Frugxmas 16

[Toberich]

Anyone care to swap ideas on frugal xmas 16 ? I love xmas but not the expense - all ideas welcome !

She was probably - hopefully - embarrassed. It was ......not a nice thing to do. You should be able to relax and be honest with your siblings and family.

Looooong history of my siblings doing "not nice" things sadly 😥
My nephews are of an age where they just wabt money now - which is fine and easy
My sil asked if money for my niece too (4) as only her family is allowed to buy her toys and clothes 😒 obv I ignore this. She got Elsa dress up last year which she never takes off 😂
New baby in the family soon so I will be buying fun stuff again

You see, I was thinking that the youngsters would just want money - but not so it seems. They seem to prefer 'things'. At any rate where they've been chosen for them.

It was a surprise to me. A good one.

Yes!
My mum was surprised and quite pleased that my dc wanted a gift last year rather than money
Dh has a God daughter but she asks for gift cards too
I'm trying to think of lots of little cheap things this year as they both need new ipads
I might try and get them refurbished ones from amazon actually....we should have saved the money for them by then but....it's a lot of money!!

Do you know, I'd go for something left of field and leave iPads for another occasion. They seem to enjoy things which imply real thought about them individually more than those which are 'merely' a struggle to afford. (And every kid in school will get an iPad at Xmas - all they'll be able to do is discuss their specs with each other and that will be over in 5 minutes!)

I know what you mean but theirs are 5 years old now (bought with b day money) and they weren't the new versions even then so they are very slow now.
I even bought more stotage for them but it hasn't helped.
Grr
Ds1 uses His for homework and ds2 does his "research" on his (he wantsto be a paleontologist and spends a.lot of time looking. Up dinosaurs and writing about them :))
I'm tempted suggest ds2 use his b days money to get one then he can have surprises for xmAs
Ds1 no longer believes in Santa so is more pragmAtic 😀

It's a great deal of money nonetheless.

Are they ready to take some age-appropriate responsibility for some of the festivities yet? You Cani introduce all sorts of concepts that way.

can

In what sense?
Sorry I think my brAin stopped working after 9pm! 😲

Cozie - tell me more about the antique type pressies for nieces/ nephews! Would love that more. I suppose i could think of whatever book / author they like & buy 1st edition... Actually dc loves wimpy kid - going to look up abebooks now (he won't thank me for 40 years lol)

Catch you all tomorrow.

Just musing, Badders. I'm thinking, though, about allowing/asking them to - say - do a piece of Xmas food preparation. It doesn't need to be huge, it could be as simple as acquiring and heating some mince pies on Xmas Eve or a small buffet if family come over. (Really small.) I found, for example - 1950s/1960s though it might be - that our youngsters had a whale of a time planning and making a 'hedgehog' (half grapefruit covered in foil and studded with cocktail sticks with 'bits' on them etc - 'hedgehog' is what we call it anyway although I guess it may have other names.) Their chests fairly swelled with pride.

Sorry - my device is having a fit of temperament so posting might be a bit approximate.

Great thread! Love Christmas but not the expense.
I bought all my wrapping paper and cards in the January sales. Started last month buying bargains as and when I see them too. From September onwards I also start buying stocking fillers for my DC. I find home bargains is great for them, come xmas morning they have a huge stocking full and it always costs less then £10.

It's really a case of starting up some new Xmas traditions of the 'And Freddie and Annie will do their XXXX of course'. It involves planning, budgeting, checking, thinking of others - a whole load of good things. Although I fear it will not relieve you of responsibility in the first few years at any rate.

Oh I see
We've always done that
We make mince pies, marchpane (don't ask- it's a Tudor tradition!)
We also make decorations etc
I've mooted the idea of only buying for Children in the family with dh..we shall see!
It'll be a spendy week this week as we are off to North Yorkshire in about an hour!

I love medieval recipes in particular. (All that 'seething' )

Have a good time - and not too many fly ice-creams.

Thank you

Great thread!

Some things I do to save money
♡ Don't buy too much too early, doesn't save much I only end up buying more
♡ when the mail does the free lego i go alone and save for stocking - 2 or 3 sets for 60p each.
♡ buy fun character/nicer than normal clothes/art supplies. DD has asked for smiggle things so bought a backpack in the sale and will look out for a few other bits. She can use current bag and lunchbox till then :)
♡ Try making things - one year I made tutu dresses, the materials cost £10 for both and was nice to have something I made.
♡ don't bulk out the pile with tat - its tempting but all those bits soon add up and are often in the bin/charity shop by new year!
♡ Set up amazon wishlists for all members of the family so u don't end up with unwanted gifts.
♡ second hand/refurbished if u can. Buy a pretty box. Bonus is no putting together of toys!
♡ secret santa with groups of friends. Set a limit and stick to it.
♡ get every reward card going. Soon adds up.
♡ cashback sites - quidco did a Christmas one last year to earn extra cashback.
♡ camelcamelcamel for Amazon - tracks prices and can set up alerts to email you if desired item drops to a price u want to pay.

And finally IT'S ONLY A GOOD DEAL IF IT WAS ON THE LIST OR WERE CONSIDERING IT!

I definitely agree with not buying too early (for santa) I always panic buy no matter what I have prepared etc 🙄

I keep my eyes open for offers year round, like eBay just offered me £15 off a £25 spend, got DF present sorted and part of DMs.
Clinton's had Yankee candles on sale for better than half price about a month ago that includes DMs favourite smell
Took out life insurance with direct line and got £60x2 M&S vouchers for me and DH. They're waiting for Xmas for DDs clothes and probably some man things for FIL & DSD.
I just take the opportunities where I can

A very close acquaintance only buys presents on Xmas Eve - he declares that mad rushing around is part of the spirit of Xmas! (I suspect that in his case, it actually saves him, personally, money these days but only because he's married to a planner now. He's always done the same however.)

I have to say I shudder at the thoughts of receiving a present bought on xmas eve that would be half price or less on the 26th. Madness !!! As soon the kids confirm that they don't believe in Santa anymore were off to lanzarote for xmas & I can't wait !!!

I signed up for camelcamelcamel thanks nobuts i would never have known about it otherwise !

An Amazon tip...
Start a wish list
Put stuff on you want/want to buy as gifts
They usually take money off to tempt you