OK, you can buy Merlin cards, Sky and Netflix, go on expensive holidays, buy designer brands.....but you can also do other stuff and have experiences that your children and you will still enjoy and have lasting memories from.
One of my daughters favourite things is a jar full of lolly sticks! Not just any old lolly sticks. Oh no! But we have something like this one.....
Ours are pretty colours..... And each one has on it an activity that she loves.
Cooking, games, foraging and walks, bike ride, time on Wii or PS, books, board game, bake cookies, DVDs.....the choices are endless, you know what your children like....go with that!
The ground rules are that the jar comes out in those dull moments and the activity has to suit the time available. If we only have 20 mins, it's not likely to be cooking or Monopoly! But we can fit in a quick game on the Wii, some TV, read a story or a chapter of a book or walk to the park for a quick play.
We love the lucky dip element of this....you never know what you're going to end up doing!
Hubby and I plan Date Night on a Friday Night, we cook a meal, try wine or cocktails and either watch a film or play a game, Canasta is one of our favourites....well, my favourite...haha! Since my husband reminded me how it goes, I've beaten him every time!
We also do free advent calendars.
Little Lady may get a chocolate calendar from grandparents, so we like to do an alternative activity one. It usually includes a trip to buy our Christmas tree, a nativity service, visits to Christmas lights, making gingerbread biscuits.
This year I have been putting aside Christmas stories & DVDs, and I'll be adding craft kits and cooking items for weekends when we have more time. She'll get a numbered parcel to open each day with something to do, mostly these are gift bags that we save year on year and a free printable for a label, I like the ones with Bible verses on them that over the days tell the story of Christmas.
These are fun for the kids to do, but also fun to put together. If you fancy giving it a go, there are loads of ideas over on Pinterest, like these.....
Activity Advent from All Things Simple
Book Advent by Here Come the Girls
Baked Advent by Butter Hearts Sugar
How about getting into the spirit of Christmas by giving to your local food bank with a Reverse Advent like this one......
...from The Mad House.
For any time of year there are lots of free things to do with children, these are advertised locally and there is this page too.... https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/blog/free-fun-fun-family-days-out-that-don-t-cost-a-thing. You can enter your area and find out what's happening. And why not look out for craft events, they are quite often free as they are paid for by the sellers.
Don't forget that walks are free as are bike rides. We have lots of lovely parks and countryside in the UK and also many of the Beeching rail closures have been made into beautiful flat trails for walks or bike rides. Keep it cheap by taking your packed lunch and drinks. You could also pick up a disposable BBQ as many parks will allow these. Go to your local play park and take Swingball or frisbees, balls, hoops....you'll be amazed how many new friends your children will make with a few toys to share....we used to take a beach tent with us for shade and storage of our stuff out of the sun.
My daughter likes nothing more than being given some pennies and let loose in the charity shop! She has found some nice clothes, games and books. Or do the reverse, have a play day at home where you make all the puzzles you can find and the ones you no longer want can be donated to a charity shop in order to make room for buying new ones...or purging the toy shelves before Christmas or Birthdays.
We have so much in our homes and so much free stuff available in our communities, take a look and remember....do you want to buy that THING more than you want to buy time to LIVE! The more you save, the sooner you can give up work and spend quality time at home.
Any ideas for free things to do would be great, please leave a comment with your ideas, until the next time, toodle-oooo!
Nora xxx
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