Nice and thoughtful presents to get on a budget?
jadex91
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This year I really do not have much money and my parents have said to not get them anything! Obviously I want to get them something. Can anyone recommend any thoughtful and nice gifts that I can buy or easily make etc on a tight budget? Thanks x
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Pledge to do something nice, rather than spend
MSE Article, ideas and cheque template to print here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/xmas-gift-cheques
Festive Fivers is a contest we ran back in 2012. The aim was to build a database of the most clever, weird, romantic, thoughtful and practical present ideas to make or buy, for a kid or grown-up, for around £5
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/festive-fivers
My sister is a Beaver leader and a couple of years ago, I found a number of Scouting cartoons online. I printed them out and put them into a display book (the type with plastic pockets) from the pound shop. She loved it. Maybe you could do the same about something that interests your mum or dad - sports, cooking, crafts, etc.
Sweetie Santas don't cost much. Use candy canes and a chocolate bar to make the sleigh. Add more chocolate (wrapped in Christmas paper if you want to), and a chocolate Santa on the front. Decorate with curling ribbon. There are plenty of pictures on Pinterest.
The Works sell three paperbacks for £5 if they like reading. Puzzle books are cheaper there than in the supermarkets or newsagents.
Google 'Mum's survival kit' for plenty of ideas to make a humorous but thoughtful gift for less than £1. You can include a penny (so you can never say you're totally skint), a safety pin (to hold it all together when things are falling apart) and a marble (for when you lose yours), as well as all sorts of other things. We made them for Mother's Day in Brownies a couple of years ago, and they were very well received. You can put everything into a pretty box, bag or envelope.
Or write them a nice poem or a letter, put it in a frame from Poundland, or you may want to splash out & pay a bit more at Wilko or somewhere.
Son had me in tears one Xmas Day, in a good way!
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3852640.htm
and we will never, ever return.
Are you going to be spending Christmnas with them?
Home made sweets or cakes, or perhaps offering to do stuff for them - this could either be a voucher for doing something at a future date, or something you wouldn't normally do but which would be helpful while you are visiting (what jobs around the house do they dislike/ offering to do, say, ironing might be well recevied)
A letter with nice memories and appreciation could also become a treasured gift, and you could include copies of photos if you have access to a scanner or printer.