One Space guide to a creative Christmas on a budget!

Christmas can feel like a time when money is constantly leaving your pocket, there are bills to pay, presents to buy but there is no extra money coming in.

For single parents there is then is the guilt and worry that we aren't able to provide the perfect Christmas for our children!Here are a few ideas from the One Space team that they have done over the years to save pennies to have fun with their children to prepare for a creative Christmas!

Present Tags – you don’t need to spend lots of money on the small square of paper that tells you who the present is to or from.Recycle old Christmas cards then using pinking shears cut around a picture and make a hole with a hole punch or cut out stars from cardboard and personalise with glitter glue – you could use foil string, pipe cleaner or ribbon to attach.

Present wrapping - brighten up budget gifts with brown parcel paper and decorate with glitter glue (red and green) and ribbon. You can use your own present tags you have made above or just write their name in fancy writing in gold or silver pen!

Christmas Decorations -  Cut a lemon into thin slices and glaze with a mixture with brown sugar, cinnamon and water and bake in the oven til hard, then thread with gold cotton and add to your tree! Make gingerbread men and decorate them with red and white icing, hang them on a garland and add to your tree or perhaps your fireplace? Decorate cardboard candy cane shapes with glitter and felt tips and hang over door knobs. Thread chocolate coins with needle and gold cotton and add to your tree.

For more decoration ideas go to:

Hobbycraft and click on 'view all' to see some beautiful Christmas Craft ideas

Familyfun

Decorate your house - Gather wild Holly and Ivy and use to decorate the house for trimmings, hang it over picture frames, around candles on the table or make a Door Wreath. Get a small log about a foot long, make a hole half way along it, insert a candle and surround it with holly with berries and spray with fake snow

Place names for the Christmas table - Take some hard fruit and spray it gold or silver, then attach a green leaf with some ribbon and write your names on the leaf with a gold or silver pen, very simple, yet satisfying!

Christmas gifts - Make some pot pourri - stud oranges with plenty of cloves (30) and decorate with ribbon. Make chocolate truffles shaped as Christmas presents or puddings, coconut ice wrapped in silver foil with a ribbon. Create flavoured oils by adding chillies, lemons and garlic (or whatever you wish) and putting it all in a fancy jar. (Please note: these need to stand for 2-3 months). Chutney and Jam - buy cheap or use old jars and bottles and decorate jars with glass paint, ribbons and gift tags etc. Perhaps gift a Christmas pud!

Homemade Advent Calendars - Make your own, there are so many different styles that you can make, these can last a couple of years and you can fill with your own chocolates or little goodies, or a Christmas message. Have a look at some ideas of creative advent calendars.

Homemade Mulled Wine - yum yum, it generally is red wine with oranges, brown sugar and spices, brandy can be added! For recipes see VideoJug.

Christmas Dinner - Make at least one special dish for your Christmas Dinner (if on a budget to make it feel special) i.e. home made stuffing for example chestnut puree with sausage meat, apples and spices.

Christmas Guests - If you are not going anywhere on Christmas Day, why not invite other single parent families over for a group Christmas dinner, there are lots of us out there in the same boat! You can share the chores, the cost and the children can play together!

Let us know your top tips for a creative, low cost Christmas in Your Talk and we can add them to our list for next year! 

If you are feeling stressed out just thinking about Christmas read our article, Avoiding Stress at Christmas.