Christmas conundrum

RubySewSew

Thank you all so much! I am feeling so much better. And you are right. We grew up without any money and I remember Christmas as a peaceful, happy, family day. We would have pillow cases stuffed full of 'Santa presents' bits and pieces my mum would have collected through the year and then essentials like shampoo, toothpaste, knickers, felt pens... stuff that meant so much to have new when you were one of 4. My mum would collect literally all year. It was a time when my Mum was genuinely chilled out and relaxed (although i don't know how as a single parent, full time student and with 3 part time jobs she must have been knackered!!!). We would always wake up to a big lego or playmobil set made up for us all to share. Then there would be a few presents under the tree from my Mum and any other family.

Memory Girl - I LOVE your idea!!! Think my littlest in particular would like that!. I remember one year my Auntie was very badly behaved and threw Quality Street everywhere - it kept us entertained for hours!!

The budget is £138 (I already have a few bits and pieces). And this is the plan:

• my mum is contributing to main present for each of the kids
• my dad is getting them under the tree presents
• I will make up lovely stockings and a medium present for under the tree as long as the budget will allow it.
• meat will be ordered from Farmer's Choice - I have £150 on account from over a year ago
• I have an extra £40 in cash from selling guinea pig hutch and run - this will go in an emergency festive stash
• the ex-bf handed me £100 cash as a gift to help out so that the kids have a great day - this is also in emergency fund and a reminder of how flipping lucky I am
• food shopping will come from usual food budget and will I meal plan for Christmas week
• no need to buy choccies etc - usually end up with loads from school
• will host drinks party for friends instead of presents
• will have dinner for work friends instead of presents
• family presents will be makes from my enormous stash of fabric, picture frames etc
• will finally get around to refurbishing furniture for the ex-bf and make him nice a meal with a decent bottle of wine
• will cash in Tesco clubcard vouchers for health and beauty web shop (doubles the value)
• will budget for work night out
• will post few bits for sale on gumtree/ebay this week and add to festive emergency fund
• will use Tesco vouchers for cinema tickets for pre-Christmas treat for kids
• will make mince pies and decorate tree with the kids this weekend
• AND I will relax and enjoy the holidays with my children, my friends and my family and remember how flipping lucky we are!

Worst comes to worst - the chickens are looking well fat and juicy

RubySewSew

Ok. Shopping completed with exception of food shop and a few little bits.
Meat ordered on account
Gifts ordered through Top Cashback
Drumkit listed on Gumtree - someone coming to view tomorrow
Cinema tickets, underwear vouchers and beauty vouchers ordered from Tesco clubcard.
Ordered meat for meal for the ex-bf

I kept a running total as I was going but will double check it to bank statement in next couple of days and confirm.

And all achieved without increasing debt
House is tidy enough to start making projects. Only drawbrack is that I've sprained wrist so hoping that is better really soon!

foxgloves

Somethng that doesn't cost too much to make for gifts is home-made fudge. I save little boxes for this. They don't have to be posh or special...cover them with Christmas paper & save ribbons & things throughout the year & clean plastic bags (the sort you'd save for freezer bags). The fudge recipe I make only requires bog-standard granulated sugar (which comes from Aldi), milk, evaporated milk, etc, nothing expensive & I find if I cut it carefully, I can get 2 small (but perfectly decent) boxes from each quantity I make. You don't need any special equipment, just a tin, a saucepan & a wooden spoon. Once I've covered the boxes so they look Christmassy (or birthday or Easter-like...whatever you're doing), I line each one with a little rectangle of greaseproof paper & put in a layer of fudge, then another piece of greaseproof & a 2nd layer. I then pop it into a clear plastic bag & tie at one end with ribbon & a pretty home-made label. It always goes down well with people I've given it to......I think people appreciate the effort that has gone in to something hand-made & you can dress the boxes up as much as you like. I never buy any special materials for the boxes....I love recycling pretty bits & bobs in my craft box, so this really isn't an expensive gift. In fact, I've started getting requests.....

RubySewSew

Meat arrived today. Most of presents arrived. Boys came in on budget at £141. Few bits left to get but have some cash from items sold. Work meal paid for. New Year's Eve ticket donated by friend as a Christmas present. Now just need to make a hurried start on the making production line!

maidincornwall

Wow sounds like your doing well!

kansaskitty

Well done RubySewSew you're doing so well! Inspirational thread

RubySewSew

Guys, thank you so much for your help and support! It's Christmas Eve and we have had an amazing week. The house looks wonderful, there are presents under the tree, our bellies are full of yummy Christmas food and none of this has pushed us over budget. I have had help from fantastic friends along the way but would like to share with you that the majority if this has been achieved by being creative and measured.

Here are a few little tips that I will be remembering for next year:

clove studded oranges - cost £2 - hours of pleasure = endless! Kids spent a peaceful couple of hours studding the oranges with cloves, the house smells amazing and looks really Christmassy. Popped them in a bowl with a church candle in the middle

homemade mincepies - cost approx 50p a batch of 12 - we've used shop bought mincemeat and homemade pastry. We've made at least 1 batch everyday and it has kept the kids happy, fed and occupied. Pastry is half butter to plain flour. For a luxurious touch mix with the juice of a freshly squeezed orange and a good pinch of salt instead of the usual water (thanks Nigella!). Milk wash and sprinkle with caster sugar. Bake for about 10 mins at 170c-180c. Eat warm

mulled cider - about £6 but has made several batches. 2 litre bottle of cider, bottle of ginger wine, lemon peel and handful of cloves. I was lucky enough to have been bought a beautiful bottle of mulling syrup but otherwise add some honey, cinnamon etc. Use approx 2 thirds cider to 1 third wine and syrup to taste. Warm gently and serve in tall glasses. I haven't bought any other alcohol (except for a bottle of prosecco for Christmas day) but have managed to entertaina ll week on this. For a virgin version use half apple juice and half non-alcoholic ginger wine.

chocolate - I work in school so can usually rely on a few chocolates coming home on the last day of term. The only thing I have bought is a box of maltesers to eat with the boys tonight in front of a film. Cost £2.50

candles - glade spiced apple candles buy one get two free in Tesco. Smell divine and have made fab teacher's presents tied up with ribbon. Cost £4 for 3

Christmas dinner - I have kept it in kind that this is just a roast! I bought a turkey crown from meat subscription service I had money on account with. I've got all the free range meat I need for under £25. I know this is a lot but I really believe in proper free range turkey even if it means saving £2 a month all year.

decorations - I didn't actually get around to it this year but had planned to make salt dough, gingerbread men and paper chains. All for pennies with free entertainment thrown in.

food and drink - again I've kept it in mind that the boys are actually going to see their Dad on the 27th so I'm really only catering for 2 days.

spiced root vegetable soup - 4 bags of carrots brought home from school. Boiled up with an onion, spoon full of curry paste and vegetable stock. Cost £0, taste incredible!

New Year's Day - I have learnt from previous years to make a list of anything left over on new year's day. Then I know what not to bother buying next year!

Online shopping - I did my big food shop online - that way i'm not tempted by things just because I can see them and I see how much the cost is mounting up

Main presents - I went halves with my Mum on the kids main present. And I have kept it in mind that they have 2 Christmases. I can't even remember what I got them last year - they certainly don't still have it so have concentrated on a few meaningful presents that stay in budget.

Our house is warm and clean and cosy. We have plenty of food, lovely gifts and a few little treats. We are relaxed, calm and happy. And we are taking memories forward. We appreciate how very, very lucky we are. And my heart and best wishes go out to each and everyone of you and hope that you have found the same peace. Merry Christmas

linz

Glad it's all worked out well for you Ruby Not sure how old your boys are but if they are still small enough have you shown then the Norad Santa tracking site ?

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Here's a good site for making a personal video message to them from Santa too.

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home

RubySewSew

Thank you Linz - we used both of those yesterday. My 6 year old nearly burst at his personal message from Santa and my 10 year old built a watch tower for them all to follow Santa on Santa search!

Some more Christmas money saving tips that have helped us out this year...

gift tags - soooo expensive!! Not here! Saved my loveliest cards from last year and cut out sections to make gift tags. Hole punch corners and a bit of curling ribbon, Bob's your uncle! Cost £0

wrapping paper - half price and buy two get one free. I got lovely paper from Peacocks. And have enough for at least the stocking presents next year.

crackers - half price M&S. Really lovely crackers and as it was a box of 12 I have enough for 3 years! £7.50 or £2.50 per year!

presents - from my sister I got a box with cookie dough, homemade mincemeat, homemade sweet chilli dip and handmade toffees wrapped in twists of paper. And mistletoe!!! What creativity! Her financial situation is similar to mine. DS3's favourite present was a stretchy man - 20p, DS2 a 2nd hand manga book For just a couple of quid and DS3 loved his brylcream and lynx and will save me a fortune on Elnett stolen from me over the year!

Off to enjoy the peace and quiet now that the boys have gone to bed. Merry Christmas everyone x

RubySewSew

Christmas present for my 10 year old nephew - old designer t-shirt, cut out logo, stretched out over thick cardboard (cat food box), stapled in place and then popped in frame from charity shop. 50p?