Cast your mind back. You’re eight, nine, ten years old. Think about your best moment from that year…
Can you even remember what you got as a gift for Christmas? Do you remember the presents or do you remember how you felt?
I remember feeling warm and cosy with the glow of a light up snowman in my window. I remember listening to Mistletoe and Wine. I remember breaking a plate and no one cared because it was Christmas.
I think we put too much pressure on ourselves and the season now – and partly social media is to blame.
I grew up in the 90s and never once went to a light trail beyond the local house that had really good lights (which was actually our house!). I met Santa at the garden centre. We went to the community panto show and got a free selection box afterwards.
But now there’s light shows at every country house, Santa train experiences, meet the reindeer days out. Then there’s the Watsapp groups sharing the next toy sales, and of course the alluring lights of Smyths toys.
If you’re feeling ready to let go of the Christmas pressures this year, I’ve got a few ways you can spend less money this Christmas while connecting with your kids, giving them moments they’ll really remember. When it comes to toys and gifts, these ideas are also a little better for the planet. (Pro tip. Avoid SHEIN and TEMU…)
I’ll tell you now, walking around Blenheim Palace in freezing temperatures, an hour passed the kids bedtime just to get a photo under the light arch is a bad idea. A bad, expensive idea that you will pay for in tantrums, wrinkle lines, and heart palpitations.
Here are a few way to make Christmas magical and cheaper — and more planet friendly because let’s be honest that tinsel is heading straight for the landfill.
How to have a cheap Christmas with kids
Local lights shows
Go for a drive or walk around local villages, or ask on Facebook which streets have the best lights. Where I live people really go for it on the lights. You can go at a reasonable time, stay in a warm car (or wrap up close to home), and still see some Christmas lights. Get them a nice treat for the car, maybe a flask of hot chocolate if you’re feeling wild.
Shop second hand
Go to the toy shop and see what you think your kids will like. Then, check Facebook market place and Vinted to see if you can find it in a good used condition. Charity shops also have some great finds. Often there are lots of new things that have been unwanted gifts.
I found this princess bike at the charity shop for £10!
Toy swaps
Look out for church and school toy swaps. You just turn up with some toys you no longer need and take some you do. Good for the planet and good for your pocket.
Do a dinner you know they’ll eat
Last year I’d just had a baby so we stayed home. Usually we’d go to my sisters for a big meal. We knew the kids wouldn’t eat a roast and we’d have spent most of the day in the kitchen worrying about meat temperature and hard carrots. Instead, we had a buffet dinner. Who says you have to eat a roast? I don’t really like a roast either, so worked for me! Also, having a buffet meant we had food for the evening and even into Boxing Day. Food waste is money wasted.
Here’s us enjoying our Christmas dinner. Absolutely knackered, 13 days after giving birth. Who doesn’t love a part bake?
Make decorations
Paper chain decorations. Little paper snow flakes. Salt dough Christmas tree decs. These are great fun and cheap to do. Get everyone involved in adding some of their creative flair to Christmas.
Find a local Father Christmas
I stand by that the best Father Christmas I’ve ever seen lives in my village. I saw him for £2 (with the kids!) and we each got a bag of sweets. Look for local village fetes and fairs. There is always a Father Christmas ready to dish out a gift and have a picture for a few pounds. Often it goes to a good cause, too.
Here I am with the REAL Father Christmas.
Watch Christmas films and eat snacks
Is there anything better than the sound of that? Write a list of films you all want to watch and take it in turns to choose one over the Christmas holidays. Watch it while eating pizza, popcorn, fruit kebabs. Just kick back and enjoy cosy cuddles on the sofa.
Have a sleepover
My kids are 6,4 and 1. I know that my 6 and 4 year old would LOVE to have a sleepover. Choose a date in the Christmas holidays and roll out floor beds, watch a Christmas film or festive show in bed. Read Christmas stories. It will be something they remember.
Go for a Wintery walk
This works for all ages. If you’ve got young kids, go on a treasure hunt or litter picking. If you have older kids, walk around your local area with a flask of hot chocolate from home and get some wintery fresh air. If you’re full of energy and chocolate, wrap up and try to visit as many parks as you can in walking distance.
My thoughts on having a cheap Christmas
Christmas is overwhelming, for everyone. Kids and adults included. It’s the anticipation, the planning, the pressure to hang out with people who you’ve not seen all year when you’re the poorest you’ve been all year. Take the pressure off yourself, and it can start with cutting costs. There’s nothing more annoying than splashing out £100+ on a Santa steam train experience only for your kid to get a sickness bug the day of, or just not fancy getting on a train that day.
Keep it cheap. Keep it simple.
Simple 🙂
Fromthemotherside 
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