Anybody else totally dreading Christmas present buying?

SPANIEL36

why not hand make gifts??

do you have kids? if so a nice (cheap) photo frame with a lovely pic of the kids always goes down well in my family. instead of 'main' presents why not small gift boxes full of little things you can pick up from charity shops/ boot sales and xmas fairs??

Frugal_Fox

Check out the Old Style & Christmas boards - there are loads of ideas for gifts you can make. Make full use of all offers that you can. Don't panic - its not about the amount you spend, but the thought that goes into it. I don't really fall in with the 'spend lots of money' brigade - mainly because I can't afford to. I'd rather throw it at getting my debt down. Christmas should be about being with loved ones and cherishing time together not about how much stuff we can pass about to each other.

To give you some idea - this year (as usual) we'll spend £20-£25 on each child (we have 2), and about £15 on each other. We then 'buy' a gift for my mum, my dad & his wife, my sisters, my husbands parents and our God children only. With the exception on us, our children and God children all others are getting hampers that I am making now. My sisters are getting a movie night hamper - full of popcorn, pringles, cans of pop plus a rental voucher, I'm also doing hampers of smellies for the ladies, an italian themed one for my dad who is a keen cook, and I've not completely sussed what I'm going to do for my husbands father. The children are going to bake and decorate biscuits for their friends. Other than that I will try to arrange to get friends over, feed and water them and have a fun time.

It isn't all about money - but do take full advantage of all the offers - start looking now, put a little bit aside each month and it won't be so bad.

Then start planning for next year - either by putting a sum of money away each month, or by taking advantage of the January sales for picking up your wrapping supplies, cards, stamps etc etc.

Good luck.

FF

harveybobbles

I cant affoed xmas pressies this year really, so my family are just gunna have my best wishes...!

icela

Yep, me too! New to the DFW thing, wish I'd got here sooner but don't we all.

Don't think I have time to save any amount for xmas, so I might just get my family something I can afford. I'll get each one of them (there are three) something, one each month. Soften the blow. And chain myself to the sofa come December so I'm not tempted.

Last year me and my friends cooked a lovely meal (we each did a bit each) and had that as our present to each other. It works, especially for the guys who hate the whole gift giving thing!!

nannaC

Best pressie I ever got was years ago from my tree little scallywags [all grown with scallywags of their own now Ahhhhhhhhhh] was a receipt /cheque book which contained hand written cheques for, wash up, hoover room, clean windows, peel veg you get the idea. It was fabulous everytime I wanted a rest I just issued a cheque. Could be adapted for grown ups to read, do 1 hours gardening, make supper, clean windows

chalky_75

Just think of the person not how much you are going ro spend. If you really think what they are like you can come up with really original ideas.

Tesco deals are brilliant magazine subscriptions/ days out etc etc.

For older people -- give things they can use and enjoy-- bikkies, wine, jams, etc. They havr years of clutter

Gemmzie

Nope, I've done mine Now doing everyone elses (mums to dad, mums to brother, brother to mum etc etc)

I've got over £100s worth of stuff for my dad for £20 - just shopped around a lot online.

I love buying presents for people

newmum1

Ooh im all done actually i was checking through my pressie cupboard yesterday, to be honest i spend about £100 every january in the sales when everything is so cheap it may as well be free. and just add to it as and when i see thing throughout the year. I have found that by doing it this way that i have more money come jan as i used to do all the xmas shopping out of dec wages and come the start of jan i was skint and my dd's would be bouncing and all sorts but i have finally got it sussed

millionaire_in_training

my DS is desperate for a wii. £180 :eek: . Iam going to get him it as I decided that I normally spend at least a coupleof hundred on him anyway so I will get him that and just a couple of small things. Just need to work out the cheapest way to buy it. I have a voucher for money off at argos and some nectar points BUT there are none in stock :mad: . Would get 3 months interest free as well. DD doesnt know what she wants so I will just keep my ear to the ground with her. My other biggie is my mum and again I have no flaming idea. I have a few things in so far for other peopleas I have loads to buy for but I will have to get a move on. xx

hans_morretti

As much as I love Christmas, I hate the spending fortunes on stupid gifts for people you hardly see from 1 year to the next! We've stuck away a bit each month so will have the money there and we're cutting back on who gets gifts!!