With the Christmas season approaching, we are all looking for unique great gifts for family. As an Oma (grandma) to four amazing grandkids, I love to start early and come up with something great. This year I decided to make an advent calendar. Not just any advent calendar but a big one with gifts attatched.

What you will need

• 2.25 x 3.5 in envelopes
• index cards
• heavy duty yarn or string
• 25 ideas for each day in December
• gifts to match
• a blanket ladder
• wrapping paper, gift bags, name tags
• Your favorite Christmas music playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUiHsJrRNGE

Ideas for 25 days

• Go for a drive to see Christmas lights
• Christmas caroling
• Give to the needy
• Christmas crafts ( gift of craft supplies)
• Christmas baking (gift of baking supplies)
• Favorite Christmas story ( Christmas books)
• Christms movie and popcorn
• Flashlight reading ( reading a book by flashlight, books and flashlights for gifts)
• Decorate for Christmas ( decorations)
• Start a new family Christmas tradition ( I bought tickets to see Elf the musical)

Putting it all together

Number your envelopes 1-25 punch a hole in the top of each envelope and add string. Tie the envelopes to the blanket ladder. Cut your index cards to fit in the envelopes. Write a task or event on each card put them into the envelopes. Wrap your gifts and add matching numbers from the envelope to the gift.

The best gift of all is getting a phone call everyday from my grandkids to let me know what they did each day with their calendar. That kind of gift is priceless!

As single Mom’s it is often important to think outside the box. We can’t always afford big gifts for our kids as much as we want to. Finding unique budget friendly ideas is important.

I remember a time when my daughter wanted adidas tennis shoes. I could barely pay the bills there was no way I could afford adaidas shoes. She was heartbroken. I was at goodwill one day and found a pair of plain white tennis shoes in her size. I decided to surprise her and took a permanent black marker and drew the stripes on the sides of the white shoes. They looked just like adidas shoes. She was probably in 7th grade at the time. One day, as an adult, she asked me how I ever afforded those shoes and I told her the truth. She never knew they weren’t adidas shoes.

As single Moms we are always looking for budget friendly, unique gifts. I challenge you to try something new. See what goodwill has and make it new. Try a new project. Come up with something on your own. I would love to hear your ideas. Send me a message or an email.