Low-cost Christmas ideas

Many of us are feeling the pinch at the moment, and Christmas time often creates expectations to spend a lot of money, whether that’s on presents, food or socialising.

So, here are some low-cost Christmas ideas to help you have loads of fun this festive season, without having to worry about tightening the purse strings too much.

Decorations

Great news! Paper decorations are back in fashion for 2023. These are great to make with the kids – from paper chains to stars to traditional snowflakes. All you need is paper, sellotape, and a pair of scissors (grab special craft scissors for kids for added safety).

Been holding onto old Christmas cards from previous years? You can use them to make colourful bunting or gift tags. Bunting is really easy to make – you just need to cut out triangles from the cards and stick them on to some rope or string. And for gift tags, just cut out your favourite shape from your old Christmas cards – whether it’s a star, a tree, or a traditional gift tag shape – then punch a hole in the top and add some string.

Popcorn tinsel is another cost-effective yet attractive decoration for your Christmas tree. All you need is popcorn, a needle and a thread, And if you want to make a thrifty table centrepiece, try foraging in the woods for bits of fir, pine cones and holly leaves. It’s the perfect activity to get your kids excited and active when they get home from school.

Gifts

If you’re into baking, you could make some homemade festive treats to give as gifts. Sweet treats like fudge, rocky road and truffles are easy and cheap to make, and your friends and loved ones are guaranteed to be grateful for all the effort you’ve put in.

Many people subscribe to the ethos of ‘buy less, buy better quality’, and a local makers market is perfect for buying unique gifts for family members. There are lots of events like this during the run up to Christmas, so keep your eyes peeled and see what you can find.

Doing a Secret Santa at work? Why not give everyone a budget of £5-10 and ask them to buy something pre-loved from a charity shop? Not only will you and your colleagues have fun rummaging through all the bric-a-brac, but you’ll get to give back to a charity too (and if you don’t like your gift, you can always donate it back again after Christmas).

Food

There are some great ways to save money on Christmas food. While you might not want to scrimp on your centrepiece, you can certainly save on some of the trimmings.

Pre-prepared vegetables are convenient, but they’re usually costly. Most supermarkets have ‘wonky’ ranges now, meaning you can grab bags of vegetables at a fraction of the cost of pre-prepared veg. Meanwhile, Christmas dinner staples like potatoes, parsnips and red cabbage are all in season, and should be reasonably priced.

Try browsing a few different supermarkets to land the best ‘3 for 2’ offers too.

Days out

Getting out and about doesn’t need to cost the earth. While some organised events can be expensive if the whole family are going, there are plenty of free festive events to be found.

Pick your Christmas tree from a local farm or garden centre, and you might find a Santa’s Grotto for little ones to meet the main man, while you enjoy a hot chocolate or mince pie.

Many towns have bustling Christmas markets for you to wander around and soak up all the Christmas spirit. And some even feature festive parades where Santa and his elves go past with his reindeer! Plus, there are always raffles and tombolas running for some extra fun, while also raising money for some incredible local charities.

Wherever you find yourself this Christmas, just remember that spending time with your friends and family means much more to them than how much you spend.

And don’t forget, whatever 2024 brings, Trutex has all your uniform needs taken care of. We’ve been supplying Britain's children with quality school and sportswear for 150 years. When you buy from Trutex you’re buying uniform that’s made to last.