What's the concensus on "freebies" as Christmas presents?

juno

I think it depends on what the freebie is. Freebie shampoo to someone going bald is a bad idea. Freebie that someone will like is ok.

My brother in law is getting a present from the poundshop. But I know he'll love it!

donquine

paddy's_mum wrote: »

Perhaps the question that should be asked is this :-

If you (as the person receiving the gift) know full well that the giver is struggling at the moment to keep a family's financial head above water, what are you demonstrating when you sneer or get snotty over the lack of hard cash spent on you? Love ...?

I feel very sorry for anyone who knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

Problem is, when people are struggling, they often keep it to themselves. I have seen countless threads on MSE where posters ask for advice on how to tell their OHs they're heavily in debt - and if you can't bring yourself to tell your OH you're struggling, chances are your family and friends don't have a clue either. If the recipient doesn't know of your current circumstances, they can't be expected to understand, particularly if you've given expensive gifts in previous years.

I'm not sure how much I would appreciate a poorly made handmade gift, but I would adore something like a handmade scarf from someone who could knit. I can't knit myself, so I really would be grateful.

Similarly, things like chutneys and jams are not things I have time to make myself and I would therefore appreciate them.

If you're going down the homemade route, play to your own strengths. Chances are, there is at least one thing you are good at, so find a way to turn that skill into an appropriate present. If you're good at cross stitch, for example, you could make a beautiful sampler for an older relative. However, you could also cross stitch something in a more modern design (e.g. based on computer game sprites like Mario) for a younger person - you can adapt 'old' crafts for a modern audience and vice versa!

alanamyles

donquine wrote: »

However, you could also cross stitch something in a more modern design (e.g. based on computer game sprites like Mario) for a younger person - you can adapt 'old' crafts for a modern audience and vice versa!

That's such a coincidence! Last night I found a pattern for a small Mario cross stitch sampler which would be perfect for my son and nephew =]

I'm also rather skilled at web design (it's what I do for a 'living', self-employed), so was considering creating a personal website for my nephew as I've just had an offer for 99p domains. I know it's not a tangible present, but think my 15y/o nephew might think it's cool ;]

Thank you for your lovely comment, Paddy's Mum, personally I'd be mortified if someone I knew was struggling bought me a present, I just wish everyone else saw things the same way as you do.

Leanne200

I dont think there is any shame in giving Freebies or hand made or cheap gifts, times can be hard and there is no point in splashing out on big purchases if you are stuggling to get by and im sure friends and family can understand this.

Im sure if you do get a bike from Freecycle or something you can explain to your daughter why you had to do this, which is so that you can afford the more important things in life, like clothes on your backs, food in the cupboards, roof over your heads. Im sure she may understand, alot of people dont give children enough credit when it comes to things like that... but you may be surprised.

I have been a bit tighter this year especially with the Debenhams vouchers and using the ASOS £10 off code glitch and the Molton Brown code glitch to name a few. I dont honestly think that when it comes to cousins, Aunts and Uncles ect I have not spent anything more that £5 on any one gift! Most of them were about £1 or less and I have some pretty good stuff!!

The only people I spend that bit more in is my Mum, Dad and OH.

I have to say I have not been using the Freebies forum much at all, but the last couple of years I was always in there applying for stuff! One year I gave my Mum some Baileys Latte glasses and a frother which were free! But they were nice and she was never going to be any the wiser and really liked them. Which at the end of the day I think is the most important thing... that the person like what you got/gave them!

pollypenny

Good luck with sourcing presents for your daughter.

It might be a good time to bring up the idea of presents just for children again. In the present circumstances, even your aunt may have a dose of realism.

I'm sure your mum, for one, would prefer you to be solvent than worried about money or in debt.
Hope all works well for you and little one.

ERICS_MUM

laurenjs88 wrote: »

No, Ive managed to get 2 picturekea. one for me and OH and the other is going to my Dad, My MIL's hammper consists of - A wicker basket i won as a vimto hamper, an andrex hot water bottle & slippers i won (facebook) some soap and glory goodies i won (facebook again) lots of make-up and body creams that either ive won, got through magazine freebies or free samples, everytime I go into the city I hit the beauty counters at HOF, Debs & Boots some promo goodies from The Mall which you got for signing up for the reward me card including a credit card box of mints, a trolley token, a lint roller (she has 3 cats!) and a small packet of tissues for your handbag! then I brought some of the recent tesco 1 for 3 on skincare, and there 3 for 2 mini gifts and 4 for £3 travel size things stuck them in a nice make-up bag and put the shower/bath stuff in a wash bag, total cost around £12 content price close to £100 BARGIN! Im so jealous I want to keep it for myself!

Wish i could so you a picture its amazing if i do say so myself, did the same last year and it was the best gift she'd ever got!

Kids have got loads of freebies, comp wins and glitches as have the rest of my family for xmas. They arent going to know so I dont think its a problem. My mum loves second hand vintagey stuff anyway so she's easy to please!

Your MIL's hamper sounds amazing, I'd love something like that.

My sister and I always buy each other lots of small/cheap things to do with our hobbies and interests, all wrapped separately and presented in a home decorated box. Things like a jazzy-coloured nail file, a tube of crafting glue, a tiny rubber stamp in the shape of a cat, a 50 pence trial size shampoo etc . It takes us ages to open them all and we laugh so much about each little item.

One thing I always love to get is a bag of gold (chocolate) coins. This year I'm making up a selection box for my 23 y/old nephew who has a very sweet tooth. Shop-bought selection boxes are sooo expensive.

mary-op

I see nothing wrong in giving 'freebies' as presents at all. Due to ill health OH hasn't worked for a year so moneys tight.........I don't normally spend a great deal on Christmas anyway as don't feel thats what its about but this year spent even less. I covered some empty twiglet pots from last christmas with christmas paper and filled them with free samples of anti-wrinkle cream, soap....anything I could find, plus decanted some cheap bubble bath into a nicer bottle we'd had in the kitchen for something else. It became a ''pamper pot'' and my friend was thrilled to get it for her birthday along with a few other bits that cost next to nothing.......button necklace made from mums old buttons, bottle of hugs........just an empty bottle filled with 'hug' quotes from the internet. Its amazing what you can do when you think about it and its that that counts, not the cost.

funkymartin

Having recently lost my job I can fully concur how difficult this coming Christmas will probably be. In these hard times it's even more crucial to look out for offers and freebies I feel.

If this helps, I have recently acquired a free "Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party" Nintendo Wii game. The deal is with Renault UK's Scenic test drives; get a postcard from Cineworld cinemas (I saw a large foyer display stand in Ashford, Kent). Book a test drive of any Scenic, complete the card details and Bob's your uncle, as they say).

My game arrived within a week too so I was very impressed. (I haven't seen this promotion posted elsewhere yet on this thread but I could be wrong - haven't really got the time to trawl everything!)

Hope this adds a little festive cheer if you have a Wii, or rather your child does. With this thread I think it's perfectly ok to give a freebie in this harsh times, and anyway how would a child know otherwise? Other than that though, I still think it's the general Christmas spirit and seeing loved ones that should really be cherished; sadly not all of us have complete families these days for many reasons. I'm actually really glad now that I never got everything I asked for years ago now as it's made me really appreciate things I think in life.

esmf73

I think its fine - as long as the things that you give aren't broken, scratched (eg DVD) go for it. I have. Yes I take care with what I choose and try to get things that are appropriate for each person as I think this is more thoughtful.

My children aged 5 and 6 will have no idea whether things are second hand, free or cost a fortune. I think when children are little they just want LOADS to open. So where I've recycled unused colouring books and pens I've wrapped them separately, books (great from Charity shops) have also been wrapped separately. Go for it xx

FatVonD

Given that one bike has already been stolen I think it would be madness to buy a new one, second-hand makes so much more sense. I was given a SH TV when I was young and it mattered not a jot and, when DS was very young I gave him a SH play cooker because I couldn't afford a new one and a huge pile of SH books the library was selling off for less than one new book would have cost.

I have to say that while I'd love it if anyone gave me bric-a-brac from charity shop/car boot sale/freecycle I'd not be delighted to receive anything home baked/pickled but I think I'm in the minority on that one!