Simple, frugal Christmas.

[Wobblymama01]

Looking for ideas for a simple frugal Christmas and up to schools going back.

On a tight budget (arent we all!) And just feeling a bit rubbish about the lack of spare money. Other people are doing trips to Christmas markets, weekends away, ice skating, light shows.

So far my ideas are christingle on Christmas eve, board games night on NYE. Hot chocolate station and film afternoon. Making a gingerbread house. Go into town to look at the lights. Swimming. National trust place.

Any other ideas?

Present wise we have quite simple tastes anyway and most have come from charity shop or vinted 🙂 have already arranged with family not to buy for adults just children.

Church carol service
Home made paper garlands and decorations

In lockdown we had a pretend Xmas market in the shed. The kids made crafts and set up stalls. We had music and mulled wine.

the kids loved it and want to do it again. And this time invite friends over too?

Making your own gingerbread cookies, Christmas cakes or mince pies or even fudge (double as edible gift for family and friends 😀)

Sparklers if you have any left over ones or can get them on sale (i got them for 67 pence in the range) and marshmallows toasted after a trip around to see Christmas lights

Definitely lots of baking. Visit garden centres they are usually very pretty at Christmas. Woodland walks and hill walks. A family jigsaw puzzle that everyone helps with each day - charity shops are full of them.

Also have a look at the works they have loads of discounted Christmas crafts. You could make Christmas crafts with them. Make Christmas crackers from empty toilet rolls and crepe paper

I think you can do a lot with twinkly lights and a bit of Christmas music, dance around and sing together. Maybe make mulled wine and a non-alcoholic version with red grape juice and orange juice.

Take part in the Icelandic Book Flood, go around the charity shops and choose a book for each member of the family then exchange them on Christmas Eve and cosy up with new books.
https://www.countryliving.com/life/a46204/jolabokaflod-iceland-christmas-reading-tradition/

Or just go to the library and find some festive stories to read together.

Go for a long walk and then have a drink in a country pub by the fire.

Think of free games you can play like ‘Christmas would you rather’ or Charades. Make decorations and crafts with Whatever you already have, toilet roll and foil etc.

But don’t forget that the children will be doing lots of Christmassy stuff at school so you don’t need to go overboard at home, they’ll still have a lovely time.

Pop lots of popcorn, make garlands with it for the tree then eat all the leftovers whilst watching a Christmas film.

Go for a walk around the local streets with the best lights.

When you go out somewhere like the National Trust you mentioned take a flask of hot chocolate and biscuits.

I also think just enjoying the smallest of things. I think a year or two ago it was all about hygge(?) If I understand that right it's just enjoying being cosy. So relish the small things - a late breakfast in (fake) oodies or blankets on laps - bacon butties with OJ and cups of tea or pancakes. Watching something you missed on catch up TV as a family.

Our local church has a Christmas Tree festival this coming weekend, maybe there are some near you doing similar.

Your Christmas sounds perfect.
It's your presence that matters and family time x

Someone mentioned garden centres - a lot of them have fabulous displays set up, and you could say to the dc they can choose one bauble for your tree each. You could make it an annual visit and build up a lovely collection of ornaments.

Alternatively, find a wood with pine trees in it and go and collect lots of pine cones. Store them somewhere dry for a week or so and then get busy with glue, glitter and string.

What about going to any local school & Church Christmas Fairs , they usually have brilliant craft things and a tombola and bits and pieces to buy very reasonably .

Start a Christmas jigsaw
Mugs of hot chocolate and Christmas books
Go foraging and do a homemade wreath
Get crafty and make some decorations

Don’t go there with a gingerbread house, they’re a nightmare!! Stick to making gingerbread biscuits!
House lights tend to bring a competitive streak out in people so round here there’s clusters of streets that are renowned for their festive lights and are worth a walk round.
carol service
local lights or tree switch on (they might already be on?)

Chalk markers to draw Christmas scenes on the windows.

Christmas scavenger hunt. Could be a mix of sweets/paper print outs/things around the house:

12 Candy Canes
11 Chocolates
10 Santas
9 Stockings (socks!)
8 Hats
7 ....

in the days in between Xmas and NY make a Xmas box to be out away and unearthed next year. Decorate a cardboard box with Xmas paper.Fill it with stuff that will come in useful next year e.g. Make gift labels from cutting out images from Xmas cards you received, and using up left over ribbons, bows etc. Everybody writes a wish for 2024 so you can see if it has come true. Everybody writes a gift they want next year so you have a ready made gift list. Or each person writes down something funny that happened and you can make a game of it when the box is opened. It’s fun cos everyone can take part, costs nothing.

Make salt dough ornaments - add cinnamon to the mix for a Christmassy smell

Depending on where you live.

Beach. Day on the beach.

Or hills. A huge walk.

How old are the children.

I think if the house is beautiful decorated, with smells of orange and snow flakes and tinsel and music and good lighting you don't need much else.

Build a den and sit in it with a tablet and snacks to watch a film.

Don't know why but my brother and I used to this every Christmas (without the film watching - no tablets in those days - we'd read our annuals instead 🙂)

I have to say I think your Christmas sounds lovely anyway, but there are some really lovely ideas here. Don't feel pressure to do loads. We tend to keep things simple over Christmas week and make the most of free or low cost events. There is enough on the rest of the year to eat up the pennies and actually we just really like being together in the run up to and Christmas period.

Bring your bedding (and possibly mattresses) downstairs and all camp out together in the lounge, with no TV or screens and just torches or candles. We always do this 2 or 3 days after Christmas and the kids love it!

Love these ideas. I just wanted to say that our Christmases were always low-key and ‘frugal’ ; all my children have spoken about the great times we had around the table with the games, baking and making. That is what they remember, not any of the gifts. Enjoy xx