Christmas Eve boxes have fast become a tradition in the UK, but it can often be the thing that parents leave until the last minute.
With festive shows, school fairs, grotto visits and goodness knows what else filling up December, the big day seems to come around so fast, leaving mums and dads chasing their tails.
If you've yet to sort a Christmas Eve box for your little one, or are doing one for the first time, then don't fear as there's still time to pull something together.
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Charged with doing just that I called to Asda's Trafford Park store on Tuesday evening where the place was brimming with its budget boxes, costing from £2 each.
They come in various designs, from Disney princesses and Toy Story, to the Holly Jolly Christmas version which I picked up, featuring a festive scene and characters including Father Christmas, a snowman, a penguin and reindeer.
The idea behind the boxes is that parents give them to children the night before Christmas and fill them with whatever they like - usually it's anything from hot chocolate and reindeer food to festive PJs and a film.
I managed to grab some gorgeous festive gifts - and because I'd left it so late, some were reduced too. Every cloud and all that.
I could have gone to town - they surprisingly still had quite a lot of Christmas pyjamas in stock - but my aim was to keep it cheap, well cheapish.
Instead of opting for a movie, I bought a Christmas book, as not only are there generally lots of festive shows and films on the TV, but it's also the perfect night to try and settle them down with a bedtime story.
There was quite a lot of choice, but I went for Bluey - Christmas Eve with Verandah Santa.
At £4, that was actually the most expensive item of the lot, but I'm sure it'll be worth it.
My biggest bargains were the Christmas-themed Star Wars Grogu mug and bowl, which were both reduced to a respective £2.50 and £1.75.
For that all-important bath time, another way of helping them wind down, I picked up a Merry Fizzmas bath fizzer for £1.50. If you've got a number of children to buy for, these were in Asda's 3 for 2 section alongside numerous other little festive gifts.
Of course there's usually a sweet treat involved on Christmas Eve isn't there, so I bought a bar of Cadbury's Mini Snow Balls and teamed that with a Cadbury hot chocolate sachet for just 28p.
The Santa novelty socks, which were in the normal sock section but would pass for bed socks, were a cute little extra for £1.25.
All in all the entire thing, box included, cost £14.28.
There were loads of extras I could have added, like these cute candy cane cushions for £4, or a hot water bottle with a fluffy bunny cover and matching bed socks for £10.
And there were loads of sweet treats in store, including these brownie, cupcake or biscuit making kits for £2 each, below, as well as Elf-themed goodies like the giant sharing cookie for £8, or Festive Elf Chocolate Party Cake for £6.50.
The possibilities are endless, unlike my bank balance, but whether you're keeping it small or going all out this Christmas, there's something for everyone's budget.
My Christmas Eve box
- Box £2
- Bluey - Christmas Eve with Verandah Santa £4
- Hot chocolate sachet 28p
- Bowl £1.75
- Mug £2.50
- Cadbury chocolate £1
- Bath fizzer £1.50
- Socks £1.25
Total £14.28
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