Free Christmas Gift Cheques Pledge to do something nice, rather than spend

Ideas for your special someone

Think about your other half and what makes them smile. You could make breakfast in bed, run a luxurious bath, rustle up a romantic picnic or let them pick a movie of their choice (no whingeing!)

Or how about a "get out of the doghouse free" card, where you let them get away with a minor misdemeanour you’d have normally chewed their ear off about.

Of course, the possibilities are endless. You could promise them a back rub, foot massage, or - ahem - something steamier.

Ideas for kids

For younger kids, the most cherished gift is time with their parents. Promises could include an outing to town, a fave activity or a cinema trip with popcorn.

For older kids, consider promising a sleepover with friends, or control of the TV remote for a weekend.

Ideas for parents (from their children)

Options for younger children include making their parents breakfast in bed or being their butler for an afternoon. They could take on some hated chores, such as cleaning the car, washing up for a week or walking the dog five times.

Adult 'kids' could drive their parents to B&Q to pick up something they've needed for ages. If mum colours her hair at home, invite her to your salon (bathroom) and tend to her tresses.

Ideas for friends

Think about what specialist skills you have to offer. You could dig their flowerbeds, fix their PC or cook their favourite meal. A night babysitting for parents with young kids could be the most cherished gift you’ll ever give.

How about promising financially-challenged mates a Money Makeover? Or if you’re a whizz on eBay, help them set up their listings.

Time to ban Christmas presents?

Consider giving this Christmas a miss. This isn’t about gifts from parents or to grandchildren, but the ever-widening glut of friends, extended family and colleagues. Christmas isn’t a retail festival. We need to end obliged giving and think more about what we're giving to whom and why.

If you’re yelling over your wrapping paper “what about the joy of giving?”, remember gift-giving creates an obligation on recipients to give back, whether they can afford it or not. For some, the gift of “not obliging you to buy for me” is actually better. Read Scrooge McLewis's blog for more: Ban Xmas gifts.

Plus why not make a No Unnecessary Present Pact (Nupp) with friends now? Or at least agree to a Secret Santa or £5 to £10 cap on gifts. If you’re scared to broach this taboo subject, our free Nupp Tool generates the email for you, showing recipients you’re not alone.

It’s not all about the perfect Christmas

Too many people ask: "What will make Christmas totally perfect?" Then they attack the shops for a festive gift-grab, only questioning their finances latyer on.

Instead, start with the question: "What can I afford to spend on Christmas?" Then work out the best day you can have on that budget.

Free Christmas IOU generator

Christmas is the year's costliest shopping time, but January sales are the cheapest. If you're buying a big-ticket item (a plasma TV, or a PlayStation) break this stranglehold with our specially designed Xmas IOU generator.

It produces a gift certificate telling family you're waiting for the sales to get the gift cheaper. You could also buy a small extra gift from potential savings to show the boon of waiting.

This way, kids get a triple whammy: the gift, the boon and a lesson in money sense.

Free video message from Santa

If your child would love Saint Nick to say hello, visit Portable North Pole to create a personalised video message – good for kids big and small, naughty and nice. Just put in a few personal details, and Santa will give bespoke words of wisdom.

Downshift your turkey!

Don’t feel you need to buy posh brands for Christmas. For one ITV1 programme, Martin organised two identical parties for 20 nurses. For one party, the tree, drinks and food were all higher level brands. At the other, they were all one brand level lower – so if the higher brand was ‘finest’, the lower was ‘normal’, and if the higher brand was ‘normal,’ the lower was own-brand.

The guests were blind to which was which, and actually said they liked the cheaper stuff better. So don’t give in to retail snobbery – see Supermarket Shopping for more on the downshift challenge.

50 Festive Fiver gift ideas

Our Festive Fivers contest challenges forumites to come up with the best 'make or buy' sub-£5 presents. Among the inspirational ideas was the 12 Dates of Christmas, an inspirational date night package for someone you love (or lust after) - from a picnic in the park to a candlelit bubble bath.

Or how about a homemade vinyl wall clock, or 50 Sheds of Grey? For kids, plant a fallen bell from Santa's sleigh in your garden on Christmas morning to make the kids' eyes as wide as their smiles. See 50 Festive Fivers for a full list of winners and inspiration.