Thrifty Tips for Christmas
Hello! Since it’s Christmas Eve (eek!), I wanted to put together some last minute tips for those of you who aren’t quite organised yet. Every year, my family and I make use of some simple tips and tricks to save money and make Christmas run a little smoother:
1. Use old Christmas cards as labels
One way to stop myself hoarding Christmas cards is to use last year’s cards as labels. It’s a great tip when you end up spending Christmas Eve wrapping only to realise you didn’t buy any labels for your gifts. I cut the picture from the front of the card out, write my message on the back, hole punch a hole and thread a ribbon through. I can then add this to my present as a thrifty label which is personal and Christmassy!
2. Keep the drains fat free!
It may be a slightly odd topic, but keeping your drains free of fat can really make a difference over Christmas. We have always poured our fat into a separate beaker to ensure that our drains don’t get clogged up and nasty – the end result isn’t an attractive photo as you can see above, but it works! Yorkshire Water have released a much easier way of doing this and importantly it’s free! You can pick up an EkoFunnel from local Sainsburys or a Fat Trap from Waitrose if you’re lucky enough to live in Yorkshire. Richard Flint* points out that “it only takes a couple of extra seconds to get rid of products like fat by putting it in the bin” but will save Yorkshire Water millions – and yourself a few quid too!
3. Create a Christmas wreath
A few years ago, I visited Wicken Fen, where I created a wreath base out of wicker – you can make these yourself or even buy the base. Then, every year, all I need to do is add some decorations using fresh plants, fruit and berries. This year, I used offcuts from our Christmas tree, oranges, berries and chillies. It’s completely eco friendly, gives you the chance to be creative and doesn’t cost a penny!
4. Add scratchcards to cheap crackers
Everyone knows that the inside of crackers are normally full of rubbish. Rather than another plastic toy which will end up in the bin by the end of night, my Mum adds a scratchcard to each cracker. Normally at least one person will win some money and it’s certainly more exciting as we all race to see if we have won a million – now, wouldn’t that be a lovely Christmas present?
What thrifty tips do you use this Christmas? Will you be using any of my tips today?
