Hello Dear Reader,
All over the internet and especially Twitter are an abundance of 'voucher codes' and money off tokens for what, is my opinion a total load of needless rubbish. Remember Dear Reader, everyone has an opinion and you can choose to disagree. I wanted to get in early, I suppose in an attempt to balance the excess and give my ten pence worth on what I feel about Christmas spending.
To me, Christmas is the date when the western world chooses to remember the birth of our Lord and Saviour. It probably isn't the date but that's the mutually convenient date. It's isn't a spendfest where I feel any need to spend anymore money than usual on food or drink. Remember, that's my opinion and you can agree or not. I like to spend more time reflecting prayerfully and being at peace and none of that involves spending more money.
So, here's what I like about it. Christmas cake, I make my own for about £5 including all of the marzipan and icing and it gets eaten over a couple of weeks and into the new year. I also make about two dozen mince pies which go in a tin and get eaten over the two weeks break. I cook a Christmas lunch of Roast turkey crown, stuffing, roast potatoes, veggies and gravy. We'll also have a homemade Christmas pudding and cream for dessert. We will not be getting up at six to drink Buck's Fizz, or eat smoked salmon for breakfast, we won't be buying new clothes, new decorations, new carpet, re-paint the house, a new sofa or anything else the ad-men would have you believe that you can 'get delivered by Christmas'.
So, how's my preparation coming along? I will make the cake, pudding and mincemeat by the end of November. The turkey crown and gammon joint are already in the freezer. That's just about it. I will give token gifts to a few family members and that folks will be that.
I'm not a miser but I like the Winter bank holiday (WBH) is when we enjoy a few days off, walks, reading, time in reflection and peace and most importantly time with our family and friends.
So, if you don't want to spend a fortune on your family this Christmas then why don't come up with your own family traditions, decoration or your own way of celebrating. For some families it's the excitement of Midnight mass and coming home in the cold of the middle of the night. For some families it's the Christingle service just for children and the fun of carrying their Christmas candle home. Your family may have a tradition and celebration of your own.
I might suggest getting along to the library soon and collecting or ordering some recipe books or books on Christmas crafts where you can make decorations with your children. Check out the charity shops or again, the library for Christmas stories that can be read when the children break up from school. Encourage smaller gifts, why not cut out some red felt stars and get the children to help you to sew them to a pair of white socks and remind them of the tradition of hanging a stocking. Make your mince pies in advance and freeze then and get the children to help you to roll out pastry. Create memories and traditions they will tell their own children about one day.
Salt dough decorations.
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of water.
Mix the ingredients to make a really stiff dough.
Leave to stand for half an hour.
Roll out and cut out shapes (look for the little plastic star shape cutter in places like Poundland)
Use a knitting needle or cocktail stick to make a hole so you can thread with yarn to hang.
Dry in the oven on the lowest setting for around three hours. You could also make 'sundried tomatoes whilst the oven is on'
Paint any colours you have. Again, in Poundland they have PVA glue and you can just coat the dry painted decorations with this. It will amuse children for hours and you can get them out again next year.
I will be sharing other really cheap ideas to create your own family memories and tradition. Remember, again these are only my opinions, you can go crazy and spend a fortune if you choose.
So Dear Reader, now I would love it if you would share your ideas for family activities, or maybe be a recipe. If any of you know how to make angels from doilies then please email me the photos so I can share them or at least the instructions to share. Please share any ideas you have to keep children amused or at least busy in the weekend leading up to Christmas. Let's have a thrify, low spend or even no spend Christmas where we do it our way without any need to hit the shops (well, not for much anyway)
Just think of this......all he wanted was a little toy to keep his tatty soft penguin company. Children actually don't want or need much at all.
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs
This is not sponsored by John Lewis, nor have I ever been in one of their stores.