Credit-crunching Christmas - please may we have your survival tips?

To avoid being GIVEN needless crap:

• update your Amazon wishlist
• announce said update on Facebook around 1 December

'tis tres modern

A big roll of brown parcel paper, a glue stick and some glitter keeps small people happy for hours and makes really lovely wrapping paper. Collect evergreen leaves (nearer the time) and make a hole with a hole punch and thread onto natural string for tree and present decorations.
Collect autumnal leaves now and store them until they go veiny or partially veiny, dip in silver or gold paint, dry and use them as tree decorations.

Just remembering it is only one day and probably the thing you'll most remember is looking back on spending that time with your family. So not worth stressing over lots of details/extra bits and bobs, just over those that matter. And especially if you spend the day with extended family that means you don't have to go mad buying your dc everything they want. That list can be spread out.
I actually find the excesses of Christmas Day quite depressing actually. I am a grump!

Pants are very useful in stockings though for filling the gaps etc. And definitely well received up until age 6 or so.

We agree between my siblings not to buy for adults and to get the DC useful gifts.
This year my DN are getting new bedcovers each, sourced in the sales, My dc will also be getting something for their bedrooms
We buy the children 3 presents each for under the tree and these also tend to be bargains, stockings are more like a party bag from FC TBH, so very cheap( book, colouring pencils, yoyo, pot of playdough, pack of cereal, carton of juice, satsuma)

Dinner is round PIL

We bought a large tin of roses chocs when first availiable in Tescos(£3)

And we will reuse our christmas decks/tree

I bought 3 for 2 yesterday at the Wellcome inst shop (Euston Road), of these very fine OUP Very Short Introductions -great for all the wannabe intellectuals in your family (normally £7.99 each)

crokky i've taken stuff back
my sister bought me a jumper and I took it back and bought a toasted sandwich maker!

let the credit crunch be an excuse to buy presents for people that they need or really want instead of grabbing at stuff we think is good present fodder - that's real value for money

I want to add a more controversial tip:

-if you get unwanted stuff, eBay it or return it to the shop for vouchers!

I don't buy for BIL (single man), he doesn't buy for our family so that's saved us all money. He will come for a visit so that's fine.

Don't go overboard with DH/DW etc. I am getting my DH a nice pair of boxers from me, DS and DD (that he wants as most of his current ones have holes in). I'll get some multipack knickers and wrap them up for myself so DS (who will be almost 3) can give me.

I ask all my siblings not to buy for me and DH, just to get the kids something if they wish, although they don't have to do that if they don't want to/haven't got the money. Kids won't go short of presents anyway in a big extended family.

DS will get some swimming trunks in his stocking, a snowstorm toy that I put in his stocking last year AND the year before - he won't remember it from then! And some other bits I am gradually picking up.

I think the key is not to buy "gifty" stuff. I always buy people stuff that they need or can use etc. I do buy the kids lots of fun toys etc but they love them.

mine love pants and socks in their santa sacks.

yes, it was lighthearted - I have forgiven her and she has bought me PJ's every year since! MoM I shed a tear because for as long as I can remember mum has bought me PJ's at christmas and I always look forward to them, its a bit of tradition along with a satsuma in a stocking so I was a bit when I didn't get them.

Budget your gifts, and dont go buying all extra crap fpr chrismtas dinner just buy what you need. You dont need to spend a fortune. I am being skint this year so needs must but now I want to cut back and try to teach DS that christmas isnt all commercial anyway a nice homemade gift is ice. Although he is only 2 so

rellies and close friends are getting bottle of cheap wine, jar of home-pickled shallots with either nice cheese or nice pork pie, home-made and decorated mini-xmas cake, home made truffles.
grandparents getting extra home-made calander by boys and nice photo (from school ones)
Everyone else can take a running jump

Boys are getting stockings as usual(already bought stuff throughout the year) and will beecstatic if I let them have more lego as main present. (I told them I was never buying anymore ever again.)
Ds has his birthday right before christmas. This year, I have told him his birthday present is the money for the school trip in January, he is thrilled. It is actually 3 times the amount i would have spent on his present but it means the world to him and is his last year at school.

Dh is geting a book and a bottle of port (already purchased - that is his idea of christmas bliss.)
Actually I want the same!

ah Enid I get it now

you are living to higher standards than me

I don't own any cashmere socks

and I only buy my children new underwear at christmas and birthdays

they are like oliver twist tbh

i know you didnt after a few posts my dear...i was just explaining my post to the morningpaper

enid obv not made of the stern stuff required for credit crunching times

my mum got a dressing gown from her parents for her 21st enid. dull enough for you??

oh I like socks but only if cashmere

would be horrified by normal socks

morningpaper i wasnt saying £20 was too less or owt...i thought it mean to take the magic out of xmas by giving cash&the way it was said wait till the sales to spend it

gallus, tell me that that's not true.

I am 26 and the thought of crying because i didn't get PJs for christmas is really odd! Why not just get yourself some?

ah yes Enid but I did preface my original pants suggestion with "For younger children"

Having said that my absolute favourite present is Nice Socks and I am 34

ahhh so they do get gifts under the tree...i was just taken back that you said they have £20 and wait till sales to spend it...theres nothing wrong with spending £20 i just would spend it then wrap n put under tree..as for 2nd hand stuff i am no stranger to this and dcs dont even notice they have no box lol