a cute basket and have a Christmas tea party with her.

Check Good Will or Salvation Army. It doesn't have to be new.

Makeit-loveit.com has directions for cute no-sew tutus. Add a cd of her favorite songs and have fun dancing with your daughter.

Go to Wal-mart or the Dollar Store and buy some cheap beads, pompoms, stickers, glue etc... and make a craft basket for her.

Now it is to late for this one but next year. Right after Halloween start buying the costumes when they go on sale. It is amazing how many you will be able to get for under $10.00. Then buy a box or basket from the dollar store and decorate it with pretty jewels, ribbons etc.. This will the cheapest but the greatest dress up box your child will ever receive.

Merry Christmas!

She is 4, you could have her wake up to a great stack of chocolate chip cookies and she would be happy.

It is a shame we have spent so much money on toys and they are piled in the corner. My daughter could really care less about them. Give her something from your heart.

When my son was four we got him a bike for Christmas, and although he was SO excited when he saw it... his favorite, most loved gift that year was a pair of plastic binoculars that cost $1.50! He was scared to be on the bike even though it was the right size for him, and it just didn't turn out to be the coveted gift I thought it would.
I'm just saying this to ease your mind, your daughter will LOVE the gifts she does get, and won't even know about the bike if it doesn't happen - there is always next year, when she is older and will be more likely to remember Christmas anyway.
Two years ago our entire Christmas was toys we got at thrift shops, garage sales and a consignment store where I traded in summer clothes for a few toys. Our kids didn't know the difference, and I was SO appreciative of the two $5.00 toys my cousin bought new for them.
I just know how you are feeling right now, but want you to know that this will still be a special Christmas without a bike :) Enjoy your time with her, baking cookies, singing songs, coloring pictures of Christmas things, this really is the best part of parenthood!

As a thrifty, stay at home mom, I want to shout from the rooftops SHOP AT GOODWILL! Yes, there are skeezy Goodwill stores out there, but there are some wonderful, amazingly clean shops out there too! I have found absolute gems at that place for my kids. I go there sometimes a couple of times a week because you never know what you will find. I have gotten my kids wonderful name brand shoes, purses, toys and decorations for their rooms at amazing prices. And the best part is, my kids LOVE that I shop there, because they get so much!
I'm not saying that they don't get new stuff too, they absolutely do. But Goodwill is a fantastic way to save a lot of money when you are on a tight budget.
Good luck, mama!

If you have a freecycle in your area I would check there. Some people have bikes just sitting in their garage that their kids have outgrown, and I bet they'd be happy to pass one along to help your girl have a nice Christmas.

Good luck Momma~ and remember... your little one is just 4. She probably will be just as happy to be with you, opening a few presents and playing in her jammas all day.

Merry Christmas!

You might be able to find a used bike on craigs list. We bought my daughters used and only paid $25, she is 9 so it's a big kid bike. I see people giving away little bikes on CL all the time or selling them for $5-$10. You can get a bike helmet at a thrift store for a few dollars.
The dollar store is awesome for stocking stuffers. We put things like toothprushes and fun socks in our girls stockings that we'd have to buy anyway.
Go to your local good will or thrift store. Last time we went there I got beautiful, brand new books (hardcover) for $1 each. They had lots of kids picture books, videos and stuffed animals. At 4 she will not know they aren't new and it's recycling at it's best.
As others have mentioned try to focus on the activities surrounding the holiday. Drive around to look at the lights, bake cookies it won't take alot of money to make a special Chirstmas for a 4 year old. You can also find a big evergreen branch in the woods and decorate it with homemade ornaments.
One final thing, if you can deal with the maintenance, is a goldfish. Under $10 for the bowl, fish and some food, of course you'll have to keep buying food but it's pretty cheap. Santa bringing a fish was BIG in my house when my brother and I were little. I look back now and think how easy my parents had it that year, we we're thrilled and they spent a few dollars.

Added- Just found this in your area:
http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2759954972.html

Hello! I'm sorry to hear you are in this situation!!!

I would contact Toys for Tots and any other charity organization in your area. You might be surprised at what you get.

If you don't want to do that? Then check on craigslist for people who are selling bikes - I've sold my kids bikes on Craigslist...so you can get what you wanted to get her without the BIG price tag.

Call your local Goodwill store - they might have something as well.

Kids don't "NEED" big gifts...I get what you are trying to do - however, show her the meaning of Christmas...get SOME gifts..but then volunteer at a soup kitchen or even at a retirement home - there are some elderly people who would LOVE to see a precious 4 year old...this shows your daughter about giving back...

Check second hand shops and cragislist for gently used bikes. We have never paid more than $10 for bike for our girls.

Make a play house out of a big refrigerator box. Lay the box on it's side, cut out doors and windows. Use markers to decorate the outside with curtains, flower boxes, siding or shingles. Put a sleeping bag or pretty blanket on the "floor". Throw in a few pillows, stuffed dog, a couple books and call it "home".

If your vehicle isn't large enough to bring home a box, call an appliance store, tell them your story and see if they will drop a box off at your house after delivering a fridge.

I was reading these and there are so many great ideas.. One thing, not to sound tacky, but seriously I have found some amazing things curbside that people get bored with, do not donate and put out for the garbage (little kitchens, yes bikes, etc.) During the year keep your eyes open, just never know what treasure you will find. And we have dollar stores here. There are perfect little things, gifts like dolls and toys that are ready to go. Perhaps you can find a place like this in your area.Plus if it is really difficult, please find a food pantry, find a church and seriously let them know times are tough. We are living in a bad time and it is not embarrassing to be needy, it is what we humans are here for: to help eachother. Hugs

My 3.5 yr old son loves glow-sticks (the kind you crack and they start glowing). They may still have some at the $1 store from Halloween. You get a 5-pack of bracelets for $1.

A package of ballooons, with a promise to play volleyball with her, to let her decorate them with markers and stickers and then you will all play a popping game ......

A flashlight - my son always wants his flashlight!

stickers! Loads of them in a big pink box (brightly colored boxes/totes/bins at the $1 store too)

Check out your local thrift store and see what they have!

You could always try your local freecycle and see if anyone has something their child has outgrown that yours might love.

They just had a massive bike giveaway in MN.... I'm sure it is a national program - why don't you ask around to see if a local YMCA or church knows of a program.

I would also call a few local churches .... we have some big items that I would rather give to someone than sell and I asked my parish to let me know if they hear of anyone. Last year I asked them to give me a family to create a Christmas for and they got me all the details of a local family so... they may just know of someone who is just waiting to help you!!

Your daughter is 4 .... it's all about the magic not the toys at this age so think up some fun things to do with her like decorating an ornament (dollar store has some great stuff), hot chocolate night, going to a free local Christmas concert..... if you start some great traditions now that is what she will remember. Blessings to you.
PS I think craigs list has a "free" option where people who just want to give away things can list and I believe there is a site called freecycle that is a site to find free stuff in your specific area.

You don't have to "have" a big gift for her. She won't know the difference!!! I think the guilt parents feel over Christmas gifts is something that is more important to them (parents) than it is the kids.

When our kids were little we did one "big" gift too, but that went away at about age 8 or 9 b/c we were driving ourselves crazy trying to figure out the big gift. So we let it go. The boys did NOT notice.

When I was 11, we had a very rough yr. My dad's company went under and my dad was unemployed for 4 months. And there were 5 of us at home. We had a Christmas of homemade gifts: cards, games, posters for each others rooms, handmade toys and we played together all day. I still remember that Christmas more than any other.

First off don't feel quilty, sometimes times are tough and next year will hopefully be better for you. Since she is only four she doesn't know what things cost. I would try to contact a church, or toys for tots maybe but it might be too late. Do you have $10 or $20 bucks? If you do you could go to target and get a pretty good gift with that. A doll, a doodle bear, really you have a lot of options. That would be plenty. I would bake cookies with her on Christmas day, get a movie from red box, and maybe go for a drive to look at lights while drinking hot chocolate.

You may be able to get serviceable gifts from your local freecycle network, or cheap from cheapcycle or friends. They don't have to be new; used gifts are usually just as good as new. One year, I spent $50 at the most on my two boys, and got them each a bike ($5 apiece), a train table ($5), loads of books and other toys. Now, I did get them from yard sales throughout the year, and it's a little late for that, but perhaps there is still time to get such things from people you know or via freecycle.

Your local thrift stores.

Check the "free" area on Craigslist but be very careful. If it's free, they may not want to meet you at a "safe" location like a grocery store parking lot. If not, ask them if they will leave it curbside & take someone w/you (a friend) to pick it up. That way you can just hop out (w/your keys....never leave them in the ignition esp w/a child in the car) scoop up the bike & throw it in the trunk. Try to pick it up during day light hours.

Just put the word out among neighbors, that if they have a bike their child no longer fits their child (or maybe they know of someone) you'd be happy to take it off their hands for an inexpensive price.

Creat some wonderful memories w/your daughter that don't cost $
Enjoy each other's company & have some fun (go look @ lights, bake some cheap cookies together etc).

Good luck & Merry Christmas.

Last year, my daughter got bells from santa's sleigh. She was BEYOND excited about this gift. I asked her this year (she just turned 6) if she remembered what santa had gotten her for Christmas last year (I forgot)... she said "Santa's bells... that is all I remember" Of course I packed the bells away so we/she could play with them over the Christmas holiday this year... and every year to come... I would consider this to be a "big" gift and if your daughter is anything like my daughter... she would LOVE something like this!

If you cannot get a new bike there are lots of places to get really good second hand ones. Barring that they just love opening gifts. a 4 year old isnt old enough to be in the money game. She will be happy with 5 wrapped gifts from the dollar store. I make a big deal about the season. we have a tree trimming night where we listen to music and talk about the ornaments we have . We dont get a lot of them just every year we get a new one and the kids make them. We have a night were we make homemade cookies for Santa and ourselves. Fill her stocking with some candy.

Is there anything you can pawn or sell, to buy her even a used bike? You could buy one at a thrift store, garage sale, or craigslist for cheap. I don't think she'd care if it was used, just that it was a bike. Kids don't notice that type of thing unless you tell them about it.

Oh yeah, I also wanted to mention... just because you are not spending $500, it doesn't mean your kid will even notice or love you less. I think setting up ridiculous expectations early on is a bad thing. My DD is 5.5 & she has asked for 2 $20 items. That's it. A squirrel game she saw in a game catalog, and Wuggles. So, Santa's getting her those & we are throwing in a couple other cheap items. Stocking is stuffed with $ store items that she will love. We are broke & you know what? We know she will be happy with what she gets.

It's not about the quantity of items or money spent, it's about the memory you create for her. And I'll tell you what, my DD remembers driving around to see the Christmas lights. She remembers drinking hot chocolate, and making a gingerbread house. She doesn't remember what she got that year. So, focus on making it special, something to remember.

i dont know about yours but my 3 year old girl is really into electronics and i find her pretending to talk on my phone. Have you thought of getting her a phone like mommys. I was at walmart and they have a display phone place and i asked about the displays since they dont actually work but you can press buttons and looks real my daughter loved playing with them. The attendant gave my daughter an extra display phone for free. she loves it. Just an idea but if she likes your phone ask if you can get a display of one at your local store. FREE!! Also have you tryed the free section in Craigslist?

just found this http://orlando.craigslist.org/zip/2757879224.html
Have A Merry Christmas

Maybe a coupon book of "you can stay up 30 minutes later" or things she likes to do, like a playdate with a friend, afternoon at Grandmas, trip to the park, etc. Is there a train display near you? We have one at our botanical garden. It's a public garden and the display is free. My DD could watch it for hours. You could also take the long way home and go spotting for lights. Maybe ask around to see where the really big displays are (there's always that one house....). Or maybe borrow a Christmas movie from the library and have a movie night with a favorite snack with you where you both wear silly pjs, eat popcorn, do your nails, etc.

I'm sorry about the bike, but even the lean years when I were a kid were good years, for the togetherness.

Also Check out Freecycle.org. They are actually set up in regional yahoo groups, but people offer things that they want ot get rid of right away or know it will help someone. You can post things to "offer" and items you "want". Make sure to read the rules as these groups are popular so they do have a bit of structure to keep things organized.

other ideas - wrap a few of the items (things she really wants) in bigger boxes? Since she is 4 I don't know that the WOW factor has to be as big for her to notice. OH, If "Santa" is coming you can make a stencil of a boot print and then using baking soda put Santas foot prints walking from where he came in to the tree. I know some leprechauns accross the street that always turn that families milk green. Maybe Santa's elves could do that at your house for Christmas. Whether it's Santas elves or you, maybe take some ribbon (if you have it) and tape lengths of them hanging from the ceiling either near the tree, in her door. Paper cut out snowflakes......our family went through a phase where we wrapped things in newspaper which can be fun (we took it a little too far:-)!

OOPS just saw Kathy P. also mentioned Freecycle. Sorry for the repeat but hope we help.

Ross, marshalls, walmart etc. have some great art sets that a 4 year old would love! Also try ebay, craigslist etc. for a used bike that you can make just like new! GL and hang in there! Your daughter will love anything you get her---even if its just little stuff.

M

Craigslist.org

Otherwise, my kids don't get a big gift. Just a few normal gifts.

Don't feel guilty, hon, your child is 4 and will not notice or care. You could spend the day at the park or go to a DIFFERENT park and she'd be thrilled.

Go to craigslist.com to the for sale section and click on "free" - I typed bike in the search and several came up. It may not be new, but again, a 4 year old won't care. If you have a car to get to where the stuff is, you never know what you'll find.

Take care!

Just saw on the Today show a giant cardboard playhouse that she can color and play in for $14.99 at JCPenney. What four year old wouldn't love that? I see you are in Orlando. Check out the consignment store Once Upon a Child on hwy 50 near Fashion Square Mall. They have playhouses and tons of toys. You can also sell your stuff to them and they pay pretty good. No apponitment needed. They only take good, quality items.

go to the ikea in orlando, get the art easel - it's $14.99, get a roll of paper for $4.99 - it's physically large(and therefore normally more impressive as a "big" gift) and lots of fun!

Pawn shops also have bikes, maybe you could work a trade??

Lots of local churches collect gifts for the angel tree. I know for a fact that several people give extra bikes for just such a situation. You might check in to that....

You have a lot of great ideas from moms to make this happen, even so very close to Christmas. It will be fine.

I think staring next week you need to plan a "savings" for Christmas so it is not such a big disappointment on December 17th. Next week, start putting $5/week in a big envelope, keep it out of sight and promise yourself not to touch it!! It will be a lot less painful than the last minute panic. Good luck!!

It is the memories that will be big...not the bike. Making paper decorations for the tree (those chains made out of red and green paper, paper snow flakes)....stringing popcorn....listening to christmas music on the radio....see if you can sing up with one of the local charities to get a toy for your son. Or mabey...put a post on craigs list that you are looking for a free bike for your son for christmas. I would bet that someone may donate their old gently used bike to you....put it under the free section and also put WANTED under the general section and explain your circumstances as above....I bet you will find some generous people out there.

I would go to the local pawn shop and pawn my rings or something of value and go buy alittle bike.

She is little so I don't think you will need to do something big. It is a nice time to teach her that Christmas is about people not money or just gifts, but still you can make a special basket with different things you know she would like (crafts as other moms said H., cookies. nice X-mas socks, a colorful puzzle and "the reindeer's bells" which you can find at any craft store like Michaels for instance or even Wal-Mart,etc). Have fun with her, be happy, laugh and eat at breakfast those things that you would never eat in an ordinary day (cake for instance!).
Merry Christmas!