For older people living frugally on a tight budget, the festive holiday season can be more worry than joy. You want to shower family and friends with gifts to show your love. But that could leave you with a mountain of debt that’s hard to pay off.

Follow our budget friendly Christmas tips for ways to enjoy the season without spending more than you can afford.

Free stuff to do with the grandchildren

If you have transport, pack the car with cool drinks and snacks and take a slow drive around your neighbourhood or town to look at the Christmas lights. Or invite the kids round for a carol singing session round the Christmas tree. Something as simple as reading a Christmas story together can also add to the magic of Christmas and create wonderful memories.

Make your own budget friendly Christmas gifts

Create your own DIY colouring in book for kids. Simply download and print a selection of free colouring pages from the internet. There are plenty of options available for all ages, from construction vehicles and super heroes for boys, to unicorns and princesses for girls. Add a small box of crayons for a complete gift.

Older children and adults may appreciate a book of inspiration quotes you’ve copied into a pretty notebook. If you’re not artistic, you can brighten the pages up with scenic pictures downloaded from the internet.

Another fun idea is to write a poem about a loved one and read it out to them on Christmas morning. Children, especially, love hearing something funny or personal about themselves. Mrs M still remembers the poem her teenage daughter wrote for her on her 40th birthday. “She gave it to me on a long, rolled up piece of paper,” recalls Mrs M. “I read it out to the family and we all fell about laughing. I can’t remember any of the other gifts I received that year. But I still have the poem, and it still makes me smile.”

Good at knitting or sewing? Hand-made gifts of scarves, soft toys, hairbands, shopping bags, hats, aprons, etc are not only cheaper, they’re unique and personal too. If you’re handy in the kitchen, a batch of home-made cookies, fudge or jam in an attractive jar makes an ideal gift.

Shop smart

Nowadays it’s perfectly acceptable – even trendy – to buy second hand gifts from charity shops and markets. Pre-owned toys, ornaments and jewellery in good condition make lovely, inexpensive gifts.

Charity shops also often have a good selection of second hand Christmas trees and ornaments at a fraction of the price of new ones.

Instead of buying expensive baubles, hang brightly wrapped chocolates or miniature candy canes on the tree. They look just as pretty, and you’ll have all the fun of eating them too!

Don’t waste money on expensive gift wrap which will only be ripped apart and thrown away. Opt for plain brown paper, or even newspaper, and brighten it up with a bit of red twine. And make your own parcel tags from recycled Christmas cards.

If you’re buying gifts at regular stores, shop at those where you can earn loyalty points – which is useful when January comes round and you can buy items you need with your points.

Cut down on the number of gifts

If you have a large family or group of friends, suggest giving one Secret Santa gift each instead of buying for everyone. Set a limit on the amount that can be spent on the gifts to make it fair.

Instead of buying individual gifts, you can also choose to buy a ‘family gift’, such as a large box of chocolates, a hamper or a board game that everyone can enjoy. Or chip in with others to buy a bigger gift for someone special.

Budget friendly Christmas food

If you’re having a crowd around for Christmas lunch or dinner, it’s quite acceptable to ask everyone to bring their own drinks, as well as a dessert or other food item to contribute to the meal. It’s all about enjoying each other’s company over a meal, not about how much you spent.

You don’t have to serve the traditional meats either. Lamb and turkey are way more expensive than chicken and beef. And with tasty sauces or sides, cheaper cuts can be just as enjoyable. You can also opt for a casual South African braai. Boerewors and salads may not seem Christmassy, but the festive season is more about spending time together. Instead of expensive table décor, you can get by with bright paper plates and napkins.

Don’t waste money on a new outfit to wear to the Christmas party. Wear a string of bright tinsel round your neck, or a santa hat on your head and you’ll look just as festive as anyone else.

Spending a lot of money on your Christmas celebrations does not equal happiness. Remember that the best part about Christmas is spending time with family or friends.