What's the least expensive Christmas thing that's given you the most satisfaction?

MSE_Laura_F

I'd love to hear about the cheapest Christmas item (present, food, decoration - ANYthing) that's given you the most satisfaction. The secret to a perfectly cooked roast? A decent bottle opener from inside a cracker? An evening in front of some good telly? 

For me it's probably the foam reindeer and sleigh cut-out that my partner and I made last year. The cost was negligible - foam packing material from a past delivery, scissors and tape - and I hope it will last for many years.

But a close second is eggnog (here's a recipe), which was a revelation to me two years ago and which I now can't get enough of.

Hope to hear yours.

Vegastare

Can only answer this on behalf of hubby walking out B&Q yesterday - he went in for a type light bulb and pushed a trolley out with a Christmas tree in it....having had or tree up for last 2 weeks I just looked gob smacked, I had to get it he proclaimed it was reduced to £1 from £45.  It's now in the garden with light on!!

As for the egg nog a scoop on vanilla ice cream is a nice American addition I picked up years ago....enjoy and Merry Xmas

JGB1955

One of the best presents I've ever received was a commitment (by my son) to accompany me on a geocaching (look it up... www.geocaching.com) canoe trip down a local(ish) canal/river.  It hasn't happened yet (2 years later) but I still have the 'voucher' stuck on my fridge.... and it WILL get used sometime and doesn't have an expiry date!

weenancyinAmerica

My favorite was the year I got 4 empty cardboard shoeboxes and a stack of 3" x 5" cards - which I had asked for. I used them to start writing the notes for a book I wrote.

Islandmaid

My birthday is 3 days before Christmas and every year for both Christmas and birthday I ask for the family learn how the way the dishwasher is actually packed, and for them to learn where the flippin’ stuff lives to put it away - betting I get flowers 😆

willow_loulou

I bought a roll of wrapping paper reduced 4 years ago that I covered my bedroom door panels with. It’s really pretty and saved me the effort of scraping the rest of the dreadful paint off!

I also lost the love for proper Christmas trees - real or not because I can’t bear the effort of putting it all away. Argos sold off their flat trees you drop over a pole 3 years ago for £2, it literally takes seconds to put up and down. I’ve added to it this year, some pink lights from primark. Next year I’ll get it a star. 

My favourite gifts are home made chutneys and pickles I get from work, I love that someone makes me something 🥰

Tescodealqueen

A tiny set of led Christmas lights for £2.50 which I put in an old round vase. Looked so pretty it’s become a year round lighting feature in my living room

Misslayed

My (then to be) husband texted me to say my present had been delivered, was it on the step? I opened the door and he was there! Two days early. I cried many happy tears. 

JGB1955

My favourite gifts can't be quantified in money terms - something like 'I'll do all the washing up on Christmas Day' or (my best yet) a promissory note from my son, to accompany me on a canoe trip along a nearby, disused, 1 km canal tunnel  to find a geocache.  Sadly, Covid got in the way, but the 'voucher' is still on my fridge door, 2 years later...and doesn't have an expiry date.

rhyski

So, my Christmas ‘thing’ has effectively cost me nothing, but has given me huge satisfaction (...and I haven’t even given it to my Dad yet!) - so shhhhh! - please don’t spoil the surprise just yet!!!

My Dad is a part of a ‘writers group’ and has published a few collaborative books in the last couple of years. 

This year, I decided to ask a few friends and colleagues if they would help me try to get my dad to “Christmas number 1” in e-book sales by getting his publication listed as a ‘best seller’ on Amazon. 

His latest publication started at a low position of  #1,751 in the ‘Travel, Adventure Fiction’ category, and then – after I messaged a few friends & family, overnight it jumped up to #114, and then – within hours to #24... and then to #13!!!, (beating the ranking of The Hobbit!!! which was in #14th place – which I know my Dad will be sooo happy about!)

We didn’t quite make it to #1, (sadly), but I am still over the moon that his book managed to get to #13

So for Christmas I’ve made my Dad a certificate showing that his book has reached #13, and also printed the page of the top releases, showing where his book ranked! – I can’t wait to give it to my Dad on Christmas Day!!!

In case anyone is interested in what the book is, it’s called: WHERE THERE'S A WILL ...: (a race for inheritance) by Martha S Twitcher
(Which is an anagram for his writers group)

Merry Christmas everyone! x

catz4m8z

Something that put me in the Christmas spirit involved work TBH!  Im a nurse and one year the senior staff forgot to get any presents for the patients and werent going to bother. I wasnt having that obviously!
So myself and a friend, about a week before christmas, went round all the local shops and phoned PR depts to try and get some presents donated so the patients had something to open. It really cheered me up to see how generous all the shops were and I think it was probably the nicest presents we had ever given!
(special mention to Superdrug who sent me a ridiculously massive box of goodies on such short notice).