hey ladies what do you think?

[baby2_on_the_way]

this year for Christmas I am really panicking because we have so many people to buy gifts for, but a baby on the way! we both have pretty big families, and we have our 2 year old to buy for as well, but we have so much baby stuff we need to get. my first child was born at 33 weeks, I would NEVER wish that on anyone, but cant help but worry that it could happen again. if it does I will have a baby in only 10 weeks and I have NOTHING ready for this baby. we live with a limited income and haven't even cleaned out the room we are using for the nursery. my bf and I discuss every year what we will spend on each other, would it be rude of me to suggest taking our usual $100 spending limit on eachother and combine it so we have$200 to get a swing and some smaller necessities for our baby boy instead of gifts on each other??? giving up buying gifts for our family isn't an option, and I cant help but spoil my 2 year old for this big holiday, but I would also like to spoil my baby boy this year so he has stuff here when he is born!!!! what are your thoughts? is anyone else feeling like they have a similar dellema at hand?

[baby2_on_the_way]

that is a good idea. I just worry cause with my first I knew I would get everything at my baby shower and I did, but everything is hot pink lol the carseat, bouncy chair, stroller, swing, and all the clothes. I know baby showers are only for first babies, but my first child is biologically not my bfs so I don't know if we will get a baby shower from his family or not.and I would feel more guilty asking his family for things than I did asking my family lol

[HeatherLynB]

I too have a large family, but we only buy gifts for my side of the family since his lives overseas (plus we always send them money when they ask, so i felt they didnt need christmas gifts too lol!). What we do is secret santa for the adults, everyone picks 2 names, and then we all buy gifts for the kids. We have alot of bills/loans to pay off and i was upset that i wouldnt get the VBAC i hoped for, but i now see it as a blessing (i made it to my due date, meaning i will get one last full paycheck before the end of the month). I also remembered that we had store credit cards that we havent used, so we used those to buy some gifts. Im also all about sales, so i always shop for the good deals! Target is having buy 1 get 1 50% off on all Disney Princess Dolls...i have 6 niece, 2 of which at toddlers so i hoped on that deal lol. Why dont you wait to see if any family members get you baby items?

[KTowne]

I'm cheap, too!! Haha last year we did family photos and gave each a framed family picture and cookies, they loved it.

[mrsnelson2010]

Totally understand! Thankfully we still have everything from our first except a crib that i can use with this one. I dont think it would be rude at all. I think it would be a good idea. :)

[alexandria18]

We have a pretty decent sized family as well with a baby coming in january! Besides the usual gifts for our immediate family (mom, dad, brother and sister) a good portion of our families all agreed on putting names in a hat and buying one nice little gift for whomever you chose...we made them secret too so its pretty fun! Obviously we are all getting things for the younger children too, and my boyfriend and i will be getting eachother gifts as well....but it certainly is saving us tons!

[OorahMommy]

Lol girl I could not handle having to buy all those gifts too much stress. That's why everyone gets cookies lol. Maybe if you tell your family the situation they will be understanding. I mean if you don't have the money you just don't and you have a new little one on the way they can't possibly be upset with you for not being able to participate

[baby2_on_the_way]

the cookies are a great idea. and that is exactly what I will do for his family!! my family picks names between the adults, with a $50 spending estimate, so everyone gets and gives gifts equaling $50 each. this means we need to put at least $100 into gifts on my side between the both of us (unless I find good sales on stuff worth $50 each but on sale for less!) and that doesn't even include my mother and sister and my daughters god mother or my daughter or his mother and father and sibblings or my 4 step sisters and dad and step mom and grandparents. OMG STRESS!! haha time to rob a bank :)

[OorahMommy]

I'm cheap lol!

[jagerbelle]

My family does a secret santa for the adults. You only buy one nice gift and its sweet to exchange gifts on christmas.

[KTowne]

I think Oorahmommy has a great idea, too, cookies for family is a good, cheap idea!

[KTowne]

We're in a similar situation, my family is large and usually we buy for each other, and my husband and I do, and we have a 3 year old, and a baby due in Jan. Although we have most everything, I want a savings for when baby comes. Luckily our family decided to only do christmas for the kids this year (which I feel is how it SHOULD be since it's about the kids) maybe for adults, buy a family gift? Or smaller gifts? And I'm sure your husband would agree to the 100 spending limit going towards a baby necessity, he's probably stressed about it, too. Since we had almost everything we need for baby already, we bought a great christmas for my son (of course, that's just a give in, haha) gifts for our nieces and nephews, and he bought me my diaper bag, and I bought him a present he picked for $50, and we're both happy with that, I think it's a good idea!

[jwilliams81]

We have limited income since my hubby is laid off in winter. We don't spend much on each other and for the kids we got them a joint gift so I spent combined what they have each gotten in the past. I've also done a lot of homemade gifts for the extended family. A lot of the big baby items we bought used like swing. I'm due any day so money has definitely been on my mind!

[OorahMommy]

I totally know the feeling. My husband and I agreed we would not buy gifts for each other this year and just buy for our baby to get some extra stuff we need. I don't think its selfish at all. Christmas isn't about gifts anyway and if you love each other it shouldn't matter. As for family I bake a dumpload of gourmet cookies and wrap them up all pretty and send them out to everyone. That's what family gets and if they don't like it they don't have to eat them lol.