Skint Christmas for three children

[Wellyscooterwalk]

Please help me with some DIY/ very very cheap ideas for Christmas.

We are in the ‘both working full time but barely scraping by’ bracket this year.
We can only find £100 to cover Christmas for our three children - stockings and gifts and other- and I’m trying to make the most of every penny. (£100 all together not each). I’m willing to spend every spare evening making/baking/searching for things.

I’ve already put together an advent calendar using Christmas themed books we own/craft activities we already had the materials for/‘activities’ such as a walk to see Christmas lights.

I will try to bulk out stockings with primark socks etc. and toiletries such as toothbrushes/bubble Bath which would normally fall within our groceries budget.

Any ideas of age appropriate gifts/stocking fillers that I can make please? Or things to buy cheaply which would be worth while?

Children are 8,6 and 2.

Thank you.

@sashh

I don't know what the deleted post was but I'm glad I didn't see it.

This is to everyone on here though, do you think it would be possible to organise meet ups to swap / give / get things?

This isn't the only thread where people are struggling and there are always offers of help

It might be a bit late for this year, and it would need to be regional, there is no point someone travelling hundreds of miles to pick up a card board box.

I'm highly unlikely to work again (teacher) so I've given away loads of pens / pencils / craft materials to a local children's centre but I have text books and ring binders which are not great Xmas presents but might be useful.

What do you think?

This is a really fantastic idea, as there are always families struggling at this time of year and people who want to help out and pass on some toys/books/clothes they no longer need it seems really sensible to find a straightforward way to redistribute things amongst us. Better for the environment too. I'm happy to get involved with organising if other people think it's a good idea!

I think that’s a brilliant idea!

Not much to add to the other ideas, but if your kids are going to need any new 'practical stuff' (PJs, socks, bedding, water bottles) in January, maybe get it with their favourite character on for Christmas. Yes you pay some mark up for the character branding, but its still stuff you don't have to buy down the road.

Also if you don't mind some religious content, check out your local churches' websites / Face book pages, as lots will have family-friendly free Christmassy stuff like kids' carols or Christmas-themed messy church.

Drive / walk round your town to see the Christmas lights. If driving, get the kids in their pyjamas a bit earlier than normal and then have them 'find' a ticket to go light spotting. Bundle them in the car in their PJs and snuggle under blankets. Take a flask of hot chocolate and a chocolate biscuit for everyone. Magical

One thing I really don't get on posts like these (not singling out OP at all, I see loads on FB) is why not explain to your DC? I was a single mother and simply explained that we were poor so choose what you want wisely. Now we are older and comfortably off my 2 (now adults) still never assume - they got it when they were young. Children need to understand not everyone is well off!

@stillcrazyafterall

One thing I really don't get on posts like these (not singling out OP at all, I see loads on FB) is why not explain to your DC? I was a single mother and simply explained that we were poor so choose what you want wisely. Now we are older and comfortably off my 2 (now adults) still never assume - they got it when they were young. Children need to understand not everyone is well off!

I don't think it's right to relay adult financial concerns to children as young as 8 and 6.

Gently redirecting the focus to fun and creativity without attributing that to "because we're POOR!" is healthier.

Many people who are not poor also put less emphasis on consumption and more on experiences and simple traditions.

What I've really liked about this thread is it's really made me think about what christmas is for children. From pps experiences and my own childhood, it's not about the gifts but the magic, parents putting the effort in behind the scenes to make memories, arts and crafts and baking etc. My mum explained to us we had nothing, as a child I could physically see that, but she really put an effort into making memories regardless of our financial situation. Love all of the ideas shared here, I'll be pinching a few for our own family.

When we were skint and had small kids, I always used to drive around the mad Christmas lights in the local town. They had one selection pack to share while we did it. I stopped doing it when things got financially better and after a couple of years of not doing it Dd1 asked to do it again - none of them realised I was just trying to fill time cheaply, they genuinely loved it.

@stillcrazyafterall

One thing I really don't get on posts like these (not singling out OP at all, I see loads on FB) is why not explain to your DC? I was a single mother and simply explained that we were poor so choose what you want wisely. Now we are older and comfortably off my 2 (now adults) still never assume - they got it when they were young. Children need to understand not everyone is well off!

Children do NOT need to be dragged into the financial stress and guilt of knowing their family is struggling.

Dear god that's terrible and cruel advice that can have several damaging long-term effects on children's anxiety - many adults struggle with that stress as OP is without dumping it on her very young kids.

Living in your means is the answer which OP was asking wisely for advice on (and received lots of good advice) not offloading your adult issues onto your children.

@Kikkomam that's one of my favourite traditions and one of the things I'm looking forward to doing with dg christmas eve.

@stillcrazyafterall

One thing I really don't get on posts like these (not singling out OP at all, I see loads on FB) is why not explain to your DC? I was a single mother and simply explained that we were poor so choose what you want wisely. Now we are older and comfortably off my 2 (now adults) still never assume - they got it when they were young. Children need to understand not everyone is well off!

I do think there is a balance there. I wouldn't explain it to children that young that bluntly however I do remember knowing from quite young that my parents had to be more careful with money than some of my friends parents. I think my mum would just say things like 'it's a bit to expensive' if I pointed out or asked for things out of our means. Or explained we were saving up for .... However I have to condition that with saying we were never really skint I don't believe- but some of my friends definitely had more.

Definitely check charity shops op.

We've always been really fortunate (too fortunate sometimes) and end up with stuff that's brand new, never opened that we always take to the charity shop at this time of year in perfect condition.

Some things that would have cost £20 for the person who gifted us it will go for £2-3 in the charity shop. And I know there will be many others like us who do the same at this time of year.

Also I've been buying cheap coloured paper and glitter and stuff and we've been making our decorations for years as it's one of my fondest childhood memories and I remember it much more than any gift so much that I want to pass it on to the children now and do it with them.

@Wellyscooterwalk I hope you won't be offended but could I send you some books that my children have outgrown. It would give me great pleasure to pass them onto someone who could appreciate them like mine did. If you'd like to message me I can stick some in the post to you.

If any of your kids like space/science or factual stuff and like posters for their room these are free. Six year old son loves them.

connect.open.ac.uk/print-items

Just put your address in and it gets sent in the post. Might make a good stocking filler.

Free books, stickers, lunch boxes and small toys on this link, might make good stocking fillers?
www.latestfreestuff.co.uk/free-kids-stuff/

@shreddednips

There are schemes around, maybe local to you if your great idea of a meet is unworkable.

www.facebook.com/yorwaste/photos/a.183161378761475/1275054236238845

Personally I'd get a few small cheap things each like things they might need or even some selection boxes wrapped up

I'd do things like colouring books crayons or pencils a few cheap art sets
Have a look at b&m you can find some cheap things in there ..

You could for the stocking fillers get a cheap selection box and split it into the stocks look at eBay cheap party fillers for the stocking probably can get a mixed pack for around £8

I'd also get little cheap decorating cake packs and biscuits home made things like that

I'm not on as a tight budget as you but I don't spend for the sake of it I spent £200
On 4 children I got some second hand things
And new i don't so stockings but mine don't mind

Every year our local radio station collects thousands of gifts for kids that are struggling. Could you contact any scheme local to you and see if they can add you to Santa's list?

I used to love putting on a Christmas panto when ours were little (or a nativity play). We filmed them and they are now our most treasured memories.
They always get lead roles too You can just make costumes out of whatever you have!

Wellyscooterwalk Relax, whack the Christmas tunes on, a bit of tinsel, plenty of balloons, go to local lights switch ons, watch Christmas films etc. I’ve messaged you

One of my best childhood Christmases was ages around 6 - I had a huge box full of scrunched up paper and I dug through it find the presents. I remember getting PJs, some other clothes, & a copy of Peter Pan. I thought it was brilliant.
My mum told me as an adult that she was skint, so I got stuff I needed that would have otherwise just been bought as required - the clothes, PJs - and a few treats - the book, a few other small items. It didn't look like much when she was wrapping it, hence wrapping a huge box in paper & making finding the presents half the fun.

@Wellyscooterwalk

How about going thru the things you've finished with and getting them on marketplace or Ebay and getting some money back?

Also I've had some great little bits from B&M

@Wellyscooterwalk

Which part of the uk are you in?

Thai thread is so helpful and positive I would love to see it in the classics section.

As well as charity shops have a look in various pound shops, Wilko, Aldi for cheap gifts. Definitely focus on your older children for presents it won't really mean much to a two year old.
Food wise young children generally aren't too keen on traditional Christmas food so if you and your partner aren't too fussed you could do something alternative like party type buffet .

Have you got a printer ? If so there are lots of nice free printable colouring pages you can print out. You can make them into a little folder or booklet for the kids and then get some colours from pound land or colours you already have . Again there are lots of printable quizzes or word searches etc . I made a load of little booklets like this for the kids at a wedding which went down really well. Had colouring sheets, word search, cross words , dot to dots etc .