We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Christmas thoughts already...

Klug
Posts: 216 Forumite
Hi all
sorry to bring up the Christmas topic when we haven't had summer hols yet! Been thinking that if I'm to save money and plan ahead, I need to do it right now as the other side of the hols is too late to fit it all in.
Problem I have is that I need to 'buy expensive gifts' for certain members of my husbands family (always had to, always will, think it's to do with proving that he's doing ok, pride etc.!). Does anyone have any ideas of things I could make that would look 'bought' please? I can knit and sew well, but hubby says these things always look homemade and are unacceptable. I know its a tall order but any ideas appreciated.
Many thanks in advance
sorry to bring up the Christmas topic when we haven't had summer hols yet! Been thinking that if I'm to save money and plan ahead, I need to do it right now as the other side of the hols is too late to fit it all in.
Problem I have is that I need to 'buy expensive gifts' for certain members of my husbands family (always had to, always will, think it's to do with proving that he's doing ok, pride etc.!). Does anyone have any ideas of things I could make that would look 'bought' please? I can knit and sew well, but hubby says these things always look homemade and are unacceptable. I know its a tall order but any ideas appreciated.
Many thanks in advance
0
Comments
-
Hi Klug,
These threads from the special occasions board may help:
handmade gifts for christmas and celebrations 2011
Lets get started for Christmas 2011
New, New Thirfty Gifty for Christmas and All Ocassions 2011..Santas Challenge...
Christmas Crafting Ideas by Flyingpig - Its Good To Share.
I'll leave your thread on Old Style for a while to see if you can get some more ideas then I'll move it over to the Special Occasions board to see ifyou can get more replies.
Pink0 -
Hi all
sorry to bring up the Christmas topic when we haven't had summer hols yet! Been thinking that if I'm to save money and plan ahead, I need to do it right now as the other side of the hols is too late to fit it all in.
Problem I have is that I need to 'buy expensive gifts' for certain members of my husbands family (always had to, always will, think it's to do with proving that he's doing ok, pride etc.!). Does anyone have any ideas of things I could make that would look 'bought' please? I can knit and sew well, but hubby says these things always look homemade and are unacceptable. I know its a tall order but any ideas appreciated.
Many thanks in advance
Sounds a bit snobby if they don't accept homemade items. I'd be delighted to get homemade gifts! Sorry this was a useless post, just wanted a little rant.
You could make some infused oils in posh bottles or something?Savings £8,865.22 £/15,000 Aiming to save enough for a house deposit.0 -
---
Gardeners hamper
hand cream
nail brush
kneeling mat (Wilkinsons)
gardening gloves (Poundland)
A 5 year gardening diary (Wilkinsons)
A "world's best gardener" mug (Wilkinsons)
gardening tools with a fancy flowery design (Poundland)
gardener's soap (Wikinsons
pamper hamper
Ideas for relaxation/pamper hampers:
box of chocolates or homemade chocolates or truffles etc
mini bottle of wine and a wine glass
A cheap dvd
nail varnish
bubble bath
Snowman soup or hot chocolate sachet
nail file
hair turban (Poundland have these)
a book
a face mask sachet
How about making a cd
fleecey blanket
candles
----
Home made coffee hamper
Get a nice pair of mugs
then make a selection of the coffees
COFFEE MOCHA
Fill tub/jar with Equal parts of instant Coffee and Unsweetend Cocoa Powder and coffee creamer (such as coffee mate or ownbrand)
CAFE VIENNA
Fill Jar/ Tub with Coffee and add a pinch of Cinnamon
SWISS MOCHA
Fill jar, tub with equal parts of coffee, drinking chocolate and coffee creamer
CAFE VIENNA MIX
4 spoons Coffe
1 spoon Cocoa
Pinch of Cinamon
Keep doing this until Jar/ tub is full
CAFE Au Lait
Equal Parts Coffee & creamer
More Hamper Ideas
A girly hamper - hair turban, bath bits, chocolate, wine, make up, etc
A food hamper - homemade cakes, buscuits, chutneys, sauces
A pamper hamper - a blanket, candles, mini bottle of wine and a glass, a girly dvd, a book
A gardening themed one - gardening gloves (pound shops sell these), a kneeling mat, a gardening themed mug, gardener's soap, a nail brush, gardening seeds
An alcohol one - mini alcohol bottles most supermarkets do 4 small bottles for £5. two glasses, a wine or cocktail book
A movie themed one - a dvd, popcorn, pick and mix
Drink + choc mug – mug, sachet hot chocolate, sachet cappicuno mix, mini whisk, couple of mini bars of chocolate, - wrap in cello
Whisk u Merry Xmas – Large Whisk, fill the bottom with chocolates, toffees etc, wrap the whisk in cello wrap
Ladies gardening hamper – hand cream, nail brush, kneeling mat, garden gloves, garden mug, garden tools – fancy designs
A girly hamper – hair turban, face mask, toe seperators, nail file, tea light candles, nail varnish,
Car hamper – Steering wheel cover, bucket, sponge, shammy, carwash, windscreen cover
Mini pamper set- colour scheme, shower squidee, sponge, flannel, bubblebath, showergel,
Mini food package – Mini jars jam (Morrisons 4 for £1), small box posh tea bags, shortbread biscuits (buy multi pack and split between people), add a mug, put it on a small tray
Kitchen goodies – mini scales, teatowel, oven glove, fancy rubber gloves (kim and aggie gloves – posh style £1.00 shop)
Drinks Tray
Christmas tray, small cafeteria pot £1.00 poundland (boxed) they also do a matching teapot (again £1.00) add a small packet fresh coffee, some fresh tea, a couple of teatowels and 2 mugs.
xx rip dad... we had our ups and downs but we’re always be family xx0 -
I am also thinking about Christmas too. I did a super shop at Tesc0 yesterday, saved 70 pounds and stocked up on lots of bits that have been stashed away for xmas hampers :eek::eek::eek:I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over and through me. When it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
When the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.0 -
Thank you so much OP for putting this thread here so that I notice it. As a Muslim, I would never think of looking at the Christmas gifts threads, but I do have to buy presents for Eid etc. This has given me lots of great ideas and is now bookmarked for future ref.Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
(he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...:D:D
0 -
i have already bought 2 bits to put away for my youngest lol i guess we lucky we dont have to buy expensive gifts in our family but its a long list of who we do buy for so it soon adds up if i dont keep an eye on my buyingHave a Bsc Hons open degree from the Open University 2015 :j:D:eek::T0
-
i tend to look at things to buy all year, i buy discount perfume sets etc and put them away and also look in the duty free for any offers or perfume that is cheaper than in the shops.
If i buy the M&S meal deal am not a wine drinker so save the wine to give away as a present
I usually fly out of th EU so can buy spirits in the duty free 2 for £16 last year so get a couple to use as presents
my family would not appreciate a home made gift either
I then save from when I get back from my hols until Christmas from August -November pay packets buying as I go if I see anything0 -
I start to stock up on small gifts just after the Christmas boom is over and have a box in which I stash things towards Christmas.Often I will see perhaps a nice photo frame in a CS and will get that as a small present for neighbours ect. I keep a good look out for the smellies stuff in Wilkinsons after shave, bath /shower stuff ect for my grandsons .I have been putting a pound a day away since January and don't miss it so that will help when it gets near to the time.0
-
op give your hubby a budget and tell him to get the gifts !This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0
-
If you can sew well, how about making a patchwork quilt or knitting a throw? Such items are very "in vogue" at the moment and cost a fortune in the shops. A friend of mine makes them and put a little label on the back so everyone knows it is hand made, and I have to be honest they are gorgeous! You can pick up the material fairly cheaply (she recycles a lot from car boots/charity shops etc) and then it is just your time.
Personally I would LOVE to get given something like that!Free/impartial debt advice: Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) | National Debtline | Find your local CAB0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.8K Spending & Discounts
- 244.4K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.2K Life & Family
- 258K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards