 The best book to give your mom, no matter what your age, is a 'Why I love My Mother book'.
Some mothers love reading and they might appreciate a romantic novel or even a biography, but there cannot be any mum who would not appreciate her very own, personalised book. This is something which you can create yourself. Even if you are only a child your father, granny or another relative can help you. But it could be a joint effort with your brothers and sisters. The book can be as a simple as loose sheets of paper clipped together or something more substantial created in a journal or notebook. Here are some ideas for creating such a book.
It might be a good idea to jot things down, as they happen, into a rough book. This way the actual gift can be quite neat and you can organise it whichever way you want to. You can intersperse your writing with family stories, memorabilia and happy memories plus a great selection of photographs. You will be surprised at how quickly you will fill such a book. The biggest cost in this gift is your time and this will be something which your mother will appreciate more than any expensive gift. You may also be surprised at the fun you can have putting such a book together; the memories it stirs may be funny, poignant or a mixture of many emotions. If this book is created with love it will be the best book your mum will ever receive, be read over and over again and really show her that you care. Don't forget as well that you will benefit from this gift by remembering lots of instances, which you may have otherwise forgotten, or would not have even noticed as they happened. Above all you will realise more than anything just how precious your Mother is to you. Perfect for Christmas, Mother's Day and Birthdays too!
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 No matter what time of year it is Christmas is never far away. Each year the cost of Christmas increases and yet for many people their income will not have done so. Having said that, experiencing a great Christmas is about more than just spending too much money.
The secret of enjoying a great Christmas is about family, friends, celebrating the birth of Christ, and of course it is about children. Gift giving is an integral part of Christmas celebrations around the world but can be a worry. We all love to see the recipient's eyes light up when they open their Christmas gift but spreading such pleasure can be costly. However in reality it does not have to cost the earth. It’s never too early to buy Christmas gifts Forward planning is essential if money is in short supply; even if it is not why spend more money on Christmas gifts than is necessary? Shopping for Christmas gifts throughout the year means that you can take advantage of sale prices and special deals. Free gifts Believe it or not there are some suitable gift items that are free or almost free. Consider:
Do it yourself gifts. Do it yourself gifts are those that you have made or assembled yourself. For example, how about:
How to buy cheap Christmas gifts If you have started shopping for Christmas gifts early in the year you should be able to take full advantage of the January sales. Make sure however that you do not buy items that will be unpopular or unfashionable by the next Christmas.
You will need Imagination. Forward planning. A list of those you want to buy a gift for. Some current knowledge of the recipient such as age, hobbies and interests. To always have some cash set aside for Christmas gift shopping. Tips & Warnings Shop early for Christmas gifts. Remember the best bargains are soon snapped up. Research on-line for special offers. Use cash-back websites when possible. Keep your eyes open for potential Christmas gifts and ideas. Avoid using a credit card to purchase the gifts. In the long run using such a card will make them expensive. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yAM1OIb-aMI
What is it that they say about necessity being the mother of invention? Whatever it is I know what they mean. Take Christmas for example. When money is tight you need to be inventive and imaginative, so that you still have an enjoyable Christmas, with all the trimmings.
Do not imagine though that you need to be extremely artistic in order to be creative. Research the Internet and local library in order to get some tips for making your own Christmas tree decorations. Of course firstly you will need to decide what you want to achieve. Perhaps you would like your Christmas Tree to be shimmering gold or red and green in a traditional style. Then again maybe you want your Christmas Tree this year to be stylish and minimalistic. Up to the minute trees may feature simply black and silver. The choice is yours. Once you know what you are hoping to achieve you can start planning the decorations and gathering together what you need to accomplish the look. After Christmas remember to check out the post-Christmas sales for the best prices for retail Christmas tree decorations. There are always some great bargains on offer. Try E Bay, Car Boot and Garage Sale See if there are second hand decorations available on E Bay or at local car boot or garage sales. You may find some good bargains. Many people hardly use their decorations and then decide it’s time for a change. Ribbon Buy a few different rolls of ribbon. This can be cut to size and made into bows to decorate your tree or any decorations that you have made. Thin ribbon can be used instead of string to hang these decorations. Empty presents Collect a selection of empty boxes in order to make pretend presents. If you prefer wrap items such as a scarf that you already have to make a soft parcel. With varying sizes these presents can add interest to your Christmas tree. Wrap in stylish paper and add bows and ribbons. Hang these strategically around your tree or place around the base of your tree, Sweets and other goodies Do not buy expensive Christmas goodies such as candy canes and chocolate decorations. Buy a large bag of mini treats to hang individually. Small bags of chocolate or children's sweets look good and can be enjoyed throughout the Christmas season. Tinsel and glitter Traditional tinsel and glitter is great for filling up the Christmas tree. It adds sparkle and razzmatazz quite cheaply. Coloured foil can be cut into thin strips and curled with scissors so that it adds frills. Baking decorations There are various Christmas Cookies that can be baked and decorated so that they will look good hung on your Christmas Tree. A good example of this is Cinnamon Dough Cookie ornaments. Apart from decorating your tree they will add a lovely seasonal aroma to your room. Tissue paper Tissue paper is great for decorations. Buy various colours and experiment mixing and matching. This paper can be gathered into frills for adorning homemade angels and the like. Buy some cheap pipe cleaners for the bodies and dress them up with this bright, cheap paper. Coloured foil Multi-coloured foil is great for making Christmas tree decorations. Make a draft one first as a tester. You will need some coloured foil, appropriate cotton or string and a reel of tape. Cut an oblong approximately 8 x 6 inches. In the middle 4 x 5 inches slice a row of slits. Join the two long sides with tape. Gently press on the ends of this roll and the slits will open up making a fancy lantern, with a fine string loop through the top this will hang easily on your tree. Choose brightly coloured Christmas themed foil for the best effect. Experiment with different sizes once you have made a draft lantern. Experiment with different materials whilst you save some money but have some fun. Involve the whole family for a very personal Christmas. Cut Christmas shapes such as a Snowmen, Trees and snowflakes, out of card and cover in shiny glitzy foil or with sparkly tinsel. Once the foil is glued in place add a string to hang on the tree. I sometimes use the coloured, thin ribbon type of thread to hang my decorations. Small balls and the like can be sprayed with silver or gold spray paint. A small hook can then be inserted into the ball and the decoration hung on the tree. Once you let your imagination start working overtime you may find lots of items around the home that you can use. Remember health and safety and fire issues though. Cotton wool to represent snow, pine cones sprayed silver or gold, cheap costume jewellery beads and more can all be utilised. Christmas Crackers It may be possible to buy cheap Christmas Crackers for decorating your tree. These crackers may not be perfect for pulling but could be very decorative. To make your own Christmas crackers, that are simply for decoration, use empty toilet paper rolls for the inners. Decorate these with foil, paper, ribbons, bows and or sparkle. Want to make a box of crackers for a gift or some for the tree that will actually pull properly? The back of the Tree Remember that if your tree is against a wall you do not have to decorate that side of it. Most of us do but, if money is tight, it is not necessary. Simply add the odd decoration, cracker or piece of tinsel to give the allusion that the tree is completely decorated. Overall Being creative with decorating your Christmas tree can save you money but also be fun. The decorations do not have to look hand-made or pathetic. In fact they will probably look individual and distinctive. Even tiny coloured pegs can be used to hang your decorations on the tree once they have been made. An added bonus could be that your children are kept busy and occupied for a considerable time as they use their creativity. Note:-Make sure that there is nothing homemade on your tree that will smell, for example, with time or be a fire hazard near to Christmas lights. Saving money is fine but not at the expense of your health and safety.  The cost of celebrating Christmas can be huge but only if you fall into the commercial trap.
It is far better to celebrate a Christmas that you afford than one which will leave you paying for it next year or even beyond. Debt has a habit of snowballing and once you have money to lay out for debts, such as payments for Christmas credit card spending, you may find it difficult to become debt free. That in turn can lead to the need for more debt if you experience a financial negative early in 2016. Ill-health, redundancy, the roof of your house caving in, or even just urgent new winter shoes for all the family could tip you deep into an ever increasing spiral of debt. So first and foremost as you begin your countdown to Christmas work out your budget This can be flexible but only up to a point. If you have secured a credit card with a deal that is interest free for a period of time remember that sooner or later that 'free trial' will end. Unexpected outgoings in the New Year could leave you unable to clear the debt in time. The Christmas Tree Want a real tree that will fill your room from floor to ceiling? The practicalities of such a tree probably mean this is not a good idea. Then there is the cost of tree. Would you be better opting for a modern 'real looking' artificial tree that can used year after year limiting expense at Christmas? The latter could be an environmentally sound idea although you can source eco-friendly trees these days, usually at a high price though. Decorations Thankfully many modern tree and house decorations are fairly unbreakable although not entirely so if great Uncle Egbert happens to stand on one after it has fallen from the tree! Start with just a few and build your collection of decorations over time. That way some will hold a special significance - remember that Christmas tree decoration that dates back to your childhood, and still holds pride of place each Christmas? Good storage is a must for decorations delicate or allegedly unbreakable and the same goes for artificial Christmas trees. Avoid damp storage areas such as an unheated garage and storing in boxes that may wilt (cardboard) or sweat (plastic) if damp. If a family member enjoys wood craft perhaps he or she could make a purpose built wooden storage box for Christmas bits and bobs? That too could become a family treasure and be passed down through generations. Food and drink Many people still buy far too much food and drink for the brief Christmas period. In the 21st Century supermarkets will only close for a day or two if that and stocking up makes no real sense. However it will save the shopper of the household having to get back to 'normal' too soon after the two main Christmas days. It will also help you set a budget and stick to it but only with careful planning. Above all resist the urge to overspend. Children in the 21st Century do often have expensive hobbies but most can still have fun and enjoy more basic gifts. Gifts If money is very tight consider talking with your children about the situation, but take care. Whether or not that works depends on your language skills, the age of the children and just how bad your finances are. {If you are experiencing real debt contact the Citizen's Advice Bureau} Gifts are nice to give and receive but the cost of them should not make or break Christmas. Necessity is the mother of invention; shop around and get inventive to get the perfect gifts for your budget. |
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