Whether the economy is strong or struggling, the traditional Christmas gift-buying rush is a major expense. When you've got a big family like ours, that only accentuates it! This week, we're talking about ways we've learned to make your Christmas budget go a long way, even with lot of kids and a little bit of money.

Big Family, Small Budget

We have a big family - eight children, and now they're getting married and bringing new family and grandkids into the mix. So a long time ago, we had to figure out how to budget for a fun Christmas that didn't bankrupt the whole operation!

We've found several concepts that have helped us make the most of our Christmas shopping. Let's talk about the kids first.

Shopping for the Children

* Look for presents which are both educational and fun. There are more than you think!

* Find gifts that encourage interaction. Multi-player games can entertain more people than single-player varieties.

* Choose gifts that are appropriate for multiple ages. Remember you can team older and younger players together so different ages can have a chance at games. Sometimes you can even give a larger gift for multiple children to share.

* Look for creative and constructive gifts. Art supplies, craft kits (see below!), construction toys, model kits, and tools are great ideas. For school-aged kids, we found it was better to buy inexpensive but real tools and supplies rather than the toy varieties that aren't really useful.

* Seek out gifts of lasting value. Toys and games which have been popular for a long time, classic books (for children as well as older readers), clothing that won't go out of style - these won't fall out of fashion!

What About Each Other?

* Be sure you're in agreement about shopping - like how much to spend on each other. Be honest ... and don't cheat.

* Know your mate's preferences - practical or whimsical, surprise or planned gifts. The only right answer is the one that makes your mate happy.

* Don't overlook experiences, services, or pre-owned treasures. We've done all of these at different times.

* Old Christmas is an option. Christmas used to be celebrated on January 6, and some people still observe "the twelve days of Christmas." When we were newlyweds, we exchanged gifts on Old Christmas - after taking advantage of the year-end clearance sales! Mom and Dad might agree to do this for each other, even while sharing the usual December 25 event with the children.

Pro Tip

Family Gift List - A few years ago, we started a family gift list on Google Docs. We try to keep this updated all year long, with options divided by price range - free things, $5 gifts, $20 gifts, more expensive gifts. This has been a big help as our kids reach for adulthood and have more specific interests and needs. It's also helpful for birthdays, Valentine's, Mother's Day or Father's Day, and anniversary presents!

REFERENCES

* Americans expect to spend $719 billion on Christmas this year (Nat'l Federation of Retailers)

* The average American plans to spend $885 personally - 33% expect to spend $1000 or more (Gallup)

* 28% of Americans are still paying off last year's Christmas shopping (NerdWallet)

RESOURCES

* Our son Caleb offers this