Seriously skint this year and need ideas please

[Margaritte]

No idea how we are going to do Christmas. We have hardly any money.. Lots of brothers & sisters to buy for, nephews of varying ages, grandparents, parents & our 3 children.
I don't know how we are going to buy gifts, have a nice Christmas dinner (1st year we will be home too) what to do over the holidays instead of Pantomime etc.
I am not crafty at all, and also am have pnd that I am working through, so doubt I'd have the energy to sew etc.
Its making me worry quite a lot, and I wondered if any one had any tips/ ideas? Any advice would be lovely, as when I google 'cheap ideas' it comes up with hand sewn toys or 'budget gifts under £10' . Neither of these are something that is possible for me

Christmas doesn't have to cost a fortune. Most of my family don't bother with presents or they just give something small for the dc's and not bother with adults. You can get some good bargains if you shop around, 2nd hand is good too ( ebay, car boot sales ). I'm making my dd a jewellery box full of cheap jewellery which I have bought for under 99p a piece on amazon ( most has come from china but it looks good quality ), has cost me about £10 for the whole lot and she will love it. We don't do panto, we go to the church for carol service ( even though we are not religious ), seems to get everyone in the mood for Christmas and it's free.

Christmas dinner is over rated, we just have a basic roast dinner ( and dd1 has pizza ), the dd's are usually to busy to want to eat much anyway so I'm sure they wouldn't notice if I served beans on toast.

I don't mind gifting my DC second hand gifts really, could have a look at bootfairs etc I guess. I would be embarrassed to ask on Facebook though.

I think that all the dinner ideas on here are great too. Does anyone know where I could get a cheap selection of cheese? Maybe just 1 that would be nice with crackers? Me & DC love cheese & I know its part of DS1's favourite thing about Christmas

Seems I may be ok food wise though. Is there any nice recipes any one does for Boxing day?

If you have a paypal account I will send you £5 for 3 selection boxes for the kids. Hope that does not seem patronizing but I am crafty and can make a bit of money from craft faiirs. x

Would your family eat Bubble and Squeak? You could make a bit more veg, potatoes etc on Christmas day with the intention of having plenty of leftovers, then put all the potatoes, carrots, green veg etc in, & serve with any leftover roast meat. You would have to oversee the serving up on Christmas day though, to make sure they don't gobble the lot.

What a kind offer cindydog Really couldn't accept though, I'd feel grabby. Thank you though, how lovely of you

My family would eat bubble & squeak, its delicious

I'd second the advice to trawl charity shops. Also markets for things which can go in your DCs' stockings but which are also useful, like socks, gloves and woolly hats.

When we were lot skinter and the DC were much younger, they used to get charity shop books, chocolates off market stalls (sometimes v good, including things like Lindt) and good stuff picked up at jumble sales, as well as market stall gloves and so on.

Markets are also good places to keep your eyes open for cheap crackers, or even things like nice jam (Christmas breakfast?) for much less than you would pay in the supermarket (our local one is currently flogging Bon Maman preserve for a quid a jar; this is a lot more than Sainsbury's basics but less than half what they sell Bon Maman for).

As someone above said, carol services are free. Churches also quite often do craft afternoons and similar in the run-up to Christmas, and they are often free or only require you to bring an orange (to make a Christingle; and if you didn't bring an orange I'd bet on there being a box of spares...).

Hope you have a lovely Christmas in spite of everything, and that 2015 sees you out of the pnd and with a better cashflow.

Lovely post MehsMum
I will definitely go bargain shopping in charity shops

What about stocking fillers? What does everyone fit in into stockings?

I'd say I wouldn't be buying for adults this year, maybe if you're having any family over ask them to bring a dish and bottle for Xmas dinner? Do check out your local charity shops for toys and like new gifts. One Xmas when money was a little tight, I found a few treasures in there! Found a new sealed 1000 pc the snowman jigsaw for £2.99 which I bought for my mum, she loved it. If you have The Works shop in your town check it out, got great deals on all sorts and kids books are anything from a quid each to 4 for £5. I do the 4 for £5 split them between kids and get a multipack of sweets or choc from the £1 shop. Pound land/world have frozen items in at moment and some really nice glasses/ cups. They also do a nice selection of toiletries and little bits for stocking fillers.

I bought a frozen olaf sponge and a finding nemo sponge in pound shop yesterday for dd and ds stockings. I tend to fill them with what they will need and a few little fun bits. They get sponge or flannel/ shower gel/bubble bath, toothbrush/toothpaste, knickers, socks, crayons, bubbles, little cars, ds is getting a slinky, dd is 6 so she is getting a little bottle of frozen nail varnish (which was also in the pound shop!)

Buy veg and things early before prices rise and part cook and freeze ( no prep on Xmas day!) Frozen turkey is much cheaper just allow lots of time for defrosting. If nobody eats Xmas pud buy a cheap frozen desert and just add some fruit or something. Try to buy one extra item with weekly shop. I would ask 12 year old what she would like and set a limit. Could relatives chip in to a bigger present? Search charity shops and car boots for toys for younger one. Explain to adults that this year you cannot afford to buy or just get cheap token gifts as suggested.

My DCs' stockings always include things like chocolate/sweets, tippex, glue, some other bit of stationery (sticky tape or a mini stapler or a nice pen or a highlighter), mini packet of tissues, some socks, soap or bubble bath and lip salve (these can be from multi-packs broken down). They used to get a lot of secondhand books but are now fussier about what they read. Wilkinsons was always good for craft stuff - pipe cleaners and pompoms and so on, a quid for a huge packet you could maybe split up.

13 yr old DD is getting a keyring in her stocking this year, and a few things to specific to her interests like a crochet hook (2nd hand) and a ball of wool (out of my stash, but I have picked lovely wool really cheaply in charity shops before).

The older DC accuse me of dropping unsubtle hints, because their stockings tend to contain things like wooden spoons and other kitchen kit...

I am a shocking tightwad and use the good bits of wrapping paper saved from last year to wrap the stockings, and have been known to use those stripy bags you sometimes get in shops

Have fun doing the stockings: I think they're one of the best bits of Christmas for everyone concerned, and I've always enjoyed slowly collecting things here and there.

These are really great ideas & so helpful. Am starting to feel not so bad about Christmas (present wise) DH & I were just talking, and thought that getting a Minecraft Key ring & putting the house keys on it may make an ok gift for DS1? He is always saying he would like some, and we do have 2 spare for the front door, would just need to get the security door key cut. So may work out cheap (ish) Is that a naff gift though?

I think Im more worried about the food & drink now. I am finding it hard as it is to keep on top of healthy/ cheap dinners as most are homemade and I struggle sometimes to get off my arse and cook (with my pnd) SO to do Christmas dinner is also overwhelming. My budget doesn't allow for shortcuts/ cheats so any thing I could do now a little bit at a time & freeze perhaps?

I think key & keyring is a fab gift: makes the DC feel responsible and independent.

You could make and freeze your stuffing now. It shouldn't cost too much to make. I've made lots and frozen it and plan to cook it all with the Christmas lunch. I'll then use it cold as a sandwich filler/extra cold meat for the next week.

If you put Womdee or Yazlind into amazon it comes up with some really cheap stuff.

Stocking fillers:

stationary (pens, pencils, notepads, post its - agree with whoever said wrap things you would have bought anyway like hats etc.); socks; knickers; magazines; puzzle books (the really cheap ones from bargain book warehouse type places); pack of cards; bubbles; balloons; pyjamas (Christmas themed ones from the supermarket?); oranges; sweets

I recommend Wilkinsons for most of the above as they are so cheap!

I'm sure I've read somewhere about freezing parboiled veg. Then you treat it like ready-made veg and shove it in the oven with fat nearer the time. You could roast the carrots with the potatoes and parsnips to avoid extra pans/washing up.

Wrapping paper - depending on what you have access to, could you buy a large roll of brown paper and get the DCs to decorate it with whatever they have, pens, paint etc. Might waste an afternoon and be cheaper than buying?

Pudding wise (not sure if you've decided on one?). How about buying reduced fruit - apples, plums etc. and freezing it. Then bunging in bottom of a dish and topping with crumble mix?

Free/cheap things - carol services, walks (if you go on pinterest they usually have loads, especially checklists like this. My DP's advent calendar one year when I was unemployed was basically 24 little envelopes full of (free) christmas ideas). How about buying the Christmas Radio Times and letting the children go through the fortnight and highlight a few key things they want to watch... It was something my sister and I did, took an afternoon and cost the price of the magazine.

Key ring idea is lovely. We too are having a much more frugal Christmas this year. Definitely no adult presents except ds and ddil who are getting some bargain cookery books and hamper of spices etc, and Christmas dinner will be a chicken . I'm hoping to make home made playdough (when I find a recipe) , and package it up with cutters etc from pound land for the toddler children I need to buy for. If you pm me your childrens sex and ages, I may have a few small things that I can send you from my emergency present/regifting box that I can't use because of ages etc. It's not charity ,it's what Christmas is all about.

Margaritte where abouts do you live? If any of us are local we might be able to point you in the direction of best charity shops, local selling sites etc

Christmas dinner, buy a chicken from aldi, frozen roast potatoes and frozen mixed veg, yorkshires and a stuffing mix , and a nice gateaux/cheesecake . The dcs will be happy to have you being with them, dinner will be easy and less than £10.

Nct sales are great for smaller childrens toy bargains. My son (3) will be getting nearly all second hand for Christmas. I just can't justify new when second hand is so cheap.

For adults, find cheap frames. Frame fav photo of you with them. On the back write out a special memory. They'll love it and appreciate it more then a naff soap set.

Think outside the box for Xmas dinner. Doesn't have to be a roast. We had lasagna one year. Made it the day before. No prepping or washing up, just bung in oven!
Bliss!

Good luck x

Hi. I have some Mr Men books that I was going to charity shop - I can post them to you. Will be nice to know they have gone to a good home....

If I were you, and felt overwhelmed at the cooking and the cost of the Xmas dinner I'd go completely left-field this year (assuming it's just your immediate family you're catering for?).

Get the kids involved and ask what they'd like. Pizza & pyjamas? Toast & telly? Chips & chocolate? Make it themed and maybe something they're not usually allowed and they'll be more excited than they would be for roast dinner. Usual rules out the window (no one has to eat 'proper food', finish their plate, no choc until after dinner etc.). When I was 12 I'd have loved us all to sit around the telly with a tin of chocs and a load of pastries! Might still cost your £10, but a carpet picnic would save you a heap of extra work & stress.

Where are you in the uk?

I make a giant batch of shaped shortbread biscuits and stick them in little gauzy bags tied with a bit of festive ribbon.
I get the bags off ebay and use basic branded flour and butter so you can do lots of gifts for under a fiver.

They're quick and easy to do too. Cutters available from pound land or tk maxx very cheaply and it might be a gesture for adults. I take a bag if we've been invited anywhere along with wine etc.

Pm me if you need a cutter and I'll happily send you one

My little girl turns 3 today so I have some of her unwanted things I could send/you could collect which would be suitable for your 2 year old daughter (happyland etc). Pm me and I can send you details of what I've got (please do; it's not charity, it would do me a favour to de-clutter and know they were going to a good home)

Another present idea for the grown ups is the 'time vouchers' one; you write/print vouchers pledging to do something for someone (mow the lawn/babysit/cook dinner). If you think carefully about what they'd really appreciate (for example, my sis has two small children so I know she'd love it if I gave her a voucher giving her a child-free day to cash in when she was poorly/wanted to go out). If you wanted to increase the value you could have multiple offers that they tick off (a family card, where you go round one weekend; eldest son washes car, you or husband now lawn, younger children sweep the garden).

Or ask you relatives if you could not buy at Xmas, but in jan/feb/mar when finances allow agree to the adults having a night out with the money you would spend on pressies for each other (or all round yours for takeaway if no babysitter). If you're anything like our family then time with brothers and sisters is valuable and in short supply!

We do the non Christmas dinner thing to!

My boys hate roast dinner so the last two years I asked what they wanted (chicken pie) whilst DH and I had a lamb shank and jacket potatoe.

Was perfect! No whining about the food, was much easier.