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Tiny Budget Christmas (Gifts excluded)
Comments
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Lots of great ideas here.
You might be lucky to live near a church with bells -- listen out while walking on Christmas morning. Not everyone's cup of tea but I'm a keen bell-ringer.
T'other sort of bells are for morris dancing. I've danced out with my own teams for many years, usually Boxing Day or New Year's Day. Absolutely free to stand, watch, sometimes join in the final dance. Smile at the person shaking a money bag, do not feel obliged to contribute. We'd far rather see people enjoying the music and dancing than looking worried about money. To find out your nearest, google 'Morris Dancing' and your town. Or FB: try 'How many Morris dancers are there on Face Book?' or 'All thing Morris'.
I'd have thought more people would suggest church. You don't have to be Christian -- even if it is a religious festival -- to enjoy singing carols by candlelight. Look for family-oriented Christingle services. Go to midnight Mass, Anglican or any church, with your offspring: quite magical for the youngest, being allowed to stay up till after midnight! Often there's a crib scene to admire.
Note for non-religious people unsure of etiquette: join in as much or as little as you feel of the prayers. No need to put any money in the bag. If it's a communion service (sharing small pieces of bread & a sip of wine), either sit peacefully in your pew or join the queue at the front but hold a prayer-book so the minister gives you a spoken blessing instead of bread & wine.
BTW, one poster said: 'Invest in a Radio Times and circle everything you want to watch - tv is free'. Is it? Thought one needed a licence.
Best wishes for a lovely, cheap Christmas.1 -
Forgot to say about church, in case you're worried about your child with additional needs being comfortable and welcome. A decent church these days actively welcomes anyone. It does not matter if someone chooses to conduct the hymns or dance in the aisle or loudly sing their own version; or needs to walk outside for a brain break.
To be ruthlessly honest, there are still a very few churches stuck in the mud. However, a bit of homework on their website should sort them out. 'Proper' churches (like mine!) say things like 'Gay-friendly' or 'Dementia friendly' or 'Relaxed style'.
If it's a really old church, though, maybe phone in advance to check about loos . . .1 -
One thing I did that worked for my son was to create stories around gifts, rather than just having a quick free-for-all. He still remembers the teddy bear he 'found' part way up a tree on a walk through the woods, far more vividly that other toys presented in a more conventional way. He loved the computer game featuring lots of treasure chests (Legend of Zelda) which he discovered inside a treasure chest (lights out/torch shining on the chest as it opened to add to the effect). On a similar theme, the Easter bunny used to leave little notes for him for weeks before it materialised. He remembers these things in his 30s, but other gifts have faded into the past. Imagination costs nothing - tune into what excites your child and go with that!1
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