With the big day almost upon us,
shoppers up and down the country are rushing to the shops to get their last
minute Christmas presents.
But for me the preparation for the 25th
December started months ago.
I hear people moaning left right and
centre that they haven’t got the dreaded Christmas shopping done, and how they
wish they’d done it weeks ago instead of leaving it until the last minute to
buy gifts.
Of course I've been told I’m
mad to plan so far ahead, (my mantra for everything especially in business) but
I’m the one getting the last laugh as usual.
For me, Christmas is about putting
that extra bit of thought and feeling into creating something different. From
homemade jams and chutneys, to bath salts and infused oils, I love to create
that special gift for my friends and family. And it has certainly gained a
reputation among them. There is no better feeling than heading into the
Christmas holidays than knowing they’re excited to receive gifts from me.
The best part is I spend a lot less
money instead of shelling out each Christmas – I reckon I saved about £500 a
year since I began making my gifts, which is certainly helpful!
When the dust settled on Christmas
last year, I was already on the lookout for ways to save money. In January
you’ll find me rifling through the Christmas cards and wrapping paper during
the sales (at about a quarter of their pre-January price!), and then stashing
them away for the following year.
Upcycling is a trend that has really
taken off in the last few years and it can be easily applied to the build up to
Christmas. For instance, pine-cones are a fantastic way to bring a delightful
rustic atmosphere to your Christmas decorations. When you’re out bring a bag
with you to collect some, then pick up some glitter and glue from an
arts-and-crafts store. After covering them with a layer of sparkly Christmas
frosting, you can string them up around the home with some thread to create
some authentic-looking decorations.
Of course, all of this thriftiness
does require a bit of forward-thinking. On Christmas morning too, if you
can remember to get out a pair of scissors before ripping into your Christmas
presents, cutting them open makes it a lot easier to recycle wrapping paper for
next year!
From me and everyone at redheadPR, we
hope you have a fabulous Christmas and New Year!
