Oily rag: Jingle bills? Squash 'em!

Banish bored kids to the kitchen on Christmas Day - to whip up a batch of gingerbread men.

Oily raggers are really good at making Christmas an occasion without the cost. Like re-gifting things that have been given to them but will never be used. One couple doesn't drink wine, but they gladly receive it because it's so easy to re-give to those who do appreciate the occasional drop. (Make sure you know who gave it to you, so you don't give it back to them).

Another oily ragger makes the most of duty free purchases when travelling overseas. They don't drink booze, but that doesn't stop them from buying it duty free and storing it for gifts.

Why not agree with your family and friends to have a 'buy-nothing Christmas', and take out all the stress and cost. Or set up a 'free' store and have your neighbours bring stuff they don't need to trade with others. This idea could be used for a cost-free Christmas Day as well.

Here's a good idea for a different sort of Christmas Day meal - have the men make the feast. Give them free range of the kitchen to produce whatever they wish.

If dining out over the holidays, keep an eye out for kids-eat-free deals; have an entree instead of a main and share a dessert - just ask for two spoons - or skip the dessert and make it at home; and watch for restaurants offering early-bird menus or have a late lunch (the lunch menu is usually cheaper).

Seniors should ask if the establishment offers a senior citizens' discount. Sporting clubs and RSAs usually have big, good-value meals. If you are going out for a group dinner, ask for a fixed price at the time of making the booking. Think of it like a bulk discount.

And here's a bit of classic Christmas Day fun for the kids, especially if it's raining. Make gingerbread men (or ginger-persons if you prefer) with this simple recipe from Chelsea sugar:

Sift two cups of flour with half a teaspoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of ground ginger. Add half a cup of sugar then mix in 150g of soft butter and one egg. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky. Place in the fridge for half an hour then roll on a lightly-floured surface until about 5mm thick. Use a cookie cutter or knife to shape the gingerbread men then bake in a pre-heated 180 oven for about 10 minutes, until golden brown. Make icing by adding a few drops of food colouring and water to icing sugar, and don't forget to make a hole in them before baking if you want to hang them on the Christmas tree.