麻豆约拍

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the tree, but this can be one of the greatest expenses in the lead up to the big day. However, you can spread the cost of your tree over years if you buy a living one, in a pot, that you can then move to a garden or balcony in January. It does require keeping it alive throughout the rest of the year so find it a shady spot and don’t forget to water it during the next August heatwave.

Cut sprays of ivy or holly and tuck them into the top of mirrors and picture frames around the house.

2. Make your own decorations

Create your own baubles by moulding and painting salt dough into festive shapes, or by spraying walnuts with metallic paint and attaching ribbons. Or try drying oranges in the oven. Cut some slits in the peel so the moisture can escape, and pop them in at 120°C for around three hours. They’ll give the room an amazing citrus scent too. Making snowflakes or chains from scrap paper or recycled newspaper is a great, cheap-as-chips activity to do with kids.

3. Bring the outside in

Nature provides a lot of cheap (and mostly free) alternatives to shop bought decorations. Fill glass bowls with pine cones or holly berries. Tie some small branches and twigs together to create a “winter tree” to drape in lights and baubles. Cut sprays of ivy (which can be found on the side of many a shed) and tuck them into the top of mirrors and picture frames around the house.

4. Fashion your own wreath from foraged foliage

Florists charge punchy prices for Christmas wreaths. Instead, make your own from foliage you’ve gathered from the garden, a hedgerow or any wild shrubs near where you live. You’ll just need a wire or wicker ring to wind the stems and sprigs around. Don’t worry if it looks messy – it’s all part of the charm. Add a ribbon or bow for a touch of colour.

5. Cook from scratch

It can be tempting to stock up on all the indulgent Christmas canapés that line the supermarket shelves at this time of year, but the cost can really add up. Why not try making your own mac and cheese bites, tempura prawns or mini Yorkshire puddings garnished with beef! And a roast dinner doesn’t need to cost the earth if you make all the trimmings yourself using supermarket own brand ingredients. Put those packet pigs in blankets back on the shelf! Crucially, plan your meals over the festive period so you don’t over order.

6. Opt for secret Santa

Pick names from a hat (or use a secret Santa app) so you all have just one grown-up to buy a present for this year. Make sure you set a budget so everyone knows how extravagant to be. Organising a secret Santa means you all get one great gift and none of the hassle and expense of buying for the whole family.

If you’re buying lots of gifts online, delivery fees can really add up. Be organised and try to buy everything you’re going to want from a company in one go to reduce the number of deliveries, or to reach the minimum spend for free delivery. Lots of websites offer click and collect too which can be cheaper than home delivery.

8. Scour the charity shops

When it comes to buying presents, have a think about sourcing “pre-loved” items. High street charity shops can house some absolute gems, from barely worn designer clothes to still-in-the-box children’s toys. Peruse online marketplaces too to pick up used and second-hand presents for a fraction of their RRP.

9. Be tactical with your online trolley

Lots of websites offer discount codes for new customers. If you have already bought from the site, but someone else in your household hasn’t, get them to make the purchase instead to take advantage of the discount. And sometimes it’s worth taking your time with an online shop. If you have items in your trolley but don’t check out, the vendor might offer you a discount code to entice you into following through with the purchase.

The most expensive thing about sending Christmas cards is the postage. Avoid this by sending digital cards this year, either from a card website (which normally offer a few free designs), or by creating your own design and sending it by email. It’s a much greener way to send Christmas greetings too.

11. Create your own crackers

Luxury crackers can be mighty pricey. Instead, buy inexpensive fillable ones and load them with your own small, personalised gifts and jokes. Cracking! A much more thoughtful way to create a bang this Christmas. Just don’t forget the paper hats.

12. Print your own wrapping paper

Buy a large roll of cheap, brown parcel paper, carve a festive shape onto a potato (think Christmas tree or star), dip it in some paint and get printing! Or if that sounds a tad messy, wrap your gifts using newspaper or old magazine pages (ideally with Christmassy images) and tie the look together with some nice, sparkly ribbon.

If you can’t afford to buy presents, why not give an hour or two of your time instead? You could offer to do a stint of cleaning, gardening, decorating, babysitting, bookshelf alphabetisation – whatever is going to be most appreciated by the recipient.

14. Scrap gifts altogether

If everyone is on board with the idea, why not cancel presents altogether this year? Move the focus away from present opening and pack the day with other activities: a Christmas singalong, a boardgame marathon, tug-of-war or rounders in the garden, or a meander round your local streets to admire all the neighbours’ Christmas lights.

15. Share the load in the kitchen

A great way to spread the cost of Christmas is to ask everyone to bring a dish, be it nibbles, sides, desserts or a cheese board. It also means less time cooking and preparing on the day and more time for eating, drinking, and dozing on the sofa during the King’s speech.

16. Arrange a sartorial swap instead of shop

You have the perfect Christmas dress, but you’ve worn it to every event going and it just doesn’t feel special anymore. So, what about offering it to a friend in exchange for one of their favourite festive outfits? By swapping clothes you feel like you’re wearing something new, without having to splash the cash.