Our family enjoys a wonderful Christmas every year, with heaps of presents for everyone - yet none of us have to spend a cent! I started this system of 'free gift giving' some years ago, when I was raising my young daughter alone and wanted to be able

to give her plenty of Christmas presents without going overboard on the cost.

Each year, our family selects books at the local library - some of which are huge and very expensive publications - which we gift wrap in Christmas paper and place under the tree. There is a terrific selection of beautiful books, novels, magazines and tapes to choose from.

Everyone gets an abundance of gifts to unwrap and several weeks of fantastic holiday reading on a wide range of topics. The givers have a chance to select special books to suit each person - depending on their favourite authors and particular hobbies and interests. At the end of the summer holiday - the books go back to the library.

Choosing our free gifts from the library is just as much fun as buying them for each other from a shop and the element of surprise is still the same for the recipient. An excellent way to treat the family with some fine reading and entertainment over the Christmas break - and at no cost at all!