No presents - is that really tight?

Sallys_Savings

buxtonrabbitgreen wrote: »

I like to get people presents but really don't care if they buy me one.
I really am one of those that prefer to give than receive.

I'm the same....I love finding just the right pressie for a person. Scouting through car boots, charity shops for something just that bit different if I can.
Yet I find it embarassing when people buy me pressies and hate them spending money on me lol Definitely love giving more than receiving....my oh thinks I'm weird lol perhaps I am

kippers

:xmastree: :rudolf: :xmassmile :xmassign: :snow_grin :snow_laug :santa2:

My daughter insisted i put all of these icons at the beginning of my post..i've had to move places so she can't see what i'm typing now.

Anyway, i suggested last year that we only buy for under 18's for birthdays and christmas or buy a token box of chocys etc (as our family is hugh on both sides with loads of nieces and nephews)...this went down like a lead balloon with our families and i was told that i may as well buy nothing as it was just as bad! We have a really low income compared with everyone else in our families and i'm fed up of buying for everyone else while me and my hubby don't have presents at xmas as we can't afford them. Also we can only afford £30 each for a present for each of our daughters. This doesn't seem fair when our nieces and nephews are having loads and loads of money spent on them!

Last year i did a family present for everyone in each family over 18 (chocs, wine small game etc) but after doing it again this year i have realised it hasn't saved me much!

Perhaps me & hubby should be the family outcast and just bite the bullet next year and say sorry, we just can't afford to buy presents anymore for over 18's...what do you all think? Or is there a better way?

Sallys_Savings

You could mention it again after christmas, explaining that your income is lower than others and you're really struggling every christmas to buy everyone a pressie. Mention that you'd love to buy everyone a gift but the money restricts this.
I'm sorry but if anyone over 18 doesnt like it....its just tough.

Or if its going to cause a family rift it may not be worth it (I'm a bit of a chicken lol)

Carry on buying for everyone but drastically cut down on how much you are spending. Doing this in several ways throughout the year to spread the cost, which is how I do it.

Make gifts....sewing (buy newish clothes from jumble sales and car boots to use the fabric), crocheting or knitting (cant knit to save my life though ) etc or cooking cookies, jams, pickles, homemade flavour vodka etc. (loads and loads of hints on the boards)
and
Using car boots throughout the year...I've saved literally hundreds of pounds by doing this. I only buy items that are packaged or are in such excellent condition you wouldnt realise they were second hand. Many gifts are resold at car boots (you'll be really surprised once you start looking) when they are still in boxes, cellophene wrap etc. Buy toilteries that are out of boxes (or in tatty boxes)to put into your own hampers. I have bought so many books that look untouched too, especially after christmas. Recently I've bought all under £4...M & S travelling jewellery case (with tag), Next silver notebook and pen (in box), Boxed childrens height chart, boxed new baby book (the sort you put in their first words etc), clothes with tags (I always just say if you dont like it I'll take it back then I'd resell at a car boot or give to the charity shop..but this has only happened once), Jamie Oliver cookery book, tagged soft toys and beanies, really old classic christmas tree baubles (bought for my sister who knows I buy from car boots), craft book for kids, craft bits to put with craft book, tagged next purse, etc. etc.
and
the Sales....grab chirstmas gifts in the sales, I dont normally buy the first lot of items that come out in the sales but hang around a couple more weeks when they are more desperate to get rid of everything. I bought lots in boots last Jan...fcuk gift sets for £3 when they should of been £12, fcuk makeupbags £2 instead of £8, Pretty hanky sets £1 instead of £6, Chocolate fondue set £3 instead of £12 (just took the chocolate out and put new choccie in this year as it would of been out of date), keyring games £1 instead of £4.50. Scarf and glove set.
Jewellery from Dorothy perkins and new look all under £2 and were between £5-£7
and
If you normally set a price for a pressie at £10, set it at £8. Over a few people you will have saved a little bit and no one will really realise.;)
and
Good old tesco deals ...which I've used for ferrari drives for sons and oh, rally driving for sons, indoor sky diving, meals out, magazine subscription etc. If you keep an eye out for tesco points on mse too you'll gain evenmore points. I have £125 vouchers already (equals £500 in deals) and the next points dont come out till February so hopefully I'll have lots more.
and
Keep looking on MSE ..... especially the grabbit it thread as I managed to buy an england top for my daughter a few months back for about £8 using different codes etc from Littlewoods (I think it was). I also bought my daughters a mobile phone each last year, it was a misprice in a catalogue and they honoured it. Argos were advertising the phone for £199 yet I bought them for £99 each.

BUT as i have posted before on another thread...if you save money on an item DONT be tempted to "top" up the pressie to make up the difference.
If you normally pay £10 for someones pressie and you've bought something for £2...that is how much you spend, dont add items (as I used to be tempted to do)

shopaholictiedtheknot

BUT as i have posted before on another thread...if you save money on an item DONT be tempted to "top" up the pressie to make up the difference.
If you normally pay £10 for someones pressie and you've bought something for £2...that is how much you spend, dont add items (as I used to be tempted to do)[/quote]

Very difficult not to do this, I kind of feel like I am being 'tight' but I am determined to resist and save myself some money!

Sallys_Savings

Very difficult not to do this, I kind of feel like I am being 'tight' but I am determined to resist and save myself some money![/quote]

RESIST...RESIST....RESIST....RESIST
I used to be the same and add little gifts but I'm strong now lol

I've learnt that they dont know where I have got the gift from and it looks to the value that I would spend so why buy something else and pay out extra money.

You can do it...........resist.............lol

kippers

I've just totallled up how many pressies i have to buy for our family (my side and husbands).....39! I knew it was a big amount but never realised how big until now.

I aways start saving in January and buy presents in sales etc. (I have saved all year and we now have the money to buy presents in the Jan sales for birthdays throughout the year) so at least we don't go into debt over this.

Some of my family are so hard to buy for as their teenagers have everything and i've been told not to buy 'this' or 'that'. I've resorted to giving £10 gift vouchers to them,but you can't get vouchers in the sale!

I dream of buying an expensive present for each of my daughters!...well at least my children aren't spoilt.

LouBlue

Sallys_Savings wrote: »

You could mention it again after christmas, explaining that your income is lower than others and you're really struggling every christmas to buy everyone a pressie. Mention that you'd love to buy everyone a gift but the money restricts this.
I'm sorry but if anyone over 18 doesnt like it....its just tough.

Or if its going to cause a family rift it may not be worth it (I'm a bit of a chicken lol)

I think its a very sad state of affairs when certain members of a family would rather fall out, than accept that other members of a family can't afford presents for adults, but are still willing to buy for the children.

Communication is key. People might be surprised that other members have been thinking the same thing but don't want to bring it up.

shopaholictiedtheknot

Sallys_Savings wrote: »

Very difficult not to do this, I kind of feel like I am being 'tight' but I am determined to resist and save myself some money!

RESIST...RESIST....RESIST....RESIST
I used to be the same and add little gifts but I'm strong now lol

I've learnt that they dont know where I have got the gift from and it looks to the value that I would spend so why buy something else and pay out extra money.

You can do it...........resist.............lol[/quote]

I know, I keep thinking that none of them shop in pound shops/home bargains anyway so they will be none the wiser - and I will be richer hee hee (she says hopefully!:rolleyes: )

nearlyrich

We stopped buying for adults with children when we all started families, just bought 30 plus presents online today and I think it's time to stop buying for working nieces and nephews ( that would save my siblings a fortune and some stress as both mine are working now)