Hitch up those reindeer!

Hello Dear Reader,

When it comes to Christmas, I usually just give gifts, which are invariably homemade to my nearest and dearest. In recent years, we've stopped most Christmas traditions all together as we are just not into that kind of thing! My children had a sock with presents in until they were about ten and used to love them, knowing full well where it all came from, but still they enjoyed it.

In recent years, there has been a decline in Secret Santa activities in work places and they have become popular family activities where families need to cut costs but keep the fun. I have been selected by Money Supermarket to take part in a Secret Santa challenge and they even paid me to take part. Imagine the fun of that, I got to go out and buy a fellow blogger a gift for £25 or under and I didn't have to pay for it! On top of all this fun, I get sent a gift too! I love a challenge so I've really enjoyed this! When we receive them, we'll blog about them so watch this space to see what I get sent.

I've been partnered with Susan at Frugaldom.blogspot.co.uk and I couldn't have picked a more like minded blogger if I had tried. Here's a blog after my own heart where Susan documents her money saving daily life in often laugh out loud style. I've giggled along with her homebrew, my tummy has rumbled at her recipes (especially the lemon curd) and I get the feeling that she and I could go foraging together and come home and make jam and not stop talking all the while.

The serious part for me, was reading back through Susan's bog to make sure I got to know her and if you read her blog, then I'm sure you will too.  I can't tell you what is ready to post tomorrow as I'm sworn to secrecy but I'm sure it will send her on her way and give her hours and hours of fun. I just hope she gets that woodstove installed sooner rather than later so she can frugal away in the warmth.

Thank you Money Supermarket for picking me to take part and I hope my gift goes to show that you don't have to spend much money to bring someone happiness and that a bit of money can not only go a long way but be put to good use to go even further. If they like what I've sent Susan and think my gift is worth a prize, then I could win a mini i-pad, which would be just fantastic. If I don't, I've had great fun being the Secret Santa and buying hopefully something fun, useful and part of a better future and thanks to Money Supermarket, it didn't cost me anything.

Until tomorrow,

Love Santa   Froogs xxxxx