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Paper Christmas Lights Craft for Kids!

Do you want a simple, Christmas craft idea that kids can do, and can also be used as a decoration? Look no further. Here’s a Paper Christmas Lights craft that my 5 year old found great fun!

And wait for it… I’ve thrown in a free printable of the light bulbs I created, so you can easily print them out. They’re nothing fancy, but that’s the point. Your child can make them as fancy as they’d like. You can use any craft materials to glam up the lights, or simply colour them in.

Feel free to download your free template and print it as many times as you like.

Download yours here:

Content belongs to Sensibly Frugal Living

Simple Ways to Save Money this Christmas

Are you trying to stick to a budget this Christmas? Or worried how you will cover the costs? Here are some of my simple tips and tricks to cut the Christmas bill!

Arrange a secret Santa gift exchange, so everyone in the exchange only has to buy the one gift for someone. You can set a manageable budget, or even make the challenge harder by setting a ‘thrifted gift only’ rule.
Start buying Christmas food items right away. Buy a few items each week for the next couple of weeks and you will have a little stockpile of christmas treats etc.
Make alternative plans. If you can’t afford some of the events/plans you did last year, make alternative plans. For example, if you usually go out for dinner with friends, why not explain the situation to them and say you’ll cook a meal for everyone at your house if they bring a bottle. Everyone saves money this way.
Thrift gifts. Thrifting gifts isn’t something to turn your nose up at. A lot of charity shops bring out new/ like-new items at christmas time. No one needs to know that it’s not brand new/ retail price.
Make new traditions. This is similar to the above point about plans. If you have some expensive traditions ie going to expensive santa grottos etc, change it up a bit this year. Check on Facebook etc for local events/ free events. There are always lots of Christmas fayres, grottos, and light experiences to check out that don’t cost a fortune.
Gift differently. Rather than buy gifts, why not make them? Whether this be a food gift such as cookies, or gifting crafts you have made, your recipient will see the time and thought that has gone into their gift. You could even suggesting taking a friend out for a coffee instead of a gift, or gifting favours such as ‘babysitting’.
If you have children, make a christmas bucket list with them. Set a budget or even ask them to think up free activities they would like to do. It gives everyone something to look forward to, and you get a chance to plan in advance to ensure the activities are free or cheap. Ideas could include: driving around to see Christmas lights or going to the carol service at your local church.
Do you host christmas? This year, why not ask each guest to bring something? Whether that be a Christmas pudding, or a bottle of wine. If you haven’t decided what is happening on christmas day, why don’t you suggest to friends or family members to have Christmas dinner together and split the cost?

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FREE!! Activity Advent Printable

Did you want to make an advent calendar that is a little more than just sweets? Have you thought about an activity advent?

An activity advent means that rather than having a chocolate each day (or you can have a chocolate as well as), you draw a different Christmas activity. I’ve saved you the job of thinking up some frugal activities and have created 24, ready to go, activity ideas.

All you need to do is print the sheet out, cut the activities out, and either slip them into a calendar you have already, or maybe tuck each one into a numbered envelope.

Download for free here:

activity-advent Download

Here are the activities I’ve included:

Decorate gingerbread
Go carolling
Make Christmas cards
Go to a Christmas market
Walk/ drive around the neighbourhood lights
Watch a Christmas movie
Meet and greet with Santa
Make reindeer food
Write a letter to Santa
Bake cookies
Make DIY Christmas ornaments
Donate to a Foodbank
Make paper snowflakes
Play board games as a family
Make hot chocolate with marshmallows
Have a North Pole breakfast
Have a Pyjamas day
Bake mince pies
Read T’was The Night Before Christmas
Indoor Festive Picnic
Make a popcorn garland for the birds
Do a Christmas colouring printable
Do a Christmas jigsaw puzzle
Send a surprise gift to a neighbour/ friend

Santa Claus-letter Download

NEW! Printable Santa Letter Template

I’ve created a new Santa letter template for my 5 year old son, and I thought I’d share it with you. I do have an old one from a few years ago that you can also download if you’d prefer. You can find that printable here.

What do you think of my 2024 template?

Feel free to download your free template and print it as many times as you like.

Download yours here:

Simple Halloween Skull Banner (Free Printable)

You know how I love a free printable, so why would Halloween be any different? I have made a simple skull printable that you can download for free and print out as many times as you like. Just hole punch where indicated on the top of the skull and thread through string, ribbon, or yarn etc.

Mine looked like this…

You can print on white card like me, or get creative with coloured card. You could even print on white card and get your kids to colour them in for an extra fun activity.

Download yours here:

skull-banner Download

New Meal Plan Free Printable

I have recently reposted about my old meal plan and food inventory printables. You can find them here. I was told by a follower on social media that they require a simpler version of a meal plan without the grocery list etc added on. A basic, weekly template where you can write on what you want depending on the day, and you can be as vague or as specific as you like.

So…. I made one.

And yes, this one is free to download too. So, whether you wish to keep track of just your evening meals, or want to write a full days menu with snacks and drinks, the option is there for you with this basic template.

Download yours here:

meal-planner Download

Once you download this template you can print it as many times as you like.

Weekly Meal Planner Download

(Re-Share) Meal Plan Method- Includes Free Printables

I already have a post on this blog on why I meal plan: Benefits of Meal Planning, but I wanted to dedicate this post to my free meal plan printables.

Meal planning is easily overlooked, but it is my number one top tip for lowering your grocery bill and preventing food waste,

Inventory

I have included an inventory printable as I understand how easy it is to forget what you have in the pantry and freezers etc. This inventory will spur you to take stock before you meal plan to ensure you use up food and save money.

Inventory Download

Meal Plan

The meal plan should start with what you need to use up from your inventory. From there, you can create a meal idea per day, ( or all three meals) and start your shopping list.

I hope you have found this post useful, please feel free to download both sheets for free. Once you’ve downloaded these printables, you can print them as often as you like.

Content belongs to Sensibly Frugal Living

Back to School Bargains

This post is just a quick one to share some of the back to school bargains I have found over this last month on Amazon!

2 Pack Bear Design Pencil Cases

Link here: Pencil cases

Clear Pencil Case

Link here: Clear pencil case

Maths Set

Link here: Maths Set

PE Bag

Link here: PE bag

Stationary Set

Link here: Stationary Set

Plain Coloured PE T-Shirts

Link here: T-Shirt

Princess Rucksack

Link here: Princess Rucksack

Dino Rucksack

Link here: Dino Rucksack

Unisex Rucksack

Link here: Unisex rucksack

*As an Amazon associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases made through these links.

Content belongs to Sensibly Frugal Living