Frugal but fun Christmas

[littleshebear]

Hi to you all- I am in a position that probably a lot of people are in for one reason or another- very little money and Christmas looming- but I still want to have a lovely time but without all the stress of paying for rubbish that noone actually wants or needs- but also do not want to fall out with anyone! I have had an awful year and been ill and have had to reduce my hours at work so even less money than usual. But also I want a lovely Christmas.I have already told my kids there will be much less money this year and they have been ok about it.

Does anyone have any tips on how to achieve this? I still want to have fun! I have thought of making some presents- stockings for mum and sisters to whom I'm very close and filling with bits and bobs- where to get cheap fabric to do this? I have already bought some bargain seeds to put in one of them for my sister who is a keen gardener. Also for nieces thought of doing cookie recipes in a jar- but most of recipes on line American? Would like to make sister in law a cake and send it in post but worried it will be a bit heavy- can you think of anything else that I could make and send that won't be too heavy and will keep?I can knit (slowly!)and cook but my sewing skills are basic!

Also want to do more fun things with kids- have thought of making gingerbread house, but can anyone think of anything else? We will go to Christmas markets and also to forest to get Christmas tree too which have already turned into traditions. I will have bit more time which is a positive, and am trying to see this as an opportunity to improve the festive season rather than the reverse!

What great ideas- I am going to knit an i-pod cover for my daughter- and make some fudge for all of them-fortunately my two eldest(17 and 15) like arty crafty things so I may get away with it! Also thought today will get some books from charity shops/Oxfam and maybe all Fair trade chocs etc for stockings? I really like the look of those cookies too. Going to look for florist wrap to try to make things look a bit more special.

Oh I made Lauriefairycake's candles too last year. Absolutely gorgeous, will be doing more this year as I have lots of wax and scents left. Yay!

twolittlemonkeys, I'd be interested in the lemon curd recipe please if you see this, would go down well with my dad & sister who I always struggle to think of something to buy for (they're the kind of people who f they want something they get it, I bought my sister jewellery last year & got a very funny look when she opened it & haven't seen it since!)

some AMAZING ideas, we should think about putting them all in a mumsnet christmas book and get it published!

I buy cheap beaded necklaces (charity shops) and bags of beads and then some wire and make christmas beaded stars. (like the very expensive ones on the Cox and Cox website) except mine are nicer. time consuming but worth it.

brilliant thread, some super ideas ....

lucysmam i have a citrus curd recipe for a slow cooker - its very easy and tastes gorgeous

I think i nicked this idea from mumsnet last year, but it was so much fun...Instead of a chocolate advent calender we put bits of paper with little activities written on them, eg
watch The snowman
make pomanders
do paper snowflake decorations
make reindeer food
sing The holly and the Ivy
learn a new carol
write the xmas cards
go for a walk and collect sticks to make a xmas mobile with

you get the idea. It was lovely, and im sure it will get better each year as it becomes more of a tradition.

I usually make mincemeat and package it up nicely for gifts, although this year my mum will not be getting one, as i was rooting around in her fridge and found my jar from 2007!!!

This is a great way to get bargains ...

Have a look at the things that are being sold near to you on e-bay. (You can do this by selecting "Auction only" then "edit preferences" then put in your postcode and select how far you;d be prepared to travel)

Then if you find something you like, email to the seller and ask if you can collect the item, and pay no p+p.

I'm building up a collection of nice picture frames like this (mostly bought for 99p). I'm going to give them to relatives at Christmas with nice pictures of the family in them.

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but what about a Christmas movie night with your DCs with pizza and all manner of crappy junk foods? As a child/teenager, I would've loved this. Will cost very little and a nice thing to do with them.

HTH :).

With our children, we always have at least one 'joke' present whereby one present is wrapped up and clues are given as to what the present is. The children then make guesses as to what the present is as they unwrap.

In our house, this is usually hysterical because my dad is so bad at making clues, but it prolongs the present opening process in a fun way.

marking my place for later!!
the only thing I would say please is if you say oh 'I'm quilling my xmas bunting with silver glittery handprints right now' is please consider giving feeble talentless people like me some more instructions I wouldn't have a clue where to start!!

i try to fill the kids stockings with useful things...ds, 10 is getting less amused now that he's older, but my younger kids like it...its quantity over quality in their eyes!!!

so stuff like new toothbrush (a funky one), character toothpaste, new hair bobbles, shaped soap, keyring for their school bag, funky gloves/socks/pants etc.. expanding flannel, little packets of sweets, new colouring pens, note pad etc...

"home bargains" is my absolute saviour for all of these things, plus toys, toiletries, packet food and sweets etc.. if you can find one near you, its worth a trip...honestly, saves me a fortune on branded stuff.

i also try to find bargain pressies for the kids (look for online deals with the toyshops and amazon and stuff) and steer them in the direction when they are writing their christmas lists if there is nothing specific they want!

thanks aristocat , much appreciated!

Will be looking for some candle making stuff too I think, they'd go down well with my bestest bud & sister if I could find some nice chintzy cups in a charity shop

your welcome ...... it is very easy to do but takes a few hours

Apologies if someone has already posted this but make 3d snowflakes out of paper with the kids. They look amazing and aren't hard to make! Youtube video here

Crafting can easily end up a lot more expensive than you would anticipate. Charity shops can be a great source of materials especially if you’re open minded about what you want to make. They’re my first choice for fabric - sheets, duvets and curtains for big projects and skirts and shirts for smaller ones.

A Christmas movie night can be even more fun if you get the kids to be in charge of the 'cinema'. They have to make a poster saying what film is on and 'sell' you a ticket (which they make) then show you to your seat using a torch in a darkish room

Another vote for charity shops if they are open - for young kids you can easily get books, dvds and games or if you know anyone with older kids, ask if they have some younger stuff you can buy from them.

Christmas 'treasure trail' around the house where you follow clues from one place to the next and there are chocolate coins treasure at the end of the trail.Adjust the clues and difficulty to the age of the kids. You can find free printables on line then just cut out the clues and place them. Spread them well out including any garden if you have one and car if that is possible too or get them going up and down the stairs.

Make 'reindeer food' out of oats and sugar. Pop it into a bag of some kind and attach a fancy label you have printed out like these images.app.goo.gl/dz4FVtt3oMZPiFoC7

Go out to sprinkle it in the garden on Christmas Eve.

Free printable Christmas Bingo www.thesprucecrafts.com/printable-christmas-bingo-games-1356265