NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

nursemaggie

Why home made presents Lynplatinum. The list of what you can make is endless.I think you knit so look in craft books at the library any leaflets you have of gifts.

I made 12 scarves last year plus hats and mittens as well for the children. Have made some hats and gloves for adults so far plus another scarf for my brother because I ran out time and did not get one done for him. Right now I am knitting a purple dinosaur for DGS age 2. As he is purple think I may call him a purple people eater.

You could start your knitting now plenty of time to look for patterns and decide what to do. I started this time last year so you need to start early. There are all sorts of other things you can make too. Sweets you will need to wait until later and preserves when the fruit is at it's cheapest. You can have decorative labels and cut circles of materiel to put on the top with elastic bands. Small jars are nice for people on their own.

Don't throw any pretty packaging out between now and Christmas. Bits of ribbon, tissue or anything else you can use. I have kept last years see through boxes from the Christmas cards will either use to put something in or for sweets and chocolates.

dND

agnesjr wrote: »

Any ideas on how to get close family on board re NBI presents for birthdays, Christmas etc? They mean well, and LOVE doing it......but I don't need stuff. Does that sound ungrateful?

Would they go with charity gifts to other people in your name - mosquito nets or a tree or a goat? - (Do they still do them, it's been 8 years since I was in the UK) Or maybe you could get them to club together for a subscription to the NT or Woodland Trust or a magazine?

It's really difficult though isn't it. My ex-MIL wouldn't buy me just one plate from the dinner service I was collecting but bought a set of something else because she "wouldn't buy just one plate" :mad:

weesmiler

agnesjr wrote: »

Any ideas on how to get close family on board re NBI presents for birthdays, Christmas etc? They mean well, and LOVE doing it......but I don't need stuff. Does that sound ungrateful?

Toodle pip shipmates.

Hi agnesjr,
No it doesn't sound ungrateful! I have the same issue, I rarely need anything, but people seem to insist on buying things for birthday and Christmas! My mum re-married about 6 years ago and I gained a few step-brothers and sisters. After a few years of buying each other lots of birthday and Christmas presents, I really felt it was getting out of hand, so I just said I would buy for the kids (and they can buy a small thing for mine when it arrives), but no more presents for the adults. I think they were all quite relieved, thinking of what to buy for people who have everything is so annoying!

I have an agreement with one good friend that we go for lunch on her birthday and I pay, and vice versa on mine. That way, we are not cluttering up the house with rubbish we don't need and enjoy time spent together too.

With my husband, mum and in laws, we put a £25 limit on presents a couple of years ago, so although we still buy for each other, it's not excessive. And they are close enough that I can tell them exactly what I would like.

My first baby is due in June, and I'm starting to wonder about buying gifts from the baby to grandparents etc...not sure how this will fit into my budget!!!

Weesmiler xx

GreyQueen

weesmiler wrote: »

My first baby is due in June, and I'm starting to wonder about buying gifts from the baby to grandparents etc...not sure how this will fit into my budget!!!

Weesmiler xx

This is the first time I have ever come across this - is it the usual custom? Granparents giving to the baby, I understand, but a baby 'giving' to its grandparents confuses me. I'm sure most grandparents would regard the little one's mere arrival as their gift?

suki1964

agnesjr. What's not to love? Lol. Seriously I live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world and when the sun shines ( it does now and again) it's just perfect. I love our small towns and villages and I love the sense of belonging to a community. I love I have the glens to walk in and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world just five mins drive away. I've even got to love that when it snows we can be cut off for days and that the power supply can be flakey as soon as the wind picks up. I used to drive to Belfast or Lisburn or stroke/city regularly for a city fix, but now I rarely bother, preferring instead to shop locally and support local business. I used to think that a supermarket wasn't worth visiting unless it was a 60 plus checkout one, but hey my local spar sells everything I need

I also love that you just can't pop out anywhere for two mins because you are going to bump into at least 10 people you know and each and everyone will stop to pass the day, and even complete strangers will chat away in queues. In the 9 years living here we have made more friends then we ever had in London I mean real friends who matter, not just passing acquaintances. Don't get me wrong, I love London, I think it's the best and most beautiful city in the world. But I think I was always a country girl at heart I'm very content here


As for pressies, we do children only. My sisters and i started this years ago when they had little ones.
Work is secret Santa and it's just a joke pressie.
Hubby and me have a £10 each limit. I usually get slippers, he gets something like a puzzle
The grand kids , well they get spoiled, it usually winter coats and shoes, plus the toy, plus the stocking fillers but it's our way of helping their mum out

Mum is the only one who gets a gift as Christmas is also her birthday. But even that's something small, a book, a DVD.

weesmiler I buy the gifts from the grandchildren to their family ( extremely extended, step family everywhere lol ). And what I do is a five pound max for everyone and I'm not afraid to re gift or buy from charity shops. It's the only time I buy gift sets, usually in the boots January sales. As I say it's pocket money gifts only. A child wouldn't have loads to spend. It works here for us. This year I'm going to get them to make sweeties like coconut ice to wrap and give should be a lot of fun..... And mess lol

VJsmum

I haven't heard of that either. When I had DS he "bought" DD a Winnie the Pooh DVD and she had chosen him a present (which, interestingly, in Kondoing his cuddlies this was one he kept - as a 6'1 surly 16 year old who pretends to not get on with his sister, I thought that was rather sweet).

Perhaps a photograph is the way forward?

vulpix

weesmiler,just add your child's/future childrens name/s onto the gift tag of a family gift.It's not just the future expense it's the agony of trying to find something to buy,when you know the recipient is in need of nothing.

With the grownup/teenage children it is £30 for birthdays and perhaps some chocolate or something.Christmas £50 for the older ones with some token bits.The younger one has £100 of bits and bobs,bought an ice watch off fb last year for £10,still in the box.I have no qualms about buying from charity shops/carboots etc.

boyfriends/girlfriends £15.I have bought a posh scarf with tags already from the chazza.

Mums £30 of food/toiletries

Husband £10 limit as he used to spend hundreds on me and being ungrateful I never liked what he bought.Laptop bag,monster watch and necklace set etc

Friend about £5 though last year I gave her homemade jams,chocolate and elderflower cordial.

cousins,last year sweet hamper with homemade chocolate orange rudolphs and snowmen chocolate bars.

I also make things,a couple of simple embroideries for the girls in charity shop frames,candle in an empty marmite jar went down well.chocolate orange rudolphs look good.

I bought a couple of pretty china cups and saucers the other day and will make candles in them,will make jam,cordial,chocolate slab nearer the time.If I have the fruit etc but not the time i freeze them till I do.

Last year I covered a cut down box and filled it with tango orange £1 shop stuff,covered with cellophane youngest loved it.This year I have already got a big flat box and I will make her a giant selection box with £1 packs from the supermarket.NOBODY would want my knitting!Oh last year I also planted up bulbs for all the ladies we give to.wrapped xmas paper round the pot and tied with twine,very shabby chic.

The Mum's birthdays are both the start of January so they get xmas cakes from the sales.

My MIL sends presents which are a total waste of money.Stuff she gets from clean easy, avon etc.Expensive but we can't tell her it all goes to charities whenever I need to make a donation to a tombola etc.UNGRATEFUL,sorry.Vx

agnesjr

On page 103, and I tell you, some of you were on your funny half hour. Rum in the soup Capt Slowdown?

Don't drink myself now - my medication and alcohol don't mix. The only thing about it that gets my goat is some people think you are the permanent taxi driver. And once some others get over a certain amount of drink....time to exit the stage for me...listening to nonsense. Finally over here people who don't know you think you are already hungover are on antibiotics, have a tummy bug or are a pioneer. Ah, the joys the joys.

Vulpix, some great ideas for presents. I love home made hampers. Usually receive 2 myself from friends and they are among my most favourite gifts....all edible things. Might try that idea myself....though not necessarily home cooked. Gather a few items up at shopping trips etc throughout the year. Thanks for idea.

Suki1964, you are better advert for NI than the tourist board. So true about people chatting to you everwhere. I first went to London about 15 years ago by myself. Well - traumstised by the crowds, tube etc. Of course started talking on the train to the person beside me...who did answer. Got some random looks though. And then was told by folks that you don't do that in London! What, why? Have been back with OH, friends etc...but still too busy, big, crowded for me. Like you I have moved country bound, and only go city bound if total necessity. Locally have fabulous butchers, bakers, veg stand...in fact everything. And the local mini supermarket does in fact have some super bargains all the time. My long term wish is to reside by the sea, as in 5 or 10 mins away. Hence, thinking, planning, NBI. Oh the irony of being on the good ship NBI.

weesmiler

Greyqueen - not gifts on the baby's arrival, but christmas and birthday gifts.

Personally, I would cut out all gift giving except for children, given the choice!! We all have far too much stuff anyway!

vulpix

agnes jnr I drink rarely.I avoid drinking people,nobody is improved with drink.Vx