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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Frugal Christmas thread

213 replies

ThisisCollie2022 · 28/08/2022 15:49

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 :)

OP posts:
Isonthecase · 18/09/2022 23:43

@ThisisCollie2022 what a waste! Our policy is roughly a new bauble has to come with a memory, say a trip or themed on an event. They're gradually replacing the filler ones as they get broken at about the same rate. Not as instagrammable though!

lifelongfrugaleer · 19/09/2022 07:39

That is such a waste collie.

im going to spend today list
writing I think

Original poster
ThisisCollie2022 · 19/09/2022 07:57

I agree. I don't know why they have to be sets either. We buy one each year. Just one. Something special and relevant (last year we bought a black cat bauble because we had a new cat!)

The Christmas tree looks unique and interesting!

I think I'll be list making too!!

OP posts:
lifelongfrugaleer · 19/09/2022 08:06

I have a lovely set of match match baubles x 2 that I alternate . Then the vomit in a tinsel factory for the other tree,

needastrongoneagain · 19/09/2022 08:23

😂 @life!

Same here though in truth!

WhiskersPete · 19/09/2022 20:51

We also just buy one new bauble each year. We started off, years ago, with a cheap set from Argos and each year we chose a new one and one of the originals gets binned and we add the new one. Now our tree is an eclectic mix of baubles. I love it.

It's loads of fun to choose it together and part of the tradition to get out the baubles each year and remember all the previous ones.

GettingStuffed · 19/09/2022 21:08

If you want gammon and make it really christmassy cook with chunks of root veg , of your choice I use onions and carrot. Cook in dry cider with a cinnamon stick 6 cloves and a small handful of whole black peppercorns. Remove the whole slices and use the stock as the base for pea and ham soup.

KatherineofGaunt · 19/09/2022 21:30

Another one here who buys one new tree decoration each year! I can tell you where each and every one came from (although possibly not which year for all of them). My DS chose last year's at a local craft fair and wanted the least Christmassy pink felt flamingo one. No idea about this year's. Might take him to a London museum before Christmas so will try and find one then, maybe.

I was going to do popcorn tree strings, but I've decided to use the old fake tree to save cash this year, so will need to get the tinsel out to make it look 'full'.

Original poster
ThisisCollie2022 · 20/09/2022 08:43

I have no idea what to do about trees this year. We have a cheapie fake one in the loft. I like it but the cat chews on its branches so theres a few bald patches!

Sometimes we go to the local stately home and buy the runt of the forest 🤣 and have the cutest, dumpiest little christmas tree. But the cat chews on that too and leaves needles everywhere! And sometimes it cuts his mouth.

So we'll probably stick with the fake one.

Our cat is the biggest numpty. He was advertised at Cats Protection as being "the class idiot"

OP posts:
Cuwins · 20/09/2022 09:23

ThisisCollie2022 · 20/09/2022 08:43

I have no idea what to do about trees this year. We have a cheapie fake one in the loft. I like it but the cat chews on its branches so theres a few bald patches!

Sometimes we go to the local stately home and buy the runt of the forest 🤣 and have the cutest, dumpiest little christmas tree. But the cat chews on that too and leaves needles everywhere! And sometimes it cuts his mouth.

So we'll probably stick with the fake one.

Our cat is the biggest numpty. He was advertised at Cats Protection as being "the class idiot"

I love that description of the cat! Atleast they weren't advertising him as something he isn't! 😂

Deckthewallswithpaintandplaydough · 20/09/2022 15:28

Love the description of your cat collie!!!

uncertainalice · 20/09/2022 16:01

I went through the freezer at the weekend and discovered a joint of beef I'd forgotten about...so that's getting Wellingtoned for Christmas Lunch!

WingingIt101 · 04/10/2022 22:25

Hello!

Some friends have asked specifically for Star Wars Lego for their two boys this year.

Bit annoyed as we only buy for our godchildren and their siblings (of which one of these children is!) and it's usually a token gift at Christmas due to cost (birthdays we get bigger items as the costs are spread over the year!)

Lego is so pricey anyway and then the specifics of Star Wars means I can't just choose a smaller item in the sainsburys toy sale!

Does anyone know when / where is the best time or place to search for good Lego deals please?!

Thanks in advance!

Openmouthinsertfood · 05/10/2022 12:19

@WingingIt101 check out the Christmas bargain thread I've seen mentions of Lego on there.

NoDairyNoProblem · 05/10/2022 14:07

WingingIt101 · 04/10/2022 22:25

Hello!

Some friends have asked specifically for Star Wars Lego for their two boys this year.

Bit annoyed as we only buy for our godchildren and their siblings (of which one of these children is!) and it's usually a token gift at Christmas due to cost (birthdays we get bigger items as the costs are spread over the year!)

Lego is so pricey anyway and then the specifics of Star Wars means I can't just choose a smaller item in the sainsburys toy sale!

Does anyone know when / where is the best time or place to search for good Lego deals please?!

Thanks in advance!

Given it’s usually a token gift it’s rather rude to ask for something so specific.

Would a Lego store voucher each be an option?

focuspocus · 05/10/2022 14:12

@WingingIt101 I don't know what your budget is for the token gift but you can get mini star wars sets and blind bags £5-10. Check out the entertainer/ Argos/ John Lewis as I've seen sets there.

caringcarer · 05/10/2022 14:22

I keep last year's Xmas cards for dgc. My dd spends an afternoon craft activity cutting out with pinking shears, hole punch, thread with silver to thread, glue be and puts a bit of glitter on them write out as gift cards. She does it two or 3 separate weeks until they have made enough gift tags. They make me and their other Grannie a hand made Xmas card as well using a stencil to draw a shape (Xmas tree) then colour it in and add the glitter. I pick a selection of green bits off my trees and spray in either silver or gold and add a bit of Holly, then tie with 🎀. My sister's and I all meet in up on be first Wednesday of December to make My Mum's Xmas wreath. We have Xmas music on and one sister has made Xmas cupcakes. We have hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows with a flake stirer. Then we go for a Xmas lunch together and then go and lay the wreath. They are so much nicer than bought ones. The Holly is from my garden, Ivy from one of my sister's garden, a sprig of Rosemary for remembrance.

caringcarer · 05/10/2022 14:25

DS pots up MiL some mini daffodil bulbs. He does it end of October. They are grown up well by Xmas when he hands them over.

Nagado · 05/10/2022 18:13

Has anyone had a look at the Asda points system? It is very easy to accrue quite a bit of cash in your pot and you do have to spend it in Asda, but if you shop there anyway, that would easily be done. So buy gifts and get money back to spend on food. If you’re quite canny, you can make some huge savings.

Taytocrisps · 05/10/2022 18:15

Probably the best advice I have for frugality is not going overboard with the Christmas grocery shopping. I'm sure we've all bought enough to feed an army and loaded up our cupboards and fridges in the run up to Christmas. Only to find ourselves with lots of leftovers which ended up in the compost bin. Not good for the environment or our pockets. I need to remind myself that the shops will only be closed for two days (if even that) and there's no need to panic buy. Especially with things that have a short shelf life and will go off in a matter of days.

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 05/10/2022 20:38

KatherineofGaunt · 19/09/2022 21:30

Another one here who buys one new tree decoration each year! I can tell you where each and every one came from (although possibly not which year for all of them). My DS chose last year's at a local craft fair and wanted the least Christmassy pink felt flamingo one. No idea about this year's. Might take him to a London museum before Christmas so will try and find one then, maybe.

I was going to do popcorn tree strings, but I've decided to use the old fake tree to save cash this year, so will need to get the tinsel out to make it look 'full'.

My children each choose a new Christmas decoration every year. Maybe a trip to wilko this year.

WingingIt101 · 05/10/2022 22:26

Thank you all! Will look up those Lego suggestions for sure!!

The gift token is a good idea but usually I managed to get them something in amongst the other kids where it works out about a fiver each but worth more thanks to 3-4-2s or using nectar points etc! I'm worried a fiver would look so measly.

Will check out the Christmas bargain thread and entertainer etc! X

WingingIt101 · 06/10/2022 07:08

Thank you all! Will look up those Lego suggestions for sure!!

The gift token is a good idea but usually I managed to get them something in amongst the other kids where it works out about a fiver each but worth more thanks to 3-4-2s or using nectar points etc! I'm worried a fiver would look so measly.

Will check out the Christmas bargain thread and entertainer etc! X

Bloodybridget · 07/10/2022 14:11

Re Christmas stories, can I put in a plug for Rumer Godden's The Story of Holly and Ivy, it's aimed at 5 years plus, a really sweet tear-jerker! Out of print but worth hunting for.

Waterlemon · 09/10/2022 14:25

illiterato · 17/09/2022 22:08

I'm doing the something want/need/wear/read and do for my daughter who will be 18 months

i’m doing this for my two who are 12 and 10. Honestly, I feel like it’s enough. Stockings have always been practically inclined- pants, socks, stationary, shin pads, hair bands, toiletries etc. but even there I’m cutting them back. I’m embarrassed to admit that some years I’ve walked around their rooms in June and picked up unused stocking presents and just sent them to the charity shop- usually the novelty type stuff that is basically landfill fodder.

One year when my kids were small, I gathered up all the discarded stocking fillers and packed them away with the decs. The next year I put them back in their stockings (and they didn’t remember any of them) it started a tradition. So every year since, they have the same novelty stocking fillers plus a few sweets and maybe something new that they need or want.
They are older teens now and actually love seeing the things again, they are Christmas themed party bag type novelty items. They are mostly the same but different and the kids actually remember who got the Santa one last and who had the snowman.