How to create a magical christmas that costs next to nothing?

[spacedonkey]

My children will be with me for christmas and new year this year (they're 12 and 14). I'm not working at the moment, therefore have almost no money to buy swanky presents etc. The kids understand this - they're not expecting ipods and the like, tbh they're not particularly materialistic anyway.

So I'm looking for ideas that cost nothing to make christmas special. I live in central London so I expect there'll be lots of free events going on, and anyway I think London's magical on dark winter nights. I even thought of signing the lot of us up to help out at the local sally army dishing out dinners to homeless people (haven't ruled that out yet!). Any thoughts anyone?

For the day itself or the xmas period? My brother did the dishing out to homeless a few years ago, enjoyed it, would do it again.

Any ideas for whole period and/or the day itself would be excellent

most places do some sort of chris cringle/ carol singing that is free to go to...our local park does one each year in first couple of weeks of dec. Also most churches do lunches for elderly on xmas day/xmas eve which is nice ot be involved in always looking for help. see if local hospitals esp childrens ones do anything or if they need help.
Xmas at home what about getting them to help make cookies etc on xmas eve to make it feel homely and xmassy, i am getting ds to make biscuits this year, cookie cutters are about £1 for 3 xmas shapes on ebay.

Have to go but will ponder. Do they help you? I'd make the house atmospheric - lots of candles, fairy lights etc. Make you own mince pies. Have a non-cereal breakfast. No tv??? Board games. Long walk after dinner. Get them to help prepare veg night before. Anyone else coming over for the day? They can have a few drinks can't they? Will think more.

thanks tinker and nemo

midnight mass?

would they go for it - I always used to love it but was quite square

ask if they want to make a couple of decorations..baker ross do decoration making kits really cheap..spending a tenner would get you a few deccies that they could even give away to relatives. DS is making photo coasters and his own xmas cards..not bad for a just 2 yr old

Alas they are a pair of lummocking teens - midnight mass would almost certainly be eschewed

I like the atmosphere on the south bank at any time of year but haven't been at christmas before - excellent idea!

i really like your sally army idea

nice to see you too lockets!

here is a list of charities asking for christmas volunteers for anyone else interested in doing this type of thing