From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

thriftmonster

Only if you have a nativity set (and I don't do it now as I celebrate Yule) but we used to set the nativity set up without the Christ Child (added Christmas Eve) and without the wise men and camels. They started out the far end of the house and the children moved them each day closer and closer to the stable. Sort of elf on the shelf without the stress. And it became a tradition to see where they could get each day. Our set was quite chunky so there needed to be space for 3 wise men and 3 camels

Greying_Pilgrim

Aw thanks thriftmonster, we don't have a nativity set, but I've seen reference to the 'moving of pieces' closer each day.  I'm trying to think which vlog it was I saw it on..... I'm thinking it's SofiasTales, she's Swedish, and it's a tradition from there - or is theirs just the 3 wise men?  Perhaps it's for Epiphany 🤔 

Way, way, way before LG was even a twinkle, there was a craft centre in Greying Town, and one of the stall holders did wood carving.  It was possible to purchase animals or characters individually, and build up to whatever you desired - a nativity, noah's ark, a farm, a zoo...... but unfortunately the craft centre closed down and although one or two artisans remained in the town, I never did know where the wood crafter went.  I've never seen such figurines since, so we've not built up a set ☹️ We do have a little carved nativity, but it's only a tiny model, and it's all fixed together.  

I have to say, I much prefer your nativity activity idea to the Elf.  I know some people really like doing it, but we never started - it was regrettable that school actually did have the elfontheshelf, causing chaos in the classroom in the early years setting. A misstep as far as I'm concerned, but then it was other people who had to clear up the messes, so it didn't affect us (at home).  And to their credit, LG has never asked for us to do elfontheshelf at home.  

I do like the concept of 'moving toward' or 'building up' in Advent.  Again, not everyone's cup of tea, but I prefer it to just conspicuous consumption of chocolate - for our household.  

Ta for popping by 😁

Greying X

badmemory

I know I am an old cynic, but all these new things like the elf just seem like more & more ways to con us out of our money as they use them to upset our children.

LotsOfTea

I completely refused to do elf on the shelf but my DS did ask when he was little why we didn't have an elf so I came up with an alternative. He'd been given a very flimsy 'fairy door' as a party bag gift so we decorated it and propped it up on the mantelpiece and DS started getting little notes arriving from a 'kindness elf'. DS wrote little notes back and was encouraged by the elf to do kind things for people. It carried on throughout the year (not every day, just at regular intervals) and had all of the required magic without spending loads or creating a load of mess (I mean, I have enough mess in my house without creating extra!). I also felt no need to post about it on social media 😁

I also desperately wanted Mr Frosty as a kid and never got one. My mum has since said there was no way she was wasting her money on that overpriced tat which I totally understand! I was gutted at the time, mind. 

It is good to see that we all have our own little traditions and ways of doing things. It's a good reminder that not everyone has to follow the template set by adverts or keep up with the social media Joneses. 

Cheery_Daff

Bizarrely, I remember Mr Frosty very vividly, but do you know what? I have literally NO idea if I actually owned one myself! No idea whether we had one in the house. How funny. I'll have to ask my mother. 

Just shows how little things matter with hindsight sometimes 😂

themadvix

Unlikely, given all the ideas here GP, but there’s always the BP advent crown - for a lovely retro reuse of tinsel! 

Cheery your window looked lovely!

Another non-fan of elf on the shelf - seems to encourage misbehaviour from what I understand, and another plasticky American import (sorry, bah humbug!). Lotsoftea your kindness elf sounds wonderful!

Think I was a year or two too young for the Mr Frosty craze - I remember my older cousin and neighbours having them though.

Greying_Pilgrim

LotsofTea - that sounds a fab idea about the 'kindness' elf.  Not quite in the same vein, but I have tried to incorporate nice 'behaviour/actions' into Advent activities.  Last year we went to support the (charitable)  tree exhibition, and LG donated some of their money, plus last year and the year before, LG chose some items for the FB, got them from the shop and donated them into our local FB.  But you've made me think, what else could we do.  I must admit, LG is (and is expected to be), kind and well behaved by default, so it's a little more difficult to come up with specific ideas for discrete activities.  But imho, your kindness elf is absolutely on the right lines - for my way of thinking.  

Cheery - that's the difficulty, I can see the appeal for X, Y or Z for a child, but realise that in 5, 10, 15 years, little that is on the desirable list will even be remembered 🙄 The only thing that I really coveted, was a Padd1ngt0n that was quite big and wore toddler wellies.  They were more display items than toys, but I never had one.  I did have an 0rin0co womble - made by a local very good seamstress, but funnily enough, I don't have it now, so even something that I coveted, I haven't kept.  And now I'm at a stage where Swedish death cleaning, is a topic of conversation, hindsight is really showing how little it all matters.  

tmv - 'another plasticky import' - too right. Wouldn't getting hold of metal coat hangers now thwart the efforts of anyone trying to make one of those fire hazards delightfully handcrafted Advent Candle holders?  🤣

Well, we've taken part and Remembered.  

Need to think of something for lunch now 🫤

Now washing done today, as the forecast isn't good.  It stayed dry for the important bits, and for walking back and forth, but it's pouring now.  

Greying X

greenbee

Quite a few dry cleaners still use metal coat hangers, so they are about (and probably easy to get through a freegle/freecycle/olio/FB 'Ask' post). 

A friend does a reverse advent with her kids (they do get fun stuff for them too), where the family does something for others each day. It might be something like your foodbank donation, or going to a charity event, listening to a busker and donating, sorting out their toys to donate to the local children's ward (and make room for presents 😉), volunteer somewhere, bake a cake for a neighbour, do a favour for someone - she tries to make sure that like her 'normal' advent (which like yours involves activities as well as gifts) it doesn't have to cost money. Sometimes it's just effort - as simple as paying compliments, holding doors open, smiling at people, phoning relatives for a chat. 

I always wanted a Tiny Tears - eventually my grandparents gave in and delivered I did keep it for a long time. My dolls only went when my niece got too old for them. 

badmemory

From being about 3 when asked what I would like for Christmas the only answer was NOT a doll & still I got dolls.  I used to give them away.

Blackcats

As a child I always wanted an etch a sketch but never got one.  Don't worry I had plenty of other things I wanted including Tiny Tears and the Paddington Bear you mentioned.  My mum and dad bought me an etch a sketch for my 50th birthday - unsurprisingly I realised that it wasn't everything I dreamt it would be.