Lets make a list of lovely christmas experiences which cost little or no money.....

[AboardtheAxiom]

Thought this would be a good idea for a thread as lots of people struggling, and I for one am focusing on quality time and experiences with DS and being incredibly restrained and realistic about what I need to be spending money on.

My favourites that I have thought of so far..

writing and posting a letter to FC
a walk in the park woods for holly and pine cones
cuddling up in PJs and watching polar express together

can anyone add to these as I am looking for ideas...

i'm loving the fake snow and stained glass window biscuits ideas!

Can I suggest checking what's on in your local town as well? Go and see the christmas light switch on. There's a festival of lights here as well. There's loads of free stuff in most areas, check the council website.

What about going for a walk in your local woods & instead of being on a bear hunt turn it into a reindeer hunt.

What a lovely thread aboardtheaxiom

It is lovely isn't it

Loads of lovely ideas on here, we will be spoilt for choice!! I can't wait.

What a fab idea! Lovin the stained glass biccies!

If you are Nat Trust member most places do Christmas crafts etc and maybe stories for perhaps £1 each.

Also check out churches - Derby Cathedral does a fab service on about Dec 23 each year - children come dressed up (about 53 angels but never many inkeepers!) and they do the Christmas story. It's lovely. (sniff). Most churches will do a crib service on Dec 23/24 and prob a family carol afternoon a week or so before.

go into town and look at the lights on a frosty clear evening. Then home for hot choc.

Our local council run museums all (there are 3) have a special Saturday event in Dec (not all the same Saturday) with crafts etc. It's all free and rather nice.

Children's nativity plays at school!!

You could adapt the snowman idea and make a smaller version for the dining table. Put a small gift for each person underneath, to be opened after you have finished lunch! Good for if you don't like/want/DC's too young for crackers. My cousin said she had a knitted one for her girls, and it was a big hit.

You can cut up foil wrapping paper for good paper-chains.

Last year in the pound shop I got one of those advent candles and it was a lovely ritual at the end of each day in December to light the candle and watch it burn together.

I love the christmas carol service - makes me weepy. And christingle too. I always get all my jobs done on christmas eve morning - table sorted, veg peeled, tidied up, and then we sit and watch a nice new film with a tub of heroes/roses etc. It feels so cosy and christmassy.

Love xmas traditions...love the robin idea and may steal that if it is ok...here we

1. Make salt dough decorations every year and date them for the tree

1. We go around the neighbourhood looking at the lights on xmas eve

1. We do some baking, pile into half a dozen small baskets and randomly drop on peoples doorsteps...haven't been caught yet...hope it gives someone a nice surprise at xmas