How to make Christmas cheap and cheerful?

[Amapoleon]

Last year I spent a fortune on Christmas and it was a complete disaster.
Torrential rain, caused leaks, power cut in the middle of Christmas dinner, lasted 12 hours. My mum fell over and broke her ribs. I had my purse stolen. All food ruined, no one had a good time.

I could go on and on

So this year I've decided to make Christmas more low key and go back to the sort of Christmases that we used to have as children.

All I need now is some cheap and cheerful ideas.

are you a vaguely crafty person? If so have a look at this thread :)

Well, whatever you do it's going to be better than last year!

Will watch this thread for ideas.

Well I think that it's the build up which is the magical part...the carols on the radio, the cooking of cookies and decorating them. Making decorations like paper chains and weird santa's for the tree!

I love all these things and so do the kids.

making homemade pressies instead of buying them, homemade cards/sweets/fudge/calendars/soap etc

also agree with ShanahansRevenge that the build up os magical, visiting santa claus, writing xmas letters,xmas songs on television,xmas films, present wrapping

We do a LOT of craft and baking and making home made presents and decorations. My 3 dc like this very much and it means we spend a lot of time making things on a Christmassy theme. so we have a lot of build up but it's mostly focussed on home made sweets, hand-made advent calendars, etc.

I am opposite to the OP in trying to avoid the sort of Christmasses I had as a child though . compulsory family board games being just one of the things I don't insist on for that reason, though you could say it's cheap.

thanks. I have had no internet for a week. Will have a look at the crafty things