DIY Christmas

Christmas shopping has been really different for us this year, as our family and extended family gets bigger and bigger. We sat down and worked out our budget and then split it out with an equal amount per person, only to find that we would be spending a few hundred dollars this year! Agh!

I looked at the amount and thought - thats a whole lot of petrol, lunches, dinners and costs etc that we could be using to enjoy our summer holiday right there. And cutting the budget down was just not going to happen unless we wanted to shop at the $2 shop for everyone (no thanks).

So I decided to challenge myself to try and cut our budget in half by making and creating my own presents for family and friends. I usually make a few things at Christmas, but they are often small and I add them into the bought presents to make them extra big and special. Not this year! It has been DIY city over here and I have just finished making the last piece. I am so stoked with myself. I even collected receipts and noted all costs so that I could work out exactly how much I had saved and if I had hit my goal. WELL a short calculation later (with no help from Mr Accountant Robot J) and I had done it! It was a little over half, but not by much and I am very proud of myself. The presents look great and I am sure each person will love each one. Plus if they don't - I want them back as I think they are so cool. haha. (esp my sis' present! - will post pics of that after xmas).

So I'm giving myself a pat on the back for all the saving and craftyness. It has been fun. Bring on the trips to the beach with chicken salad sammies, frujus and fish & chip dinners! Oh and the petrol to get there!