If you like the idea of starting a Christmas Eve box tradition but worried it will set a precedent for spending yet another small fortune every Christmas on extra gifts to fill it, we have good news. The purpose of Christmas eve boxes is not to replicate Christmas day gift giving but, rather, to create a magical festive atmosphere – and that’s something you can achieve with very little money if you’re creative and savvy.
6 Top Tips For Filling A Kid’s Christmas Eve Box On A Budge
- You may not be able to roast chestnuts on an open fire but…
… there are other ways to make the night before Christmas mega-cosy. This is possibly the only night of the year that a new pair of pyjamas, dressing gown, or slippers will receive a rapturous welcome. Whilst these might be the biggest ticket item in your kid’s Christmas eve box, high street shops and supermarkets now offer styles to suit all tastes and budgets. And, of course, once Christmas eve boxes have become an annual tradition in your family, you can always get ahead and buy festive pyjamas in next year’s size even cheaper in January!
2. Christmas isn’t Christmas without watching a feel-good Christmas movie. Most Christmas-themed films are old favourites – which means they’re been around for a while and are inexpensive to buy. In fact, you can buy a copy of ‘The Snowman’ or ‘Elf’ DVD for just a couple of pounds if you’re happy to buy second-hand from sites like e-bay or in charity shops.
3. Festive sweets, treats and snacks - such as special crisp varieties, popcorn snowballs, gingerbread men, mini-stolen bites and Christmas rocky-road - are an easy way to create a festive atmosphere and are always a hit. Making your own can be cheap as chips (and fun), if you have the time and inclination, but these items can also be bought cheaply from most supermarkets.
4. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure; if you’d like to include a toy, game or puzzle in your child’s Christmas eve box to help take the edge off their excitement, charity shops are full of games, toys and puzzles, many still unopened.
5. If your child already has a Christmas stocking, a Christmas eve box becomes its safe keeping place. The excitement of taking it out every year and hanging it up, ready for Santa to fill, will never diminish. Not got a stocking? You can buy plain linen stockings from hobby-craft shops for as little as £1 (or use an old pillow case). Put one in your child’s Christmas eve box with some glitter pens, glue and sequins, and your kids can while away an hour or so designing their own.
6. Finally, everyone knows that Santa and his reindeer need sustenance too on their busiest night of the year. Wrap an old shoe box in Christmas paper, label it ‘For Santa’ and fill it with the old man’s favourite treats. Cookies and a bottle of beer go down nicely in most households. As for the reindeer, a handful of porridge oats mixed with a sprinkle of cinnamon or ginger in a clear sandwich bag and tied with festive ribbon makes a nice change from carrots.
Inspired to start a Christmas Eve Box tradition in your family but don’t yet have the box? Take a look at Plantabox’s exclusive Christmas range.
Still Looking For A Kids' Christmas Eve Box?
If you're still looking for a Kids' Christmas Eve box, why not take a look at the Plantabox Christmas range. With a wide choice of sizes and designs, and the option to personalise all of our Christmas Eve boxes and gift crates with a name and a message, you can be sure the box you choose will be truly unique.
What’s more, our Christmas eve boxes are built to last; handcrafted to order in our Devon workshop and made with FSC certified pine. And, just like Santa, we’re offering free delivery on all UK orders made by 23rd December.
Merry Christmas!