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Good Financial Choices and Frugal, Sentimental Gifts for Adult Kids

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Every year around this time, I get stressed a bit about balancing good financial choices and my desire to spoil my kiddos for Christmas. Add to that, the cost of shipping gifts across the country doesn’t exactly scream “budget-friendly.” With adult kids scattered around, I’m reminded that every gift also comes with a shipping label and a price tag that just keeps creeping up.

This year, my holiday budget is solely dependent on my $5 savings that I started early this year. I started back in January, putting aside those fives, and it’s added up! But even with my “$5 stash,” I am going to have to get creative about how to give gifts that don’t break the bank and still feel special.

Here are a few frugal, sentimental gift ideas to keep things meaningful without overextending. I hope they help you find a little balance too:

1. Family Recipe Book

My kids might live all over, but one thing that keeps us connected is the food we all grew up with. This is what I did last year and they all love it! I gathered our go-to dishes, from holiday cookies to comfort foods, typed them up, and added little stories or memories tied to each recipe. I even digitized it and shared with them (and my siblings) for them to add their own. This isn’t just a cookbook; it’s like handing over a slice of family history they can pass on someday. Plus, if you format it simply, you can email it and save on shipping!

2. Memory Jar or Journal

I know, this sounds a bit crafty, but hear me out: a memory jar or journal can be one of the most heartfelt gifts. I’ve done this a couple of times, filling a jar with little notes about memories we share, funny stories, pictures, or life lessons I’d like them to remember. When they’re having a tough day, they can pull one out and feel a bit of home no matter where they are. If mailing a jar isn’t practical (or affordable), you can use a small notebook or journal. It’s budget-friendly, and they always seem to love it! (I’m working on an alternative to this one for this year, but it’s still just an idea noodling around in my head.)

3. Plan a “Gift of Time” Day Together

Now that my kids are adults, they don’t expect things as much as they appreciate time and experiences. Instead of a physical gift, I’ll plan a day or activity for us to enjoy together whenever we’re able to be in the same place. (Like our New York trip a couple of years ago.) It could be anything from a coffee date, a hike, or even a homemade dinner of all their favorites. The memories from a day like that? Priceless. And the best part: there’s no shipping cost involved.

The holidays can be a financial struggle, especially when you’re balancing the desire to give meaningful gifts with a budget (that $5 stash only goes so far!). The small, heartfelt gifts remind me that giving thoughtfully can mean just as much as giving lavishly—if not more. The focus should be on connection, and that’s the kind of gift that doesn’t need wrapping paper or a shipping label.

Do you have ideas to add to the list?

Stay the Course – Pay Off Debt First

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The message I heard from your comments on my post about changing direction to focus on savings was – Not a good idea.

Sounds like staying the course to focus on paying off consumer debt should continue to be priority one. While balancing in some savings. What I’m doing now.

Then pivoting to saving over the student loan debt. Then returning to student loans.

Am I reading the room correctly in this?

Big Rock Priorities

  1. Pay off the remaining $8,600 in credit card debt
  2. Pay off the $2,600 personal loan
  3. Save a solid 6 months of daily living = $36,000
  4. Pay off student loans

Sit Still

I know that selling my house is not a good financial move. I know that.

And as commentors pointed out, it is definitely a decision driven my emotions. Versus smart and logical reasoning.

So for now, I’m going to sit on that decision for a bit longer. It’s still rolling around in my head. But the extended trip and staying with my daughter for a week during her surgery, definitely gave me a different perspective. And really, it’s not something I have to decide now or put a timeline on.

dogs - opie and addie

Even they wonder what I’ll do next.

Having some stability and figuring out why that’s so hard for me is probably a better priority now. I had a good, heart centered talk about just this with my daughter this weekend. Hearing her perspective was eye-opening.

Now I will go forth and devise plans to pay off debt. A plan that is achievable. And not a game. One that can be tracked and measured. That doesn’t rely on me earning extra money from side gigs or selling anything.  A real, honest to goodness plan.

 

 

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