Let’s not beat around the bush. It’s been a rough few years and with the threat of a recession looming… Well, the idea of putting on a fancy Christmas do may seem a little intimidating.
If you’re looking for ways to do Christmas on a budget, you’re in the right place. Affordable doesn’t have to mean boring! If you play your cards right, you can put on a spectacular Christmas event without breaking the bank.
Here are my favourite hacks for doing Christmas on a budget… And in style.
Budget Gift guide
Let’s nail down gifts first. If you’ve yet to get something for everyone, you might be panicking a little at the moment! You can always make a last-minute plan for decor or food, but realising you’ve forgotten gifts is the worst scenario.
So how do you get great gifts on a budget? Here’s some advice. Take what works for you and leave the rest!
A Homemade Voucher
Before you cringe, there are a few different ways you can do this, depending on who you’re doing it for. Your significant other may be more than happy with a voucher for a foot massage, but chances are your brother-in-law won’t… For example.
One option is a homemade voucher for a particular experience. If you’ve seen an experience online—like a hot air balloon ride, food tasting experience, etc—but you don’t have the funds right now, give them a “When You Want It” voucher instead.
This could be something like:
- A 4D movie
- Concert tickets
- Dinner at a fancy restaurant
- An animal experience
Basically, you’re offering to pay for the recipient to do the experience any time in the upcoming year. All they need to do is let you know when they want to do it, and you can book it for them at that time. Works best if you save a little every month so you have the amount in savings early in the year!
Basically, you’re offering to pay for the recipient to do the experience any time in the upcoming year. All they need to do is let you know when they want to do it, and you can book it for them at that time. Works best if you save a little every month so you have the amount in savings early in the year!
Homemade Snacks
If you bake, making homemade snacks is always a lovely idea! It requires a bit of time, and it generally works best when you bake your goods close to the day.
Whatever you’re baking, packaging them up in a pretty box or packet will make the gift look great. Most people appreciate the time you’ve taken to make them something delicious!
Just make sure that you’re conscious of any potential allergies or food intolerances. Don’t want someone being rushed to the ER because they ate a peanut in your homemade brownies!
Wrapping & Cards
Wrapping paper can be expensive! If you want to save a little cash, wrap your gifts in things you find around the house. Or, find that stash of gift bags that you’ve been saving for the whole year!
- Newspaper
- Pages from old books (that you aren’t planning on reading again!)
- Scraps of material
- Old clothing
You can get truly creative here. If you’re planning on throwing out some old shirts, why not recycle them into wrapping instead? It’s unique and a little bit fun! It’s a good idea to check YouTube or Pinterest to get some ideas on how to do it well.
Budget Decor Ideas
You don’t need to fancy up your decor a whole lot for things to look pretty and festive! Once again, it’s mostly about being creative with what you have at hand.
Anything Can Be a Centrepiece
Centrepieces can make or break a table! But the good news is that you probably have at least 10 things around the house that can make a fantastic and eye-catching centrepiece.
- A stack of old books
- Candles (in groups or in fancy holders)
- Vases filled with… Almost anything
- Ornaments
- A shoe filled with fresh flowers…
Use Nature
As we just mentioned, fresh flowers from the garden can be a cheap and yet beautiful touch! But you don’t need to stop there. If you can find some sprigs of leaves, they’re stunning to hang around the room for natural decor.
Winter berries are also lovely. Red or brown berries and green leaves are also one of the most Christmassy combinations you can find!
Craft Something
If you’re the crafty type, you can spend a bit of time creating decor pieces specifically for Christmas use. Put your skills to good use for a practical reason!
P.S. This is also a great way to make custom gifts!
Christmas Food On a Budget
Ah, food. One of the most memorable and exciting parts of Christmas. This may be where you feel the most pressure, especially if you’re hosting a lot of people. Here’s a few ways to take the pressure off.
Be Intentionally Unique
We all know that turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce are traditional Christmas foods… But what’s wrong with starting new traditions? If putting on a feast seems like an intimidating thing budget-wise, why not change things up a little
Depending on your likes and your people, here are a couple of ideas:
- Turkey sandwiches & stuffing
- Christmas hotdogs
- Finger food platters
Do a Bring & Share
If the idea of straying from tradition doesn’t really work for you, a group effort could be easier on everyone and also help everyone feel like they’re involved.
Ask one person to bring roast potatoes, one to bring gravy, one to bring ice cream… And you can do the turkey. This is a great idea for those who are having a big do with plenty of people!
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