Christmas Pressies...might be taking Martin at his word!

[Deleted User]

I agree with the op. We didn`t have many things when I was young in the 40s/50s and every christmas present was cherished and wanted. If I want anything these days then I buy it if it can be justified and the same for everyone I know. So presents for habit`s sake is a no no in my family. My grandchildren are drowning in toys and they do not need any more

Instead we spend time and thought on getting together presents for <£10 each person and often that includes home made items, which are truly liked and then we open them together, which is even more magical. We turned the clock back in our house

viktory

I am making cakes - delicious home baked fruit cake, with Christmas decorations on the top, wrapped in cellophane and tied with a pretty red bow. Reasonably low cost as I have some of the ingredients and I know they will be loved for the thought and effort that will go into them.

Bethankim

Oooh Viktory, me too i have done this for the last 3 years. I have put aside a whole weekend and i will have a happy time baking and making.

I make chocolate truffles
fruit cake
gingerbread and decorate them for my tree
shortbread fingers

I have been saving up my baking ingredients for a while and everyone gets a little treat of something nice.

I have a batch of cheap chutney too and i have plums etc saved for jam.
the only person who gets something else is my DS - he has gone without for so long i will be getting him some things - but i have a small budget so its been a creative time so far i have 4 wicker boxes i got on a car boot he is getting:

staying in box: - £10
popcorn
tub of pringles
2 dvd's i got cheap at a car boot
bag of homemade fudge
funky socks
dressing gown (its traditon and needed)


going out box - £20
new pants
socks
jeans
t - shirt
funky gloves
tattoo sleeve

Art box - £10
pencils
art pens
sketch book
tattoo book
tattoo magazine

Random box - stuff i have got for free or less than a pound
day out with me to an art gallery
man products
curry cook book
nesquick milk shake
silly straws

so all in all it will come to about £50 he is 16 i think ive done really well and i liked the themes.

in total for everybody i will spend less than £80 thats all th emoney i have, i have asked my family for a shower as i dont have one and it would be brilliant - i have found one for £45

Broomstick

Do you play board games or do jigsaws? If so, everyone could get something that you'd all enjoy doing together. We used to get a 1000+ piece jigsaw every year for doing over Xmas (but never got round to last year's so that's made it cheap for 2009 ),

lostinrates

Perhaps instead of prsents you can really spend some quality time with each other? You DS of seventeen will I'm sure want something, even if its just a stock up on basic clothes items...or music vouchers, or some driving lessons....

We're having a very small christman not for want of money, but because we don't really want for anything. If we had children no doubt we'd feel very differently

margaretclare

'Christmas isn't too far away' - in fact it's 4 weeks away. Today is Advent Sunday and there are 4 Sundays in Advent.

We don't do presents. In fact, I do less and less every year. This year we're going on a 4-day Christmas break, but as it's in a country house hotel with a leisure centre including pool, and only 4 miles from Coventry Cathedral, you can guess what we'll be doing over Christmas. In addition, there are 11 acres of gardens and grounds, and I'm really looking forward to being able to do exactly what we like.

If you really must do presents, your local homeless shelter will be very glad of any help. We're having a special service at church next Sunday when people can bring either special gifts or the kind of things the shelter needs all year round, basic foodstuffs etc.

I see no point at all in racking your brains and rushing round the shops just to buy for those who have everything they need.

Marcheline

I am personally a fan of CAFOD's world gifts scheme (other charities like OXFAM will have their own version) http://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/ where you donate money to charity on someone else's behalf.

I try to give a 'world gift' for the adults on my side of the family, as I don't see the point in giving to people who have everything they could ever need. They send the person you donate on behalf of a card saying what the donation has bought, so they know you've given something.

For children, I give clothes as they always come in handy. I agree with MargaretClare in that I prefer buying for people in need and think that it is an avenue you could look into.