Cost of Living at Christmas with cancer

Lots of communities have free children’s events and Christmas light switch-ons. Check local social media accounts and newsletters for upcoming events.

• Get crafty with children at home. You don't need to invest in expensive supplies to get creative with some Christmas-themed painting. Look at Pinterest for ideas that reuse old household items, like cereal boxes or lolly sticks.
• Pick out books at your local public library. Libraries sometimes also offer free board games.
• Put on Christmas music using a free Spotify or YouTube account.

Christmas day doesn't have to be extravagant to be meaningful.

• Make a meal plan and try out some budget Christmas recipes.
• Use apps to find people giving away food that would otherwise go to waste, such as Olio and Too Good To Go.

If you celebrate Christmas, consider changing the way you give gifts this year. This could feel difficult, especially if you're surrounded by children.

Here are some tips you could try:

• Ask people what they want or need - picking gifts for family and friends can make it easy to overspend. Asking people what they need might give you some cheaper ideas.
• Homemade gifts - baked goods, jams or crafts you can personalise are sentimental gifts that you can't find in the shops.
• Secret Santa - if you spend Christmas with family or friends, suggest a Secret Santa to reduce the number of gifts you need to buy.
• Shop early - keep an eye out for sales throughout the year. This will also help you to spread the cost. 
• Suggest alternative present ideas - if you want to help others, you could invite people to donate money or items to a charity instead of buying a gift.
• Christmas cards - instead of sending cards in the post, you could send an e-card or a video to save you the cost of cards and postage.
• Reuse what you can - get out the decorations from last year before buying new ones.
• Consider turning off Christmas lights after a few hours, to reduce your energy bills.
• Regifting - consider repurposing things you never use into a Christmas gift for someone. This might be a gift you received in the past, like a scarf, unopened bath set or piece of jewellery.
• Buy second-hand - look for preloved presents and Christmas decorations. This could be clothing from sites like Vinted or Depop. Or it could be toys and gadgets from eBay or local online marketplaces like Gumtree.
• Manage expectations - this is especially important with children, who may not understand money. If you can't afford a particular item, make sure they know what to expect to help avoid disappointment. You could also encourage them to save up their own money, or make it a goal to save up together.  

Organisations that provide free Christmas gifts or meals for cancer patients

• Something To Look Forward To is a charity providing gifts to families affected by cancer in the UK.
• The Lewis Foundation delivers free gifts and support packs to adult cancer patients in hospital across the Midlands, including hampers at Christmas time.
• Little Lifts provides gifts for people with breast cancer in the UK.
• The Salvation Army provides Christmas lunches to older people living alone, and food parcels to families who are struggling to afford a Christmas lunch.
• If you are struggling to afford everyday groceries, you might be eligible for help from a food bank. Find a food bank near you, or learn how to get referred to a food bank. 

Kerstin is a Digital Content Editor at Macmillan. She has a background in creating digital content for the NHS, other health charities, and research organisations.