Some savings hints i recieved
Shiny cardboard baubles
One year when we were really short of money, I made Christmas decorations that could be hung on the tree or around the house.For baubles, cut circles out of bright, shiny cardboard. Instead of gluing just two together, glue three together for a three-dimensional effect. Cut out pictures from old Christmas cards, paste on the baubles and hang them with string.
For crackers, wrap toilet paper rolls in Christmas paper and tie the ends with ribbons. Hang from the tree or fill them with goodies for Christmas Day.
CD Christmas tree ornaments
Use old scratched or useless CDs to make lovely Christmas decorations for your tree. Simply glue the labelled sides of the CDs together, making sure you first put a loop of fancy ribbon between them. Then, using a hot glue gun and sequins, glitter, craft ‘jewels’ or any other pretty objects, make decorative patterns on each of the shiny sides of the CDs. Hang in your Christmas tree, or outside in a fruit tree (birds hate them), or you can use several of them to construct a mobile to put in a sunny room.
Decorated coat hanger designsMake decorations out of old wire coat hangers by twisting them with pliers. A little spray paint and bits of material and beads and they look fantastic!
Festive candle holders
These festive candle holders can be used for many purposes – as table features, stair and path guides, or fence borders.Purchase lo-ball glasses from your local op shop (these cost around $2 for six), or you can use empty jars if you wish. Five-hour tea lights are $2 for 12 at Woolworths and can be found even more cheaply at discount stores. Clear Christmas stickers or decorations such as bells, presents and so on will cost you no more than $2 for six; tinsel in festive colours is available at $2 for 2-10 meters, depending on the type and where you buy it.
Tie tinsel around the base of a glass or jar. Stick stickers or decoration to the outside of the glass and pop tea light inside. When finished, light with a barbecue lighter.
These simple, pretty lights will cost you about $1 each – even less if you recycle old jars and buy tinsel and stickers in bulk.
Golden gum nut decorations
Collect gum nuts and other native bits and pieces. Spray paint in gold (you can find this paint in junk shops for $2). Place in a wooden bowl or on a coloured paper plate.Handmade decorations for your tree
I take great pleasure in making decorations for my Christmas tree. I paint the tips of pine cones with white, silver or gold paint using craft paints and a paint brush from a craft shop. Then I sprinkle silver or gold glitter on the wet paint. I attach wire to the top of each pine cone and hang it on the tree. I also hang personalized baubles on my Christmas tree for each member of my family. I buy foam balls of any size from Spotlight; write their names on the balls using a silver metallic pen, and stick stickers with a Christmas theme and silver stars on the balls. Finally, I tie a ribbon around the balls and then a bow on top with a loop to hang them on the tree.When my grandchildren were young, I hung miniature felt Christmas stockings on the Christmas tree. Each stocking had the name of a grandchild, and contained $1 or $2. These personal touches make our Christmas night even more special.
Pompoms for the Christmas tree
Make pompoms out of tulle ribbon (quite inexpensive from Spotlight) and hang on the tree. Just cut out two donut circles from cardboard, place together, wind the tulle around and through the hole until full, cut through the two donuts and tie together with string.REDWING
“Money is a currency, like electricity and it requires momentum to make it Effective”
Count The Currency With This Online Positive Cashflow CalculatorNice one Redwing.
I think ill take up some of your ideas as a family project. Sounds like fun for all the family.
(wonder if they would sell on ebay?[lmao])
______________________
I know I can, I know I can
Are you serious?
Shame Jars. Sounds like you have never had the pleasure of making your own Xmas decorations.
Good on ya redwing. I’m trying to get my kids at school to make xmas present for their family members rather than buy things.
Another one is to get a baked beans tin, fill it up with water to the brim. Freeze it. WHen frozen, using a nail punch and hammer, hammer a design into the can. Let water thaw out and then spray the can any colour you want. Finally buy a small/medium sized candle for the middle. It makes a great candle holder for outside and it looks fabulous when lit!
Oh yeah, for that glass one you had, using masking tape, you can put a design on the glass then spray with frosting paint. Another really lovely candle holder.
And another canlde holder… More for those skinny long candles. Using the cap off the fly spray, collect some nice, small gum tree sticks (With leaves and honky nuts attached) and arange them in the cup(sometimes ivy is noce too). Take them out and three quarter fill the cap with plaster of paris. Before it sets, start putting the sticks and leaves back until you cannot see the cap anymore. Once you have finished with the leaves tec, finally push the candle in the middle and hold it there for a minute or two while it sets. Once set hard, none of the foliage should move and you can then spray them lightly with silver or gold spray paint to jazz them up a little. These look fabulous and don’t a great deal either. People will marvel at your creative abilities.
Good luck everyone!
Steph.Hi Scremin,
The plaster of Paris idea Reminds me of a table decoration an X made years ago, using gum nut’s, gold and silver glitter, small twigs and dried leaves-hairspray to hold together and plaster of Paris-to make a X-Mas table decoration on a plate..add some tinsel afterwards..looked great and lasts her to this day!
REDWING
“Money is a currency, like electricity and it requires momentum to make it Effective”
Count The Currency With This Online Positive Cashflow CalculatorIts a kids thing, obviously. No kids ya seeee
what do you mean kids things??? I don’t have kids! I just enjoy making things that don’t cost me a great deal but still look great. My mum taught me how to make the plaster of paris table deco when I was about 10. She made about 80 of them for a cabaret night and everyone wanted to know where she had bought them from. Hee hee…
LEt us know if you attempt any?
Steph.Funny…
… this post got me thinking about what we used to do as children to prepare for xmas (other than shopping). Whatever happened to paper chains? My sisters and I used to make these go for miles. And, what about the snowflakes you used to make by folding paper several times over, nicking out little bits with scissors (under parental supervision of course [cap])?
Ooh, ooh, and those papermache baubles that your made around balloons blown up and then decorated with old xmas paper cuttings or ‘shiny’ paper!?
Ok, I’m depressing myself now. This damn introspection is making me realise that I have never done this sort of stuff with my own child. I could start now but as he’s a teenage boy already I think this may cause the cancellation of xmas altogether.
Look out ye little nephews of few years! Aunty Nasty is bring the xmas spirit your way – and you will be joyous!!! [xmas]
Thats half the X-MAS fun,
reflection of the years past and the years to come,learning and evolving, enjoying the seasons of life..
REDWING
“Money is a currency, like electricity and it requires momentum to make it Effective”
Count The Currency With This Online Positive Cashflow CalculatorHi all,[santa] [party] [xmas]
I went thru a phase of poverty in life when I was studying financial planning and my wife was finishing her masters. I now work and she is on a PhD scholarship which doesn’t provide a lot of money. During the poverty phase we purchased Christmas decorations during January saving up to 2/3rds of their cost. We store the decorations away in boxes covered in old Christmas wrappings. At Christmas time we store the boxes under the tree whilst the decorations are in use.
We also now make our presents for adult friends and family, consisting of items like home made jams, lemon butter, biscuits, and sweets. These are packaged together as a small hamper and are much appreciated by all.Merry Christmas to all
Regards
Bryce Inglis
Financial Advisor
[email protected]Replies on this site are intended as general information only, as any specific investment solutions/advice must only be given in accordance with the requirements set out in the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 and the ASIC guidelines as set out in PS146.An appropriate professional should be consulted for specific advice
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