I love Christmas. I love the fact that it is the one time of year that everyone makes an effort to be nice to one another. I love the decorations, the food but most of all – just like a big kid – I love the Christmas presents.

Santa and I have not had a good relationship over the years at our house. Over the years Santa has sometimes failed to turn up or misunderstood my letter asking for a pony and brought me a school uniform instead! I was hoping that it would be different this year but I’ve already been told that Santa’s Workshop has had to make budget cuts.

This means my Santa is going to be looking for a stack of cheap Christmas presents. Cheap does not necessarily have to be nasty though. You can get a lot of great presents for Christmas for very little money. Some of the ideas for cheap Christmas presents that spring to mind are, of course, anything home made. If you like to bake you will be able to wow your friends and relatives with your treats from the kitchen. If you are more of a take out type of person you can always buy some cookies and make a beautiful decorated package out of them. These type of gifts do not have to come from gourmet food shops. You can buy these cheap Christmas presents at your supermarket or discount shop. Let’s face it, once anything is wrapped up with ribbon it all looks good.

Coming soon. If there is one holiday that I really love and look forward to, it’s Christmas. Christmas for me, is all about, eggnog, snow, yummy food, holiday cheer and the excitement that the opening of presents brings. There is one part of Christmas that is a bit of a downer though – the spending! No matter, how much I have set aside for Christmas or think that I need it always comes as a shock when the wallet is empty and the shopping is half done. Are you ready to go out and purchase all of those Christmas gifts for your family and friends? No doubt they can get a bit pricey for you as well at times. Maybe this year you need to consider some cheap Christmas presents to pass out. Remember, cheap doesn’t have to be mean nasty.

Another idea is to give a gift of your time. All you need to do for this cheap Christmas present is think of something that the receiver would like to save time on. It could be babysitting, washing the car, ironing …. All you need to do then is go to the computer and make a coupon for the gift of time you are going to give.

My favourite cheap Christmas present when Santa is feeling pinched is to buy wine. What I do, is buy a case of my favourite wine (it works out cheaper in bulk) and then tizz up a bottle with ribbons and a customised tag for each person. Most people love wine and they will appreciate that you are sharing your favourite tipple with them.

The most important thing to remember about Christmas is that it is not about the Christmas gifts. The best thing about Christmas is that you are enjoying the day with people that you love and care for. So, don’t worry if you have to buy a cheap Christmas present this year. Just enjoy Christmas day with your loved ones, that is the greatest gift you can give.

By: Jane Sweet

About the Author:
If you want some great recipes for Christmas and to keep up to date with all things Christmas this year visit me at http://santaswishes.com

You may get puzzled about what to prepare for Christmas. Christmas pickles, holiday dip, clam dip and Christmas crab dip are 4 great recipes you can prepare this coming Christmas. Here are the recipes for you to try them out:

1. Christmas Pickles

Ingredients:

- 10 pickles, sliced thin
- 1 cup of green peppers
- 1 cup of red peppers
- 1/2 cup of onions, diced
- 1 cup of vinegar
- 2 cups of white sugar
- 1 tablespoon of mustard seed
- 1 tablespoon of dill seed
- 1 tablespoon of salt

Directions:

- Heat vinegar and sugar until it comes to boil. Do not boil.
- Cool and pour over pickles, peppers and onions.

Will keep without sealing for months in refrigerator.

2. Holiday Dip

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of mayonnaise
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. of sour cream
- 1 (8 oz.) can of water chestnuts, drained, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons of chopped pimiento
- 1 tablespoon of sliced green onion
- 2 teaspoons of beef flavor bouillon
- 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- Fresh vegetables and chips

Directions:

- In medium bowl combine all ingredients except vegetables and chips; mix well.
- Cover.
- Chill.
- Stir before serving.
- Garnish with additional green onion if you wish.

Serve with vegetables and chips.

3. Clam Dip

Ingredients:

- 1 (10 1/2 oz.) can of minced clams
- 6 oz. of cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons of grated onion
- 1/4 teaspoon of hot pepper sauce
- 1/8 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of clam juice (reserved juice from canned clams)

Directions:

- Drain canned clams and reserve juice.
- Combine clams with remaining ingredients and blend thoroughly.
- Chill.

Serve with crackers or bread rounds.

4. Christmas Crab Dip

Ingredients:

- 1 pkg. (8 oz.) of cream cheese
- 1 jar Kraft Sharp Old English cheese spread
- 1 tablespoon of half & half
- 1 tablespoon of chopped chives
- Dash Worcestershire sauce
- Garlic salt, to taste
- 12 oz. of crab (fresh, frozen or canned)

Directions:

- Mix the first six ingredients in the top of a double boiler or chafing dish over a medium heat.
- When the ingredients have melted and mixed well add the crab, reduce the heat to just warm.

Serve with crackers. Great for a party!

Thanksgiving Traditions – Recipes