What are you doing for xmas presents money savers??

Cherryjack

I feel such pressure this year that i need to spend loads on each any every family member.. like my mum, brothers and sisters.. ive bought them all a few presents each.. but feel its not enough that i should be buying my mum and expensive elizabeth arden 80.00 set and next kettle and toaster 50.00 ontop of what ive allready got her..

i feel bad becuase she gets us each 2 sacks of stuff and she has hardly any money.. but i really need to not go over the top this year...

What are you doing? x

linz

Great idea for a thread;

For my mum i've made her a Scottish themed hamper as she loves Scotland. Inside is a tartan diary (ebay), a Scotland calendar (ebay), a scottish recipe book (the works), a Scottish bath set (Amazon January sale), 2 x mini whiskys (M&S January sale), tin of shortbread (Asda), fudge (Aldi), scotch Whisky salad dressing (Edinburgh Castle shop). Just need a basket to put it in. I'd say it has cost about £20-25 so far.

Dad's getting 8 x real ales from Tesco (4 for £5 on offer last week) 2 x £5.99 Aldi wines, 2 x mini Irish whisky's (M&S January sale). Looking for offers on Terry's chocolate orange as he likes them.

Brother - a home made sweety hamper. Been trawling Wilko, Poundland and newsagents for rainbow drops, curly wurlys, refreshers, love hearts etc, candy cigarettes, wham bars etc. Will work out sub-£10 I think.

Sister in Law - Cath Kidston mini notelets (£3.99 Amazon - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cath-Kidston-Mini-Notes-Stationery/dp/184949004X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1320504951&sr=8-3-fkmr0) and a Cath Kidston diary (about £5 from The Book Depository. It's currently unavailable but there's lots more stuff on offer - http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/search?searchTerm=cath+kidston&search=search it's also free delivery)

I keep an eye on the Grabbit Board for offers and got some stuff in the January sales/throughout the year.

I use the comparesupermarketprices price comparison website quite a lot too, this is where I found out about the real ale promotion. It's also good for non food stuff too like toiletry offers etc

HTH and looking forward to reading what other people are doing

mothsinmywallet_2

Secret Santa in my family with a £30 limit - we all get together for a meal to do the draw and then all get together at Christmas to give the presents. We do it one at a time and each person has to guess who their Santa was to add drama! It's usually very funny and good natured and accompanied by food that everyone chips in for. Then for kids we have stocked up from charity shops/ebay and cheap stuff bought online. Also have two of our kids' birthdays during christmas week. Have agreed with brother in law and partner that we will not do presents for each other this year. Inlaws are getting a copy of the kids' school photo which the children are making a frame for and we usually do something homemade from the kids to each of the adults so they aren't just receiving. I may top up the inlaws with various booze and chocs from Aldi. We are very lucky that our families are so sensible about christmas.

mothsinmywallet_2

Scottish themed hamper sounds amazing! I'm thinking that mother in law may get a rose themed one as she loves rose scented stuff and growing roses. Hmmmm......

gailey_2

well last year did big hamper mostly hm food and drink for dad.
mini hampers for aunt, mum and nan.

so next week doing cherry brandy
cherry vodka
chutneys


want to do pics of kids with nice frames for both nannys.

make blankets for 3of my kids and my mates daughter.

need to do some research.

kids going to try bargain hunt same with hubbys.

mugs with chocs for daughters teacher and assistant,

did get wrapping paper, cards and new tree decorations in jan sale:D

not sure what to do for mates will think of something

moneys tight this year last year they seemed to enjoy the more inexpensive small things in thier stocking rather than big things as wrapped every small present so seemned like loads!

did buy them 2nd hand rocking horse off ebay listed as a buggy £300 new paid £12!

Homemade craft hampers always a winner for those with kids
also sainsburys basic popcorn in nice bag with dvd as movie pack always a winner.

linz

...by the way, if anyone can think of other Scottish things I can put in my mums hamper please post them

And if I see any good offers whilst looking for stuff i'll post them on this thread :rudolf:

There's a code on TCB for £5 off a £20 spend in Superdrug and they also have 3 for 2 on lots of gifts/toiletry sets and free delivery, plus 8% cashback, i found it on a thread on Grabbit, i'll try & find it again and post the link. Found it - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3524587

natlie

I have done homemade food hampers made chutney, jam, marmalade, individual xmas puddings, cake and will be doing chocolates next month got boxes from ebay cost me £35 for 7 hampers. Got 3 elle magazines this month £20 off at kurt geiger cards for £3.80 mag got 3 pairs of shoes in the sale cost me £80 for 3 pairs would have been £240 full price so thats me, sis and best friend sorted.

mmmsnow

mothsinmywallet wrote: »

Scottish themed hamper sounds amazing! I'm thinking that mother in law may get a rose themed one as she loves rose scented stuff and growing roses. Hmmmm......

I love the Moroccan rose scent from The Body Shop. Keep a look out for offers (last time I used a code from this site and got £45 worth of items for around £20!). Looking on The Body Shop site just now, they have a special on "gift cubes" - including Moroccan Rose. I think the code VC15 will also work to get a further 15% off.

pennypusher

Linz you may find something Scottish for your Hamper in the Edinburgh Woollen Shop if you have one near you. They tend to sell lots of bits and pieces.

Verbatim

Robbie Burns book of poetry? I bought a mini one covered in tartan once, when I was in Scotland as a child.

Cherryjack

Loving all the ideas :-)).. If your in the uk then there is a shop called B & M.. ( i think its that) and its really cheap!! Ive also used boots for the buy 2 get 3rd free and im getting alot of advantage points.. poundland are doing great decorations and xmas things.. (great for childrens books) etc..
Tesco and asda look pretty cheap with lots of there stuff..Debenhams have done an amazing online sale.. i got perfume for mum it was £40.00 and i got it for £10.00
I'm also starting a xmas fund ready for next year to make things easier.. never use one of those clubs.. my friend did the other year and they went under!
If you can save a few pennys for a creme brulee costa coffee then enjoy :-) just remember to use yr points card :-)
Oh and i got amazing wrapping paper and cards from next and wilkinsons last january..paid around 20p ish for the posh stuff :-) x