Anybody else totally dreading Christmas present buying?

Serialdieter

This is the 1st years I've saved and will have around £700. I'm planning on spending the same as last year (£500) so should be well covered. :j

I managed to get a big order in at an online book company - got about £250 worth of things for under £50.00. As I spent over £45.00 I got free delivery and a free gift of a set of handmade gift bags, wrapping paper and tags! Also got cashback on it all.

Just pm'd you.

Another problem I have is choosing gifts.

painted_lady

I am really bad at deciding what to get people too.
I think the best present I ever heard of was my brother who had little money. As a present to my dad, he cleaned my grandads grave. My dad was in tears, brother made it lovely, removed the grafitti, pulled the weeds out and put some flowers there.

Avogirly

I can't bear to think about christmas as I'm really struggling with everything at the moment.

I'm dreading christmas shopping this year. However, there was a thread on here a couple of weeks ago, suggesting making small hampers so I think I'm going to do that this year.

gollygosh

whole family agreed to put names in a hat. pull one out each and spend £25 exactly on a present from all of us. (we put a list in of things we'd like in this price range). my sister and i agreed to spend £20 on each child. so total spend on non resident family = £90 d.h. and i don't bother with each other(no really we don't need anything so it's not that sad!) but i do spend a pretty decent amount on my kids £250x2!! the child benefit pays for this and birthdays. i know it's really hard to get everyone to agree to the £25 draw but it really makes you think about what you're buying and the presents have become a lot more thoughtful as a result.

mcmanlyn

Yeah i'm REALLY dreading it. Problem with me is all my mates are quite well off (dunno what happened with me...) and even though they all say 'it's the though that counts' you do feel a skinflint giving a cheapie prezzie when they've got you a great prezzie

rigsby1967

I started my chrissy shopping about 2 months ago, I got my mum about £50 worth of brand new with tags clothes for about £10 from the charity shop i work at. I have also got my dad a few bits from thier and 1 my mates sons, all the items are brand new.
With charity shops if you have time you do need to look in them often to find the "real" bargains but i find it does help the fact that i work their so can look round the shop before i start my shifts.
rigs

Yorkielass

We're quite lucky pressie wise atm as it's just me, OH, 4 parents, 4 grandparents, 2 siblings and 1 siblings girlfriend. I buy something for one of my cousins and husband and they've got a little baby too. No hoards of siblings, or neices and nephews - yet :rolleyes:

I've set up a budget and then I started buying things last week and I'll be doing things gradually over the next few months - we've kept things pretty low for parents in particular (just £10) but they all have plenty of money and don't really need anything so I'll be extra thoughtful with their presents - going to do hampers/stockings.

I think the priority is not going overboard, spending what you can afford and not buying things for the sake of it.

Good luck everyone.

joeblack066

Def visit charity shops for unusual bargains, ditto pound shops and Home Bargains.
In Home Bargains they have a 2 pack of the 'block' style artists canvas, complete with paints and brushes, £3.99. Let your imagination run wild with the colours and hey presto, 2 original paintings for £2 each!
Wine Glasses are 4 for 88p in Tesco. Buy some gold Glass paint in a tube from a craft shop for £1.99 and you have 2 matching wine glass gifts for 2 at only £2.87!
Hand painted terracotta flower pots, the good old sweet boxes and hot chocolate mugs from the OS board, all are good ideas. One of the most memorable Christmas presents I ever had when a single Mum with 3 kids living on IS was a gorgeous chocolate cake in a festive tin.
I have decided that all the presents that I give this year, outside of my kids and DGD, will be home made. I'm looking at it as my 'theme' for this year, that I am taking time over my friends rather than just spending money. I LOVE Christmas, and am determined that this one will be a good 'un!!

iwanttobreakfree

I have actually been good and bought all my cards and wrapping paper in the sales - its just the presents. I dont even know what to get people.

kcmatt79

I'm working till the 21st and am not planning to do any shopping at weekends leading up to Christmas, so I'm gonna do all my shopping online. Have found a really brilliant website called !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! where all gifts are ethical/fairtrade/recycled. There are some really reasonably priced gifts on there. I'm making a budget and bloody well sticking to it this year. No last minute buys, which always bump up my spends. I might also ask my o/h if he would mind having his pressie in Jan. He hates Christmas anyway!! That way I won't have to fork out all in one go!