Many families are facing financial crunches this year, with job layoffs, skyrocketing costs of fuel, and the general all around increase in the cost of living.

 However there are still plenty of ways to bring holiday cheer to your home and not spend a lot of the green stuff. Here are some simple holiday pleasures to get your creative juices flowing.

Arts and craft ideas are great for decorating your home. For example make homemade gift-wrap and also to make homemade presents. Learn a new skill like sewing, crocheting or knitting so that you can make homemade presents this year. Bead making is something else that is ideal for presents.

Sometimes you can discover a gift idea that your child really wants, that is within your budget such as an item that they are collecting, or a kit that they can make. Primary school aged kids are especially into collecting and kit making.

Take advantage of free holiday programs your community may be sponsoring this season. A visit to a zoo or park and nature centres will be very rewarding. They often have special holiday programs that are free to attend or participate in.

Children love to do family activities together, especially during the holidays. Do activities like having a "biscuit factory" day. A biscuit factory day is when you purchase cooking ingredients ahead of time, have your recipes ready and then assign a Saturday for all family members to gather around the kitchen table to make several batches of holiday biscuits. Its fun to bake together and afterwards you can set aside a plateful of cookies to munch with hot chocolate in front of a holiday TV program.

A great holiday tradition around in the UK is to go Christmas caroling around the neighborhood. You can also go to a community nursing or residential home and sing carols there. The elderly are often lonely during the holidays and would love to have visitors sing Christmas songs to them.

Take some time during the holidays to help out those less fortunate then you by volunteering at a community soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or other needy project. You may consider asking your local hospital for individuals that may need to have some cheering up and visit those in the hospitals who may be away from home or whom are without relatives.

Remember your furry friends during the holidays and visit animal shelters bringing with you extra blankets or little chew toys. Sometimes you can volunteer to walk the dogs there or play with the animals in cages that need exercising.