Ask parents about their best Christmas tips and the advice arrives like a Santa’s sack of treats.
Here, some of BritMums’ parents’ best tips:
How to shop smart at Christmas
- Save on online delivery charges by ordering together with other Mummy friends and splitting the cost @netbuddytoptips
2. Many gifts can’t be returned after a certain number of days, check the return policy before you buy @caro_mad
3. Get organized, don’t leave it til the last minute and end up running around buying things people don’t really want @mummymummymum
4. Online shopping all the way. Heating on. Glass of wine in hand, millions of retailers at your fingertips @babynotincluded
5. Use cash back sites for online shopping – often offering special discounts at this time of year @liveotherwise
6. Use vouchers & bonus points to pay for your Christmas shop @caro_mad
7. Look for interesting gifts everywhere! I find small things at corner shops, delis, etc. For example, an unusual candy bar for someone’s stocking or a funny little gadget for the car. It doesn’t all have to come from big shops @jhowze
8. Buy rechargeable batteries that are already charged to go with any battery toys and package them together with the present @liveotherwise
Budget shopping ideas for Christmas
9. Give friends a voucher for babysitting. It’s priceless! @mummymummymum
10. If you have a group of friends, put all names into the hat & select one! And set a limit @littlelillypadco
11. If you put £10 a week away all year it adds up to over £500 to spend on presents @MrsSmith
How to choose inventive Christmas gifts for kids
12. Do a snuggle sack on Christmas eve. Contains new slippers, pjs, books, a DVD, chocs, crackers, etc. It’s my kids’ fave thing @christinemosler
13. Me and my friends are heading to the charity shops/vintage warehouse to make up fancy dress kits in old suitcases for our 3-5 year olds @aresidence
14. Collections of books can be split between nephews/nieces, really good value @liveotherwise
Great edible gifts for Christmas
15. Make homemade hot chocolate in a recycled glass jar. Cocoa, sugar, dried milk & pretty ribbon & name @christinemosler
16. Buy a nice storage jar, layer it with ingredients for cupcakes, with a recipe on the tag and a wooden spoon and cake cases attached with ribbon @JennyPaulin
17. Gingerbread Stars stacked & tied with ribbon @octarinefire
18. Make homemade syrups @HomeBakedOnline
19. Fill handpainted mugs with sweets @villimummy
20. Go traditional with homemade mince pies @Urban_AngelsUK
21. Cook up a chutney @mothersright
22. My brother bought me a peach schnapps kit when our limit was £5. It just kept giving! @aresidence
Give in the spirit of the season
23. Make shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child with your children. Don’t forget those children who won’t have a present @RedRoseMummy
More Christmas ideas!
40 fun ways to gift a scratchcard this Christmas
About Jennifer Howze
Jennifer Howze is the Creative Director and co-founder of BritMums. She blogs about family travel at Jenography.net, tweets at @JHowze and Instagrams at @JHowze. Previously, she wrote the Alpha Mummy blog at The Times and as a journalist has contributed to The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, Budget Travel, CNN.com, Allure, SELF and Premiere, among others. She won The Maggie Award from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for a health article in Seventeen magazine.
Sunehra
Friday 23rd of March 2012
I love your tip about using brown paper as wrapping paper. It's actually so chic and is always available and when paired with a suitable colored ribbon can totally fit any occasion. My son loves to participate too.
And number 8 - Online Shopping all the way - That is totally my mantra! Can't believe I didn't think of it sooner. I just wrote on a blog on the top 5 reasons to shop online. Drop by for a read.
http://gogiftsindia.wordpress.com
Claire @ Little Stomper
Tuesday 7th of February 2012
Ive only just seen this, thanks for the mention x
We’ve been shortlisted for Golden Hedgehog ‘Best social media campaign’ award |
Friday 20th of January 2012
[...] that we are achieving our goal. Do you remember our #xmastips Twitter party that we held with BritMums? That and a blogger event in November created a great online buzz and new shoppers were flocking [...]