Food hamper as a gift

pennypincher2013

Before my father was made redundant, the company he worked for used to give a food hamper for Christmas. My parents looked forward to seeing what items would be included as they weren't your typical brands (though they did appear occasionally). I would like to find one like this but can't find anything in my price range. The hamper looked something like this (minus the fancy box):
http://www.littlewoods.com/large-luxury-hamper/1296934332.prd?browseToken=%2fb%2f4998%2fs%2fprice%2c1%2fr%2f24

But sometimes it looked a little like this:
http://www.littlewoods.com/ultimate-hamper/1267907009.prd?browseToken=%2fb%2f4998%2fs%2fprice%2c1%2fr%2f24

Can anyone suggest a food hamper that's a mix of these two? And under £100?

After looking round and not finding anything suitable, I'm thinking of maybe making my own. Might be cheaper as well. Any suggestions are appreciated

bluenose1

I do some every year for family members. I use a strong cardboard box wrapped in gold wrapping paper. I put brown shredded paper in the bottom and fill it with food I know the recipient would like. I tend to buy extra food when it is on offer when doing my normal shop so don't feel the cost as much. I then cover the whole box in cellophane with a big bow.
Looks great even if I say so myself.

LV_Sue

I used to do a hamper every Christmas for my parents-in-law. I found a basket in a charity shop, which I lined with festive tissue paper. I did the same as bluenose1 when I did my weekly shop and bought stuff they they wouldn't have bought for themselves. Not all luxury items, some were just every day foods. They didn't drink alcohol, except in the pudding and cake, so that kept my costs down.
Some of the foods I remember getting were tinned salmon, 'posh' biscuits and chocolates and sweets, tinned fruit, custard, mince pies, tea bags, small jar of coffee, small jars of jam & preserves, tins of ham, chicken, corned beef, potatoes, soup, and cakes that they wouldn't have bought for themselves. I also put in a couple of shiny red apples (very Christmassy ) a couple of oranges, grapes and whatever else fruit I could think of that they would like. I made them a small Christmas cake, which I wrapped in cellophane, which was the centrepiece of the hamper, then I wrapped the whole basket in cellophane with a big bow on.

They both really looked forward to their Christmas hamper every year and always gave me the basket back so I could fill it again for them next year.

Serendipitious

A Cadbury themed hamper would be good, drinking chocolate, cadbury cakes as well as various choc bars. Watch the dates on the cake bars though if you plan buying well in advance. Also see their website for ideas perhaps.

Meat hampers are also good, esp if they have a freezer. And dairy and cheese assortments look great and can be teamed with chutneys.

EllieWellie

It's definitely much cheaper to make your own, and you can tailor it to suit the recipient - making it more personal. It also means you can spread the cost. When I've made them in the past for my brother & his wife, they've always been very well-received.

Craftyblue

As everyone else has said, I think you're probably as well making a hamper yourself.
If you have TK Maxx near you they often have unusual brands of preserves and dry goods that you don't see in many other places. They're also usually well discounted, which is a bonus!

Spendless

What about looking in Aldi and Lidl for different looking goods? When I was in Lidl a few weeks back they had a whole section devoted to xmas 'luxury' items, things like maple syrup fudge and other items I haven't seen anywhere else.

Maysie

i quite often do a spicy and pickled goods hamper for my bil he loves it. I find the hottest spicy sauces and spreads in 99p store, lidl, aldi on offer in supermarkets. His really enjoys it as its very personal for him and has taken some thought.

Sewsosew

I used to make up a hamper for my Grandma. I got a sturdy cardboard box and covered it in Christmas paper.

The contents were usually the sort of things she wouldn't buy for herself plus her favourite chocolates and a bottle of sherry. I found out after she died that she'd kept every box.

Like others have said it's easy to pick up one or two items with your own shopping especially if some of them are BOGOFs.

KittyKate

I am another who makes hampers, I love it and they always look gorgeous!

I save ordinary cardboard boxes then I cut the sides at an angle and the front panel to half height. I cover it in plain gold or red wrapping paper. Inside I use scrunched up festive tissue paper and put the larger presents like wine and chocolates at the back and make sure everything is viewable from the front.

For my inlaws and my dad, and my sister and bil they like wine, beer, chocolates, nuts, biscuits, cheeses, crackers, cod roe, posh crisps and nibbles, but for this year I'm doing a pamper hamper for my mum, with a few good books, some bubble bath, chocolates, some fleece socks, a silk scarf, a mug and some nice tea.

I then wrap the hampers in cello which I get on ebay, 10 metres lasts me 2 years. This year it's clear with gold stars I tie the top with an elastic band (so it's easy to open) and put a huge huge bow at the top (I get these from Home Bargains )

They look gorgeous, and I spend less than £20 on each one. By shopping around you can get some great deals on premium brands - you can make a £5 one look lovely, it's just depending on your budget. Much much nicer than the £100+ ones in the department stores!

pennypincher2013

After reading everyones' replies, I'm excited to make my own I like the cello with a bow idea. Where I can get a big strong box from? My local supermarkets have stopped giving away their boxes. What extra special items do you put in your hampers?