Things to do
- Arts and crafts
- Books for kids
- Easy card games
- Garden games
- Gardening with children
- Gardens in miniature
- Growing vegetables
- Having a laugh
- Home fun
- Music and rhythm
- Older kids outdoor games
- Online games for kids
- Online games for mums
- Playing and talking
Related Articles
Related Local Information
Related National Boards
Traditional Christmas on a Shoestring
Quick Links
In recent months the trend towards a more responsible, careful way to buying has really gathered pace. With recession looming most of us have consigned the credit cards and store cards to the very backs of our wallets, taken a long hard look at our finances and decided the days of 'spend, spend, spend' must make way for more frugal habits.
But how do you negotiate the financial demands that Christmas brings with less money to play around with? Thankfully good old fashioned thrift does not stand in the way of having a great time at Christmas. In fact, by stripping away the pressure of spending a fortune at Christmas its true significance can be properly enjoyed. So if you fancy returning to the days of a proper, traditional Christmas, here are some tips to help you, from creating fab decorations for your home to making yourself look great for all those Christmas parties, as well as original ideas for presents that will have real meaning to their recipient.
Click on the links at the top of the page or below to start planning your back to basics Christmas!
Print off the Netmums Christmas card and Gift Tags
Don't forget to book your Christmas shopping delivery slot.
Netmums Christmas
Why not print off our very own Netmums Christmas card for the kids to colour in. We also have these fantastic gift tags for you to use.
More Christmas Inspiration on Netmums:
There's lots more Christmas content on Netmums to help give you ideas for places to go, things to make,over 100 present recommendations which have been tried and tested by Netmums members, and ideas to help make Christmas baking and cooking a breeze as well as edible gifts.
Useful Reading
There are some great books out there which support the idea of going back to basics this Christmas. Uber-journo and novelist India Knight recently published a book all about living frugally but stylishly, which includes ideas for present buying. Entitled The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less, it's available at Amazon.
If you've decided to make home-made gifts for your friends and family this year there are numerous books on the market but a recent new addition you might like to take a look at includes Cath Kidston's lovely new book, Make!, which includes projects suited to novice craft-makers, including bags, cushions, clothes and stationery. The book covers basic sewing tips and techniques, and features 16 pattern templates.
Also worth checking out is the Stitch Club website which has an exhaustive selection of products to get you in the making mood, as well as a good selection of books you can buy online, including the Usbourne Christmas Things to Stitch and Sew.
