Frugal Christmas

[Louboo2245]

I am a notorious over spender, in every aspect of my life, despite being a low income family, but this year I am determined to reel it in a bit.
So thought I would ask the help of my fellow MNetters. So lets see if we can come up with exciting presents for a reasonable budget?

Louboo2245 - Could you knit your DD presents for Christmas:

knitted dolls and <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=dYpb4Sk1C4YN2M:&imgrefurl=babyreborn.co.uk/dolls-knitting-pattern-tiny-tots-carry-cot-ssk-collect-baby-reborn-dolls&imgurl=img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/suze.suze/cc4ssk.jpg&w=410&h=274&ei=6J5AUOjwLcHH0QX9hIHQDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=92&vpy=83&dur=981&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=164&ty=103&sig=101887566137017554761&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=179&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0,i:102" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">knitted carrycot

That way you'll have more money to spend on your 8yo DS :)

Love the carrycot, I can knit. Must give it a go. I'm currently crocheting hair clips and scrunchies for my nieces. Might make one f those for my foster niece, bet she would love it.

I suggested a secret Santa for our family last year. It went down as well as suggesting we have Christmas dinner on Christmas eve...not very well at all .

I'm usually well into the swing of Christmas preparations by now but am not very interested at all . I'm sure once I've made a start at tidying up my over-filled house I'll be more enthusiastic.

I shall take my doom and gloom away from this topic and come back with some helpful money-saving tips when I'm not so grumpy!

I have seen some lovey handle powered torches in ikea for under £3!
Am going to get my boys one each for their stocking.
Also a bath bomb from lush and a cheap book from amazon.
Got ds1 the pirates of the Caribbean box set for £15 and have ore ordered some DVDs for under £10.
Amazon are also selling mr maker craft sets for under £10 too.

Hiccup...I have filled 2 bin bags today of broken/cars/partial bits of games and tidied the storage boxes too.
It took me 3 hours but at least now there is room for any bday/Xmas gifts!!

I agree with the cinema voucher for teens and 20 somethings. We got one for our wedding pressie and loved it.

I make truffles, fudge and cookies for my older relatives. I save jars over the year and put them in the jars and then create a christmas card top to go on the lid. I must admit I am baking and making them for two evenings before christmas but its a tradition now and it wouldnt be christmas without me baking. I then buy them little things that I know they will use, like reusable sandwiches wraps, (for my parents for when they go out on their long walks)

Christmas in our house as a kid was about fun gifts rather than expensive ones and also gifts that we would use. We always got a new pair of pj's every year and socks. Also for our first christmas ever we would be given our own bauble, I still have mine.

Your DD doesnt need alot, maybe a few bits of clothes etc.

Ds, does he still beleive in santa? Get him to write a list, and go from there.

Older relatives should expect less expensive gifts and may not want anything anyway.

It's sad really, but due to our serious lack of money last year the Santa thing had to be kicked into touch, we didn't sit him down and say there is no santa, we just didn't write the list, or kind do any of the hype, so now he just says when he sees something he would like and bless him, he understands we can't afford that 100 pound lego set and so on and so forth, so generally stick with things that are achievable, makes me feel bad :(

I've suggested to my siblings inlaw that we do a secret Santa for gifts with a cap of about £30 per couple which will cut the bill down from £90 to £30 (quite pleased about that)

I've just thought of my sister though, who is as crafty as me and she bakes, so I need to try and find something that a) she would like (quite fickle tastes) and b) she would use.

She's in her late 30's, keeps chickens, has quite a few children, enjoys most crafty things.....

Lurking...

Last year I got nearly everything from the boots 3 for 2 list, including the more expensive Santa presents. I fiddled it about for ages to save nearly a third on rrp

Louboo...what about one of those great cake mixes in a kilner jar?
I saw them last year and would love to do some this year.

I would defo recommend the 3 for 2 for kids. DS1 is into spiderman an batman so thankfully found those 3 for 2 deals at Argos & toys r us, im sure the deals are back on at some point. Also nearly new sites, DS2 has a nearly new bounce & spin zebra for £15! Secret Santa for rest of the family although we don't buy or my Inlaws.

My aunt use to make everyone some homemade goodies, worked out at next to nothing with how many food hampers she managed to make and there were FAB!!

I like the in a jar thing, but I don't think my family would use them. (we're just not up market enough for them)

I just buy for my DCs and then buy a tin of chocolates for each household, otherwise end up spending a small fortune, £10/20 per person soon adds up!

I'm currently crocheting a throw for my Dsis from my yarn stash and am thinking of knitting little bags to fill with bath bombs/ candles or sweets.

I love the idea of buying a xmas pack of bath stuff and then breaking it up into individual presents.

Also it worth signing up to all the discount voucher companies
I'm with groupon and currently they have iPad accessories set for £15(BIL?)
Also deals on massages and facials etc
They update their deals every day
Vouchercodes also had 25% off at Dorothy perkins at the moment(incl sale)

Was in Poundland/shop (something to do with everything costing a pound!) and was pleasantly surprised at some of the toys that would be great for stocking fillers that cost, er, a pound!

Go and have a gander