Big family christmas (ideas)

Glitteraim

I'm in need for some ideas on how to save some money this Christmas please..

We have family coming to stay for christmas this year and I want to make it a special occassion, and really wanting to make an effort but by spending as little as possible.

By that I mean - food, decoration etc. Xmas shopping is near enough finished thankfully.

Xmas lunch isnt an issue because we all go to my mums (phew!)

Any ideas at all would be grateful - I will search through this board as and when I can (not so easy when I'm running around after a toddler all day lol)

Glitteraim x

pobby_2

Try not to go overboard on food and drink - I always end up with loads left over and people fed up of eating and drinking too much. That said, we all like a little treat don't we? So here are some tips:

- Try homebaking mince pies / biscuits / cakes. Costs a lot less and much tastier and your visitors will be way impressed you've made the effort. You can always make in advance and freeze.
- Buy a few things that will keep each week and squirrel them away. I've been doing this for a few weeks now as we have lots of visitors this year and have got a good supply of crisps / nuts / tinned sausages on the go as we always seem to get through a lot of them with drinks before dinner. Also I have bought a Pannetone and a Stollen from Lidl (they are very cheap and lovely we had them last year). Their use by dates are not till January next year so fine to put away.
- Check out supermarkets / butchers for specials offers / reductions on meat and buy and freeze in advance.
- Instead of crackers you could do a mini-gift on everyone's plate. Last year I found some mini-stockings in Matalan and put an individual wrapped chocolate in each of them. Went down a storm so I'll be doing the same this year.
- A nice cheap table centrepiece: Buy a charger plate (matalan normally have them cheap or even a pound shop) and a small block of oasis from your local florist. Stick one or a couple of white church candles on top. Use some holly and christmas tree cuttings (free if you can find in your local woods or buy some from the market) and nice festive ribbons - stick in the oasis to decorate. Looks beautiful, simple and smells great 'cos of the pine.
- You can even make matching napkin rings with ribbon and a sprig of holly / pine. Or nice place settings out of pine cones with a brown luggage tag tied on.

hope this helps a bit. If I think of anything else I'll be back! ;o)