Want a really cheap christmas

Murtle

yes C_Q I posted this then read the Discussion Time thread and was coming back here to say, another way of doing it would be to donate money or gifts to a local charity and design you're own voucher.

I can think of some local worthwhile charities I'll do this for!

angelatgraceland

Recently I saw some ideas for skills swapping. Perhaps you could try this? To "do" something for somebody is the greatest gift of all, and may cost next to nothing. Maybe not necessarily at Christmas, but people realy do appreciate the extra thought and effort that it takes to help somebody in a special way. It may be a haircut/colour-a meal at your house where you do all the work and they supply the shopping. It could be decorating, ironing, taking up the curtains, mowing the lawn. It could be that you are good at flower arranging and make a good bouquet-or maybe you give someone a makeover. We all have skills which others appreciate and we tend to overlook. It doenst have to be spending money on people. The simplest gifts Ive given have been the most treasured. Recently, I bought a relative a couple of books on flower arranging at a boot sale. She was over the moon with them but told me that what warmed her heart most was that "I had thought of her".

Tondella

Here's a great idea for a christmas gift. I came across these woven hearts a couple of years ago when i was visiting Copenhagen in December. They are used to decorate the christmas tree or windows and can be filled with goodies. Although traditionally they are made from paper I made mine with felt to make them more robust. Anyway, I wanted to find out a bit more of the history behind the woven heart so that I could teach my girl guide unit about them, and came across this website. The original version is dead easy to do, and you can have a practice with any old paper if you want to build up your confidence before investing in the coloured paper or felt. The variations this guy has designed are absolutely amazing and I'm sure all you crafters will want to have a go at them. I can't wait!!!

here's the site http://users.cybercity.dk/~ccc24645/home.html (then look for the woven hearts link on the left hand side of the screen)

The gentleman who built the site has a guest book and I think it would be nice to sign in if you benefit from the site.

Janeryan

I totally agree with a lot of the comments on here-I to am a Christian & feel that Christmas has been hijacked by consumerism.

I have a present list of 37 people plus DH & DS and so far have spent £94.22 on presents for 27 of them plus about £50.00 on DH & DS but have another £60.00 to go on them yet.

By my reckoning it works out to about £3.50 per head for the 27 people.For families where there are 4 or more I tend to buy a family gift(a game everyone can play or a couple of DVDs when they are on offer)

Also for some families I have bought gifts from the oxfam catalog.

I get it all finished by the first week of December so I can spend the rest of the month concentrating and focusing on what Christmas means to me and also helping out others(eg carol singing at OAP's home and doing shopping for them as they can't manage it themselves) and having time to write individual messages in those Christmas cards that I send.

Stompa

I have a present list of 37 people plus DH & DS

DH & DS ???

Stompa

Yorkielass

Stompa wrote:

I have a present list of 37 people plus DH & DS

DH & DS ???

Stompa

Darling Husband and Darling Son

squeaky

Stompa wrote:

I have a present list of 37 people plus DH & DS

DH & DS ???

Stompa

Down towards the bottom of our Welcome sticky (at the top of the forum listing) is a link to a thread containing the most common abbreviations used here in Old Style.

You could click on the blue "Welcome" in my signature below to go directly there.

bluemoon_3

I read one money-saving idea once from a mum on another forum - she made her sons 'dress-up boxes'. I thought it was brilliant for young kids (especially for girls) and could be stocked quite cheaply with some creativity. After all, what child doesn't love to play dress-up?

Or possibly craft and art supplies in a nice basket for kids - sequins, tissue paper, glitter, ribbons, card, beads . . .

Murtle

blimey I buy for my mum and sis, oh, and his immediate family! Close friends get cards...the rest a verbal happy christmas.....I don't think that makes me mean!!!!

I'll go out for a couple of drinks with them or dinner and spend time with them, but we just don't swap pressies....but i like tondellas idea so might try them out with little bits in them!!

x

Stompa

Down towards the bottom of our Welcome sticky (at the top of the forum listing) is a link to a thread containing the most common abbreviations used here in Old Style.

Ah OK, thanks. Some of those are seriously obscure!!!

Stompa