The frugal yet still fun Christmas

Now that it's December, we are officially allowed to talk about Christmas. I’ve been thinking about Christmas since September, obviously, but I’ve not talked about it, and that is the important thing.

The Christmas shopping and wrapping was done in November, partly to spread the cost, but mainly to get the shopping out of the way early so I can concentrate on the important things like drinking mulled wine and dancing to my favourite Christmas CD really loudly.

Like many other families tightening their belts, we’re trying to be super frugal this year. Having realised that we don’t actually want or need much in the way of stuff, and that we’d rather save our cash for the big and boring things like mortgage over payments, or savings, we’ve ruled out presents for our own generation. That just leaves the oldies and the tots to buy for.

Therefore our Christmas shopping day looked something like this:

In the morning after Mole's ballet class, we drove to The Kiln in our local town of Bedford to make some ceramic art for the grandparents, courtesy of Mole and Hedgehog. The Kiln is a ceramics and arts café where you can paint your own pottery. We mainly sip our hot chocolate, wrap Mole and Hedgehog in their aprons and let them get on with the painting. It’s a low maintenance way of doing crafts that avoids ruining the carpet.

By the time this was finished it was noon, and we were tempted to explore the rest of Bedford’s shopping streets but thought Mole and Hedgehog’s stamina and our will power would probably not be up to it, so we retreated back to the car. One-stop-shops and easy parking became the focus.

I should probably mention here that I almost never combine Mole and Hedgehog with shopping, for reasons that toddlers and shopping do not mix. So this day was an exception. Their presence was required for the pottery painting, but then the momentum carried them along for the afternoon.

Next stop was presents for the tots. I've noticed that supermarkets stock some pretty great value toys. Hedgehog was having a nap by this stage, so Mole and I went into Morrisons while Mr M&H stayed with a snoozing Hedgehog in the car, and probably had a snooze himself.

Our last stop was Poundstretcher, which turned out to be great for finding stocking fillers for Mole and Hedgehog. They all stayed in the car this time, singing songs and eating a picnic of babybels and breadsticks, while I ran around the aisles, flinging plastic jewellery and make-up and hair clips into the basket (all on Mole’s wish list to Santa). I might top it up later with some plastic dinosaurs and the obligatory chocolate money and a tangerine, but it’s basically done.

On our arrival home, my online order from Hobbycraft had arrived. I only lately discovered Hobbycraft, but it appears to be the Mecca of all things crafty. I’ve not gone into the store yet as I would probably want to buy the whole shop, so I thought online shopping would be more focused and safer. With a box full of card, glitterglue and crayons, I’ve formulated a plan for making birthday cards for the next ten years.

So there is our shopping day – fast, efficient and frugal. Perfect for living on a shoestring with two toddlers. If this is you, I recommend it.

And for the rest of Christmas? here's my approach to a fuss free and affordable December...

The decorating: Go aux natural and collect holly, pine cones etc from local woodland. This is apparently how the Scandinavians do it. So this weekend it’s out to the woods with Mole and Hedgehog with a canvas bag and secateurs to do some festive foraging.

The tree: Ideally get a free one from friends and family who run a Christmas tree farm (aka Mole and Hedgehog's Grandad, we call him Pop). Failing that, you can always grow your own, it's a worthwhile investment for years to come. I'm a big believer in spending more initially on things that will last and can be re-used. I totally understand the logic of getting a fake tree that can be re-used, but for me, it's not a real Christmas without a real tree. (We did try to keep our potted tree alive last year in the garden with the idea of re-using it each year, lovingly feeding and watering it, but alas by May it had died. They take a knocking when they are dug up). Decorating the tree is planned for Sunday afternoon, although I'm dubious about what the tree will end up looking like by the time Mole and Hedgehog are finished with it.

The advent calendars: We have one each for Mole and Hedgehog, they live in the loft. There is a hanging fabric Christmas tree calendar, and a wooden gingerbread calendar. We usually fill them with malteezers or jellybabies, although last year Hedgehog climbed up on the table and scoffed the lot before we’d come down stairs.

The booze: Make your own. We get ours from a company called Stonehelm, I recommend them if you’re thinking of brewing your own, it works out about £1.50 a bottle and takes about six weeks to make a batch of 40 bottles. We prefer the taste to commercial wine now, there are no additives and it's lots of fun to make too.

The food: I’m delegating Mr M&H to most of it, as he’s a bit of a food snob and I know that I’ll only get him poking his nose into the kitchen every five minutes if I have a go. He does the savoury stuff, I do the sweet stuff. Delia Smith’s Chocolate Log is my speciality, with forest foraged springs of holly on top. We are having Christmas day round Nanny Brown Hair’s house this year, so we’re each bringing a dish, thus spreading the work and the cost for everyone.

The key to a frugal yet magical Christmas I’ve decided, is re-thinking the priorities. Take the focus away from buying things (which the kids don't really care about) and onto time together (which they do). For example this weekend we’re going to an illuminated boat festival in Milton Keynes, as you do, which features lots of Christmas lights on the water. We’re also doing woodland walks every weekend, free carol concerts in churches and bandstands in the park, and above all, avoiding the shops.

Here's to a Merry Christmas! and making it your own.