How to do Christmas on the cheap

[Pilarpuzz]

I recently lost my job and my husband earns very little. He’s looking for more work.
We’re making changes where we can but I’d appreciate any tips on how to do Christmas on the cheap. Including handling the inevitable Santa letters full of expensive stuff 🤦‍♀️ thank you

How old are your children? My daughters 5 and has asked for some expensive items this year so I’ve picked them up second hand.

Well first of all acknowledge that Christmas does not need to be about money - you can focus on family traditions that are free - going to a carol concert at a church, making decorations for your house/tree, baking, watching Christmas films etc.

In terms of Santa's letters - don't do it. I don't know any one who does and those who do often end up buying things that children then change their minds about.

It does depend on the age of your children but one main present and a few stocking fillers is absolutely fine, especially if they get gifts from other family members.

Christmas dinner- chicken, not turkey - everything else is fairly inexpensive.

Best thing I’ve ever done is to stop exchanging gifts with everyone apart from my immediate family. I’m down to 3 people, it fantastic and have also cut down what I spend.
also secret Santa is another option
also it’s just a fancy roast dinner so don’t go wild with lots of extra/fancy food

Get a chicken (or two chickens!) rather than a turkey. Turkeys always shock me with how expensive they are.

Second hand gifts for the kids. We've aleady bought something for DS age 6 that he's been asking for. £40 instead of £125, asoecific hotwheels track do it'll get set up so no expectation of a box.

And yes, no exchange of gifts unless direct close family. Tell people now to save them buying for you

If you have freezer space, you could, if available on yellow sticker, get the chicken now. Get a few things extra with each shop, things such as stuffing, a jar of pickled onions etc... Christmas does not have to break the bank, I think. The veg could be picked up on CE for pennies.

You could ask for this to be moved to the Christmas topic, from what I've seen the posters there are experts at getting bargains

Following as I’m losing my job too due to redundancy :(

Just buy for the kids and start now. Great stocking fillers from the works. For food treats save up loyalty points

I do a relaxed/minimal Xmas and it's more or less the same ideas as saving money. Kids get one big present from parents and about 10 small ones (which include 'fun' versions of needs like socks or flavoured toothpaste or clothes). Then I just have to buy for my DH because my side of the family only does Secret Santa gift exchange and only if you're attending (which we usually don't because they're far and we have small kids).

Food is one meat. One starch vege side, couple of other vege sides. One dessert. Selection of treats like nuts or chocolates. That's it.

Start buying now and just get bits and pieces on sale.

Depending on kids ages there’s a few different sales currently/coming up:

• Argos has lots of bits on 2 for £15 or 3 for £20, they also currently have the Big Red sale on and there are toys included some of them are really good discounts, I’ve got a few bits for my daughter from there the last few days.
• The Entertainer has a sale on kids toys at the minute, quite a few bits up to 50% off.
• ASDA has toys on sale currently, again lots up to 50% off.

Also remember Black Friday is coming up and lots of places do sales then. Boots can have some great bits in Black Friday sales like perfumes, bath sets etc so depending on age of kids that might also be a good one to wait for? Or if kids are older/into gaming there’s usually good deals on those things on Black Friday.

For stocking filler bits like books/crafts bits we were in The Works last weekend and they have whole shelves of kids books that are 3 for £5 and had craft sets with paper, brushes and one of the little sets of paint for I think it was £6/7?

I do appreciate it does depend on kids age though how easy it is to do presents cheaply without it looking like less. £50 of presents for a 0-4 year old could be a pile of presents with big boxes and little bits to pad out, whereas £50 for a 12 year old could be 1 XBOX game or 1 aftershave.

Secondhand. I get 90% of presents secondhand. Buy now if you can, people put prices up from November.

Christmas lists - write now, heavily supervised, emphasise that this is an “ideas list” for Santa to pick from, and no changes allowed!

Don’t exchange gifts beyond immediate family. If you do normally and are worried about this, try suggesting a secret Santa (with strict budget limit!).

Depends a bit on age of kids, but buy necessities as presents. New (secondhand!) kit for sports, school, etc, can go under the tree.

Don’t get sucked in to stuff being “special” because it’s Christmas. Normal chocolate or potatoes or cheese tastes just as good as the fancy stuff.

If you’re really struggling, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. There are all sorts of present giving drives going on at Christmas, community larders giving out food, etc. Take the help that is on offer.

If you can work out whether there are any specific things/areas you normally spend on, I’m sure people can help you with specific ideas.

How old are dc? Mine are 11 & 13 and one of their favourite christmas things is driving home a slightly different way to normal to see the Christmas lights. They also love Christmas pj's - however I have always made them use them all year round so in reality it's just a new pair of pj's that were needed. Currently dd's are wearing Xmas pj's from last year and the year before that still fit.

Start now if possible for food treats. Add one or two things to the trolley that's on offer, could be stuffing/gravy some nice biscuits or something- put in cupboard or wardrobe out of the way.

I've picked up a few stocking fillers in the clearance sections of the supermarket the last few weeks. Travel sized skincare/face wipes on clearance at 50p each. Otherwise stockings are things that are needed eg bobbles, fluffy socks, pens, maybe some gloves.

Maybe you can even have a clear out and sell a few toys or anything that could add to the Christmas budget.

Poundland lucky dip. Individually wrapped, put in a sack, and everyone takes a turn.

Thanks for all these great ideas. Really appreciated. Kids are 10 & 12. Will suggest secret Santa for extended family 👍🏻

Agree with shop early and freeze if you can get yellow sticker stuff. Most of the supermarkets have e small turkey crowns year round and Iceland is good value. Don't need to buy the fancy Xmas gammons the regular ones taste the same. I'd buy a couple of cheap food and decorative/ small gift items each week. And prepare kids for not getting everything they want which is a good idea anyway! Little kids are thrilled with smaller festive gifts as well and it's the love and good fun they remember x

Where are you buying your second hand gifts?

Also if you shop at Asda get the ASDA Rewards app. You scan it every time you shop and get money into your “pot” on there, different amounts depending on what you buy, what offers they have on for different things but you get the money as cash to then spend. We have used that all year and just been buying the things we would usually buy there anyway so no extra cost but there’s just over £170 in our pot on there which can be used for our Christmas shop. You wouldn’t get £160 for 2 months of shopping but you could get £25/30 in your pot from just your usual shopping so no extra spend for you but extra money back to use.

They do have some really good deals there sometimes, a few weeks ago it was £5 in cash pot for £15 spend on kids clothes, £1 cash pot for boxes of Christmas chocs (if you’re going to buy them anyway may as well have the £1 back to spend on something else), currently they have £1 back when buy 2 packs toilet roll… little things that if you were going to buy them anyway you may as well get some money back.

Vinted is fantastic for second hand gifts. I buy so much from there. If you choose well stuff arrives in immaculate condition, it’s cheaper and way better for the environment too.

Don’t forget any reward schemes you might be part of, like Tesco Clubcard or Nectar.

Try vinted for gifts as well as Facebook market place. I've sold a few things I the last free weeks that I've had up for ages on vinted (still wrapped in plastic box sets of books, christmas clothes) so people are definitely starting their shopping there.

Remember small things are really what the children remember. Every year around Christmas we buy a tin of "skooshy cream" and we have hot chocolates with cream and watch some films. A drive around to see all the Christmas nights is something they also enjoy. As a child I STILL remember that at Christmas we children drank appletise from wine glasses and were allowed pudding even if we hadn't eaten dinner. And to eat a bit chocolate from.the stocking in the morning. It's the breaking of the rules and routines that can make things a bit special. Oh- mine also love a movie night sleepover in the living room. Focus on the experience rather than the stuff. And only buy for your children. Adults need to understand why it's not possible for you to buy gifts just now. Tell people in advance you won't be buying gifts so if they choose to buy for you you won't feel awkward.

I hope it all works out in the end for you.

A few years ago Iceland advertised a Christmas dinner for £20 (I think - they currently have a stuffed turkey breast joint for £4.50) and Aldi etc for frozen cauliflower cheese, parsnips etc, though might be cheaper to prep your own veg as they all do 19p carrots etc in the week before Christmas,

charity shops and vinted for gifts/clothes and only buy for the kids. Shop around and if you are buying new use Cashback sites so you’ll get something back in a few months too!

Kids enjoy time with you.

Films and a hot drink.
Carol concert.
Christmas walk ( we gather greenery for the Christmas table).
A bought or borrowed (friend, school, library) Christmas book to share, especially at bedtime on Christmas Eve.

When they were younger, I made a treasure hunt around the house/garden. It has become a Boxing Day tradition. (small boxes filled with treats).
One of the best presents was a dressing up box, second hand/clothes, glasses, hats, scarves etc. Your are older, perhaps old enough to be fans of charity shop clothing.

At that age, I would have a really honest conversation about budget.

Baker and Ross online are good for stocking fillers, not sure what their postage is though.