Nice (but bargainous) things to put in hamper for the PILs?

[DTisMYdoctor]

Planning on doing a foodie hamper for the in-laws for Christmas. Any ideas what to put in apart from the obligatory bottle of fizz? Ideally looking for bargains, 3 for 2 etc to get as much as possible. Budget around £30-£40.

[RosieBloom32]

I hate getting bloody hampers.

I wish people would just save their money and not waste it on assembing a series of random items (some of which I hate), presenting it in a cheap basket and calling it a 'gift'.

Either buy me something I would like, or get me nothing. Nothing worse than faking smiles when I'm presented with what looks the contents of a very weird shopping trolley.

I'll be glad when this bizaree fashion has past its sell by date.

The worst ones are where people have clearly bought a packet of 3 or 4 items and split them between different hampers. Or have put in (normally free) mini samples of shampoo for example. I find this particulary infuriating when I have spent money and effort on a nice thoughtful gift for this person.

I would rather have been told before Christmas that we weren't exchanging presents this year tbh.

Sorry, no help, just venting

[starfishmummy]

Depends what they like really.
Is it a luxury hamper or just everyday stuff?

I would go for upgrading - so if they drink basics tea bags, I would buy a push brand: ground coffee rather than instant etc

[sweetkitty]

Oh no I'm doing a hamper for my Dad this year, he's so difficult to buy for, he's teetotal, doesn't have hobbies, doesn't go on holiday, I've bought him jumpers and shirts forever. He's always skint so I thought a nice hamper of luxuries would be could as well as practical things like a huge jar of coffee and tea bags.

[RosieBloom32]

Well ground coffee only a good idea if they have something to make it in.

And IME people drink the tea they like and don't really want 'upgrading'. Esp elderly people who may be set in their ways.

[PotteringAlong]

Marks and spencer have 3 for 2 on lots of Christmas food goodies at moment.

[glenthebattleostrich]

I love getting hampers. If you are thinking of fancy coffee, what about some coffee bags. You can get them from Morrisons I think.

Also, have a look on the Xmas bargain thread. There is a money off code for a flavourly box, which is awesome.

M&S have 3 for 2 on their posh biscuits too.

[ShatnersBassoon]

I disagree completely with RosieBloom32, who has obviously only been given really bad hampers, not thoughtfully planned treats. Shampoo sachets? Who the hell puts those in a hamper?

M&S is a good place to start, or Aldi for some unusual but great quality continental Christmas items.

[NoelOfLorst]

I love hampers.

But anyway my suggestion was the 3 for 2 that M&S have on at the moment, but I see I've been beaten to it.

I'm currently working my way through their stem ginger curd at the moment

[DTisMYdoctor]

Thankfully I'm not buying the hamper for you Rosie, but for someone I know quite well and who I know will like it!

Nice consumables is what I'm going for. I'll have a look at M&S 3 for 2, that would be perfect.

[raisah]

I always put together hampers of the following items:

Jam
Tea bags
Coffee or coffee bags (Lyons coffee bags - Tesco)
Mini Xmas cakes
Mini mince or apple pies
Pickles
Crackers
Biscuits
Posh soft drink
Hot chocolate
marshmallows

[5Foot5]

We regularly do a hamper for PILs and they seem to love it and strongly hint we keep doing it. We tend to have a theme with them as they like all things Italian so we look for any interesting pastas, jars of antipasti, nice Italian cakes or biscuits, wine etc.

I have also done a hamper for my Mum once when I got mainly locally made produce bought at the farmers' market.

[RosieBloom32]

Not shampoo sachets but those tiny little bottles that are no good to man or beast.

And who wants Christmas treats after Christmas? I've had my fill of mince pies by 27th December. I've also organised my own Christmas cake and Christmas treats so unless you are giving me the hamper on the 1st December its contents will just be extra food I don't need.

Theres a reason why excess Chrsitmas food is sold off cheap in January - people don't want it.

And as for being happy about being given a box of teabags

If you love putting hampera togethet then do it for a chairty and give it to people that need it.

Not your nearest and dearest who have spent time and effort on lovely gifts for you. A homemade hamper of odds and sods found cheaply on bogofs is as good as an insult.

[RosieBloom32]

Now a hamper made up of delicious goodies from a farmers market is an different matter entirely .. I want one of those.

A hamper made up of mass produced stuff on bogofs you can keep for yourself. Just let me know we are not doing presents and I'll spend the money I would have spent on you on something nice for myself ie not tea bags

[OneLittleLady]

I have to disagree Rosie I make a hamper every year for my sister and her husband and kids filled with the things they cannot afford. I make it a special thing with lots of nice goods that they simply don't have the money for. Yes, they can afford all the basics for over christmas but why should I not give them something that they and my nieces and nephews really appreciate? They spend their money on presents for the kids and have very little left over and appreciate the time and effort I put into making them a hamper that makes the festive season a little nicer for them. Oh and I also buy them gifts that i spend a lot of time choosing for them, they don't just get a hamper

[RosieBloom32]

Well yes, I'm sure the recipents do do a good of pretending they love the teabags in a basket.

I know I do.

Whilst venting on here that its a crap gift

[VivaLeBeaver]

Marzipan fruits? Nice boxes in The Range for £4
Aldi fudge that everyone on MN raves about but I can never find

[VivaLeBeaver]

I think a hamper is a lovely gift by the way.

[TeaAndCakeOrDeath]

How about getting a Flavourly box? Theres a code for one on the Christmas bargain threads taking them down from £15 to £5 and theres lots of nice foodie bits in it

[OutragedFromLeeds]

I love a hamper, as long as it's stuff you actually like.

I think there is a tendency to put more expensive versions of the products they normally use in e.g. some posh dark chocolate with chili in it instead of Dairy Milk. I don't buy dark chocolate with chili in it because I don't want it, don't buy it for me for Christmas. Hamper containing some Dairy Milk products; lovely!

[RosieBloom32]

Having read the contents of the flaverly box on the Christmas thread, I would add it to the list of things not to buy me.

Blood cordial anyone?

Actually I think that bargain thread is an education in what not to put in a hamper - lots of freebies from magazine subscribtions and bulk buys spilt between numerous hampers. Not really aiming for the 'personal' touch on that thread - more of the 'how much cheap crap can I cram into an even cheaper basket and still call it a 'themed hamper'.

That's the sort of hamper that makes my teeth itch - lots of fake smiles on Christmad morning in those houses methinks .

[CloserLook]

Nothing useful to add except I like getting a hamper too. I think it's a lovely gift most people will appreciate as long as you know them well enough to know what they like.

Hot chocolate, marshmallows, chocolate (I'd go for one dairy milk and one posh one), maybe a bottle of that soft sparkly stuff (very nice instead of wine and will keep the cost down), chutney, crackers, some savoury crunchy stuff (love a pistachio), olives or antipasti? It doesn't have to be a huge hamper.

I normally put in something thay can keep as well if the budget stretches far enough (eg. a mug for the hot choc).

[hallowisitmeyourelookingfor]

Ha Rosie, my thoughts exactly though we are in the minority as MN as a whole do appear to love a hamper
If someone gave me a box with a bargain bucket film and popcorn I'd be giving it straight back. Or one with random toiletries shoved in. I can buy my own shampoo thanks.

[RosieBloom32]

Ah yes Hallows, the more 'defined' the hamper theme becomes the more ridicolous the contents.

When it goes from being just a 'food and drink hamper (which is frankly horrific enough) to a 'girls night in hamper' you know you are going to be forcing that fake smile to its limits.

I would be visablilly cringing before I had even glimpsed the horrors inside that 'gift'.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

I give my parents and my ILs a hamper each year. I live in a market town so I have a couple of hours wander round the local shops and a trip to the monthly farmers' market and get lots of goodies that you can only buy in my area. I never put supermarket or high street stuff in them as it's pointless: you can that stuff anywhere.

Goodies are usually 2 or 3 cheeses, crackers, biscuits, pot of jam, pot of chutney, wine from an almost-local vineyard and beer from a very local brewery. Actual hamper is usually only a box filled with straw (purloined from next door's rabbit's bedding supply in return for a bag of carrots and some crunchy veg) tied up with a bow.

They love it and it's a) cheaper than a ready made hamper and b) easier to buy as I don't have to trek to a major high street to buy everything.