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help - poor student!!

Hiya
as the title suggests i'm a student
my parents and my friends have been amazing recently - they've got me through a pretty tough year - wanna give them some great prezzies - but all my ideas so far need money!
i'm in bath which isn't great for cheap shops! nor is my home town and i'm rubbish at crafts so that's out of the question

ideas???

Comments

  • jetty
    jetty Posts: 3,011 Forumite
    How about a pot of gold? If you do quite a few, it doesn't turn out that expensive

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1283835
    Man who run into airport turn-styles is going to Bangkok


    To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research ;)
  • qwiksave
    qwiksave Posts: 4,456 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Hiya
    as the title suggests i'm a student
    my parents and my friends have been amazing recently - they've got me through a pretty tough year - wanna give them some great prezzies - but all my ideas so far need money!
    i'm in bath which isn't great for cheap shops! nor is my home town and i'm rubbish at crafts so that's out of the question

    ideas???

    If you're short of money try going to charity shops or car boot sales. You can get new (unwanted) goods if you don't want to get second hand and whos to know? ;)
    I don't want to make money, I just want to be wonderful
    Marilyn Monroe
  • Rummer
    Rummer Posts: 6,550 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    How about giving them home vouchers where you offer to do certain tasks? Then you could make chocolate slabs as they are inexpensive. The pound shops and charity shops also have some hidden gems for very little money.
    Taking responsibility one penny at a time!
  • thevicster
    thevicster Posts: 1,334 Forumite
    Hiya
    as the title suggests i'm a student
    my parents and my friends have been amazing recently - they've got me through a pretty tough year - wanna give them some great prezzies - but all my ideas so far need money!
    i'm in bath which isn't great for cheap shops! nor is my home town and i'm rubbish at crafts so that's out of the question

    ideas???

    I'm in Bath too and totally agree about the expensive shops :mad: Have you tried going over to Trowbridge? They have a new Poundland opened up and a few other cheap shops! Swindon is also good for cheap shops (99p stores, poundland, wilko, primark, next clearance, savers) Both are under £10 to get to on the train if you can afford it! hth! Also have you had a look in The Works in town? You may be able to pick up some cheap, decent quality books. Also, keep an eye on the boots bargains on the grabbit board :D
    I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul, I want you to notice when I'm not around[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
  • qwiksave
    qwiksave Posts: 4,456 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Regarding buying gifts from charity shops/car boot sales, you might like to check out this thread:

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2017741
    I don't want to make money, I just want to be wonderful
    Marilyn Monroe
  • Firstly remember that they have helped you out because they wanted too. They didnt do it just in case you bought them some really great presents for christmas. I'm sure just passing your course and doing really well is all the reward they need.

    There are loads of things you can make yourself, you dont need any particular talent. Otherwise many of us wouldnt be making them. And if you do make them yourself think about how much more special they will be knowing that you took the time to make them something yourself, which takes a lot more effort than just going to the shop and grabbing something of the shelf and wrapping it.

    Pots of gold - are so easy - minimal arty effort involved.

    You can make them look really good for little money. You can alter them to suit your requirements - budget.

    If paying for scratchcards is gonna be expensive swap these for favour vouchers.

    Ie - I promise to valet your car.
    I promise to do your ironing.
    I promise to do your gardening.

    These are free albeit a little printer ink, but im sure that wont cost you ;)

    I have done something similar for my sister in law as she is a single parent with 2 kids, so i have included things like a nights babysitting and cooking her a meal, etc etc.

    Also keep your eye on the grabbit thread - things are always popping up on there that i would never have thought of buying but make perfect gifts for certain people.
    :TIs thankful to those who have shared their :T
    :T fortune with those less fortunate :T
    :T than themselves - you know who you are!
    :T
  • make a cake maybe? or buy and decorate some cheap cupcakes?
    It only takes a second to say 'Thanks, you just saved me a few quid!'

    No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries Challenge June
    Toiletries used up- 4 Makeup used up- 2
  • If you could get to Bradford upon Avon with a digital camera or camera phone, you could tak some lovely autumn pictures there, find yourself a poundshop somewhere (as suggested by someone else), pick up a few cheap but nice photo frames, go to Boots or somewhere with a Kodak machine, fiddle around with the effects (spia, black and white), print them off, stick in frames, gift wrap, tada!

    MY DH got some lovely pictures there a few years back when he was in uni in Bath, and I'd love to frame them one day. And as presents they will mean something, becasue you went out taking personal photographs.

    Will still obviously cost something, but shouldn't be too much. Depends how many people you have to buy for of course!
  • Do you like to cook/bake? I am making goodie boxes this year for my brothers and their girlfriends, my boyfriend's parents etc. I found some sparkly boxes with folding lids for £1.80 in Clintons (although I would like some with removable lids), have tissue paper and am going to make Christmas-themed cookies (have a recipe for mulled wine biccies), fudge, biscotti, maybe some chocolate-dipped apricots. I just need to get hold of some cellophane to keep them fresh, I saw that someone else on here got some from a florists or balloon shop so will try that.
    There are lots recipes on the internet and I got a book from Matalan for 99p with lots of Christmas treats in it!
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