Article posted Wednesday, December 18, 2013 3:01pm

Dear Mary Pat,

As my siblings and I grow, marry, and have children the Christmas shopping lists are getting longer and longer. My budget is tight this year, but all my siblings have sent Christmas lists for their husbands, wives, and children – clothes, toys, books, jewelry! I’m overwhelmed. And then there are my folks, my employers, and good friends. What do I do?

Signed,

Santa Is On a Budget

Sturgeon Bay, WI

Dear Santa Is On a Budget,

As families grow in size, they typically start rethinking getting gifts for everyone. There is no reason that you should go into hock just to give presents to everyone that you know.

My siblings and I have actually stopped exchanging gifts with each other and focus instead on just getting gifts for the kids. There are some families where even this solution can be cost prohibitive – my sister has 37 nieces and nephews just on her husband’s side alone. Obviously, they all draw names. My friends and I don’t exchange gifts, but choose to go out to dinner with each other instead.

If you feel like you’d still like to have a little something for everyone under the tree, you can think small. There are lots of bargains in the county right now since it’s the off-season. Maybe a pair of warm socks or mittens? Or, make ten copies of your favorite family photo, and find inexpensive frames and voila, ten instant gifts.

You can also set aside a day and bake a variety of cookies to give to friends. There is also the gift of time…maybe your sister or best friend needs a day out of the house: make a handmade voucher for a free day of babysitting.

And since this is the season for putting others before ourselves, why don’t you consider making a donation to a family in need instead? I’m sure everyone on your list would love opening a card saying that you have made a donation to a family in lieu of getting them gifts.

You know your family best and what they would appreciate, but my guess is being together is the gift at the top of their list.

Good luck,

Mary Pat