Start the Christmas countdown with a bedtime box of treats for the kids — plus find out how you can win £50,000 for the New Year with Sun Savers
THERE is a new weapon in the fight to get over-excited kids to bed so you can prepare for Santa’s arrival – the Christmas Eve box.
The boxes, full of small gifts and presented in the run-up to bedtime, are getting more popular each year.
You can splash out on expensive pre-filled, shop-bought boxes, but it’s quick and easy to make one for a couple of quid.
We teamed up with Cathy Ranson, the editor of parenting site ChannelMum.com, to show you how.
She said: “Christmas Eve boxes are being touted as a new American trend, but they are actually based on the German tradition of giving gifts on Christmas Eve.
“While some people see them as unnecessary and expensive, this shouldn’t be the case. Done simply, Christmas Eve boxes bring the magic of Christmas alive for the whole family and are a lovely tradition to do each year.”
- Any box will do. You don’t need a special one. Make it personal by decorating a free cardboard box from the supermarket or an old shoebox in pretty festive wrapping paper. Cut out the letters of your child’s name or your family surname in contrasting wrapping paper.
- Print off some free fun Christmas-themed printables to keep little ones occupied. Try .
- Add a bag of make-it-yourself popcorn for Christmas Eve fun. Buy a bag of kernels for less than £1, it will last for ages.
- What goodies have you got for Christmas already in the house that would be fun to eat on Christmas Eve? Pop them in. Chocolate or special biscuits always go down a treat in a Christmas Eve box.
- Head to your local pound shop. Pick up some fun Christmas themed goodies like a new Christmassy DVD to watch as a family, books to read together or a Christmas themed craft kit.
- Got porridge in your cupboard? You’ve got the makings of reindeer food. Mix some in a small tub with cake mix sprinkles. Don’t use glitter as it’s dangerous for wildlife. Pop in this poem:
Sprinkle on the lawn tonight
Let the moon make it sparkle bright
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam
It will guide them to your home.
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Reader's tip
HELENA MOORE of BROMLEY, SE London, says: “Line fridge veg drawers with cardboard egg box lids. They absorb moisture and help food last longer.
Send us your tips to [email protected] and get 28 codes worth £5 if we print them. Include your name and town.
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Jane's tip
DRIVE safely this Christmas. Up until New Year’s Eve, designated drivers can buy-one-get-one-free on soft drinks at participating pubs thanks to Coca Cola. See for details.
Are you ready? Hols from £9.50
THERE are only two weeks to go until the return of everyone’s favourite Holidays From £9.50.
If you’ve not been on one of our brilliant bargain breaks before then what are you waiting for?
We have sent millions of happy Sun readers on holidays over the past 28 years – and you could be next.
There are 326 great holiday parks to choose from, across the UK as well as in top European destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Croatia.
You can take your holiday between February and November 2018.
You can book a three-night weekend break – or for those who are able to go Monday to Friday, take advantage of our special midweek offer and get four nights for the price of three.
Booking your holiday could not be easier. All you need to do is sign up to Sun Savers using the app or at sunsavers.co.uk.
Then collect NINE Sun Savers codes from Saturday, January 6 when the promotion launches.
You will need to collect your nine codes consecutively – one every day – to unlock 24-hour priority booking on Sunday, January 14.
The best holidays go quickly, so make sure you get in there early.
You can still collect tokens or codewords but you will need TEN and will not have access to priority booking.
And don’t forget to pick up your copy of The Sun on Saturday, January 6 for your first Sun Savers code – as well as our 52-page brochure that includes full park listings.
Still not convinced? Then read our 10 Reasons To Book A Sun Holiday.
10 reasons to book a Sun holiday...
- WE have been sending Sun readers on holiday for 28 years.
- We are the biggest operator of short breaks in the UK.
- There are 326 parks to choose from.
- 293 parks offer pay-only-£9.50 dates.
- Our fantastic break destinations include the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Croatia.
- More than 48million Sun readers have holidayed with us. That many people can’t be wrong!
- You can book online to get confirmation of your holiday instantly.
- We offer the best price guaranteed on your holiday or we refund the difference plus £10. See
- We have parks to suit everyone, from spas and golf courses to sites offering top live entertainment and all sorts of other amusements.
- With holidays available between February and November, you are sure to find a date that will suit you.
'He gets so excited it's an adventure'
ENERGETIC Arshan Anam gets so excited about his action-packed Sun Holidays that his parents have to keep them a closely guarded secret.
The four-year-old’s mum and dad Shafen and Mohammad often don’t let on until a couple of days before they are due to set off.
They have even been known to pick him up from school on the way to their latest great park destination.
Mohammad, 39, a university electrical engineer researcher, says: “If we tell Arshan too early, he just can’t sleep.”
“It’s just too much for him. He gets so excited.
“He just loves the holidays. If he knows we are going, he won’t rest until we are on our way. It’s probably the same with most young children that have had the fun of a Sun Holiday.
“It’s one big adventure. And for Arshan, he can’t wait to get to the swimming pool.
“It’s top of his list of things to do. He loves swimming and splashing around in the pool.”
Shafen, 35, a full-time mum, says they usually choose holiday parks within an hour’s drive of their home in Barking, East London.
They have stayed at Haven Allhallows-on-Sea, near Gillingham in Kent, and Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
The couple agree that taking Arshan to the seaside makes for a great getaway – although he would happily spend his whole holiday in the pool.
Mohammad adds: “When we can get Arshan out of the water, we get to enjoy great family time in really relaxed surroundings. Even the simple things – like the three of us sitting down to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle or watching the stars at night.
“The Sun Holidays are fantastic value for money.
“We have told many, many of our family and friends about them. We wouldn’t miss them for the world.”
What is Sun Savers? Here's everything you need to know about our new rewards club
Earn a fiver with Sun Savers
SUN SAVERS is the best way to get a FIVER in cash - just by reading The Sun. Here's how...
- Sign up to Sun Savers
- Pick up today's paper and scan in the unique code
- Collect 28 codes and Sun Savers will put £5 in your account - no strings attached
It's that simple!
'I popped the question on Devon break'
ROMANTIC Steve Burge knew the perfect place to propose to his partner Donna Scott – on their special Sun Holiday.
Steve, a 58-year-old business support manager, bought the engagement ring but kept his plans under wraps when they went to stay at the Beverley Bay Holiday Park in Paignton, Devon, in October 2014.
He says: “I’d decided to pop the question on our Sun break but I didn’t know where and when. It all fell into place when I organised a day out on the Dartmouth Steam Railway.
“I had the ring in my pocket and it was a beautiful trip. The scenery was superb, with views across Lyme Bay and Portland Bill. We had a carriage to ourselves and I just thought, ‘This is it’.
“I dropped down on one knee and asked Donna to marry me. She wasn’t totally surprised, as we’d talked about it before. But she was shocked at the moment. Very quickly her surprise turned to happiness and she gave me a big hug and a kiss before saying, ‘Yes, of course I will’.
“We had been going out for a year and knew we wanted to be together. It only seemed right that we get married.”
The couple, from Bristol, are both big fans of Sun Holidays.
They tied the knot in February 2016 and have been on a host of Sun breaks since, including Park Holidays UK Dawlish Sands in Devon and Haven Riviere Sands in Hayle, Cornwall.
Donna, 51, a delivery driver, says all the parks are “beautifully kept and maintained”, giving “fantastic value”.
But she admits: “Nothing will beat the holiday when Steve proposed. He took my breath away.”
Fancy a free fiver?
YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.
Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.
Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.
This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.
For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.
We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.
Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at .
What is Sun Savers? Here's everything you need to know about our new rewards club
To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.
With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.
TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.
All we’ll ask of you is your name, your date of birth and an email address to get you on the way to your first crisp fiver.
You can choose to save or cash out straight to your bank account or instantly with Paypal.
Don’t delay — join Sun Savers now!
Plus win £5,000 to kick start the New Year
YOU could be starting 2018 with a windfall thanks to our latest Sun Savers competition.
We are giving you the chance to .
Treat yourself to a makeover, put some of those resolutions into action or just enjoy the holiday of a lifetime – it’s completely up to you.
To enter, collect TEN Sun Savers codes from the 18 we will be printing from today until Wednesday, December 27. Once you have entered ten codes you will be prompted to enter the competition, which you must do by Tuesday, January 9.
Terms and Conditions: Collect TEN Sun Savers codes from the 18 printed in The Sun between Saturday, December 9 – Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Last chance to join in is Sunday, December 17. Competition closes at 23:59 on Tuesday, January 9. Over 18, residents of the UK only.
One entry per person. Winner will be selected at random from all valid entries. There will be ONE winner of £50k only.
Allow 28 days from entry closing for the draw to take place. Winner will then be notified within seven days.
Prize is non-transferable. Your information will only be used for the purposes of this competition.
Promoter is News Group Newspapers Ltd.
most read in money
Not open to staff of the Promoter and promotional partner or their families.
The winners will be required to participate in reasonable publicity relating to this competition.
The Editor’s decision is final.