Christmas is coming up soon and what better way to celebrate than with the the man who basically invented Christmas? Here’s some great Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol gift ideas that are perfect for the holidays.
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is one of those beloved holiday books that so many classic literary fans are in love with, but it’s also mainstream enough that it can really fall into a general “Christmas” theme too. Even if they haven’t read the book, there are so many movies out there that most people know the story of Scrooge and Bob Cratchit.
Don’t Be a Scrooge: Gift Ideas Inspired By Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Hopefully these gift ideas will inspire you to spread holiday cheer – don’t be like Scrooge and Jacob Marley this Christmas!
The ‘A Christmas Carol” Book
We’ve got to open with the the classic book here, since it should be on everyone’s shelves. If you know someone who hasn’t read this classic story a Christmas gift is a great way to give them that gentle nudge.
Apparently it smells like vanilla, spices, and sea breeze rather than money, but it’s probably still really nice. I love scented candles, especially to set the mood while reading!
Alderbrook Christmas Ornament Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim
If you prefer a vintage style, this ornament is the classic round shape and very cute. It actually looks just like my baby’s first Christmas bauble, which is now making me feel very old.
The Annotated Christmas Carol: A Christmas Carol in Prose
This book is really cool for someone who’s already a fan of the classic story but wants a little bit more out of it. It has information about the era, plus a mini Charles Dickens biography inside.
Is it a book? Is it a bag? No, it’s a bag shaped like a book! And it can hold books! This would also make a great reusable gift back for other Christmas presents.
How else are you going to drink your coffee, tea, or hot chocolate around the holidays if you don’t have an appropriately themed holiday mug? This one has a the famous line from the book on one side, and a Christmas scene on the other.
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A Christmas Carol Print Charles Dickens Quote
This Christmas carol print would make the perfect addition to any home décor!
A Christmas Carol Scrooge & Marley Counting House Sign Ornament
Not everyone wants to fill their home with Christmas magic. How about an image to the so called villains of the story, Scrooge and Marley? This ornament is inspired by their penny-pinching business.
This LEGO set was a limited edition release so it’s going to be hard to find, but if you’re shopping for someone who loves both A Christmas Carol and LEGO collecting it’s a great choice to splurge on.
Book fans and non-readers alike can appreciate a copy of a Christmas Carol in film form. There are so many versions out there, too! This one is a classic though.
Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol: A Book-to-Table Classic
This cookbook is filled with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol inspired recipes that are perfect for the holiday season. All the recipes in this book are similar to what would have been served when Dickens was alive.
If they already have everything else, go unique. This movie poster is part of a set of 4 coasters that feature classic Christmas films on them. Perfect for holiday entertaining!
I love this as a Christmas gift idea because it’s not only great for book lovers, but practical too. They can wear it to keep warm all winter long! Plus the pattern is actually really nice, too.
If you really can’t get someone into the Christmas spirit then help celebrate their Scrooge-like attitude instead. This simple sweater is perfect for someone who wants to say not to the festivities.
Hopefully you enjoyed this Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol inspired gift ideas for the holidays! If you haven’t read the book I strongly urge you to grab a copy, it really is a Christmas classic and one of my favourites.
I love the anticipation of Christmas almost as much as I love Christmas day. The holiday season is my absolute favourite time of year. These Christmas countdown ideas are a good way to make that time even more fun.
I’ve collected some awesome ideas for advent calendars and Christmas countdown ideas in this post. Some are DIY projects, others easy crafts. There’s also some printables and a bunch of ideas for Christmas themed activities!
Christmas Countdown and Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids and Adults
There are so many great ideas out there. Personally, we buy advent calendars for the kids and then try and add in as many activities during November and December as possible. It’s not always easy, especially with busy lives and kids in sports, but we try and make sure we hit our core traditions.
For example, one of our favourite traditions is reading holiday themed books. We usually try and grab a few from the library and there are a bunch in our home library we pull out too.
Another fun activity is driving around and looking at Christmas lights.
With COVID, Christmas traditions were harder last year and I don’t except things to be completely normal this year. So many fun family activities are getting cancelled. That’s why it’s more important than every to find things you can do at home with your family to keep the holiday spirit going.
When Should You Start a Christmas Countdown?
Most Christmas countdowns start December 1st and go until Christmas eve. I find if you start earlier kids get bored.
Some people have the Elf come back earlier (we are Canadian but I hear of people bringing it out right after Thanksgiving in the US) – but most advent calendars start Dec 1. If you’re DIYing, though, you could definitely add a few days if you want!
This cute DIY is so easy to make and can be done with things you already have around the house. Fill the muffin tin with small candies, gifts, or activity cards!
Make everyone's holiday season bright with a random acts of kindness Christmas countdown. This one has a tutorial to make the little boxes and a printable for the acts.
I've done the Christmas book advent calendar before and it's always a hit with the kids. You could also use library books, just ask the staff to extend the due date.
This tin can advent calendar is another great way to use recycled materials. You'll have to start saving your cans early but the result is pretty cool!
I love the colours of this advent calendar! Although it's supposed to be a nativity, you could just follow the DIY instructions for the hanging advent calendar and add whatever you like in the pockets.
It's no secret that I love LEGO on this blog, but I normally just pick up the LEGO brand advent calendars for my kids. I love this idea because you can repurpose your existing LEGO for cute mini builds!
I don't know about you, but my kids use way too much toilet paper and we always have rolls for craft projects. This one recycles them into an advent calendar!
It's not quite an advent calendar but this Christmas bucket list is too much fun to include. You could try and complete one item each day leading up to Christmas!
These could be set up as an invitation to play each morning, a daytime activities for at-home toddlers and preschoolers, or after school fun for elementary aged kids.
Kids get enough treats and toys for Christmas so activities can be a really fun way to spend the holidays. This post has a printable book full of ideas that you can do as a family or add to another advent calendar.
Sometimes money can be tight, but that doesn’t mean the holidays have to suffer for it. Frugal Christmases aren’t just OK, they can actually be pretty fun! But that doesn’t mean you can’t give great gifts on a budget, too. Here’s some ways to Christmas shop under $50 per kid (in total) and not feel like anything’s missing.
Budget Friendly Tips to Spend Less Than $50 Per Kid on Christmas Presents
This Christmas shopping includes stocking stuffers and all the gifts that your kids might want. Some prices may vary depending on your area, and of course for simplicity all prices are in US dollars.
How to Fill a Stocking on a Budget
To fill your child’s stocking on a budget you need look at some of the things they like to have, but you rarely give them or buy. The absolute easiest way is to fill it with treats – which, quite honestly, is a super fun tradition that needs to make a comeback.
In fact, in the olden days stockings were often filled with fruit like oranges since they were less common, plus a few sweets. Now we give kids iPhones and expensive toys in their stockings, which can really mess with your budget.
Here are some great low cost, space filling stocking stuffer ideas:
Chips, pretzels, popcorn, or other snack foods
Kids’ snacks like fruit by the foot, granola bars, etc
Fruit, especially oranges
Soda in bottles or cans
Clothing (can be found second hand for great prices)
The ingredients need to make something like Gak (cornstarch and water)
Toddler snacks
School supplies like crayons , markers, and small notebooks
Plastic dishes and water bottles
If you shop deals you can get enough snacks and treats to fill up a stocking for less than $10. I know my kids would be a lot more excited to find a whole box of their favourite “school only” snacks inside their stocking than a bunch of toys they’ll never play with.
To make the stuff in the stocking more exciting, I like to wrap each item individually. It makes the whole experience take longer and they feel like they’ve been given more gifts.
Save Money on the Gift From Santa Claus
This is where you’re going to have to get creative. One of the main ways I save money here is to give the kids a joint gift. For example, one year they got a table for their playroom. The table was $40, but spread between 3 kids it worked out cheaper.
Homemade Santa Gifts
Another great idea is to give your kids something handmade or DIYed. Santa makes toys in his workshop, after all! If you have some sewing skills you can make some pretty cool soft toys out of recycled materials, or woodwork some child-sized furniture for kids to enjoy.
Even those talentless individuals (like myself) can make homemade playdough and wrap it up inside a dollar store bin. Then include some garage sale toys, thrifted cookie cutters, and a rolling pin to turn it into a complete gift.
Buy Toys on Sale or Thrift Them
In our house, Santa gifts are usually toys so we try and give something we know each kid will love. Although my personal budget is more than $50 per kid, I do end up spending around $30 per child on their present from Santa (apart from the stocking) and it’s usually a toy.
I’ve also had great look finding used toys for Christmas, especially for my toddlers. Try thrift stores, garage sales, or local buy and sells.
Other Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids
Depending on your family’s traditions this and the gift from Santa might be merged. We usually do one gift from the big guy, and the rest comes from us.
If you only have a small amount of money left in your budget you have a few options.
First of all, dollar stores are great for Christmas gifts. Although you do have to be choosy because some items aren’t great, there are usually a lot of great finds.
Some great dollar store gift ideas for kids:
Bedroom décor for kids (Dollar Tree usually has a lot)
Mini Christmas trees/Christmas decorations/Christmas tree ornaments
Puzzles
Colouring books and crayons
Stickers
Craft kits
Snacks and treats (but I’m not a fan of the chocolate and neither are my kids)
Dress up accessories
Stationary
Here in Canada, we have a store called Dollarama (as well as Dollar Tree) that ranges in prices up to $4. Although it’s a bit more expensive, they often have items that have been liquidated from other retailers at extreme discounts.
We’ve found toys based on Characters the kids like and all kinds of unique buys there. Definitely check discount stores (even Marshall’s and TJ Max) for deals before the holidays.
Other Ways to Stretch Your Christmas Budget
If you want to give your kids a few more gifts past the $50 budget goal, one way to do that is to hold off on some essential purchases. We have a tendency to wrap everything from toothbrushes (another stocking stuffer idea) to clothes and personal care items.
That way kids have a few more things to open come Christmas morning!
You could also pad your budget by selling some of the kids’ old toys and clothes that they don’t use or have outgrown. It might not make a huge amount of money, but even an extra $10-$20 per person can buy one more gift.
Finally, if you are celebrating with loved ones who tend to give lots then it’s a lot easier to not feel bad about budget Christmases. However, even if this is all your children will receive this year, it’s more important to celebrate the meaning of Christmas than to get presents anyway.
Christmas for Just $50: A Real Budget Friendly Shopping Guide
Now, after reading all this, you’re probably wondering if this is even possible, right? We’ll here’s an actual breakdown of what your $50 budget for Christmas gifts might look like for a 10 year old.
That leaves about $7 left over to either DIY something extra (I know my kids are obsessed with Gak and slime right now so a homemade DIY kit would be a big hit) or buy used. $7, at least in my experience, is enough to get a couple cool t-shirts or a decent second hand hoodie.
Of course, you could easily make this cheaper by shopping sales, using cash back promotions, couponing, etc. And every kid is going to want different things! But even still, you can really do a lot on a small budget.
Christmas is hands down my favourite holiday of the year. There’s something so special about the weather, the decorating, the food, holiday traditions, and spending time with the family. That’s why I created this countdown page – so I always know how many days until Christmas.
How Many Days Until Christmas?
Time is ticking! If you’re looking to get your holiday shopping done early or just want to know exactly how far away Christmas is, then this “how many days until Christmas?” countdown is for you.
If you want to know how many hours until Christmas Day, multiply the first number (days) by 24 and then add in the hours to get that number.
How Many Days Until Christmas?
Day(s)
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Hour(s)
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Minute(s)
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Second(s)
How Many Days Until Christmas Eve?
It’s only one day before Christmas, but if you’re wondering how many days until Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day, then this is the countdown you should be looking at.
Also known as the “How Many Days Until Santa Comes!” or “How Many Shopping Days Are Left Before Christmas” countdown.
How Many Days Until Christmas Eve?
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
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Minute(s)
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Second(s)
100 Days Until Christmas
If you’re interested in when there are exactly 100 days until Christmas, that date for 2022 was September 16th, 2022.
12 Days Until Christmas
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me… The date when there will be 12 days until Christmas. If you’re planning on gifting someone a partridge in a pear tree (which, by the way, is actually a ground bird) or just want to countdown the 12 days of Christmas then you’ll want to start on December 13th, 2022.
Get Ready For Christmas
Now that you know how far away the holidays are, check out these resources to help you get ready for Christmas.
Whether you’re looking at this countdown and seeing stress (“Christmas is almost here and I’m not ready!”) or you’re excited (“Can’t wait until Christmas, I want to get started now!”) there are some things that can make your holiday prep go a bit easier.
First of all, check out the Christmas Prep Printable linked above. It has everything you need to get ready for Christmas on it including timelines.
Second, it’s never too early to start your Christmas shopping. Especially if you have kids. While you shouldn’t jump on getting them toys from their early in the year interests (they’re subject to change) some items are timeless even when picked up in the summer.
For example, there was a promotion at the LEGO store recently that prompted me to grab a couple sets for the kids that I’ll give for Christmas. That’s the type of toy that never goes out of fashion in our house.
Finally, start planning your holiday gatherings and travel early. You’ll not only beat the rush when it comes to booking tickets (for example, flights) but you’ll also get your first pick of venues when it comes to holiday parties.
I might have overdone it last Christmas due to a little thing called overcompensation. The first Christmas after separating from my ex and the first (but sadly not last) Christmas eve I didn’t spend with my kids. This year they wake up Christmas morning here and I’m all about making that special for us – but not about spending the money.
Holiday magic when you have NO money
Truth is, all the junk we bought that year (except the Xbox) is mostly cast aside. Yet my oldest still talks about that one time she came home from school and there was a scavenger hunt set up.
Instead of spending a fortune this Christmas, we’re focusing on what really matters. No, we’re not religious, but if you are you can do your thing. What we are celebrating is family. You can do that with no money.
Leading up to the holidays
Do a fun advent calendar! Instead of the cheap chocolate kind we’re making our own that will be filled with fun activities and surprises.
Take advantage of free activities. Photos with Cabela’s camo Santa, anyone?
Host holiday parties on the cheap. Make everything a potluck that way you’re not out a huge cost and don’t forget to remind them to bring their own beverage.
Create some family traditions. Looking at Christmas lights, a winter walk followed by hot cocoa, anything can become a tradition.
Purge purge purge! There’s nothing like realizing how much junk you have to put a stop on holiday shopping.
Holiday cards
Take your own photos. I’m a huge supporter of professional holiday photos but if you can’t afford it DIY. Why not?
Go digital. With the high cost of postage (and rolling strikes here in Canada right now) the mail is not a frugal way to do things. Print photos or do photo gifts for the important relatives and send the rest by email or social media.
Skip it. They’re not necessary, really. Call your extended relatives or send them a Facebook message.
Gift giving when you have no money
Make it practical. One year my mom gave the kids a case of Kraft Dinner and box of mandarin oranges. They loved it! Some other ideas are bath supplies, personal items they need (eg. water bottle), hats and mittens, and clothes. My middle kid asked for a hoodie like her brother got for his b-day.
Break it apart. If you want to make a bigger impact break larger gifts into smaller packages, if you can. I’m famous for individually wrapping pairs of socks.
Thrift and freebies. You’d be surprised how much you can subsidize you gift giving at the thrift store. I already have a bunch of great gifts for my kids that one cost a few bucks but are worth way more.
Dollar store. Sometimes you can find good scores here, especially when it comes to stocking stuffers and craft supplies. The best part about something like Dollar Tree where everything is a set price though? Taking the kids shopping. They can pick anything they want for gramma and it’s going to run under $10. In these cases the thought really does count.
Don’t buy junk. This is the worst part about the holidays. Instead of buying junky gifts because you want to make things equal or feel like you “didn’t get enough” don’t. Step back and realize that it’s not about the stuff and it’s definitely not about filling your, or someone else’s, house with more of it.
Be blunt
Talk to your kids about the situation. It’s OK to let them know when you can’t afford a gift they’ve asked for, or that they won’t be getting everything on their list.
Focus on the activities. Instead of making getting gifts the main focus shift gears to your family time.
Give. Even if it’s small this is a great time to get kids focused more on giving then getting. You can also DIY stuff together for family and friends.
Tell you relatives no. Instead of buying for everyone host a gift exchange with a low cost. We do one where you have to thrift or DIY everything and the budget is $20.
Keep Santa magic alive. Tell the kids he doesn’t deliver expensive gifts because there are so many kids to worry about.
Wrap it up
Wrapping paper is so expensive! Here’s where you can get it for FREE:
Reuse newspapers (our local paper has wrapping paper print on a few pages as a feature right now).
Use the paper your kids have drawn on as wrapping paper instead of throwing it away (especially if you have a large roll you use).
Freebies/the dump (seriously I found a bunch of wrapping paper at our local dump. They have a section where you can leave things for free. Also got a doll house there!).
Reusable bags are not totally free but a great way to wrap up gifts and have wrapping you’re not going to throw away.
Buying it on sale after the holidays is a great way to stock up as well.
Make Christmas morning magical
My favourite holiday tradition is what we do Christmas eve. Each year the kids get to open one small gift. This year I’m going to be very intentional doing a Christmas Eve box for them so we can have some family time together.
Don’t put the presents under the tree. A tradition from my own parents and aggravation to my kids, I don’t put their gifts under the tree before Christmas morning. This leads to a big “wow” moment when they wake up the next day.
It’s all in the details. Have the fire roaring, the Christmas music playing, and Christmas smells in the air.
Take it slow. Don’t just tear into gifts. Take as long as you can to open them one at a time.
Show gratitude. For the kids’ cheesy DIY gifts and things you don’t even like. Model it for the kids and encourage them to show it too.
The truth is we can afford some holiday gifts thanks to my blogging and business income. I also like to have pretty big Christmases for my kids, although anything with 5 kids is big! The difference is I try and be very intentional with my gift giving and try not to spend too much money. We’d rather use that cash on vacations or home stuff.
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