What do you do for Christmas/birthdays when you are struggling financially?

Question

I recently lost my job and the only thing I can do at the moment is sub which does not pay well. I’m 8 weeks pregnant too 😕 we currently have a 9 and a 1 year old. My fiancé already works to two jobs also but we live in an area where jobs do not pay well unfortunately

Answer

Experiences are going to be more valuable than stuff. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get creative on how you spend time together.

Answer

Go hiking with a family? Have a picknic at the hike. That doesn't cost basically anything but is special.

Answer

Money or not our family never does the crazy gift thing. Write a card, draw a picture, bake some cookies, get crafty.

Answer

Honestly we try not to make holidays and birthdays about gifts- regardless of how we are doing financially. 
We ask people that if they want to get our son gifts, to put money toward memberships, sports and activities - or go in with us on a bigger item for him. We usually get our son one ‘big’ gift but we really tend to lean more towards experiences like others have said. 
We live in WA so it rains all the time. We found a really cool indoor play place (like the old McDonald’s ones on steroids 🤣)  and adults are free, and it’s $5 a kid. And you can stay all day if you want. Also the indoor trampoline park, free swim at the YMCA (you can request a guest pass), children’s museum (if you have a friend with a membership, you can usually get a guest pass for free)- it really just depends on where you live, but around here- there are tons of things to do indoors.
Outdoors you can do a hike, go to a park, day trip somewhere fun (we have a Bavarian village a couple hours away in the mountains with free sledding hills)- in the summer we swim in the lake. 
I’m sure there is lots to do where you live-
You just have to get creative 😊

Answer

This past holiday we did a nice set of magnatiles for the kids to share and 1 or 2 small trinkets, that was it. Then a nice dinner at home and desserts. Nothing for adults. My son's8th bday was 2 days ago we got him cake and balloons, a marble maze and marbles. We actually arent struggling too hard right now, but we are trying to instill in our kids to not be materialistic. We feel that kids shouldnt be loaded up with gifts as the main focus of a holiday or birthday.

Answer

I’d go for a family day out like the other posters said. If the weather isn’t permitting for an outdoor adventure - maybe your local pool for swimming or something? We went as a family of 4 the other day and I believe it was just under $16 for all of us to go.
Home movie theater style night? Popcorn, snacks and a movie picked by the birthday kid? Could be extra fun to set up in the living room with pjs and camp out together. 
Don’t be stressed over a gift. Shower them in love and anything beyond that is a bonus. Making a cake together or something is super fun and affordable. Sometimes you can get a really good deal at a dollar store/Walmart type store on a toy if they want something to open. My son is almost 4 he got some of those “pop toys” for Christmas and loves them, his other favorite right now is a Lego figure person - point being things under $10 can be just a special to a kiddo as a big fancy gift.
Hugs and good luck to you 🍀

Answer

Make dinner as a family. Have your kids pick out the food from what you already have and they can help too!

What do you do for Christmas/birthdays when you are struggling financially?

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