A Totally FREE Christmas 2025

QueenJess

Lots of people starting to have a clear out on my local Buy Nothing site. I’m picking up a stack of colouring books today that I can put aside for Xmas for the kids.

Dizzycap

Soontobeoap said:

My organisation isn't any where near as good as yours but I am going to count how much I save and really try to get Christmas sorted early. 15 more Christmas  cards for neighbour made today

Fantastic! I always find that getting CC made with a few extras out of the way is always a great weight off my mind along with getting gift swaps and freebies gift wrapped and ready. I always find that I get so very busy as the year goes on and that it's a relief to pull out the storage box and everything is done - like elf magic!

@ Yoshimi2025 -  I've found that using hessian helps preserve veggies - I put hessian on my shelves with large veggies to air and potatoes in hessian bags put near the window stops them from sprouting in the dark. I do turn the bags around weekly and leave the shed door open for light and airflow on and off, which also helps. Onions, sprouts etc in hanging nets. I have very little, if any wastage as anything that starts to turn, I either put out for wildlife or throw in a large stewing pot to make soup and then freeze

@ QueenJess - I do still keep looking on my local Buy Nothing site, but still nothing available. However, the nextdoor app now has items for sale and freebies which is great, especially if you want to get shot of a piece of furniture or need a piece. 2 FREE quality Sony 32" & 50" fully working TV's available in my area at the moment too! Now there's a free gift for someone I'm also thinking about upcycling free furniture, which I've done myself in the past, and then passing it onto others who need it, free, but I'm up to my eyeballs at the moment and the thought of cluttering up the back garden with stuff makes me want to scream!

Time to declutter a lovely mug of coffee and have a read through the MSE Money Tips email which has just arrived

Soontobeoap

The id as on here are great. I am scouring the charity shops for as new books at the moment. Then have to find a way of making a little extra to fund them. Whatever they are cheap gifts. I have been collecting branches that have scattered in our cemetery when the have been cutting down and shredding trees for bark chippings. I have cut them down to use in DDs log burner on Christmas day. Thought I would bag them up in Hessian maybe with a bow and add a tag saying " A fire full of love" or something like that. Probably come up with better. All ideas gratefully received . My problem now is how to dry it all out for Christmas. Our shed is leaking and although we don't use our fireplace there is too much to store. Thanks in advance.

Dizzycap

@ Soontobeoap - If you have a garden table you could lay some out as a single layer filling the table and then cover with a water proof cover so that airflow comes from underneath the table and on a sunny / warm day take the cover off for a couple of hours and then bag up in a hessian bag ready for Chrissy gifts and put the next batch out. The most important thing is that the logs need to be raised off the groud to dry properly, so any raised area outside you can think of with good air flow, is a winnner

Dizzycap

Just a few more Chrissy gift ideas:

Make your own 2026 Calendar.

There's free printable downloads for months. Here's an example of one site:

https://www.vertex42.com/calendars/printable-calendars.html

All you have to do is be creative with some A4 card, print off pics of your pet(s), family, interests of the individual & decorate. Who doesn't love or need a calendar - I'm sure someone will say 'Not me!'

Make your own Potpourri.

Use plants; lavender etc & petals; rose etc from your garden along with the odd sliced up orange, dry, and bag up or make bags etc and fill.

Make your own Candle Holder.

Use old glass jars, removing the outer label and replace with a silhouette cut out sticking from the outside jar bottom upwards. If you happen to have any spare unused candles floating about, fasten inside or make your own with wax melt heated in the microwave mixed in with dried aroma plant mix; lavender etc from your garden and placed in a mould with wick.

Make you own Soap - Although this may not be free if you don't happen to have Soapwax.

Use Soapwax melted in the microwave, add any secent you want using scented oils, dried plants, as above, etc that you may already have & pour & set in a square mould. Cut into desired pieces when fully set. I find wrapping slices in a paper bag & storing in a cool place retains the smell for longer

Soontobeoap

Love these ideas @Dizzycap.  Especially the calender. also I am going to plant up a pot with bulbs to take to the cemetery this Christmas for my mum and Dad. Much cheaper than flowers and will also last longer I am going to laminate message too. It will take longer and needs more thought which means I can enjoy my memories whilst I put it all together. I can see some great new traditions starting with these Ideas too.

Dizzycap

@ Soontobeoap - That's another fab idea I made up 2 Christmas / Spring planters for my dad and nan & grandad graves last year and they looked wonderful at Christmas & glorious with the Spring bulbs when I visited last week Just a little clean up, water, and I popped in some Summer bulbs - Planters for all Seasons - There's another idea

Planters for ALL Seasons - Fill with an array of miniature plants / garden cuttings mixed with seasonal bulbs. That would make a wonderful Chrissy gift for 2 neighbours who I know would love & really appreciate them I can make wooden planters out of wood, nails & varnish I already have and then line with thick plastic complete with full drainage holes to avoid rotting.

FREE Pine Cones - There seems to be an abundance of pine cones in wooded areas at the moment. This would be the ideal time to gather and dry outside storing in hessian bags or a marked cardboard box in the shed ready for use later on for handmade chrissy door wreaths, giving as part gifts, puting in chrissy planters, chrissy decorations etc

Dizzycap

Read All About It! - It's not Christmas but it might feel like it

Major UK supermarkets slash Easter vegetables to just 15p - full list of discounts

Time to stock up for a full fill up freezer batch cooking splurge and then save some the in the shed 

Soontobeoap

Thanks @ dizzycap. We are off to the supermarket tomorrow and will stock up ready. 😊

Dizzycap

Once again not a FREE Christmas Post, but a helpful Easter & beyond money saver for those looking for A Free Days Out Annual Pass

Free tickets to family attractions this Easter and beyond - download the MoneySuperMarket App to get unlimited access to days out at thousands of venues nationwide for a whole year, worth £180* but must be a qualifying member i.e. have purchased insurnace etc through the website at one time or another