Christmas seems to get more and more expensive every year. So this year why not get creative at home and save money at the same time.
Get the whole family involved and have fun with a homemade Christmas.

• Homemade Cards.
  
  

There is nothing nicer than receiving a handmade card. You have lots of different options when it comes to card making and you can personalise it for the person you are sending it to. Why not take a family picture, print a few copies and glue to a plain card. You can either leave it plan or make a Christmas boarder around the picture.

 

• Decorations

Make your own decorations this year; it doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Get the children to make paper chains, popcorn garlands and paper snowflakes. 

 

• Mince pies

Instead of buying readymade mince pies try baking your own.  Even if you cheated and bought readymade pastry and readymade mincemeat you would still save money. 6 Mince Pies are £1.20, which makes a mince pie 20p each. Readymade pastry 500g is £1, Mincemeat 411g is £1.20 and will make at least 20 mince pies. This makes a homemade mince pie 11p each, that’s a 9p difference per pie.

 

• Cookies

Bake cookies or biscuits in Christmas shapes for a great Christmas present. You can decorate them with icing, sweets or just leave them plain. For that extra touch you can buy cellophane presentation bags which cost approx £2.60 for 50 and tie with some ribbon.

 

• Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate truffles are the simplest things in the world to make and they are a fantastic present and even better as an after dinner treat.

 

To make approx 60 truffles you will need:
175ml of double cream, 225g Dark Chocolate. You will also need coco powder or icing sugar for dusting.

 

Break the chocolate in to a glass bowl. Put the cream in a small saucepan and bring up to a boil and then pour over the chocolate. Mix together until the chocolate is melted and it is well combined. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours. Cover a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. You will need a small bowl with coco powder or icing sugar for dusting. Using a teaspoon or melonballer, make small balls of the chocolate mixture. Drop them into the coco or icing sugar and make sure they are coated. Place on the baking tray to set.

 

• Gift Baskets

Gift baskets and hampers can be expensive so make your own. Fill them with all your homemade goodies and all the things you know your friends and  family like. You could make a chocolate basket or even a wine basket. 

 

Cardholders of the pre-paid BaBeeCard have access to their Discount Club which includes a selection of online wine and chocolate stores.

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