The British Berliner
A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
7 Christmas gifts that don’t cost a single thing, and 7 gifts that do – 2019/2020!!
I do so love winter!
It’s that great time of year.
Christmas & the New Year!
I love the crispness of the air, the early evenings, the freshness of the cold, and the darkness when the lights come out.
I love it so, because December is my most favourite month ever, and also the month of my birth!
It’s my very own birthday!
Yipee!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Czech Republic – December 2018
Last year, I had a bit of a do!
How so?
Well, instead of having a huge birthday party, I decided to treat my family to an all-expenses-paid-entirely-by-me weekend away, to Prague!
Yay!
The Czech Republic is one of my favourite countries.
Indeed, before I came to live in Germany as a British Expat, once upon a time, I lived in Prague!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Czech Republic – December 2018
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Czech Republic – December 2018
Don’t I look happy?
I even managed to do some of my Christmas Shopping!
Speaking of Xmas Shopping.
Aaaaah!
You might not be excited about winter or the horror of Christmas shopping, but you are still liable to the festive season.
At least in Europe you are!
Yikes!
So let’s make a deal.
Instead of wasting a huge amount of money on things you either don’t need, or probably already have, making the issue of #firstworldproblems completely and utterly true.
Let’s figure out a way to make Christmas time as pain-free as possible.
So come with me as I feature 7 Christmas gifts that don’t cost a single thing if you’re broke, and don’t have a penny to your name. And 7 gifts that do, for those who have the dosh, and want to spend it!
7 CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT DON’T COST A SINGLE THING, AND 7 GIFTS THAT DO!!
Here we go!
1. MAKE A PHOTOGRAPHY ALBUM
IT DOESN’T COST A SINGLE THING!
In todays’ world, pretty much everyone and his mother has a mobile phone. In many cases, a smart phone too.
It doesn’t take a genius to take a photograph or two of yourself, your friends and family, or even your hobby using stuff like postcards, ticket stubs, old T-shirts, money, etc, making your photography more than just a bunch of photos, but a scrapbook of your life.
And theirs!
Then all you have to do is upload the photographs, edit as appropriate, then send off to your loved ones by Email.
IT DOES! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!
The INSTAX Mini 90 Neo Classic Retro Camera!
If you’re looking for something different, why not get a retro camera for instant photographs with your friends and family. ‘Remember when this was a thing?
I recommend this fabulous INSTAX Mini 90 Neo Classic camera – because it’s a blend of stylish quality with a retro camera design that looks good, feels great, has a full range of camera functions, and performs beautifully!
It also comes in classic black!
And get this.
Prices are very affordable!
Go on.
Spoil yourself!
2. MAKE MUSIC
IT DOESN’T COST A SINGLE THING!
Ha! Ha! Not a measuring tape.
I mean tape cassette!?
Tape?!&%!!
When was the last time that you actually saw a good ‘ol cassette player?
Like never!
Nevertheless, the sentiment remains the same. Why not make a customised mixed playlist from your huge collection on iTunes or Spotify, and make a CD! You can even sing on it….!
IT DOES! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!
On the other hand, if you’ve ever wanted to be in your own rock band, and make your own style of music, now you can!
I recommend this really cool RockJam Full Size Electric Guitar Superkit. It even comes with it’s own amp, strings, tuner, strap, case and cable, as well as an association of colours – black, red, brown, and sunburst!
Perfect for the aspiring beginner!
And get this.
Prices are remarkable!
Move over Eric Clapton!
Ha!
3. MAKE YOUR OWN COOKBOOK
IT DOESN’T COST A SINGLE THING!
I’m not the best of cooks.
Even though I love eating wonderful food, and I have a whole bookshelf of cookery books.
I SIMPLY CAN’T COOK!
But if you can, why not make your very own cook and recipe book for your friends and family?
Add personalised notes and extra information about why you chose that particular recipe, ‘cos who doesn’t like something delicious. Or even the secret to making a good cup of tea!
IT DOES! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!
If you fear that you might kill people, leave it to the experts, and buy your loved ones a cookery book instead, so that they can make it like mummy used to.
Properly!
If the pressure is far too much, why not try out some fun cookbooks, to remind you of your obsession in 2019 instead…
4. USE YOUR GARDEN
IT DOESN’T COST A SINGLE THING!
We all eat far too much!
Using the fruit and vegetables from your garden, your terrace, or even your windowsill, can give you pickles and jams galore!
Instead of throwing out your excess fruit, make jam and give them to your friends and family.
Instead of throwing out your excess vegetables, make chutney and give them to your neighbours.
And if you’re worried about the effects of dry summers and warms winters, then by all means, go ahead and make your own pickles!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner
We have a plum tree, an apple tree, a blackberry tree, and hundreds of home-grown vegetables.
We have our own wormery and compost box.
We make our own jam & jelly, make our own fruit smoothies, make our own chutney and sauces, bake our own bread and we even make our own pasta!
Fresh produce is fantastic ‘cos there are no added chemicals.
In fact, no added anything at all!
Just put in a little sunshine, a bit of water, some basic pruning from time-to-time, a couple of old teabags, crushed eggshells, dried coffee granules, some hay, and you’ve got yourself a vegetable patch and freshness to last you through the winter!
IT DOES! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!
I’m a very bad cook, but I do actually know how to grow my own food!
Yes.
I do!
And in this day and age of chemicals, fertilisers, horsemeat, and who knows what in our food, isn’t it about time that you get yourself a garden book and learn how to find fruit and vegetables that is simply all around us?
And for the vegans out there or for non-vegans like myself, who just like good healthy food, a meat-free lifestyle doesn’t hurt!
Why wait?
5. DETOX YOUR WARDROBE!
IT DOESN’T COST A SINGLE THING!
I think we all know where this is going and unless you’ve been living under a rock, the ugly fact is that most of us have too many clothes!
Worse of all, we don’t even wear what we buy!
And if we do go so far as to actually wear what we have bought, we wear them just once or twice, and then throw them away!
Most people by their very nature are charitable and want to help others, as such, many of us donate our clothes to some sort of charity but shockingly, these “charities” don’t always keep our clothes to give to the needy.
Oh dear me no.
They get sold on to developing nations in bundles, where in no time at all, you’ll see your “one-of-a-kind T-shirt” billowing away on the clothes rack of a market stall in Angola.
Or best case scenario, ripped apart by local workers who get pittance for their labour and plunged into slowly destroying their already fragile environments.
What to do?
- Buy less
- Repair your clothes
- Swap items with your mates
- Ensure that your clothes can be re-used or recycled in a responsible, ethical way
- And if you’re really into it, make your own clothes or get your grandparents to show you how!
IT DOES! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!
If you’d like to know more about fast fashion, buy products from organic, eco-friendly organisations.
6. READ A BOOK
IT DOESN’T COST A SINGLE THING!
If you’re clever, getting a book for free is as easy as getting a slice of bread!
All you had to do is search for a classic book online that cost €00.00 , or go to the free openlibrary.org or your local library, and the book is yours!
Certainly the Berlin Central and Regional Library (ZLB), yearly library membership cost between just €5.00 – €10.00 a year, and includes being able to borrow DVDs, Videos, Music CDs, Booklets, Audio books, Art related items, and up to 60 books at a time!
On top of that, you have access to every other public library in the city.
All pretty much free of charge.
Gosh!
IT DOES! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!
Why waste time?
Buy your loved ones a kindle, and they can have a book for life!
7. WRITE YOUR OWN BOOK or START YOUR OWN BLOG
IT DOESN’T COST A SINGLE THING!
Get yourself a glass of wine.
Grab some plain white paper or your laptop and get writing!
IT DOES! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!
Buy the book of someone else.
An ordinary person.
Just like you.
Someone like my very own brother, who wrote a children’s book called THE BEEHIVE.
In just three (3) months!
OMG!
If you want to write your own blog, here’s my link to a $25 or €25 discount in credit with any paid plan with WordPress. Don’t say that I don’t give you anything!
It’s really easy and can be done in all of 10 minutes!
Here’s the link again: http://wordpress.com/refer-a-friend/qyyjJjnfWBnRGPVRj0V
Cool stuff!
If you’re still having problems or would prefer a step-by-step live guide, I offer a personal consultancy which can be done in either English or German!
Nifty!
So what are you waiting for, Xmas & the New Year is just around the corner.
Get to work!
And good luck!
7 CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT DON’T COST A SINGLE THING, AND 7 GIFTS THAT DO!!
This article isn’t sponsored and all opinions and amazing gifts, presents and ideas, are my very own!
I have so much to share with you.
I’ll tell you all about it next year!
If you’re not in Berlin in winter, you’re not going to have any sausages!
Yay!
Watch this space!
DISCLOSURE!
Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to World Nomads Travel Insurance & Booking.com.
In short, there are two affiliate link companies connected to this post!
Every time one of these services is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.
I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
Which of these gifts do you like? Would you buy them for yourself? Let me know in the comments below!
See you in Berlin.
If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
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