Christmas presents on economy drive?

falko89

This year is going to be pretty tough, at the moment my pay only stretches from 1 week to the next with very little left over. I have my Mrs, 3 kids and parents to buy for as well as half a dozen aunts, I bought the kids a trampoline back in the summer when it was on offer and have put it away and the Mrs has got them an Xbox but they might still need another few odds and ends, my parents have helped us out alot this year when I lost my job etc so need to buy them something special, and then there is my Mrs, god knows what to buy her, At the moment I have about £200 saved, I also don't want it to look cheap, I want gifts that show thought rather than value if possible. Any advice?

midnightraven3

hampers always look impressive

get the children to decorate boxes (shoe boxes would be ideal and shops let you have them for free if you ask)
and make the aunts some jams or relish or chutneys
homebargains do LUSH shortbread V cheaply

things like that make a lovely hamper

something similar but bigger for your parents?
all their favourite things

or a cosy night in hamper, DVD, fluffy socks, some crisps, popcorn, sweeties, a nice smelling candle, B&M do nice skittles ones, very fruity for 69p in glass jars
something they could open and do together

falko89

midnightraven3 wrote: »

hampers always look impressive

get the children to decorate boxes (shoe boxes would be ideal and shops let you have them for free if you ask)
and make the aunts some jams or relish or chutneys
homebargains do LUSH shortbread V cheaply

things like that make a lovely hamper

something similar but bigger for your parents?
all their favourite things

or a cosy night in hamper, DVD, fluffy socks, some crisps, popcorn, sweeties, a nice smelling candle, B&M do nice skittles ones, very fruity for 69p in glass jars
something they could open and do together

Fantastic, love the hamper idea and know my parents would love it, why didn't I think of that:D

bobsa1

If you live near a l'octaine shop womens own are doing a special event so for £10 you get a mini pamper session and I think it is £50 of gifts. Pay for your wife to go and have the pamper session and then use gifts for your Mum.
I love nice cosmetics and if my husband got me one of the Elemis stocking fillers from cheap smells and there is a code for a free item so for £9 you get £16 of value.

My daughter has made a sweet bouquet for a couple of her special friends and they cost about £7 to make but look fab and if you buy them cost far more so again that might be an idea for either your wife if she likes sweets, parents if they do or do a big one for the kids.

How old are your kids as a trampoline and xbox are fab pressies so you could bulk them out with cheap books, pjs etc

falko89

bobsa1 wrote: »

If you live near a l'octaine shop womens own are doing a special event so for £10 you get a mini pamper session and I think it is £50 of gifts. Pay for your wife to go and have the pamper session and then use gifts for your Mum.
I love nice cosmetics and if my husband got me one of the Elemis stocking fillers from cheap smells and there is a code for a free item so for £9 you get £16 of value.

My daughter has made a sweet bouquet for a couple of her special friends and they cost about £7 to make but look fab and if you buy them cost far more so again that might be an idea for either your wife if she likes sweets, parents if they do or do a big one for the kids.

How old are your kids as a trampoline and xbox are fab pressies so you could bulk them out with cheap books, pjs etc

Excellent, kids have just about read all their books so some new bedtime reading wouldn't go a miss and they're growing out of their PJ's, My Mrs loves her cosmetics to some something like this would be ideal for her.

midnightraven3

the other thing you could do for your parents would be "breakfast in bed"
get a nice tray (£1.29 in b&m) teapot (again cheap in homebargains) some tea, a toast rack, mini jams & marmalades (morrisons do them, 21p i THINK) oatcakes, cheese truckle, things like that, again they can enjoy together

kingfisherblue

Try the Book People for books. Their sets are great value.

montymud

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Try the Book People for books. Their sets are great value.

I was just about to reccomend them too. I have thier current catalogue here and a whole set of 7 Wheres Wally books with a free bag to store them in is only £9.99 saving you a whopping £38. Theres also an Enid Blyton book set of 5 books for £4.99 saving you £20! How old are your little ones? Theres so many great offers in this I can have a flick through for thier ages and let you know what they have if you like

kez_s

The "Where's Wally" set is fab! We've bought it for my son for Christmas and it's a really good bag you get with it too! Often there is free delivery and discount codes for the book people and Quidco too!

savvymum2

The idea of the shoebox with homemade foods is lovely, might get my boys to do that.
Giftaholics (can't post link, but it's just the name followed by co.uk) is good for childrens books, not sets though but I've bought some Julia Donaldson ones from there for £3.50 each and they were great, also got some fun stocking filler ideas too for my boys. They seemed good prices to me and was pleased with it all when it arrived.

Uniscots97

What about a nice photo framed? Frames don't cost a lot. Poundland do some lovely ones and they make a great gift. If your wife would like make up remember Poundland do Rimmel and Revlon makeup with some being 2 for £1.