Rather than buying a Christmas gift for your cousin, a gift for her husband and a gift for each of their three children, why not give one Christmas gift to the five of them that they can enjoy as a family? You’ll be amazed how much money you can save this Christmas season by giving one family gift rather than several individual gifts. Christmas can be cheap with these gift ideas.

Let your friends and family know that you’ve decided to create special gifts for families this year, so that you don’t have to worry about anyone feeling awkward when it comes time to exchange gifts. Hopefully they’ll like the idea and jump on the bandwagon.

Here are some cheap Christmas ideas for for families:

* A gift card to Blockbuster or your local video store. Pair the passes with some microwave popcorn or candy. The entire family will appreciate the idea of a movie night together.

* A book of passes to the movie theater. How about throwing in a homemade coupon good for a night of babysitting so Mom and Dad can enjoy a show without the kids one night?

* Board games make great gifts for families. Choose a few to cater to different family member’s ability level. Don’t forget classic card games like Uno and Old Maid.

* A gift certificate to a nice, family friendly restaurant. Mom and Dad will appreciate the opportunity to get out of cooking for an evening and doing dishes.

* A donation in their family’s name to a charity that’s important to them. Most organizations have cards that can be mailed for contributions made as gifts. Did a hospice help them in their time of need? If so, the donation on their behalf will be appreciated more than another Christmas gift to clutter up their home.

Think of the people on your Christmas shopping list. Imagine how much you can reduce your holiday budget by buying a gift for a family rather than separate gifts for everyone. Christmas can be cheap!

Giving family Christmas gifts is a super effective way to cut back on holiday spending and can often be more personal than your run of the mill gift. Here’s to making your holiday cheaper and more fun!