Self Suffish Christmas Tips?

[shiney]

YES, I know, I know, it's only flippin' October but being prepared is not such a bad thing!

What do you all do for a self suffish Christmas? I really hate Christmas to be honest. It's all soooooo hyped up and for what? One day. I'm not being a baaaah humbug person, cos my kids love it, but anyone got any ideas and tips for making Christmas less expensive?

[Andy Hamilton]

We actually did some last year and I check it is still about

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/christmas.htm

Will have a look and if I get back on line before x-mas I will add any suggestions to it.

[shiney]

Thanks Andy, I have kept this on my faves! 8)

[Millymollymandy]

MMM's top tips:-

Move to another country and don't invite any family to visit!

Wait till you see them to give them gifts to save on postage.

Don't send Xmas cards to anyone with a computer - send your Xmas card and letter via email. Will save a fortune on postage, especially when you have loads of relos in NZ and Oz!

Re-use wrapping paper (well, don't we anyway?). That's if we bother with it!

Er, um, I've run out. We have a great but stingy Xmas because most times it's just the two of us and we don't have to decorate the house or go overboard. We hate Xmas anyway!

[Wombat]

"Bah! Humbug" - MMM

Nev

[ina]

I usually get invited by some well-meaning folks for Christmas - they don't understand that I'm really not into that at all. This year I've decided to tell everybody that I've already been invited by somebody else...

Presents? One of my friends gets a concert ticket (Proclaimers, in case you were wondering...). And I'll be going to the concert with her, so it's a present to myself as well as to her!

Most of those who live back in Germany get presents when I happen to be visiting - just as MMM said. I might send a calender - that's cheap, as printed matter. And quite a few will be getting home made shopping bags this year, now that I've got my sowing machine going!

Ina

[shiney]

That's a great idea Ina, a shopping bag for everyone. I mean, we all need them and very re~usable they are too. Have you any pics of your creative offerings?

I am going to make some of my biscuits for cheese/cookies etc, for friends, as they go down very well. I'll whack 'em in a pretty handmade box and tie a ribbon around them. Food is always a good pressie.

Moving abroad is a great idea, preferably where you can't be found MMM! My mum has just bought a little tiny weeny house on a mountain near Entrague, south eastern France. It's a real pain to get to, but it's a lovely location. So, next Christmas she'll be sitting by her log fire, lucky lady.

[Muddypause]

As a Born Again Athiest(tm) and someone who tries to avoid commercialism, I find Christmas rather challenging. But I think there is much evidence that humanity has always sought to punctuate the long, dark winter months with festivals and celebrations of some sort. It seems that Christmas as we know it now is something of a usurper of an earlier festival.

I often go away to VegiVentures Christmas House Parties, which always have a nice relaxed mix of people to spend time with, and good vegetarian cooking. Sometimes I'll rent a cottage somewhere remote and wild. Sometimes I'll stay with friends. Sometimes I just hibernate and ignor the world.

Christmas presents usually amount to no more than a home made CD compiled of some interesting tracks mercilessly pirated off the internet. Actually I like to spend some time compiling and packaging it, and it means I can send everyone the same thing. Last year's was called 'The Golden Throats Of Shatner And Nimoy' and featured some of the strange songs recorded by them in the 70s. This year's CD will undoubtedly include this masterpiece by an unknown singer.

[Wombat]

Stew,

You are truly fiendish!

Nev

[ina]

I often go away to VegiVentures Christmas House Parties, which always have a nice relaxed mix of people to spend time with, and good vegetarian cooking.

Stew, I'll have to look into that - I've always thought of going away somewhere where I can be reasonably sure of meeting like-minded people! However, this year I'm working again. That's the disadvantage of working with livestock.... And all my colleagues have kids and are really quite keen on getting Christmas off, so I usually volunteer. Mind you, the pay isn't bad over the holidays, so that's a consideration, too .

Ina

[Millymollymandy]

Tip to self - order a Xmas pudding on-line. It must be cheaper.

I've already spent €10 buying a small pot of glace cherries, a small pot of candied peel and a can of Guinness! Help!

[shiney]

I reckon you could order one from Fortnum & Mason and it'll be cheaper!

[Lyds]

This is not really an answer to a self sufish xmas but you might try reading Gareth Lewis on the Freedon in education website - www.freedom-in-education.co.uk/newsletter/december04

[ina]

Tip to self - order a Xmas pudding on-line. It must be cheaper.

I've already spent €10 buying a small pot of glace cherries, a small pot of candied peel and a can of Guinness! Help!

Or tell your friends in Britain who are desperately trying to think of a suitable present for you to send you a Xmas pudding... Or the ingredients for it? Doesn't Lidl sell peel and cherries om France? They do here! And very cheap it is, too. Not the Guinness, ok, but I don't use that anyway - mine is drenched in Whisky. (Got to support the local stuff! )

Ina

[Millymollymandy]

The only person who sends me pressies is my Mum. I wish she wouldn't because it means I have to send her some too! And we don't have many shops selling gift type stuff round here. I am still trying to find another Brittany calendar but will have to go to a tourist shop to get one - they don't seem to sell them in supermarkets or newsagents!

The postage for a Xmas pud would cost more than the pud I reckon!

No, here Lidl sell food aimed at the French market and candied peel etc. is not a very French thing. Probably why it is so expensive in the baking section of the supermarket. It was candied orange - no lemon. How much do things like that cost in the UK?

Just looked at the s/market receipt and it cost - cherries €3.63, peel €4.25 and Guinness €1.39. (€9.27 total).