A Super Scrimping Happy Christmas

[Margaritte]

I thought It might be a good idea to have a thread with hints & tips for those of us that are on a real tight budget.

Our budget for Christmas is practically nothing, in fact is actually £0 at the minute until I've sold more things and I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's a struggle, though I'm determined to make sure my family have a lovely Christmas regardless.

So come and share ideas, or things you have done yourself previously when in this situation. If you're in it now, then any plans yet?

Obviously, free or super low cost ideas are best here. Anything; making memories, free days out, gift ideas, Christmas Dinner, stocking fillers, how to see family on no budget, or anything else you may think of.

Do you have to do a traditional Christmas dinner? My DC aren't massive fans of roasts and DH is working this Christmas so I asked the kids what they would most like to eat and they said party food so that's what we're having! But if a Christmas dinner is a must you can't beat Aldi/Lidl for quality and value.

I have a few Scandi style decorations that I picked up in poundland and the DC and I make the rest. We do dried orange slices (just slice an orange and pop them in the oven on low overnight) salt dough decorations which we make and then paint (although they look just as effective unpainted especially if you add spices such as cinnamon/nutmeg to the mix - Pinterest has all the recipes), stained glass window biscuits (basically a gingerbread style recipe, but you cut a shape out of the middle and fill it with crushed boiled sweets and then bake the whole lot - again recipes on Pinterest, pinterest is a scrimpers best friend!) and pine cones. We also make paperchains (kits courtesy of poundland)

As others have mentioned the Bargain Thread is fab for cheap present ideas. Don't be afraid to check out charity shops and car boots too I've found some unbelievable bargains there and IME children aren't bothered if it comes in a box.

Another idea is the website aliexpress - I learnt about this on the bargain threads. Prices come up on dollars, you need to change it to show in pounds then search anything your DC are interested in, price low-high. They take AGES to come so order now! I was delighted with some bits I got from there last year and have ordered again this year

To save money this year I will dig the 'Christmas trunk' out of the loft before December so I can check what I've already got. Last year I found lots of cards, wrapping paper, decorations I'd forgotten about but it was too late as I'd bought new ones! only helpful if you're as forgetful and disorganised as me Similarly will keep checking presents already bought and be strict as I tend to over buy.

Google christmas bingo! Print off some sheets, we laminated ours and got some washable pens, a fab wet afternoons entertainment! The winner of every game got 3 giant chocolate buttons which we had with "fancy" hot choc (squirty cream and marshmallows) with Xmas music on - no tv. Happy days.

Another tip...

Do you need the accessories that come with the toys?

Back in 2013 I bought the Imaginext Submarine for £8.33. I took out the accessories it came with and sold them on eBay for £6. So in the end the submarine cost me £2.33, and was used with their Octonaut toys that already owned :)

Buy some very cheap Christmas crackers (as long as they've got a barrel and ties each end)
Undo one end and tip out the plastic tat toys in them. Replace it with cheap but good toys from Amazon or Ali express (eg finger lights 5 for 60p) and free samples of perfume/after shave for the grown ups
Luxury crackers for a small price!

Instead of selection boxes fill a cheap Kilner jar or even old jam jar (with a decorated lid) with cheap sweets as a stocking filler

Great ideas here. Littlemouse the crackers are genius!

Chicken instead of turkey is a good one, and nicer too. Also consider other meats which can be heavily discounted in the few days before christmas. We had the most beautiful, huge joint of lamb last year. We can never normally afford lamb! Or a couple of very small Value gammon joints can be a good bit cheaper than one big one. And carbonara with the leftovers is a luxurious treat but not too expensive.

Bulk out stockings with pound shop sweets (which are packaged to be big for the amount they contain), bubble bath and a piece of fruit. Flying saucers and marshmallows are good for bulk. Supermarkets or pound shops often have cheap measuring spoons, rolling pins etc which are well received by DC who enjoy baking.

This won't be news to anyone but the Book People box sets are amazing value. My DC usually get one of the '10 for £10' sets. Keeps DD busy... for a few days anyway!

One cheap way to bulk up a stocking and make sure your dc's actually have breakfast is to put one of the mini cereal packets in, you can get them individually from tesco I think and if like mine they are not normally allowed sugary cereal finding frosties/honey loops etc is quite fun.

We used to pop popcorn, thread it onto strings and hang it in the tree.
Glitter on pinecones and hang them up.
Poundland.

thatsnot we used to do that too! I'm planning on doing all the homemade decorations this year with dd.

Just wanted to say thanks for the tip up thread about the eBay bridesmaid dresses. Dd has outgrown all her dressing up stuff so just agreed with dh we will get her a couple of cheap and outrageous dresses for Xmas.

I always did 'write a letter to Santa' and 'Track Santa' with my DN.

All FREE links are here:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/free-santa-letter-video

I have bought Poundland crackers for kids parties before and was surprised at how good they were, anyone on a very tight budget might want to try them. Sainsbury have 25% of wine and Champagne right now for those that can take advantage of this. Poundworld have some lovely Christmassy tins which you could buy and fill with value/regular chocolate biscuits instead of buying the big overpriced boxes. Iceland seem to have the cheapest crackers for cheese right now, also Pringles and snacks. The big bags of mixed sweets (chocs and toffee) in Sainsbury are similar to Roses/Quality street, I decant them into a bowl for people to help themselves. My Poundland has some really good festive DVD's and CD' and Poundworld are selling some really god Hardback books, including Karl Pilkington and various 'name' cookbooks which would make excellent gifts.

Homemade popcorn is really cheap, you can buy the kernels in the supermarket, pop enough oil in a saucepan to thinly cover the bottom, add enough kernels to cover the bottom, pop the lid on and shake! Just add a cheesy Christmas movie from the TV

Build a fort from your sofa cushions and watch the movie from in there while wearing your PJs!

Family board games are always a treat. If you get them second hand and they're missing pieces, try contacting the manufacturer for spares, they often supply them for free.

Wishing you a very happy Christmas

A bag of crisps and a chocolate orange go a long way to bulking up a stocking :)

Our local Nisa has chocolate oranges for £1 at the moment - they'll be dearer everywhere, in December. ;o)

I'm also doing xmas on a budget of close to £0 - been slowly buying odds and ends in Aldis - and for my grown up sons I just make things (one of them earns three times more than we have coming in to this house anyway so I will make him by the xmas booze!) But the odler ones appreciate something I've made (am a decent knitter and can sew most things, so I have been using up old wool/fabric stash to make all their gifts).

Foodwise, last year we did two of the Aldi's £7 leg of lambs. (I'm feeding 7 of us). But I suspect I could get it cheaper this year. I have already got together cake ingredients.

I have bought all the extras like cranberry, chicken gravy granules, etc and one of those £5 tins of sweets/chocolates each for the kids. Then to finance my two younger (teen) sons' xmas, I am sticking stuff on eBay and just splitting the money I make between the two of them. Halfway through December, I will pay all the money in my Paypal account (whatever I make from the selling) to my oldest son who can then bring it as cash for them as if I tried to put it in my own bank it would get swallowed by bills.

I bought a small real tree last year so am digging that up then replanting it after xmas. And the woods are full of holly and ivy but I can't reach the mistletoe! I want to make a wreath this year - again from things found in the woods - so no doubt will have to look that up on YouTube...

I did many xmases in the 1980s when I was one of Maggie's Millions on £0 budget and some of them are the happiest ones we ever had.

Marking my place. Great thread!

OP, on one of your threads last year about Xmas you mentioned that you bought presents for nephews and nieces, siblings and parents, do you have to buy for them this year? Also you mentioned that last year was your first Christmas that you have not spent with your parents or inlaws . Might it be more of an 'event' and cheaper if you got together with the wider family or are there 'reasons' that wouldn't be a good plan. BTW I'm very understanding about 'reasons' lol
Have you still got a lot of stuff from last year? Kids really don't care if decorations are old, scruffy or reused.
I think it's easy to over think xmas - as long as the kids have presents, tv and some thing to eat that they like then they will have a good time. My DC used to love to be allowed to eat lots of sweets on xmas day - sweets are a really really cheap treat. Worrying about having all the right veg with a perfect roast doesn't matter.
I imagine they would prefer Having a happy and relaxed Mum rather than a mum who is stressed out from trying to make a picture perfect xmas IYSWIM

Just posting so that my 'Threads I'm on' has this on its list - its fallen off! Haven't read all the new posts yet, will do so later.

So many good ideas on here- will be looking into doing most of these.
The posts saying where the best prices are, and meal ideas are really great too.
Keep the ideas coming please, its so helpful to be know its possible.

If you are on o2 make sure you are signed up for o2 priority. you download the app (its free) and they offer various freebies or discounts. if not on o2 u could get a sim (usually a £1 or could find a free one) put it in your current phone, download the app and activate the app then once u have done that put your old sim back in.

just looked today they are offering
light saber keyring free
little miss/mr men halloween book free
free bag of star wars lollipops
free game controller & phone skin

in the past i have got free christmas cards, wrapping paper, beanie boo soft toy, disney infinity figure, £10 to spend at fragrance shop, matchbox car, hotel chocolat chocolate slab, £5 to spend at bodyshop, coffees at costa/coffee republic.

then theres discount codes or money off - i got 50% off tickets for my mum to go to the elvis at the 02, and then theres competitions to enter.

One year I decorated the tree with popcorn threaded onto string, pine cones and plaid ribbon from some or other clearance pile - looked nice and rustic. I tried to dry orange slices last year but failed - beautiful recipes for it though online.

every year I poke cloves into oranges to make the house smell nice - they last for months.

Great thread - will def try the dried orange slices and pine cones this year. We once had a tree decorated with popcorn, biscuits, paper chains and a blinged-up, well-loved tatty Barbie as a fairy, to keep costs down. We had a great time making the decs and have pics of the proud dc with the tree. Also agree that board games are wonderful as a family activity, if the dcs are old enough, and yes get them from charity shops - you can check the contents before you buy. We also ask each guest to bring a 10-min surprise game on Christmas Day, not costing anything. I-spy would do, pin the tail on the donkey/nose on reindeer (draw it yourself) is fun, or have a competition to draw the funniest face on a balloon. Dc love the games, you don't have to think of them, and family fun is better than loads of presents. We sometimes make advent calendars pre-December which takes quite a while but the dc love to do their own. Keep old Xmas cards to cut out the pics for them (and for Xmas labels of course) and then use your imagination. Thanks for all the ideas!