Ideas for hampers (various ages)

ALittleInLove

This year i'm determined to save some money for xmas and so i've decided to do some hampers for the family instead of bigger presents in the hopes that it might look like i've spent a bit more.

I'm hoping not to spend more than £1 on any single item if i can help it)

I've seen on the forums that people have been getting bargains like the 10p bargains fromsuperdrug etc but i never seem to have much luck with finding those.

So far i've bought:
Coffee candles and tealight holders (39p) and incense sticks (10p) from the dotcomgift shop sale.

A few candle accessories from yankeedoodle. (50p - £2)

Book sets from the book people sale which i am going to split up and spread among the hampers. (18p - 45p per book)

A fridge magnet (19p)and hair clips (39p) from Home bargains

Bottles of lynx shower gel (£1)which were on offer in Morrisons last week.

Handwarmers (15p) from the january sale in morrisons.




I might get some sweets and chocolates nearer the time and then make some biscuits and snowman soup. Trouble is my family aren't huge chocolate/sweet lovers as a rule so i was hoping to keep that to a minimum.

So now i'm getting a bit stuck expecially for the men! Does anyone have any ideas I can keep an eye out for?

Archiebear

Depend on if they ahve any hobbies or strong likes/ dislikes but you could trypound shops/ bargain shops for the following...

A Movie Hamper: DVDs then you could add popcorn; doritoes/dip, batteries for the remote

Sports Hamper: pedometer; high energy drink; pasta (for carbs!); shower gel; deoderant; laces for trainers; sports socks etc

Bagel Gift Basket: assorted bagels; cheese;mini jams; knife; cutting board

Bachelor/ single lad: keyring with mini torch; little black book; shots (99p in B&M); shot glasses; drinking games; print out of chat up lines!

Hangover Hamper:vitmain C; worcestershire sauce; tomato juice; resolve/ aspirin (or similiar); eyemask and earplugs; a miniature for a 'hair of the dog'

BBQ Lover: apron; bbq tools; bbq sauces/ mixes/marinades; skewers; a meat tenderiser; book

Handyman: tape measure; mini screwdrivers; gloves; duct tape; nails etc. For a bit of humour you could add a Yellow Pages as well just in case they need to call a professional!

Car buff; chamois; sponges; car wax; air freshener (the kind you ahng from the mirror) road map;litre of oil; travel mug; car magazine

Computer Geek: re-writable CD/DVD; mouse; mouse pad; cleaning kit for keyboard; a travel mug (so they can't spill a drink on PC)

Traveller: travel bag; tarvel pillow;magazines; travel alarm clock; toothbrush/paste; mini shampoo/ conditioner; magazine or book

That's it...I've ran out of steam!:rotfl:

Wendy5704

If you have kids to buy for try Claires accessories. They have a offer on in their sale 5 items for £5 and they have some lovely bits.

Not really much help for men i'm afraid. They are always harder to buy for in my book.

kingfisherblue

I managed to get quite a few items for 10p in Wilkinsons in Widnes.

Ideas for inexpensive items:
pens, padds, post it notes
tissues
toiletries
mug (could use this as the 'hamper' and add coffee sachets, tea bags, etc)
tape measure or spirit level (pound shop)
stationery items such as stapler, hole punch, etc
mini spinning top (keeps many an adult amused for hours!)
packets of seeds
gardening items from pound shop (twine, kneeling pad, compost, etc)
car wax, shampoo, etc
photo album (especially if you can fill it for someone)
keyring
mini craft kit (Wilkinson's or pound shop)
wine glasses
travel mug (saw some for 99p in B&M today)


One thing that I made for my sister was a display file filled with Scouting cartoons printed from the internet - she's a Beaver leader, and she loved the fact that I had spent some time seeking out something that she would appreciate. You could do this for many different hobbies.

kingfisherblue

Thinking about archiebear's post, I bought a couple of mini screwdrivers in Maplins for 99p, and I saw a set of BBQ tools in Dunelm Mill, down from £5 to 99p a couple of days ago.

ALittleInLove

Wow you guys are amazing! I could never have come up with that lot. Christmas must be amazing for your families! :T

Archiebear - You have so many ideas! Now i'm gonna have trouble choosing which ones to do.:rotfl:I especially like the hangover hamper, it's perfect for my brother!

Wendy5704 - I will definiately check out Claire's. I hate buying for men. My dad normally buys himself something and i give him the money and wrap it up! I am determined not to do that this year.

Kingfisherblue - I know what you mean about the spinning tops. We got some from crackers last year and I swear my family loved them more than their presents! I love the mug filled with tea/coffee idea too. Unfortunately no maplins or Dunelm Mills near me though

Thanks for all the ideas guys

kingfisherblue

For the hangover hamper, if you're feeling generous, you could add a voucher for breakfast somewhere - or alternatively, add a pack of bacon, half a dozen eggs, and a frying pan. My daughter swears by a cooked breakfast to cure a hangover

ETA: You could add bookmarks to the books - make them on the computer and laminate. If you want to add a tassel, punch a hole in the bottom and loop some thin ribbon through.

You could make a relaxing hamper with the candles and books. Add an eye mask, some relaxing bath oil, or a mini masssager (99p from Home Bargains). You could also add a face mask and one of those hairbands that keeps hair off your face whilst you wear a face mask (99p from B&M). Face masks from Home Bargains, from 19p. HB also sometimes have gloves or socks that have lotion in them, for wearing overnight in bed. I think they are about 39p each - and they are lovely!

You could have a 'Keep Warm' hamper, using the handwarmers you already have. Add hat, gloves and scarf, miniature whisky or brandy, hot water bottle, chilli sauce, etc.

Look in supermarkets for cheap DVDs - Morrisons used to be brilliant for kids' DVDs at £1 each. My kids have animated versions of many of the classics, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, William Tell, Moby !!!!!!, Hercules, etc (there seemed to be more suited to boys than girls last year, but that was handy for me as I have two lads ). These were all in a dump bin in the entertainment section.

For a girly hamper, how about make up, nail polish, notebook, candle, bath stuff, etc.

For someone who enjoys crafts, see if there is a scrap store near you. Some are only available to people who work in schools, with community groups, etc, but others are open to the public. One near me has card making items for as little as 28p for a pack of embellishments. The pound shops have mini chests of drawers that are useful for craft bits storage (would also do for lots of other things as well).

You could also make lavender bags if you are feeling crafty.

Another idea is to give 'cheques', offering an hour's gardening, an evening babysitting, a meal cooked, housework done, etc - depends on your talents and how practical it is for you.

Also, I read somewhere on MSE about someone who gave her mum a 'freebie' hamper - everything in it was a free item that she had obtained over the year. It might be a bit late to do that, but you could still search out freebies to add to your other hampers. As well as the freebie board omn MSE, trry googling free stuff websites.