Preparing for 'Buy Nothing Day'

I'm busy knitting scarves for family members. I've wrapped soap. I used Foster Mummy's idea and made some hanging gift boxes - for the tutorial click HERE . I've wrapped some books which I have bought in charity shops, a huge pile for mum (don't tell her!) as she loves to read. I've made Dad a gardener's apron from old jeans, rear pockets at the front to hold bits and bobs. I've collected boxes from the back of Aldi and I've covered them in wrapping paper to make my 'hampers' and it's all systems go.

I'm preparing for Christmas like never before and I haven't been in a shop yet! Buy nothing day is on the 27th November. Why not go to a jumble sale or a school fund raiser and do your gift shopping there. Have a book swap day or a 'swish' where you get together with friends and swap clothes. You could even do this with children's clothes or even toys.

What ever Christmas means to you; it does not need to cost any money. I am really hoping the current economic hard times will steer people away from commercialism for ever, that people will shop less and make do and mend, will swap and borrow what they need and share what they have. Enjoy a homemade Christmas this year.