This new budget stinks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2005
This new budget stinks!
12
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 12:20pm
Don't get me wrong, I definitely like the headway dh and I are making and foresee a much better future for us within the next 12-24 months, but sometimes this bites! My brother and his fiance are having

Angel

Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 1:34pm
As she will be a girl among many boys, she is sure to have more than she needs for the first few months. If the showers I have been to recently are any guideline. My suggestion for you would be to let her know 9make some coupons) that you would be willing to watch the little one for a few hours so your future sil can get shopping done, or just have a nap. (I'm guessing you are close by) And later on when you are in a better financial position you can buy her things that you can see are needed.
If you sew, you could make some receiving blankets, or burp cloths, when my dgd was here the smaller blankets (about 36" square) and the burp cloths (24" square) were used on a regular basis. And they can be made fairly inexpensively. You could use an old flannel sheet to make quite a few and just sew up the edges. You could also sew/embroider a small applique on it.


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2005
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 2:20pm
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will be doing a coupon book for her, found a really great template online to design them like gift certificates. Also, I can sew basics, and

Angel

Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2008
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 6:45pm


My favorite shower gift when I was pregnant with my firstborn was an inexpensive CD player from someone (probably cost them under $20) and some burnt CDs of lullabies and classical music.

You can get CDs from the library and burn them on your computer (if you have that ability.) My kids both listen to classical music when going to bed and they are now 6 and 2. Been doing it since my 6yo was a newborn.

I loved it and give it as gifts to others now.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 7:43pm

That coupon book is a phenominal idea, and Angel has to realize that gifts are going to the mother of the baby, not the baby itself and there is NO better gift than the gift of time.


The budget (and I prefer the term "spending plan") is keeping her from over extending yourself into purchases that a few years from now have no meaning at all.


My DD is now 18 and we had a huge baby shower when she was born.




iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2000
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 11:24pm
I've used the "block" pattern for letters here to make my grandkids personalized blankets:
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2005
Sun, 01-10-2010 - 9:52pm
Jackie - It is so funny that you linked that pattern. I attached a photo here of a blanket I just finished yesterday (I actually started it three years ago for my middle son, but when I found out he was going to be a boy, decided to scrap it and go another route) I am thinking of either giving this to her, or using this pattern to spell out my nieces name (Annabella).

Angel


Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)Follow Me to All Boys!

Angel

Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-1999
Sun, 01-10-2010 - 9:59pm

If you have a camera, take as many pictures at the shower as you can. You will likely end up with 10-12 pictures that you can either frame or make into a collage and give her at a slightly later date...it will make a keepsake memory of the event for her that she may not otherwise have. The physical things (ie, the gifts) will go over time, but she may treasure the pictures for a long time to come.

You can get the boards with the picture hanging hole pre-drilled into the back, or you can use frames. I am making some collages like this right now with different sized pictures and it is a fun craft for me and will be cherished by the people who get them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2000
Sun, 01-10-2010 - 10:15pm

I've used those letter patterns for my DGDs (Destiny Rose & Ava Marie) and did another as a gift for my ex-stepson's dd (my ex's DGD) Ella Rose.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Sun, 01-10-2010 - 10:34pm

here is a link to a quilt I made for my granddaughter, before she was born. The ones I have made other babies have their birthdate and names embroidered on them.
This is a fairly easy quilt, and I use 6-8" squares of flannel. 3 layers and the centre layer is an old flannel sheet. They are great travel blankets because they wash easy and get softer and cuddlier with each wash.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1511248&l=776ed14fa3&id=565362031

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1511248&l=776ed14fa3&id=565362031



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-11-2010 - 7:38am

As a mother of four I can honestly tell you the best gift I can get is some time to myself! Once she is established with caring for her baby perhaps you can give her some handmade "coupons" for 2 hours of "her" time. This will cost nothing but your time and will probably be the best gift in the end. My sister gives me babysitting for free as gifts for my birthday and Xmas.

Jenn

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