Tips for a Frugal (and Ethical) Christmas

The weather is cooling down here in the UK and the holidays are on their way.  As much as I love everything to do with the festivities – mulled wine, roaring fires, carols and delicious food – I dont love how expensive it is!  Is it only me, or does it get worse and worse every year?  Maybe I am noticing it more as I have less spare cash than I did this time last year?  Or perhaps I am just getting old.  It’s like I have started to realise just how much I actually don’t need more stuff… and neither do my children.  Because you know where the stuff ends up going? Down the side of beds or stuck in a drawer… and usually, this is within only a couple months of Christmas!

I wonder how many unused and unwanted gifts are given every year?  The benefit of penny-pinching means that, by default, you also often reduce waste.  No-one can miss the fact that our world is drowning under too much plastic and non-biodegradable rubbish.  So here’s some ideas on how to stay frugal, and ethical, this holiday season:

BE MORE FRUGAL

Only Buy the Food You’ll Actually Eat

How many of us have eyes that are bigger than our bellies during the holidays and any other time really?  It is easy to be seduced by all the tempting foods on offer, but if you are anything like my family, we’re still munching on stale crackers in February.  Try and be honest about how much your family will need – the shops will all be open again on the 26th December if you desperately need something!

Buy Second Hand

Will your 3-year-old nephew really notice if the train track that you give him was preowned?  You can get some great condition items on Ebay or local selling sites.  Better still, try swapping with like-minded family members – my son has loads of books that he has read, in excellent condition, that will be passed on to his cousins and vice versa.

Bulk Out Stockings

Somehow, my husband and I have got into the habit of buying so many bits and pieces for our kids’ stockings that they end up costing a small fortune.  Invariably, half the stuff also goes unused.  This year, I am bulking them out using books, pants (‘thanks Santa’, I can hear them say) and maybe even some mini boxes of cereal.  Things that I know will be used, not cost that much and take up most of the room.  Along with the mandatory clementines of course!

Hand-Make Your Decorations

My kids still like making paper snowflakes – we stick them to our bay window.  I plan on using old scraps of wool that I already have to crochet some Christmas trees to make into bunting.  A friend of mine also told me that it is a tradition for her and her daughter to go walking in a local park to find interesting leaves and twigs that they might bundle together with pretty ribbon. Hanging up any cards you receive, can also make an effective decoration

Use Price Comparison Sites

It is well worth looking on sites such as MySupermarket, and Kelkoo to find out if you can get a better deal elsewhere.  I also always look up ‘voucher codes’ to see if there are any money off coupons available that can help to drive down the cost.  If you are quick off the mark reading this, Amazon is also offering free delivery until the 5th of December.

Consider Homemade Gifts

Yes, these can be a bit naff.  But if you have a particular talent, make the most of it and consider making loved ones a gift.  I often make flavoured drinks (Christmas Pudding Vodka anyone?) and right now I am crocheting my daughter a cushion and making a macrame wall hanging as she said that she would like nice knick-knacks for her room.  Homemade gifts are often cheaper than shop-bought and the effort you put into them makes them extra special.  My little boy still sleeps with the blanket I made for his bed 2 years ago.  It cost me £25 in wool (with extra leftover) whereas an equivalent one in the shops can cost up to gulp – £337?!

BE MORE ETHICAL

Offer Experiences Rather than Physical Gifts

Isn’t one of the most important points of the holiday season to spend time with loved ones?  For family and friends who have it all, maybe the gift of time is the thing that they would like most.  Offer to cook them dinner, or to have a movie afternoon in the house, with homemade popcorn.  Last year, we gave the kids tickets to Harry Potter Studios for their Christmas.  Ok, so it wasn’t the cheapest, but they still talk about the experience now.  My parents are also paying for a National Trust membership for me and my husband.  It means that we can have lovely days out with the kids for a whole year instead of more stuff in our house that we won’t use.  Experiences don’t have to be expensive; they can be a new nail polish with the promise of a (DIY) manicure or a day at the beach with ice cream and the 2p slots.

For family and friends who have it all, maybe the gift of time is the thing that they would like most? Click To Tweet

For a gift that loved ones (or yourself!) can enjoy all month long, consider an Audible subscription, for Audiobooks.  At the moment, it is on offer for 50% off for 4 months, making it £3.99 a month instead of £7.99.  It reverts back to this price after 4 months, but you can cancel it at any time.  A perfect, no-waste gift.

Consider NOT giving cards

Don’t they usually just get chucked out (hopefully recycled) anyway?  We regularly give money to a charity instead of buying Christmas cards, it has become quite a tradition to sit down with the kids and have them help choose who we were going to give some money to.  In the past, we have donated to WaterAid, Oxfam Unwrapped (the kids loved the idea of buying school books for children who really need them) and the British Red Cross.

Use Recyclable Wrapping Paper

I often try to wrap using brown paper, as it tends to be cheaper and has that ‘Scandi’ vibe.  It can also be recycled.  Be sure to check that your paper can be recycled.  As a rule of thumb, if it can be scrunched up and retain its shape, it is recyclable.  It is important to remove any plastics (ie sellotape) from the paper before recycling.  Even better still, consider using fabric to wrap or make your own drawstring bags to provide wrappers that can be used again and again.

Donate to Charity at No Cost to You

If I am buying through Amazon, I do it through my Amazon Smile account. This is where:

Amazon donates 0.5% of the net purchase price (excluding VAT, returns and shipping fees) of eligible purchases to the charitable organisation of your choice.

It’s nice to know that I am helping others even whilst buying for my family or myself.

Buy Local

I live in a market town and it is so sad to see just how many shops are closing, having admitted defeat because they can’t compare with online shops.  I have to admit that I often find it easier to shop online due to my health struggles.  But buying local means that items do not need to be shipped vast distances, have reduced packaging and you’re contributing towards keeping your high street alive and local jobs flourishing.

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Hoping that everyone has a fab week and that this has given you some extra ideas on how to have both a frugal and ethical holiday season in the coming weeks.

‘Til next time