Have you ever tried this for Christmas?

lillibet_dripping

OK, money is tight as we all know.
Last April, I acknowledged that I have debt problems and started a Debt Management Plan which is going fine. (wish I'd done it earlier:o:o:o).

However, this will be my first Christmas without credit cards, overdrafts or loans - just what is in the bank from my salary and child maintenance:eek: I have not yet been able to build up an emergency savings pot or get the Christmas fund properly stocked so it's going to be a challenge this year.

I am very OS to start with and very anti-consumerism. I make, bake, sew or grow what I can for presents. There will be no £45 turkey this year:eek: but will be having an Aldi 3-bird roast as recommended by the lovely peeps on this board. I am thinking that I will gather loads of 6' branches from the forest, spray them white and 'arrange' them in a large terracotta flower pot instead of a Christmas tree. I think it will look lovely with twinkly white lights and lots of natural decorations.

But I have an idea for presents and wondered whether anybody had tried this - and was it a success?

I'm going to make a stocking or Santa Sack for my family (DF, DM, DD, DS, DSis and DNiece) with their name embroidered on - I can easily make these from my fabric stash.

Then I thought I would get lots of little gifts like a magazine, CS book, CS CD, hm biscuits, sweets, ready-mix G&T, soap, comb, mug, packet of seeds, handwarmers etc., wrap them all up and put them in a sort of 'lucky dip' box.

One person takes a gift and opens it (hopefully, oohs and aahs over it:p). The next person picks a gift, opens it and can either keep it or swap it with the first person. Next person etc. etc. etc.

Would this work? Would it work out to be expensive? What would you suggest for the lucky dip box?

bossymoo

Tbh I think it's entirely reasonable to not buy for adults. Money is tight for a lot of people, and I've spoken to a few friends who are in agreement, and happy just have a get together and a good old natter and forgo the gifts. Or a secret Santa, so you are only buying for one.

For us, this year, Christmas is about time with family and some treats for the children.

Good luck with the dmp!

WantToBeSE

I think it sounds like a really lovely idea. I reckon your family would love it!

mummybearx

I think that's a lovely idea!

Using the skills that you have, with a craft stash you already have, and spending next to nothing, well that is a MSE Christmas!

But the idea of buying gifts, like the list you have given, maybe thats not the way to go.

Why not just make something for each person? A mini hot water bottle cover for mum, buy a mini hot water bottle from Poundland. Make a tool holder for dad, using the fabrics you have? A sock monkey for each of the kids, embroidering on their names.
Bake some cookies for your siblings, or a nice fruit cake, a tea loaf (mmnnnn, tea loaf!).
Make a bag from an old pair of jeans for a trendy teenager, adding in ribbon or buttons to make it look funky?

X

lillibet_dripping

zepsgal wrote: »

I think that's a lovely idea!

Using the skills that you have, with a craft stash you already have, and spending next to nothing, well that is a MSE Christmas!

But the idea of buying gifts, like the list you have given, maybe thats not the way to go.

Why not just make something for each person? A mini hot water bottle cover for mum, buy a mini hot water bottle from Poundland. Make a tool holder for dad, using the fabrics you have? A sock monkey for each of the kids, embroidering on their names.
Bake some cookies for your siblings, or a nice fruit cake, a tea loaf (mmnnnn, tea loaf!).
Make a bag from an old pair of jeans for a trendy teenager, adding in ribbon or buttons to make it look funky?

X

Oh this is just what I needed - thinking outside the box. Off to look up sock monkeys now:T

rosie383

Lillibet I think it depends on your family whether your idea would work or not. If you have the kind of family who would argue over anything, then I think Zepsgal's idea may be better.
So good to see that there are still people around who don't think that you have to get into massive debt for Christmas. We are Muslims, so do Eid instead. But I buy what I can afford. Usually just for the kids.
Already I am seeing news reports of people who are struggling to manage with day-to-day living expenses, talking about getting loans and spending over £1000 on all the Christmas stuff, and how are they gonna cope afterwards?? Makes me so sad.
A bit the same as people spending £10,000+ on a wedding and starting married life in huge debt. WHY?????
Sounds like you have your head screwed on Lillibet. maybe a good idea to explain to the like of teenagers that money is tight, then they won't expect much.
I remember once, for Christmas getting a rolled up poster with a pair of pants and a bottle of shampoo from my Mum and Dad. I was maybe 14 at the time. I still remember so clearly how disappointed I was, but of course didn't let on. It was only in later years that I came to realise that if my parents didn't have the money, they didn't spend! I wish they had told me why.
Sorry, rant over........ just gets to me, that's all.

lillibet_dripping

rosie383 wrote: »

Lillibet I think it depends on your family whether your idea would work or not. If you have the kind of family who would argue over anything, then I think Zepsgal's idea may be better.
So good to see that there are still people around who don't think that you have to get into massive debt for Christmas. We are Muslims, so do Eid instead. But I buy what I can afford. Usually just for the kids.
Already I am seeing news reports of people who are struggling to manage with day-to-day living expenses, talking about getting loans and spending over £1000 on all the Christmas stuff, and how are they gonna cope afterwards?? Makes me so sad.
A bit the same as people spending £10,000+ on a wedding and starting married life in huge debt. WHY?????
Sounds like you have your head screwed on Lillibet. maybe a good idea to explain to the like of teenagers that money is tight, then they won't expect much.
I remember once, for Christmas getting a rolled up poster with a pair of pants and a bottle of shampoo from my Mum and Dad. I was maybe 14 at the time. I still remember so clearly how disappointed I was, but of course didn't let on. It was only in later years that I came to realise that if my parents didn't have the money, they didn't spend! I wish they had told me why.
Sorry, rant over........ just gets to me, that's all.

Thanks Rosie,
I was brought up in the 70's when money was tighter than a tight thing. My parents regularly trot out the tale of how they lived on nothing but luncheon meat and mashed potatoes for a week to buy school shoes! Funnily enough, I now find myself doing the self same thing:rotfl:

We have never been an argumentative family - rather the opposite. Sometimes family gatherings can be a bit formal and oh, so polite so any gift is always received with the utmost good manners! I used to long for a large, raucous family(think Darling Buds of May) but I wouldn't swap this lot for the world!!

The more I think about this 'swapit' idea, the more it is growing on me. Watch this space.....

mummybearx

Have you signed up to Swagbucks? There is a post on the Up your income board. I joined in July, have managed to earn about £140 in amazon voucher so far. I've bought loads of Christmas present, CDs, DVDs, books, plus a sweetie hamper for FIL and a toffee hamper for my dad.

Just another idea :-) x

rosie383

Go for it girl!!!! Sounds like you have the kind of family it will work in! And if no-one is expecting big, individual presents, they won't be disappointed. Would be great fun finding all the wee bits.
Don't forget about car boots, local school craft fairs etc. Seem to be a fair few around on the run up to Christmas so you can pick up wee unusual things.

Butterfly_Brain

The only adults that we buy for are the outlaws, sadly my parents died many years ago. We came to an agreement that we would only buy for our own families 15 years ago, because at the time we were all on tight budgets with mortgages. I make hampers with bits and bobs that I have picked up all year and look out for baskets on car boot sales to put them in. They look more expensive than they are and can be adapted to any budget or any hobby for example a knitting hamper for someone who likes to knit such as a pattern, needles and wool to complete the project, the same with a sewing hamper: cotton, needles, sewing machine needles, tape measure, pins, some material and a pattern. A cooking hamper with a mixing bowl, a cookery book, balloon whisk, wooden spoons etc (you can put a little piece of paper with a fancy print out with we "Whisk you a Merry Christmas" for fun) a pasta lovers bowl with pasta, sun dried tomatoes, capers, anchovies etc: A home made preserves basket with home made biscuits, jams and chutneys etc.
I made pots of gold last year and they went down a storm, basically you buy sweets with gold wrappers and put them into a glass with a £1 lottery ticket, wrap in cellophane with a bow and a rhyme and there you have it, a cheap and thoughtful pressie, even better if someone wins

Or make things such as washcloth cup cakes, lollipops etc and add some fancy soap, bath pearls and bubble bath.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl57vDYwYLE

http://www.redtedart.com/2010/08/06/how-to-make-a-cupcake-from-a-flannel-washcloth/

The ideas are endless.
There are a lot of Christmas gifts and ideas threads

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/115642#Comment_115642

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/841815#Comment_841815

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/69165#Comment_69165


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com

/forumdisplay.php?f=101&order=desc&page=2
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4254281

lillibet_dripping

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

The only adults that we buy for are the outlaws, sadly my parents died many years ago. We came to an agreement that we would only buy for our own families 15 years ago, because at the time we were all on tight budgets with mortgages. I make hampers with bits and bobs that I have picked up all year and look out for baskets on car boot sales to put them in. They look more expensive than they are and can be adapted to any budget or any hobby for example a knitting hamper for someone who likes to knit such as a pattern, needles and wool to complete the project, the same with a sewing hamper: cotton, needles, sewing machine needles, tape measure, pins, some material and a pattern. A cooking hamper with a mixing bowl, a cookery book, balloon whisk, wooden spoons etc (you can put a little piece of paper with a fancy print out with we "Whisk you a Merry Christmas" for fun) a pasta lovers bowl with pasta, sun dried tomatoes, capers, anchovies etc: A home made preserves basket with home made biscuits, jams and chutneys etc.
I made pots of gold last year and they went down a storm, basically you buy sweets with gold wrappers and put them into a glass with a £1 lottery ticket, wrap in cellophane with a bow and a rhyme and there you have it, a cheap and thoughtful pressie, even better if someone wins

Or make things such as washcloth cup cakes, lollipops etc and add some fancy soap, bath pearls and bubble bath.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl57vDYwYLE

http://www.redtedart.com/2010/08/06/how-to-make-a-cupcake-from-a-flannel-washcloth/

The ideas are endless.
There are a lot of Christmas gifts and ideas threads

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/115642#Comment_115642

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/841815#Comment_841815

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/69165#Comment_69165


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com

/forumdisplay.php?f=101&order=desc&page=2
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4254281

Butterfly Brain - how am I going to find time to make all my gifts with these threads to read!!!!!!!!:rotfl:

Will sit down tonight with a lovely glass of something red (very festive!) and have a browse.
Right now, I have put on the Christmas CD and am sorting through my red, green and gold fabric stash to see what I can use for stockings. I am soooooo enjoying myself:o