Low cost christmas

Christmas can add a lot of pressure on people to spend money.

Here are some tips for keeping your Christmas low cost, but still keeping the true spirit of Christmas gifts.

Make gifts - like homemade edible treats.
Pine cones rolled in peanut butter then bird seeds, make wonderful bird feeders.
Record interviews of parents and grandparents, or of children singing songs.
Give a book of favourite family recipes.
Make a scrap book with family photos and stories.
Give the gift of time - an IOU for a home cooked meal, car wash, massage, babysitting, trip to the zoo.
Offer to teach a skill you have, like knitting, photography, canning tomatoes, or swimming.
'Adopt' something from a second hand store, and give it a new home.
Recycle last year's toys to make way for the new - clothing bins or second hand stores will take them.

By making and re-using wrapping, you will not only save money on the wrapping, but also on the rubbish costs.

Make your own wrapping paper. Use an old paper bag, pillow case, shoe box, brown paper, your children's art work or newspaper to wrap presents.
Glitz up wrapping with old buttons, drawings, last year's bows, stamped patterns, pictures cut from magazines and dried flowers.
Put gifts in containers that can be used again, like bowls or baskets.
Make your own gift tags. Cut out a shape (star, flower, heart) from last year's Christmas or birthday cards and punch a hole through it.
Use string, ribbon or scraps of wool to wrap gifts instead of tape. You can reuse the wrapping as well as the paper without the sticky tape marks.
Ask local schools, or kindergartens if they want used wrap, decorations and cards. Kids love to cut out pictures, and use them for arts and crafts projects.

Natural tree trimmings - pop corn strings (feed to the birds after), tri coloured pasta on string, pine cones, twigs and feathers, flowers and shells.
Recycle advent calendars for next year.
Turn your Christmas lights and other appliances on only when you need them. This saves energy, and also protects your house against fire.