One Christmas after Dad had been on strike for months and supported us by being a Fuller Brush salesman, Mom took me aside and said that we wouldn't have much of a Christmas. There was no money.
Christmas morning, I was shocked. There were lots of gifts (tiny but carefully chosen) and a stocking plumped up with fresh fruit.
None of realized it was a "skinny" Christmas.
In these days of outrageously expensive electronic stuff, it may be harder to pull off but if kids are safe and loved the rest falls into place.