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buy christmas gifts through out the year

December 2, 2011 at 7:13 am

Make your own decorations!
Use salt dough to make models of snowmen or to make stars and such for the tree, really cheap to make and they look fab painted.
Go retro and make paper chains, again they look fab if you use shiny coloured card or some glitter.
Try making your own tree topper too, from card, glitter and bits of scrap fabric or make snowflakes to hang from things or to put in the window from card or paper.

December 2, 2011 at 9:41 am

Hi all being lucky to have such a large family and so many friends is lovely its always hectic at christmas but after my 3rd child arrived the cost at christmas started to weigh me down. So 7 years ago i decided to change the way i brought at christmas! First i brought supermarkets own brand on the tinned steamed puddings the tins are such high standard having to store food that i have baked with these tins for years! They cost around 0.50pence each the kids love eating them and then wash them up (remembering to only open one end) and you have perfect little 4/5 inch cake tins. I would then make my batch of fruit cakes and decorate them last week in december. I would during the months look out for deals on wines and buy a large box of chocolates thornton’s sometimes. I would then make hampers of wine,christmas cake and cello wrap a few of the chocolates and add a smelly candle and this i would give to all my friends if they had kids i would just add a chocolate box for each child and cello wrap the whole thing with lots of shiny bows! Now im sharing a big deal breaker on christmas eve a few hours before closing wilkinson’s start to reduce all christmas gifts half price! This is where i buy for my children and family even the make up sets and perfumes go half price last year i got my son a electric guitar for £24.99 instead of the nearly £50 it was the day before! I have done all of this now for years and saves me so much. Yes i have to wrap alot at last minute but with 3 kids, 10 nieces & nephews , two sets of parents grandparents and great grandparents the whopping 17 brothers and sisters and in-laws I really have to budget at its best and hand made items that you put together are always appreciated 🙂 So see you all at wilkinson’s xxx

December 2, 2011 at 10:17 am

give yourself a day off – christmas day we take take turns with family to do the cooking and entertaining – whilst each bringing some festive drink or desert treat. like most things being together is the most important aspect of christmas so we only have to do the cooking once every four years and gives us all chance to have fun without us all having the big expense of cooking a festive meal each. if you are on your own why not get some lone friends together and do the same

December 2, 2011 at 10:37 am

Do all your xmas shopping through cashback sites such as this … http://www.quidco.com/user/1637313/356685 saves a small fortune

December 2, 2011 at 2:22 pm

Stock up on food and booze at cash and carrys.

December 2, 2011 at 7:49 pm

My tip is to keep last years Christmas cards, cut off the front and stick on the front of blank cards for a cheap alternative – or even use them as gift tags!

December 2, 2011 at 9:50 pm

Make a shopping list, dont over buy food which will be wasted and thrown in the bin

December 2, 2011 at 10:44 pm

don’t buy expensive presents.

December 3, 2011 at 12:02 am

make your own advent calendar

December 3, 2011 at 12:33 am

shop online to avoid queues

December 3, 2011 at 12:35 am

I use glossy magazines (style magazines from the sunday times are the best!) to wrap presents and also to make cards – cut out headline letters – ransom note style – to spell out the words ‘merry christmas’ and include images of jewels, trees, cakes, anything you like! As well as saving money, it’s great for the environment and people appreciate the personal touch.

December 6, 2011 at 1:18 pm