It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? For many kids, Christmas is a time of joy and excitement. They can't wait to see what Santa has brought them. But for us parents, Christmas can be tough on our wallets. According to new research from Pureprofile Limited, Christmas budgets are getting tighter, meaning families are having to cut back on Christmas gifts. And, one of the biggest areas where families are cutting back is on their kids’ gifts. In 2019, families spent an average of $165 on presents for their children. However, this is expected to drop to $133 in 2022. If money is getting tighter, what are some budget friendly ways to still have a magical Christmas? We've gathered some great cheap Christmas gift ideas for kids that will make everyone happy on December 25th (or any day of the year, really). Some are even free! So read on to find out what they are.Experiences make the best kids’ giftsAdventures, experiences and excitement, oh my! Give the gift that will stick in their minds for years to come through an experience. Whether it's a day out at the park, a night out camping in the backyard, or visiting a nearby farm – these fun kids gift ideas won't break the bank. The important thing is that you're present and focused on them. They'll cherish that time spent with you long after the Christmas decorations have come down. Experiences can vary depending on your budget. Here are our top picks that are 100% kid approved, and wallet-friendly: Mini golf - guaranteed fun for all ages!For movie buffs, a Village Cinemas VJunior Ticket will take the movie watching experience to a whole new level of fun! For older kids, tickets to a D-box cinema will take you on an immersive cinema experience For sporting fans, a backstage, behind-the-scenes tour of their favourite sporting venue will guarantee to blow their minds. We love the MCG Tour for a great budget-friendly option Fruit picking - from delicious cherries to juicy strawberries, fruit picking makes the best family outing Want more experienced-based gift ideas? Check out our handy experiences gift guide. And the best part about an experience based gift is that the anticipation and planning becomes part of the gift! The excitement leading up to the gift lasts a lot longer than Christmas day. So this Christmas, think outside the box and bound into your next (budget-friendly) adventure!Group gifts makes AMAZING kids gifts possible The clever way to get around the high cost of gifts is by pooling your money with other family members or friends. This way, you can buy one big-ticket item that everyone can chip in for, rather than buying a bunch of small presents that add up to the same amount. It's also a great way to make sure your child gets something they really want! All you need to do is dream up what gift the lucky kid will adore. If you're not sure where to start, Kidzta's community wishlists allows you to browse through wishlists other parents have shared and you can add whatever looks good right to your own list. And don't forget: with group gifting, you’re doing everyone else a favour: family and friends love being told what to buy! Group gifting takes the stress out of buying gifts since you know exactly what to get. Plus, these are the people who will usually give you something, so they don't want to give your child a gift that won't be used or appreciated. It makes life easier for everyone. So round up some family and friends and get started! It takes seconds to set up a group gift on Kidzta. Give your Kid a Yes Day for Christmas One of the best Christmas gifts you can give your kids is a day where you say “yes” to everything they ask for. No matter what they want to do, within reason, you can make it happen. From staying up late to eating ice cream for breakfast, kids will love having a yes day with their parents. It may sound daunting, but it’s actually a lot of fun – and your kids will love it! Here’s how to make it happen. On Christmas Day, print out a redeemable coupon for the kids to cash in their very own Yes Day. It’s up to you how you’d like to package it up, but the more effort you put in, the more excited they’ll be! Explain that, when they redeem their Yes Day coupon, they can ask you for anything they want and you will say “yes”. Then the planning (and scheming) begins! If the kids need inspiration, check out the movie, Yes Day, for some crazy ideas!Yes Day is all about fun! But there are ground rules (party pooper, you!) that the kids will need to know upfront. You won't say yes to anything dangerous or illegalThere's a budget, so they’ll have to be creative! You can only say yes to things happening in the present, not in the future.On the day itself, be prepared for anything! Your kids might want to do things that are out of the ordinary, so just go with the flow. Most importantly, go all out! The more yeses you give, the better the day will be. Let your kids run wild and have fun. Your kids will have so much fun with this Christmas gift, and you’ll get to create some great memories together. So make Yes Day happen this Christmas - you won’t regret it! (Ok, you might, but it’ll be worth it!)Activity Coupon Book: A Christmas Gift Kids Will Love Give the gift of time, experience and FUN, not more stuff! Create your own activity coupon book that the kids can redeem whenever they like. It'll be something they talk about for months, if not years. And the best part is, you don't have to spend a lot of money to make it happen. There are so many free, printable coupon templates you can find online. Or, for a small fee, you can buy and instantly download beautiful coupon books from Etsy. These books can be packed with coupons for all sorts of fun activities, from making pizzas to going to the movies. And the best part is that kids can ‘cash’ in their coupons when they’re ready – so it’s a gift that will keep them excited for months after Christmas. With plenty of fun activities to choose from that suit different ages and budgets, you’re bound to come up with activities they will love. Here are some ideas to get you started:Have a family game night - kids get to choose the games! Make a special breakfast togetherHave a picnic at a park you’ve never been to beforeMake a chocolate cake together, with extra sprinkles!Have a day spa experience at home. Face masks, bubble baths and body lotions galore will make for a perfect pampering experienceGo camping in the backyard and watch the starsGo on a "photo safari." Give the kids a camera or your phone and let them loose to take pictures of whatever they wantMake homemade ice cream. it's easy to make your own ice cream at home, and the kids will love helping out. Just a few ingredients and you're good to go!Do a science experiment. There are tons of simple science experiments that you can do at home with everyday itemsHave a dance party. Put on some music, turn up the volume, and let the kids dance their hearts out. They'll love moving their bodies and letting looseMake homemade slime. This is a classic kids activity that never gets old. And it's really easy to make! Plant a garden. Get some cheap flowers or seeds and let the kids help you plant them. They'll love watching their garden grow over time Build a fort. Grab some blankets, chairs, and pillows and build a fort in the living room. Then, have a snack inside or read a book togetherGo on a treasure hunt. Hide some small toys or treats around the house and send the kids on a hunt to find them. They'll love the challenge and the prize at the endGo for a family hike. Explore an area you haven’t been to before and connect with nature. So there you have it! If money’s tight this Christmas, it pays to think creatively about your kids’ gifts.