I know Christmas isn't about money...

BUT as a single mom I feel like I owe my princess a lot of nice stuff, financially I could maybe, then be broke until income tax returns (I pretty much live paycheck to paycheck but I have a little money saved for emergencies/holidays), or should I be frugal because she's so young and Christmas isn't even about gifts?
I just feel like she will disappointed if the tree isn't loaded with gifts but I know that isn't true, and I just moved and had to throw out my old tree and decorations because of a flood issue so I have to buy that as well, oh and I just dropped 381.27 on a fuel pump today for my stupid car :/. Blah, idk, opinions?

how old is the LO?

How old?

Just do small if it's what you can afford then maybe one big this around tax time. It's ok to just do what you can when you are struggling...bills getting paid is more important for your little one.

I would just do a tree and some small gifts, with the focus more on family and what Christmas means to you. it's not about how much you can spend.

LO is 4. and I have SOME money I'm not really struggling, i'm in nursing school and I got over my loan amount, so help me get by, but it seems kinda stupid to waste it on lavish things.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ♥supermommy:</b>" BUT as a single mom I feel like I owe my princess a lot of nice stuff, financially I could maybe, then ... [snip!] ... so I have to buy that as well, oh and I just dropped 381.27 on a fuel pump today for my stupid car :/. Blah, idk, opinions?"</blockquote>

I would buy little things. Depending on age, maybe nothing at all. That sounds harsh, but kids honestly have more fun playing with the paper and boxes things come in. You won't be a bad mom and she won't be disappointed. I know you probably wanna buy everything imaginable, but
i just feel like for little kids, like really young, it isn't necessary. But you make that decision.

i know exactly how you feel. I was a single mom from the time I had my son until he was 5. I have always over done christmas because I dont want him to notice his had isn't around. this is how I feel about it anyway...

Quoting ♥supermommy:" LO is 4. and I have SOME money I'm not really struggling, i'm in nursing school and I got over my loan amount, so help me get by, but it seems kinda stupid to waste it on lavish things."

It really is. What if an emergency comes up? You can give her a very nice Christmas on a budget  

Get a smaller tree and use big boxes and big bows. I don't get my kids a ton of presents because I don't want them to expect it. If one year we are low on cash flow and can't get them a lot I don't want them to be disappointed and think they are entitled to more. You know? How many gifts do you think is enough? Honestly kids are getting about four gifts each and some new books... But there are three of them.

Honestly kids don't care how much you spend on them, though they would care if they didn't have a shelter, food, and warmth. The basic needs come first. We only spent $30.00 on a wooden train set for our almost three year old and like $5.00 on a chew thing for our infant. We could afford bigger, pricier things, but decide not to as we are saving up for a house, way more important then a toy in the long run.

Quoting *Cade*Mak*Col*:" Get a smaller tree and use big boxes and big bows. I don't get my kids a ton of presents because I don't ... [snip!] ... do you think is enough? Honestly kids are getting about four gifts each and some new books... But there are three of them."

Yeah, it's just me and her living together, so if I get a tree and put 4 boxes under it I'm going to feel bad :/

IMO Christmas is not about presents and lots of toys don't make kids happier. What makes them happy is spending quality time with their family.

DH and I are double income (for now) and could buy lots of presents if we wanted to but we won't. I think it is a big waste of money that I would rather put any extra cash we have into her college fund. We are buying her a strider bike for christmas (from Santa) and she will get a couple little things in her stocking. That's all. Our parents will probably send her gifts too. We will be doing lots of fun activities together over the holidays like going to look at christmas displays, visit christmas craft fairs, bake christmas cookies, sing christmas songs, read christmas books (from the library), go skating on the outdoor rink, visit family and friends...

Don't worry about the "stuff" just have fun together!

We usually do one big thing then a bunch of little things. This year her big gift will probably be an Innoctab2 or the 2s. The ready will just be little things like cheap baby dolls and such.

Quoting ♥supermommy:" Yeah, it's just me and her living together, so if I get a tree and put 4 boxes under it I'm going to feel bad :/"

So go to the dollar tree or dollar general and get smaller items as well and more items!