Festive Fivers Competition: The best Xmas pressies for under £5

rebecca_smith_2

Name of present - Key to my heart
Make it or buy it - both
Total cost - £2.50 - £4 depending on how much your local key-cutter charges.
Details - So you're finally getting serious with your partner? Want to give them a gift which will really mean something without breaking the bank?
Get a copy of your doorkey cut, design a backing card in a suitable style - with wording along the lines of..... key to my home, key to my heart. Wrap nicely (brown paper and string always look nice on a budget - you can colour the string with food colouring or paint if you have any spare)
.... and put somewhere they're likely to find it (Christmas stocking / your stockings.....)

Seriously, when my boyfriend gave me a copy of his housekey as a gift, it was a really romantic and special moment.

userdefinable

• Name of present? Recycled Rubber Pencil Case
• Make it or buy it? Buy it
• Total Cost? £4.49
• Details (the more the better)? Made out of old tyres, a stylish, hard-wearing, recycled rubber pencil case. Saw it on Oxfam unwrapped, so I guess you can buy it in Oxfam shops?

rebecca_smith_2

Name of present - Personalised children's story book
Make or buy - both
Total cost - £1.99 upwards depending on cost of photos, paper, printing, pencils/pens and paints.

Details - Children always love story books which they are the hero in.
Buy or make a small notebook.
Take photos / get copy photos of a favourite day out or event in the child's life. (I chose a trip to the zoo)
Decide on a story line for the book (Eg: David goes to the zoo, David's big day out, Splish splash at the beach, etc....)
Write the story into the book (or type on the pc, cut out and stick on). Stick photos onto the relevant pages. Decorate the pages suitably, adding favourite songs where appropriate (eg - I used 'we're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo on the first page and had a picture of my friend's child running down the hill to the zoo). Use rhymes and alliteration where possible.
Add activity pages at the back if you want to, with sticker sets / puzzles etc (eg: a line maze titled 'help the monkeys reach their bananas' etc...).
If you want the book to last as a keepsake, you could also use sticky backed plastic to protect the cover / pages.
Really, you are only limited by time and imagination.

And there you have it, a lovely gift for your nephew, niece, grandchild, godchild that they will enjoy over and over again.

evil_snake_woman

Name of present? Origami Cranes
Do you make it or buy it? Bought the bag, made the cranes
Total Cost? £1.00 for the bag, £1.50 for the paper
Details (the more the better) There is an ancient japanese custom that says for every 100 cranes that are created, a wish is granted (write this on the gift tag). Included in the pag should be the cranes, with the 100th one (stratigically placed on top) in a different colour, with the words 'go ahead, make a wish' written on the wings.
Where possible please add a link if it's an online offer

rebecca_smith_2

oops, sorry all.

I didn't realise that my storybook idea was suggested last year (I used it myself about 5 years ago and it was really successful then).

southernscouser

MSE_Martin wrote: »

plus there will a signed copy of either The Money Diet or Thrifty Ways for the runners up

Like it's not bad enough coming second as it is! :rotfl:

hornywithab

Name of gift: Peace and Quiet
Do you make it or buy it? : Well need to get a very small bag (organza material is great) or very small gift box, the smaller the better.
Total cost: priced some up on ebay - the organa bags you can get 12 for about £3.00 so about 25p each. If using a box i sourced 10 boxes you can decorate yourself and hang on tree for only 99p for all 10! (+80p p+p), so only 18p each.
Details: In each bag you need to put some peace and quiet - thats what most mums (ands dads), could extend to grandparents, want for Christmas! Just attach a little label, and write on your message letting them know that inside here is something you have always wanted , some peace and quiet, and you are sending it with all the love in the world.

Barbara Hornby

marvalous

Name of present? Gift Xmas Tree
Do you make it or buy it? Make it
Total Cost? £1.00 for the Christmas tree in Pound shop or similar, decorations up to £4.00
Details (the more the better) Can be personalised for the recipient.
For example, one for the kids you can dangle mini packets of sweets and snacks found in variety packs in the pound shop or the supermarkets.
Decide on a colour scheme (traditional red and green, gold and silver) and get the snacks to match. Or for a lady, you can use either freebie samples of cosmetics , travel size items and use a hole punch or similar to add thread and loop to the branches of the tree. You can use any small item as ornaments . Even make your own with existing materials and save more money.

When completed, these can be used as table centrepieces, for bedrooms or however you like.

How much more festive can you get for £5.00?

astephens

Here's a list from the Ace Christmas sale catalogue : you can buy some super bargain presents at the minute. My favourites are
1. Glass Butterfy Clock -really pretty, £4.99 (reduced from £19.99)
2. Pink Hurricane Lamp-also very pretty, £3.49 (from £17)
3. Silver Snowflake Photo Frame £3.49 (from £15)
4. Gold/Cream Nutcracker Soldier £2.49 (from £10)

I also like the assorted mo-pods (let you know when your mobile is ringing) from https://www.iwantoneofthose.com-they are £4.95

Happy shopping!!

tubster

For someone who likes walking/history
1. buy the cheapest mp3 player from ebuyer.com, five pounds
2. download free audio walk on to player, featuring interviews with people who live and work along the Thames path from https://www.memoryscape.org.uk and print out free walking map
3. Go on a nice winter walk and listen (if you both go, share the ear bud headphones, one each!)