People and Presents!

bluestarrz

I hope no-one minds this new thread as I know that there are several threads on organising Christmas etc but this one is purely present related! However feel free to move me or direct me if it is inappropriate!
Basically I was typing out this list on the organised Christmas thread when I looked at the length and thought it would be better starting a new thread for it so not to try and hi-jack another or go off topic if you know what I mean?

This is my list of people to buy for with a little decription about person, my ideas and hopefully any extra ideas will be suggested?

Mum (budget £20-£30)- notoriously difficult to buy for, all past offerings of expensive face creams/ perfume/ beauty vouchers/ bath sets have been met by same glazed look and mumbled thanks
Not that she doesn't appreciate the sentiment just that she'd prefer something else (picture the 3 wise men - my sister, broher and I- shunned by baby Jesus "Thanks for the myrr, frankincense and gold but I'd rather have sterling silver, Charlie body spray and some chewing gum :rolleyes:)
She is definitely a secret rock chick but not confident enough to wear the gear etc so am totally stuck on her gift - maybe some form of chewing gum/mint pack but that's not really substanial enough...

Dad- also difficult but got a bit of leway here! He is a large man and doesn't shop for clothes very often so have managed to get a New Zealand rugby top for £5 in JJB sale and soft wool knitted jumper in BHS sale also a fiver in XXL so happy with that

was thinking about doing a little joint hamper for them but can't include baking - don't like sweet things so chocolate etc out as well which just leaves alcohol I suppose...ideas definitely appreciated!!!

Also- can I just ask- do you spend full budget on people even if you got it for cheaper? Like my dad's gift I got for £10 but rrp £39 would you save the £29 or spend it on the person because if I don't get any good deals next year I could be spending up to £60 to make it look the same amount if you know what I mean- what do others do?

Brother -(student, moody and unappreciative) budget £10-£15 hoping to do mini whiskey hamper, some miniatures and whisky liquers and whisky flavoured cookies or similar- if they exist? still need a recipe for that one..

Sister -(sweetheart) budget £20-£30 - already got storage box as hamper £1.49, Kylie perfume £10, strictly come dancing workout DVD £1 - poundland and hoping to make her a sweet box with haribo etc and pot of pink - my take on pot of gold- got a pink bowl at poundland and plan to add raspberry ruffles, flumps, turkish delight and any other pink thing I come across!, will buy candles and mug and make snowman soup, making post it holder and may add wine -(yes we are a family of drinkers! Lol!:D) ideas appreciated

Sister's OH-(quiet, submissive sort) Chocolate hamper with little pot o gold and maybe a homemade chocolate slab

Ex OH Mum (still takes my DD to nursery etc and on the whole very nice) Hoping to do her an "after dinner hamper" including wine, after 8's, flannel yule log, a decorated wine glass and maybe a candle - have no other ideas as yet

Ex OH Dad (again still helps out)
Hoping to do Fruit and Nut hamper for him including Homemade chocolate slabs with selected fruit and nuts or shop bought Fruit and Nut chocolate bars, Flavoured little bags of nuts - spicy, honey roasted etc, chocolate covered raisins etc, homemade Christmas cake and wine- Ideas and shops to buy stuff in appreciated, also any quirky little fruit and items? Novelty nutcracker etc? Homemade recipes?

DD (3) (Loud girly girl) mostly got all her stuff including Dora Megablocks play set £15, Nintentendo DS with NIntendogs £105, Dora Ds carrier £10, DVDsx4 £4, booksx4 £4, Baking hamper- started got mixing bowl, silicone fairy cake cases, sugar strands, lollipop kit, measuring cups and cake toppers for about £5.50 so far - need to get tray and mixing spoon and some character cake mixes etc, teaset - £1, pyjamas, jeans and some tops no more than £15 can't remember right now but have some smaller stocking fillers too! Making fairy soup and hoping to make an advent calendar for her too!:p

DS (14)- (likes gadgets and football) share in favourite team £30, football top £40, maybe trainers £20-£30, Galaxy chocolate mini hamper, maybe a remote controlled helicopter? - saw in a catalogue priced at £20, football DVD £1, 2 books £2, aftershave- preferably blue coloured to fit in with football top etc any other small blue related things or cheap gadgets I can find...Making snowman soup and a homemade choc slab for him - using a galaxy of course:rolleyes:

ex OH family secret santa- £30 but won't find out who I get until November - tsk, so unorganised;)

Think that's about it unless anyone else crops up so any ideas appreciated and I'd absolutely LOVE to read all your guys lists with prices and shops etc and any handmade stuff that have worked for you guys?

I know this list is long hence why I didn't want to hi-jack another thread...

little_miss_moneysaver_3

Wow what a long post!!!
Had to make a few notes as I went along. Great idea though, agree would take up space on the other threads, and some ppl definately need help on ideas for pressies.

Ok here's what I thought of.
DB - last year I got Bells whisky dark choc liquours (?SP) in Wilkinsons. And was told they were lovely
Mum - again last year, I got a really nice bag in New Look with a rock kind of design on. maybe if she won't wear clothing, maybe accessories?
Ex OH dad - have seen nuts in our 99p shop, roasted cashews in a tin, also other ones. But these were by the till so I remember them.
DD (3) - Have seen little kits for baking, they have the bits on your list and also little aprons in. Not sure of price tho.

I think thats it.

Now, I'm kind of sorted with present but my FIL is always a pain to buy for. He has everything really. Have made him a flannel reindeer but that's it. Am planning to make dark choc with ginger in. OH is no help.
He is 70, but thinks he's 21 and he likes:
Wine (lots and has loads in the house),
Cars - classic,
classical music (was musician with BBC and has lots of music/CDs etc),
Pretty women,
Entertaining friends/dinner parties,
Gadgets - has loads of things.

So any help would be much appreciated

bluestarrz

If you're willing to run with the ginger theme I've heard you can buy ginger wine? Green and Blacks do a ginger chocolate bar that is lovely and I think it's cadburys that make biscuits with dark chocolate and ginger? I'd add ginger teabags and maybe a little toy classic car with a funny note saying you'd have loved to buy him a real one but it wouldn't fit in the basket or similar? Failing that nice wine glasses for when he is entertaining?
Lol! Incase you haven't noticed I seem to become obsessed with a theme and go over the top...

edit- just re-read your post and see that you are going to make the ginger chocolate yourself, in that case I think the biscuits might be reasonably easy to home bake and maybe cheaper too!

BeenieCat

Has your DD played on a DS before? I ask as i would have thought she be a bit young for one. I got my DS a V-smile at 5 cos he'd played his friends DS and struggled with it, although i'm getting him one this year at 6 cos i know he can play it.

If i get presents cheaper then i won't buy them something else. Suppose it depends, i might buy something cheaper saving £20 but maybe spend another fiver if i saw an equally good bargain, but don't feel obliged to spend the full amount of your budget!!

bluestarrz

DD has had a go on a friends Ds and enjoyed it and there are Dora and Diego games available from 3+ which I think are a good level to start with was going to get her the Peppa Pig game too (again 3+) It all stemmed from her playing on the wii with the Dora and Diego games I got her she had them completed within 2 weeks- they are really easy games and you can't "die" or anything but she seems really interested in computer games just now. Also forgot to mention I picked up a football DS game for my son (it was £4.99 in GAME) so he can always have a go if she gets bored Lol!

BeenieCat

I found with Wii that the age guidance was based on the content of the game and not the ease of use. For example some of the Lego games (Batman etc) are listed 3+ but there's no way a 3yr old can play it.

But you're right there are suitable games for the age group, and it's good she's had a go of one already! They're expensive 'toys'!

trixietoes

How good are you with a needle and thread/sewing machine or knitting needles? As you could make some bits to go with a present maybe?

Last year I had a few pennies left in some peoples budgets (I don't feel obliged to spend it all though). I knitted my friend a golly and she loved it (got the pattern free off the net and had to buy 1 ball of wool and used spare wool).

This year I will be making bits for everyone as an addition. So far...

Maud the Fat Hen - may make her bigger to use as a doorstop - for friends.
Sock Monkey in Southern Belle outfit (friend is from Texas)
Sock Monkey in Karate outfit (nephew who's into Karate)
Apron (to go in little girls baking hamper (making 2))
Little tote bag for above little girls
Cookies in a jars (or this case cello bags) for baking hampers
Made a little bag and will fill it with microwave popcorn packs (friend LOVES popcorn)
knitted willy warmer for OH (joke present)
Making fudge and truffles and going to wrap in cello (recipes on net) for odd gifts.
I am also going to have a go at slabs of chocolate in different flavours.
Mulled wine and beer kit (basically loads of spices to tip into red wine and beer)
Spice jars - different combinations of spices in packs or jars to add to make dips or grilled meats.

You may be able to pick up a magazine subscription cheaper, there are always offers on... and quidco for some cash back. I am going to check this out from my brother & BIL who are difficult to buy for.

Or a cocktail kit - a nice glass, a miniture and a small mixer maybe with a stirer all wrapped up in cellophane. E.g. Bloody Mary, Gin and tonic, Jagerbomb,

Or a retro sweet jar/tin, just fill with lots of old or new sweeties for a blast from the past.

Can't think of anything else just yet, if I do will jump back in.

xx

nightsky224

I'm liking this thread.

Have been so unorganised, normally have lots of presents by now but have hardly got anything this year!! My main problem is that my side of the family is quite big and I really cant afford to keep getting everyone something. I want to think of a token gift that I can get all the adults but at present have no idea what!

So far have
some l'occitane en provence that I bought in tha sale for OH Gran
3 x garden ornaments (things on sticks that you put inbetween your plants etc) got from a country show 3 for £5

Getting OH 3 x books that he wants but haven't ordered them yet

thats about it! (although do need to take a look in my present box)

MummyYummy

I've got my DS, who is also 3, a Leapfrog clickstart computer (plugs into the tv) which came with Dora, Thomas and Toy Story games.

I wouldn'y but my DS a DS (lol) yet because I'd be afraid he'd break it especially with it being so expensive.

little_miss_moneysaver_3

Thanks again Bluestarrz! I'll look into some ginger biscuit recipes. He loves crystalised ginger.

I forgot to say earlier, if i get something good in the sale i don't always send the amount saved. Especially with kids, I like equal amounts of pressies so one doesn't feel they've got less.

Nightsky - why don't you look at the crafting thread? They've ideas like pots of gold, snowman soup and flannel reindeers. They're not too hard to do. And also I love the reindeers as I just think they're fun, bring out the kid in me. Flannels cost me 25p (Wilko), bit of ribbon, googly eyes (got cheap ones in ELC). And something to go inside. For some i've put 2 bathbombs in. Got a pack of 8 nice ones from the £1shop.

Also for magazines subscriptions, you can get good ones with Tesco vouchers, I think up to 4x the amount of vouchers you have.

nightsky224

little_miss_moneysaver wrote: »

Thanks again Bluestarrz! I'll look into some ginger biscuit recipes. He loves crystalised ginger.

I forgot to say earlier, if i get something good in the sale i don't always send the amount saved. Especially with kids, I like equal amounts of pressies so one doesn't feel they've got less.

Nightsky - why don't you look at the crafting thread? They've ideas like pots of gold, snowman soup and flannel reindeers. They're not too hard to do. And also I love the reindeers as I just think they're fun, bring out the kid in me. Flannels cost me 25p (Wilko), bit of ribbon, googly eyes (got cheap ones in ELC). And something to go inside. For some i've put 2 bathbombs in. Got a pack of 8 nice ones from the £1shop.

Also for magazines subscriptions, you can get good ones with Tesco vouchers, I think up to 4x the amount of vouchers you have.

Good itea ill have a look, although I'm not much of a crafty person but I can have a go!