Recycle your way to Christmas

Wanting to save some money in the run up to Christmas? According to a report, 24% of people cited financial difficulties (such as debt) as the trigger for poor mental health¹, so it’s time to make this Christmas an affordable and happy one for you, your family and friends.

Here are some tips for a cheaper and more fulfilling Christmas:

• Arts and crafts – this might take a little more time and effort than buying a gift, however DIY Christmas gifts can really mean a lot to the receiver – especially if the little ones help out too. There are lots of ideas you could try out – here are 25 simple ideas to help get you started!
• Secret Santa – one great way to save on buying a large amount of gifts for the whole family is to organise a ‘Secret Santa’ – simply put all your names into a hat and buy a gift just for the person’s name you pull out – or you can use this Secret Santa generator. Don’t forget to agree a spending limit!
• Bake off – a simple but enjoyable idea could be to bake your gifts! You don’t need to be an expert, the BBC has some simple, affordable and Christmassy ideas
• Set a spending limit – you could agree a spending limit with friends and family before purchasing gifts. Many people will be wanting to save some money this Christmas after such a difficult year, so it could benefit you all
• Go vintage – have you considered buying presents for your family and friends from charity shops or online second hand vendors? It’s a growing trend and can save lots of money, particularly for children’s toys
• Upcycle – do you have any items that you could upcycle and repurpose as a gift? Alternatively, you could upcycle items and sell them online and use the money raised to buy new gifts
• Give to a charity – one way to make Christmas go further is by choosing unusual presents that have a charity attached to them in some way. This could be by gifting someone an item that, when bought, a donation is given to a specific charity. Another option is to donate to a cause in someone’s name that they care about
• Volunteer – this is an excellent way to get involved in a cause you’re passionate about and it can also provide amazing benefits for your emotional and mental wellbeing.² Directly volunteering your time as a gift and inviting your friends and family to join can be really fulfilling

Sources

¹ Mental Health at Work 2019: Time to Take Ownership

² Mental Health Foundation