Freya's Nook: Blogmas #6 ⛄ Christmas On A Budget

I could probably say that I've done every single Christmas of my life so far on a budget. And let's face it, I'm a musician - I probably ALWAYS WILL do Christmas on a budget too! Even when I was a child and my Mom would give me some money to buy my own cards and a present for my Dad, and my Dad gave me some money to buy a present for my Mom, I had to think about how I would spend this limited amount of money and prioritise. Therefore, I've definitely collected a few ideas over the years about how best to do Christmas when on a tight budget. I know it's hard to believe when you see these big and extravagant Christmas's on TV or perhaps amongst our own friends, but just because money isn't flowing freely and liberally in the household does NOT mean that we have to skimp on a good Christmas. There are so many ways, some that you might not even notice, to celebrate a really great, fun and festive Christmas while not spending vast amounts of money. I hope you are able to take inspiration from this post, and that money will be the least of your worries this Christmas.

I've decided to divide my ideas into the different 'main' categories of Christmas spending. But I wanted to start and finish with a general piece of advice. So, to begin with, I would advise you to take a brave, long, hard look at your finances and set a realistic Christmas budget. I have written a post previously on budgeting tips (which you can read here), so you can work out how much spare money you have to spend this Christmas. Just having a rough estimated figure in your head will really help you in your planning and will ensure that you don't over-spend and find yourself in a lot of trouble in January. If you like, once you have a total figure worked out, you might want to divide it into the categories that I mention below, so you can plan how much you have to spend in each area. I know this is boring, and such a drag, but trust me on this - it's worth it!

🎄 Gifts
So, for me, this was always the most expensive and most financially stressful aspect of Christmas spending, and I know it is for a lot of other people too. We all want to show the people we love how much we care about them with beautiful gifts, and if you have children you also have the big S word to worry about too. Here are my tips for cheaper gift alternatives and ways to get around parting with big bucks.

Second hand shops/charity shops/flea markets/car boot sales (yes these still exist in winter!) In the past I have found literally the PERFECT presents at some of these places, which have been absolutely loved by the people that I gave them to. You can find such unique items for only 1 or 2 pounds, and I want to stress that there is NO SHAME in buying gifts here. Supporting these local shops is also a great thing to do and you just never know what treasure you might find.
Choose small, useful gifts. In Blogmas #4 I listed many, many ideas for very inexpensive gifts, but ones that anyone would really appreciate. Even things like everyday necessities can make great presents - sometimes it's just wonderful when someone else buys you a new toothbrush so you don't have to worry about getting one!
Homemade gifts. Googling homemade gifts will give you thousands of options for things that you can make for your loved ones at home. Making gifts and putting thought and effort into your ideas also really shows how much you care about the person, which will add a sentimentality factor to your gift. I would really recommend using Pinterest to get some more great ideas for homemade gifts.
Handwritten letters. We never send good, old fashioned, handwritten letters any more and I think they are really beautiful and special. They can tell the person things that you maybe find difficult to say in person; how much they mean to you, what you love about them, what a wonderful person they are. Who wouldn't want to receive this for Christmas!?
Secret Santa. It's tried and tested and a great, fun way to give gifts when you have a lot of friends who are also on a tight budget.
Donate instead. An alternative option to giving gifts this Christmas would be to simply write all your family and friends a nice Christmas card explaining that instead of buying gifts, you have decided to donate money to a particular cause or charity. In today's world, I would applaud and respect anybody for taking this step.
Sell your old stuff. Before buying any gifts you might want to think about having a big clear out of all of your stuff and prepare a box of things to sell. There are websites where you can sell things like books, CDs and DVDs, and eBay is always a fantastic resource for selling. It will be good to clear out your stuff as well as getting some extra cash to buy some gifts; kill two birds with one stone!

🎄 Food
OK, so we all love to stuff our faces at Christmas time. However, doing this while also saving money is SO EASY! There's really no need to over-spend here.

Waste: minimise it, cut it out. The amount of food which goes to waste, all the time but especially at Christmas, is just unbelievable. If there are only two of you for Christmas dinner why do you need a MASSIVE turkey? You absolutely do not need boxes and boxes of chocolates, biscuits, mince pies, sweets, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake, ten different types of cheese, meat overflowing from your fridge... it's just too much. Think about what you actually need, and just buy that. You'll already save a lot right there!
Meal planning. This is a great way to stick to budget this Christmas. It takes a bit of extra time and organisation, but planning your meals in advance will be so worth it and also help with the above step of minimising waste. Once you have your meals planned for the festive season, you will know exactly what you need to buy - there won't be need for a hundred small trips to the supermarket, walking around aimlessly, flinging anything and everything into your trolley 'just in case' you might need it.
Look for cheaper substitutes. You probably know this already, but each supermarket has their own brand of product which tends to be a lot cheaper than the more famous named brand. Things like yogurt, crisps, dried foods and also some alcoholic drinks and cleaning products can all be bought for a lot cheaper if you look for the supermarket's own brand.
Pot luck dinner. A nice thing to do at Christmas is to host a pot luck dinner, where each of your friends brings a dish of something to eat. It's such a money saver, as you only have to prepare one thing, instead of lots of things, and it's fun too!

🎄 Decorations
Decorations can be surprisingly expensive and, although they are not really necessary, they are really lovely to have at your home to create a cosy Christmassy mood. Here are some ways to get around forking out a fortune for them.

Opt for a small tree, an artificial tree or tree substitute. You probably all saw the photo of our 'Christmas Installation' that we created one year instead of having a tree (Blogmas #2). I'm not saying you have to go this far, but smaller or artificial trees tend to be a lot cheaper and, again, think about picking up some tree decorations at second hand shops for an absolute FRACTION of the price of buying them new. They can be really nice too!
Go for paper decorations instead of lights. Having fancy flashing lights is great and everything, but can really rack up a hefty electric bill. Consider decorating your home with strings of Christmas cards, tinsel, candles, beads, and ornaments instead.
Homemade decorations. Whether it's paper snowflakes or popcorn strings, these can add such a personal touch to your home and also makes for a very fun Christmas activity.

🎄 Christmas activities
While ice skating, big holidays and fancy dinners are definitely a luxurious and expensive way to spend Christmas, they are definitely not necessary to have a good time. Here are some ideas for cheaper activities for the family.

Christmas crafts. It could be decorations or gifts, making Christmas cards or a wreath for the front door. This can be fun for everyone and won't cost a fortune.
Games. I always think Christmas is the perfect time for playing games; board games, puzzles, video games, old fashioned party games. We always play games at Christmas and it never fails to put everyone in a good mood.
Walks. I absolutely love going for long walks at Christmas time. There's something about a brisk walk on a cold morning or afternoon, where you really get your heart pumping, that makes you feel so good.
Christmas lights trail. If you live in a neighbourhood, it can be really fun to do a tour of all the Christmas lights in your area!
Christmas film fest. Doesn't cost anything, doesn't even need your full attention. Just requires a cosy blanket and some cheesy movies on the TV and you have a perfect Christmas afternoon!