Christmas Present Pressure

do_it_today!

Hi :hello:
Its that time again!
I find Christmas present buying a minefield, we have got past the guess the gift game and now simply ask each other what we would like... I have started asking as I want to tie things up asap being 6 months pregnant I dont fancy getting caught up with the masses in a crowded shopping centre.

Only problem is I wanted to stick to a budget of £20 per person but two of the presents are at least £40 each. Normally that wouldnt be a problem but with the following factors
1) One income down at the moment
2) impending maternity leave - reduced income in February
3) possible redundancy looming....

my dad claims he would be happy with a pair of socks (he regularly trots out this line but I dont believe it for a minute based on previous reactions to modestly priced gifts in the past!)

brother flipped last year when he felt family didnt make an effort and he had...

Me and Dh would be happy with whatever.... socks / CD / abook / a scarf we are not fussed.

I feel my blood pressure rising already

julie03

its not how much you spend, its the thought and love that goes into a present. i am making most of my pressies this year, costs very little and seems to be much more appreciated.

do_it_today!

julie03 wrote: »

its not how much you spend, its the thought and love that goes into a present. i am making most of my pressies this year, costs very little and seems to be much more appreciated.

I agree with you entirely and have in the past spent alot of time trying to find presents in the past that I thought they would be happy with... sometimes getting it right sometimes not. If they tell me what they want I cant go wrong - however this year I am restricted by our budget!

In the case of the fated dad present I really felt it would suit him and he would like it but because of where it was from he was totally rejected it despite me spending alot of time and thought in chosing it.

esmf73

Why don't you bring your budget down even further? I tell my family that their presents have to cost under £5 per person (not my kids, but the adults) as I then donate what I would have spent to charity. What we actually do is sponsor a child in Africa - but due to OH's job finishing shortly I've had to stop this.

I try and find presents that people can maybe use over Christmas. Example - my aunties & uncles who don't drink alcohol have this Christmas all got a bottle of Schloer (they like it and it was bogof!). I then made mini hampers - one to keep warm - two pairs of adult sized gloves, some candles - in case of powercuts and some reusable handwarmers. I work on the principle that most people these days already have what they want - or if they don't they'll buy it themselves before the VAT increase! So I try to make the presents fun / useful.

Only one I'm stuck on is my MIL who has cancer and might not make Christmas / New Year. I'm thinking I'll give her a huge pile of boiled sweets as she seems to be eating these a lot atm.

tealady

Hi esmf
If you MIL is ill perhaps beauty treats like a pedicure/manicure /facial. You could perhaps offer to do it for her that would mean it wouldn't cost much, you could do it whenever and where ever she feels comfortable and she would have your company.
HTH

frankingmachine4u

Hello fellas! i don't know what to give to my relatives and friends this Christmas. I can't think of stuff or items to give. I mean, budget wise...it should be not that expensive but not too cheap. I always get stuck when it comes to buying gifts for someone. I hope you guys can help me make get started with my gift lists. Thanks all!

VK-2008

towel cakes for family members and couples
nappy cakes for expectant mothers
sock monkeys for the kids
hampers - food
hampes - drink
hampers - beauty
hampers - keeping warm - like mentioned above - great idea
photo frame and family pics
photo album
a nice meal

seven-day-weekend

Follow our example and don't buy any.

We've never made a big thing about Christmas and now our only son is grown up and both sets of parents are dead, we only have a sister (on my side) and a cousin and her husband (on his) . (We have never bought for cousin's or sister's children since they grew up).

We buy for each other, our son and his girlfriend and then the present isn't always at Christmas. My son needed a new cycle, (he doesn't drive), we bought it for him in July, but it is his Christmas present. We haven't bought for sister or cousin for years, they do not expect it.

We have bought a load of CDs and DVDs recently and a new camera; these will be our Christmas presents to each other, but we don't wait until Christmas.

I understand if there are small children then you have to make more of an effort, but even so I would only buy for them, parents and siblings and don't spend a fortune.

webitha

we dont buy for anyone in my family, ony our own kids and mum.dad grandma

cant afford it as both my brother and siste have 6 kids each

knithappens

what they expect and what they get are 2 different things, stick to your budget and only buy what you can afford. I have gotten lots of brilliant gifts for a fraction of the cost using the grabbit boards on here and also using online discount codes, and also hot UK deals, that way no one knows what you spent all they see is the original value of the gift, sneaky but hey it saves me a small fortune.

I have also got most of my xmas cash neutral, used tesco vouchers to double up for gifts, and also sold bits and pieces on ebay I dont use, made £50 this weekend, and that will go to buying bits I need without spending any "real" cash.

Just buy what you can afford.

molthedoll

you need to look on the grabbit forum where many posters post about latest glitches or good offers on items eg mands calendars are 50%, but if you use codes from the codes thread then you can get an extra 15% and free delivery too.

i got my mum's present sorted for less than a fiver - £10 worth of calendar and diary, and i know she will appreciate it and use both items

for my siblings i am doing food hampers - i have purchased stuff during the year when i have found it reduced to clear eg jars of olives reduced to 50p with a bb date of june 2011

when someone in the family wants a large gift that costs a lot more than i intended to spend then i go joint with another sibling

i don't think i have spent more than £5 a person in the family, but have given stuff worh over £15 - 20

i also don't think you need to spend lots to give decent, useful presents

sometimes with members of the extended family we agree tat w are not doing present and only giv presents to each other's children

good luck