Money-saving Christmas tips from Kirstie Allsopp

Thursday, 03 November 2011 12:10

With this year’s Christmas festivities putting a strain on already-stretched British budgets, a few money-saving tips will be welcome in most family homes.

B&Q have teamed up with TV homes, interiors and craft queen Kirstie Allsopp to offer some brilliant ideas for a frugal family Christmas.

“Its all about those small extra touches, you don’t need to spend much money, just use a little imagination and off you go!” Kirstie said.

Firstly, don’t waste a fortune on wrapping. Use simple brown paper to wrap presents or experiment with leftover wallpaper, and reuse old Christmas cards for gift tags.

Use pine cones and Christmas tree cuttings for making festive garlands and wreaths and look for cut-price tinsel for a cheap touch of sparkle.

 Mix up homemade decorations with your shop bought to give your Christmas tree a unique look

Get the kids involved and try a B&Q You Can Do It DIY class, with special festive sessions to help seven to 11 year olds make bird boxes to sledges and wooden Christmas trees for the festive season.

The You Can Do It classes cost between £5 - £20 and are led by specially trained B&Q expert.

For more tips from Kirstie Allsopp, see her special B&Q Christmas video.

 

Christmas decorating trends revealed

For all of those people who like to change their Christmas decorations each year dependant on the trends we have the first look at what is in for 2012. Christmas decorating this year is all about glamour, fur and modern designs.

Economy concerns 'won't overshadow family Christmas'

Despite the resilience of the true Christmas spirit, the economy is causing stress in family homes up and down the British Isles. A poll by charity 4Children found 41% of people concerned about ‘not having enough money for food and presents.

Family, not presents, essential for a successful Christmas

Brits plan to spend more than ever this Christmas, with presents causing a sizeable hole in already overstretched family finances. But a new report found family time, not gifting, is considered the most important part of the festive season.

Step-by-step guide to perfect Christmas decor

A team of interior design specialists have created some step by step video guides to help people transform their homes into stylish winter wonderlands this Christmas. This year the trend is all about creating a sophisticated look using silver, gold and white decorations and the team have some top tips on how this can be easily achieved.

Tops tips for a smooth move this Christmas

Moving house at Christmas time can be a highly stressful experience and by the time you've finished, you'll probably see why so many families avoid it. However, reallymoving.com has released its top tips for a December move, to make the process as painless as possible.