Our Happy Friday Christmas Cheer Edition!

Happy Friday and Merry Christmas from Hip2Save! 🎄🎅🧡

Every Friday, we like to give our readers a chance to show off their skills, whether it’s a clever money-saving hack, an inexpensive craft idea, or a frugal way to serve their community. Usually, we just highlight one reader submission, but this week Hip2Save readers are on fire with Christmas cheer! 🎄

So today, we’re sharing four frugal, fun, and family-friendly reader ideas for celebrating the season this Christmas! ❤️

1. Snowman Treat Canisters from Hip2Save reader Emily

I thought I’d share a holiday craft idea that another mom and I did for our sons’ class Christmas party last year. We collected empty oatmeal containers from our homes, friends, and relatives, and asked for help from classmates’ families. We painted and decorated them to look like snowmen and then used the snowmen as their “treat bags” to hold the candy, pencils, etc. donated by all the parents.

We used paint, fabric scraps, buttons, markers, and hot glue already on hand, so the project only cost us our time! We made 24, so it took a bit of time, but you could just do a few for small gifts or maybe even use them for a cookie exchange. I think they’re cute enough to keep as a decoration once they’re emptied, too!

2. Tween Subscription Box (such a fun gift idea for tweens!) from Hip2Save reader Sara

My happy Friday story is about my daughter, Jillian. At 12 years old, she decided to create a book and lifestyle subscription box for tweens called beTWEEN the Bookends. This all started when schools and libraries closed down. Jillian is an avid reader, and while she has so many books at home she knew that other kids may not.

This subscription box was designed to be a fun way to get new books to kids, keeping them interested in reading. Jillian is now 13 and in her sixth month of this project! She reads every book and tests every product before they make it into her box. It’s a real job, and she’s totally rocking it! 🙌

3. Quarantine Holiday Survival Bags from Hip2Save reader Amanda

Those cute covid ornaments featured on Hip2Save a few weeks ago inspired me to create gift bags for teachers and my younger siblings in their 20s. I made “quarantine holiday survival” bags with my favorite wine (or hard lemonade or even that mini Crock-Pot that was a Hip deal… LOL), a roll of toilet paper, and leftover Halloween candy.

I used bag filler from Dollar Tree and reused ribbon that I already had on hand from previous years. These ring in at around $20 and I think they are super cute and very 2020. Thanks for all the deals and happy shopping! 

4. Homemade Christmas Crackers from Hip2Save reader Tracey

Usually, my family gets together for a loud, crazy, fun evening of eating, visiting, exchanging gifts, and playing a family gift exchange game. This year we won’t be able to do that, so I made special “Christmas Crackers” for each family member. Well, I use the term “crackers” loosely as I am too cheap to buy the actual cracker sticks!

I used the free rolls of Babo toilet paper (from the CVS deal posted recently). I filled the tube with candy and other free things I’ve gotten such as lip gloss, lip balm, nail polish, etc. I used tissue paper pieces to block the ends before using a dab of glue to adhere a Christmas/Winter joke (sourced from various websites) and a Christmas Carol “quiz” with ideas I found here.

The answers are on a separate card which is stapled to the joke or quiz. I’m a scrapbooker, so I already had lots of punches, paper cutters, etc, but scissors would work just as well.

Then, after adding a funny saying to the front of the roll (found by searching Pinterest), I wrapped each one with Glad Press ‘n Seal then rolled them up in wrapping paper to create my Christmas Cracker look.

Most of us live close to each other, so these will be delivered to their doors along with their gifts and the others will get mailed. We may have a Zoom get-together where we can quiz each other with the carols and/or jokes, or they can just be shared with their own immediate families. My family does enjoy a dose of “bathroom humor” whenever possible, so I think they’ll have fun opening these!

Merry Christmas!

Thank you, dear readers, for sharing your stories with us! These fun and creative ideas are a real bright spot in our week, and sure to spread a lot of cheer this holiday season! 🙌

Looking for more DIY Christmas fun on a budget? Head here!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Do you have a funny, “Hip”, or unique tip to share?! Fill out our Happy Friday form. Every Friday, we post one submission by a Hip2Save reader (view past submissions) that gives us a glimpse into their frugal lifestyle or simply makes us smile. If yours is published on Hip2Save, we’ll email you a $10 Amazon eGift card!