Recycled Christmas, could it work???

Annando

Has some other ideas for presents:

1-Cheque books (yes you read correctly), with cheques for different chores or free back rubs, foot massages, laundry, shopping, gardening, weeding, cooking, I mean anything really, whatever you want to give or you are good at... Works a treat for Valentines too!

2-Pillows of fabric (small ones, made out of old material) filled with lavender, dried herbs, wood chippings with cedar oil (excellent against moths). You can make several and give them in bundles of 3 with a ribbon tied around them.

3-Make your own pot-pourri with lavender and herbs, or pine cones, dried fruits and dried wood chippings, just add a little essential oil and make a nice wrapping around it. (Always remember to let it dry first)

Ok I'm going to shut up now

she_grinch

In response to Dolly Day Dream, Advent calenders. We have a fabric advent calendar and we have special decorations, each one collected or hand made over the years which my teenagers associate with christmas. We put one of these in each pocket and they unwrap and put one on the tree each day reliving christmases past.

Annando

she_grinch wrote:

In response to Dolly Day Dream, Advent calenders. We have a fabric advent calendar and we have special decorations, each one collected or hand made over the years which my teenagers associate with christmas. We put one of these in each pocket and they unwrap and put one on the tree each day reliving christmases past.

That is beautiful, brought tears to my eyes, reminded me of my own xmases when my family was all together.

dolly_day_dream

Wow what a lovely idea. I sense a change coming on:rolleyes: We are starting our celebrations next Sunday cos that will be Stir up Sunday. :j We are a little early this year as I am having an op and am not too sure how steady I will be on my feet for our usual date of the the first week end of Half term. They all come home and stir the pudding mix and make a wish.

Off topic I know but one of my sons said the best thing the other day. He said that I should foster children (he knows that it is something I am considering) because he wants other children to have the start in life he had. I have to admit there are tears in my eyes as I write. We had/have very little money and few material things but I guess that proves it's what you do, not what you have that counts.

tinselfairy

A friend of mine and her husband are both from large families and a few years ago when spending got out of hand they got together and decided to spend only £1 on each other.
She absolutely loves the challenge of finding the right gift for the right sibling and says it's amazing what can be bought for that price if you keep an eye out all year round.
I buy small table presents for each person who joins us for Christmas lunch. The budget for this is £1 per person and I've found lots of suitable bits and pieces in the local charity shops, no doubt someone else's unwanted gifts!

givememoney

Sallys_Savings wrote:

uumm a small family indeed ...we're probably the other end of the scale lol..

I'm one of five children and all bros/sisters have partners and children and my oh is one of 3 children and they both have partners and children plus father and plus his lady friend...oh and theres my four children and my oh and my dog

Why don't you do what we did. It only takes courage for one person to suggest it (in our case me!), we don't buy for the adults only the children and then only till they got to 18. I think everyone was relieved, it saved having to spend the money and also solved the problem of what to buy everyone.

I do buy for my husband, grown up son and daughter and her husband plus her father-in-law, partner and brother-in-law so this so this branch of the family is starting to extend due to my daughters recent marriage.

We always ask each other what we would like so no one wastes money on unwanted gifts. We also set a rough limit of £50 each for the main present and then spend more on small gifts.

I hate Christmas actually, probably because I hate spending the money. I do the same thing every year. I ignore it completely, then about the end of November I rush out like a mad woman buying it all and frantically wrapping it up the minute I get home with it.

Once the shops are shut Christmas Eve I finally relax a bit and try to enjoy it.

Kaz2904

Well I've only just read this post but have started to get ready for things. I have just had my christmas off duty which shows I am working a night 23rd and a night 26th but essentially have christmas off! My SIL wants to go away but feels bad- but this is my and DH's 1st christmas with me off without a tiny baby (*2 now 5ish and 3 ish LOL!!!. I have already asked his mum to CD(inner). Unfortunately she has af riend who is newly widowed who has DS who has a family living nearby. She also has another fiend witha GF nearby. I am Friends with the 1st sons' wife (who does not gell with MIL) and my DH is good friends with DS no2. I would be honoured to have all 3 older mums with me on christmas day and have their famil;ies round too later. I know for a start that 1st one has a grandson who can't see his Dad or Half Sisters much but would welcome them in my home as my friend would not feel uncomfortable or have to lash out/ keep her daughters away as it is neutral territory. I also think that this would show my two DC(hildren) what christmas is all about and give evryone some fun/relif from grieving or thoughts about what should have been? I will talk to MIL about it tomorrow and see what she thinks but will also ask the others (her mates). I Also want to tackle her spending as she is in poor health and working past retirement age. She has a budget of £50 per child for birthday (grandchild) OK but mine have BD 21/11 and 19/12 and my budgert is nothing like this much. (£20-£30 without joint party) TTFN, K

Annando

Christ... That sounds complicated!! Keep carving knifes well hidden!!

I was really looking forward to Xmas, specially because last Xmas was spent studying as I had exams in January. But now I'm feeling really low, in-laws (2 adults and 2 kids) were supposed to come over from abroad and spend 2 weeks with us, but they had some kind of financial problem and will not be coming. My family all live abroad as well and they have made other plans now because I said that in laws were coming and couldn't have everyone at the same time. And the icing on the cake is that OH has just been made redundant!

I think Xmas will be the two of us anda dog (not ours, we will be taking care of it)... OH isn't very enthusiastic about Xmas anyway so... I'm feeling quite sad, seems like I will not be having Xmas for a second year in a row!

stripey_cheese_skirt

this is brilliant! ive not looked forward to xmas since i was about 8 but i'm really excited now!

going to be making decorations with my son for the first time this year (he is quite little...):
slice citrus fruits then bake in the oven for ages on a really low setting, tie to tree with ribbon (cheap ends from the market, then save the ribbons for next years ones

also might try saltdough, i think its called, like playdough but you can bake it in the oven and paint it... will have to google and see ....

arkonite_babe

Salt dough recipe for you

Also on the page, make your own papier mache and watercolour paints