I thought I might start a thread with some ideas for things people can do (with or without children) that don't cost much/anything and that I loved as a child and now as an adult.
- Collecting pine cones and spraying them gold/silver
- Making mince pies/Christmas fairy cakes/ Christmas cake/ anything else at home
- We buy large packs of blank cards and always spend a very happy afternoon (or two afternoons!) making Christmas cards for friends, teachers etc. We use the same Christmas ink stamps that I used as a child (even the ink pads are still ok!). My children started to really enjoy this when they were about 7 - they liked it when they were younger but it didn't take quite so much time up! Now they're a bit older they love to take time to make/draw a special card for all their significant adults and we listen to Christmas music or an audiobook while we work (I make cards too!).
- Making paper chains - we stick on a film and start a production line. The children love this and I'm happy for them to decorate their bedrooms with tons of paper chains!
- Christmas films... We don't have any subscription services but we do have the ability to "record" programmes from the tv onto our box. So I go though the TV listings near Christmas and record any films that I think we might like. I never, and I do mean never, buy films/dvd's etc. There is masses on normal TV and lots of programmes we all now enjoy too!
- I make a treasure trail for our village with things for the children to tick off - some are specific to our village, some are just random things that I assume we might spot - eg dog being walked, star on top of a tree, person wearing wellies etc. They get a chocolate coin for every item they find!
- Nativity play/crib service - children always very keen to take part in our village church nativity and/or crib service. It's also something I loved when I was a child - the sense of the whole community coming together working out parts, costumes, lighting, music etc (it was always really very simple - nothing fancy but so lovely).
- Care home - we normally go and visit a care home we have a connection with and join in with carols/general helping out. If you/your child is involved with brownies/cubs etc - please do consider asking a local care home if they're like you to come and sing carols or something!
- Homeless bags - we fill spare party bags with things that a homeless person might appreciate - new socks, new toothbrush, pack of sweets, can of coke etc. This was very much led by my oldest child and it's the children who give them out. I have had chats with them about people not always being appreciative etc/feeling really sad, tired etc but so far they have only ever had a good response!
- I take both my children shopping on their own to choose and buy a present for their sibling. Normally £5-£10 and it's their own pocket money. They really LOVE choosing and wrapping something themselves.
- Garden centre - our local garden centre has lots of animatronic animals, great displays etc. I am a sucker for a Christmas garden centre trip :-)
- Instead of a cinema trip with snacks etc that would easily cost £40 including parking, even with cheapish tickets, we have movie nights at home with homemade popcorn, hot chocolate etc. At Christmas we turn off all the lights and just have the tree lights on and we all snuggle under throws. It's so lovely and sometimes we just watch a few episodes of a favourite programme instead. The key for this is no phones etc (which is hard for me!) and feeling like we're all cosy together and enjoying something together.
- Gingerbread houses, Christmas biscuits and chocolate logs - I often invite a few friends and let the children decorate an Ikea gingerbread house. They love it and they're very cheap to buy. Last year we got a normal chocolate swiss roll from Tesco, melted some chocolate and the children really enjoyed making a chocolate log with insane decorations. (I make a proper buche du noel too another time!). Ditto Christmas biscuits - last year we decorated them as melting snowmen (copied the biscuits we saw in Pret!). Lots of fun.
- Decorating - we go for a walk about a week before Christmas and cut holly and other green things from friend's gardens (with permission) and then use this to decorate the house. It's free (!), looks and smells lovely and the children love choosing what to cut and using the secateurs.
- Jigsaws - my idea of heaven. Big Jigsaw to do while the children watch something on tv/play/"help" me with the jigsaw/listen to an audiobook. BLISS.
Ok, that's a Christmas ESSAY!! I hope someone finds some of it vaguely helpful. I think, for me, the focus is on spending time together enjoying quite basic activities but the joy of it really is in being together. We're not The Waltons and we do have plenty of arguments and tantrums just like everyone else.
We don't have a big extended family which is one reason why I like to join forces with other friends with children sometimes to bolster the numbers!
We also do things that are expensive at Christmas but I am cutting back because I know that actually, my children are just as happy playing a long game of monopoly with Pringles and lemonade as they are watching The Nutcracker!
As a child, Christmas was all about feeling safe, cosy and being with my parents. I'm trying my best to make it as simple and lovely as that really.
All other ideas MORE than welcome!