Frugal Christmas thread

[ThisisCollie2022]

Anyone up for a frugal Christmas thread?

Homemade crafts, gifts, decorations, gift ideas and frugal festive food etc

Also ideas on how to keep the children busy would be great!

I know it's August but the best frugal tip is to be prepared so am thinking ahead now :)

I always buy crackers etc in the sales after the previous Christmas so all that’s sorted! I read magazines for free on my iPad via my local library and that’s a good source of free Christmas inspiration.

Love this thread @ThisisCollie2022

I have always made big bucket lists for each season. It always felt exciting and new moving on to a new season with a list of possibilities (autumn my fave). When the DCs were small it had simple things like splashing in puddles, catch a falling leaf, make a gingerbread house. As they got older they had more challenging things like camp in winter, Via ferrata, swim in the sea, theatre trips to London. They are now teens (youngest just) and I've sadly stopped the big extravagantly drawn bucket lists on the wall 😥.

DD (almost 16) and I still love making lists of Christmas things to do/ activities though. Think I may show her your list (very similar to ours over the years) and get thinking whilst also indulging in an autumn list that I'm still yet to make.

Get the hot choc on and a pencil out..

Was it here I said I would check the wool price it is 3 balls for $2

also the ponsetic Christmas prequel has started

We don't have a whole turkey we usually have a chicken but last year we just for chicken thighs stuffed with sausagemeat and wrapped in bacon. The butchers sell them all year round and they are about £10 for 6 ish.

Much nicer and cheaper than a large turkey and easier to fit in oven as don't take as long to cook or take up much space.

The sainsburys 'Christmas parcel' version cost about twice the price!

Pretty sure the chocolate tubs are 2 for £7 at Tesco.

Marking my place... We have big car repair coming up (costing us £4.5k!!!!), so Christmas is going to be frugal this year.

@Missmarps oh my gosh I love your post. If you make a new teen list please let me know!! I'll keep it for when DS is older. Eeep.

@Irritatedmum thank you for mentioning crackers. I bought them in this week's shop to put away. And chutney!

Chocolate tubs definitely on offer In Tesco, I bought some yesterday!

Pringles on Clubcard offer in Tesco too

How much are they?

Aldi stackers are better than Pringles

runs and hides

I'm addicted to both Stackers and Pringles.
😳

I was thinking of getting a tube for DS's stocking. A whole tube of Pringles to himself would make him feel very grown up.

(I love 8 year olds - so easily pleased!)

I have already bought most of the kids Christmas presents as the sales are much better just now. I kept an app yo track what I have bought.

Started buying a food item a week. Looked at activities but am not booking anything as they are far to expensive. I have already booked pantomime tickets as I book them in Feb because it's far cheaper then.

Going up write a list of free crafts, activities etc. Christmas is on a strict budget so we won't be spending a fortune of anyone.

Well yes, Santa would most likely always bring Pringles,
my teens loved getting them last year

Pringles have been a sticking standard fir a few years here. DS's favourite snack, which I rarely buy due to cost and junkiness. Along with a box of CocoPops (similar reasons to Pringles, and encourages him to have some breakfast), a bottle of "fancy" shower gel (was Paw Patrol bubble bath, then Original Source, now Lynx) and a paperback book, that's the basis of a fairly bulky stocking. Those Bakedin bagel/pretzel kits are good. Tiny Lego. Both DC are Scouts, I always get them the Scout Christmas blanket badge for the year. Oh, and new non-school socks!

@xogossipgirlxo sorry didn't note it. But I'm sure you can see on their website

Thisiscollie, FABULOUS!!!!x

That's an amazing list @ThisisCollie2022. Take a bow!

I got a Christmas crafts book years ago. You might find one in your library. There are probably lots of ideas online too - things like making paper angels or oranges with cloves.

Great suggestions, thank you. Going to start adding festive bits to our grocery shop too.

I'm late to the party bit can I join please? I'm a longtime frugaleer and have really enjoyed reading this thread so far! Some excellent tips I will magpie! I buy my foil and greaseproof paper for a £1 from B&Ms. Much cheaper! 😀

My nan used to make an amazing chridtmas cake but she has passes now, does anyone have a lovely foolproof chrodtmas fruit cake recipe I can follow. Could anyone also repost the flapjack recipe please?
Final question, I want to forage blackberries, how do you make sure there are no bugs in them before you eat them please, sorry of this seems obvious, it is the only thing that puts me off. Obviously you wash them 😉 but any advice would be appreciated please 👍

An Am Dram panto would be a much cheaper alternative to a professional one.

Absolutely! We started going to Am Dram when the DC where 3 and a baby. At 14 and 11 they wouldn't dream of doing anything else! (They have been to professional productions on school trips too).

Waves to fear from the frugal board 👋
Re blackberries I think official advice is to soaak in water before you eat then so any bugs float to the surface. But I just pick and eat straight away and take my chances 🤣 blackberry bush in our garden so each time I pop out I pick a few. Also best not to pick any at ground level where dogs may have weed. Also not good to pick at roadside due to traffic fumes

@Fearofawelshplanet when you pick the blackberry check the bit where the stem connects to the fruit. If it’s white/clean no bugs, if there’s purple staining there it usually means something has been munching away