Share your tips for staying in this festive season - chance to win Lidl vouchers NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

We know there's still 4 months to go but if you can bear to think that far ahead, we'd love you to share your tips for getting the family together and throwing a great value festive party – in winter!

Lidl would love to know how your end of the year party plans changed once children came on the scene. Perhaps your crazy nights out for NYE went out the window the moment you became a parent (or maybe you're working to a slightly tighter budget!). Whatever the occasion, we'd love to hear about all the new winter traditions you’ve created to have fun at home with the family. Perhaps you have some genius recipes for easy, kid-friendly party food – or maybe you’ve perfected a signature non-alcoholic cocktail so the kids can join in with a New Year’s toast. And of course, we’d love to hear your top family-friendly party games – how do you and the kids like to celebrate?

Share your great value party ideas, tips and recipes below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where you could win one of five £50 vouchers.

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Boxing day lunch is always 'left over scramble' , basically bubble and squeak with added extras while we watch jack frost.

Buy a cocktail kit and learn some good recipes, you can impress your friends no end at parties. Also I find homemade pizzas always go down really with kids and adults and getting everyone involved with putting their topping suggestions on can be so much fun!

We play lots of silly games like put a ruler in your mouth and how many sugar cubes can you balance on the end in a tower. The children love it and it's funny to see aunts and uncles looking daft

This year we have booked our a NYE gathering at a youth hostel. This means no frantic cleaning of the house, a bed for everyone, a big pot luck supper, breakfast cooked for us by the YH staff and lots of lovely fresh air on New years day.

I seriously can't wait!

Since meeting my DP I have gone from hating Christmas and New Year to loving it. The difference is that he is part of a large family and they have large get-togethers. Everyone chips in with the food and drink and everyone keeps an eye on the children. My DS is the youngest and it is so nice that I get to have a relaxing time as well instead of spending my evening running around behind him constantly checking he is ok.

My best tip is to buy cheap bottles of supermarket own brand mulled wine, bung them in the slow cooker with some sliced oranges etc and enjoy a warming drink all night long.

Hot choc by the fire with a good Christmas movie!

Buffet freezer food! Mini pizzas, spring rolls etc. Minimum effort.

Ensure there are lots of family games in that those of all ages can enjoy.

We spend the evening before Christmas making a sweet and ginger bread house, and fresh mince pies ( for father Christmas) we then have hot chocolates before bed and leave out reindeer food (bird seed), after the children have gone to bed the adults then open the rum....and attempt desperately to wrap all the ridiculous shaped presents, I personally recommend keeping small card board boxes during the months running up to Christmas to put things in to be wrapped. I then boil a ham during the night so in the morning everyone can have fresh bread ham and pickle for breakfast whilst Christmas dinner is being cooked.

Make things together - gingerbread men, Christmas decorations, Christmas cake etc - who needs to go out?

we get out the board games and have snack food and drink that we can nibble whilst having a family chaotic time making sure there is lots of fun and no cheating
Afetr games we like to watch some christmas films for everyone we each get a choice of film to watch

I stock up on party food and drinks when they're on offer and fill the spare fridge freezer. that way there's always something to throw together a quick buffet tea if we have unexpected guests.

Thanks for the tips!
Winners of the £50 vouchers are

Lovewhereilive
pinkunicornsarefluffy
DoItTooJulia
hungryhungryhippos
PickAChew

Well done

Thanks

Brand new fluffy blankets, warm delicious smelling candles, some classic movies and some delicious home baking. Heaven!

We always love staying in ! we usually invite the family over for a buffet and play games like cluedo !