Frugal christmas ideas

[wheresthel1ght]

For various health reasons I am currently not working and due to some imminent but as yet unconfirmed changes to dp's job I cannot go back yet. So am starting to look to. What we can do for family gifts that isn't going to break the bank.

Fil - lives alone and has health needs that I am currently doing a lot of care for so we will probably do him a food hamper

Dp's Kids are aware of issues financially as are teenagers and have asked for a specific thing which is not cheap but doable and are aware there won't be anything else, £35 for each of them. We normally spend £50 each so jot a massive disparity.

Our dd is 4, she will probably be ecstatic with playdough and colouring pens so not overly worried

We have a local book store that trades second hand books and gives you store credit to buy more second hand or new books so have managed to get some deals through them for dss and dd.

But for my parents, grandparents etc we want to (dsd particularly) make some handmade gifts. Along the lines of bath salts, candles etc. But trying to think of some other ideas. Can anyone help?

I am not massively crafty, have a glue gun, sewing machine and my dsd has an affinity for sewing etc so hoping we can muddle through.

Help!

[Didiusfalco]

I think I would go for food gifts if you are not massively crafty. Things like biscuits or fudge, neither of which have expensive ingredients would probably be more appreciated, and aren't particularly tricky. There are quite a few idea for other food you can gift on the Christmas board. Honestly, if you don't have a particular skill I would step away from the glue gun

[SpiritedLondon]

I think in your position I might have agreed with the adults not to do presents actually. In any event Pinterest might be your friend here .... lots of "recipes" for soaps, lip balms, hand creams etc or how about some jams or chutneys? We've still got some blackberries here although they came really early this year. Any produce in the garden you could use ( apples, rosemary etc?) I've got a book called Home Made Simple by Joanne Gosling that I got from the Works for £3.99 which has lots of gifts that you might actually want to receive that aren't too tricky candles, covered note books etc. Perhaps the library will have a copy? But check Pinterest... there will be tons of ideas.

[Badders08]

Check out Pinterest - loads of ideas on there

[Spam88]

Problem with things like candles is it can be quite pricey to get all the stuff you need. What about Christmas tree decorations? Could do some nice sewn ones or salt dough maybe? Or I've been known to crack out the glue gun to make cork decorations.

[wheresthel1ght]

Ohh hadnt thought of pintrest, will have a look later.

As adults we won't do gifts but the kids want to be able to give their grandparents something.

I can do basics but some of the more elaborate options seem a little dangerous!

I did a button heart picture for a family member and have done the odd scrabble frame so am. Safe with the glue gun!

Thanks for tips

[Annwithnoe]

With any idea that you're tempted to make google "Pinterest fail" or "diy disaster" etc to get a sense of what can go wrong and have a good laugh
Try and stick with things that you already have the materials for. Crafts are unexpectedly expensive.

[wheresthel1ght]

Thanks annwith. Will definitely Google for key obstacles.

I am hoping anything fabric based I can root round charity shops for. My dsd is very keen to do candles. Any ideas where is cheap to get bits from?

[WellTidy]

Lorraine pascale's recipe for apple and blackberry chutney is fantastic, and great for this time of year as there are loads of both around here for picking.

[wheresthel1ght]

@Welltidy thanks that sounds right up my nuns street! Will get googling

[Aquiver]

What about scented sachets e.g. lavender pouches? They are lovely :)

Or some homemade fudge or biscuits, wrapped up in Christmas ribbons?

Or.. maybe some festive hanging decorations? You could make these out of wire bent into pretty shapes (heart, stars), strung with beads or bells and with a ribbon looped around to make it hang. You can also do the same with dried fruits (e.g. dried / baked oranges etc studded with cloves).

Festive pot pourri can also be made using dried fruit slices, and perhaps put into cellophane bags tied with ribbon.

Have a lovely, creative Christmas OP - hope it goes wonderfully!

[Wayfarersonbaby]

Last year DD and I collected pine cones and dipped the edges in white poster paint and silver glitter, then I glue-gunned a loop of garden twine on to make tree decorations. They looked amazing and John Lewis was selling bags of near-identical ones for £10!

For children's presents we've had good success with sweetie cones tied up with Christmas ribbon; home-made biscuit mix together with a cookie cutter each; and books from Book People or from the 10 for £10 offer at The Works (they generally get some nice Christmassy ones closer to the time). Also look at the dotcomgiftshop sale for offers on Christmas decorations and often cookie cutters.

[Annwithnoe]

Have you tried hobbycraft for candle supplies? I think they give 15% off to new customers or old customers with new email addresses

Cellophane bags and ribbon turn just about anything into a gorgeous gift

Aldi (Ireland but U.K. Is usually similar) have fat quarter bundles this weekend. The Works sell them at a good price too. There are lots of easy beginner level sewing projects online using fat quarters if you google.

[elQuintoConyo]

I made handprint doves one year. Drew round DS' hand, cut out two bits of white felt and a yellow bit for beak, black dot for an eye, sewed two parts together and added a white ribbon loop - ta-da!

Don't have a photo to hand (badoom tish ) but just googled this it looks simple but personal and very nice:

[MooMooTheFirst]

If you're. Giving gifts from the children could you get them to make them? So do saltdough ornaments with DDs hand print or something similar?

[jo10000]

I just bought some funky fabric and covered some cheap notebooks, so knitting one for mum etc, about £4 altogether. Cheap, quick and personal. I sewed so not sure about glueing.

[TheDuchessofDukeStreet]

Home made toffee. I will post my recipie if you like.

[KC225]

Duchess, I would love to see your toffee recipe

[TheDuchessofDukeStreet]

Toffee

In a pan melt over a low heat,

6 tablespoons of sugar
4 oz butter
3 dessert spoons milk
3 dessert spoons golden syrup/ black treacle ( adjust the ratio here to suit your taste, I use one of black treacle and two of golden syrup. It depends whether you like a treacle toffee, or want to use all golden syrup for a plain toffee. Either way it will be good)
A teaspoon of malt vinegar

Bring this to the boil stirring all the while with a wooden spoon. Stay with the toffee and let it boil over a low heat. The boiling time should be twenty minutes but have a cup of cold water ready to spoon a little into it at eighteen minutes. I generally find it is hard and done at eighteen minutes, but it may need another minute or two.

Pour into a buttered cake tin and allow to set. When absolutely cold, break into small pieces. ( I use the handle of a dinner knife)

Put into gift bags or line a tin with grease proof paper and put in there.
Nice for a small present, hamper, stocking filler or just to pass round in a bigger tin.

[schoolgaterebel]

This sort of 'Christmas cookie mix' for the kids might me a good idea.

I made chutney for gifts one year and found it surprisingly expensive once I had bought all the ingredients.

[Thethreegraces]

Get over to the Christmas bargain thread. That's where mn dedicated Christmas bargain hunters live with lots of tips & discount codes.

I've picked up loads of bargains there over the years and have saved an absolute fortune. In your position I would buy for kids only and do family gifts like board games and hampers for the older family members.

Can you sell unwanted household items and toys on local facebook pages/nearly new/car boot sales to generate extra cash? I've just booked a stall at a nearly new sale and hope to get rid of a lot of toys and clothes.

Start saving £2 coins in a tin now for next Xmas. You can get tin that you need a tin opener to open from the £ shop.

Buy a £5/£10 supermarket voucher/stamp each week to save for your Xmas meal shop. Start buying an extra item (check shelf dates) to save for December and take the pressure off you.

[ootlander]

Google Nigellas sweet and salty peanut bars

• I made them for my Grandpa years ago and now it's all he insists on for his birthday!

Also one year I made jars of pears poached in mulled wine (good served with a cheese board) and chilli jam.
Calendars with photos of DD and DS also work well for presents at Xmas

[wheresthel1ght]

@thethreegraces thanks will have a read through once kids are in bed. I shop with Morrisons and save all my more points through the year so that pays for dinner. We did dinner for 9 last year and even including the booze I think I only handed over about £25 of "real" money.

I have managed to get some of the Xmas fat quarters in Aldi today so dsd is over the moon and we are going to look for some easy patterns to make a few bits from. I really want to make dd a stocking too - are they hard?

I am selling off lots of dd's jojo maman clothes as they sell well and keep their value so that is getting us a bit and am looking through toys that are in good condition but no longer played with like toot toot cars etc.

[frisbeefreedom]

Do any of them have open fires/stoves/etc? I made these pinecone firelighters one year, they looked cute and were actually really effective! I rather enjoyed going off and collecting the pine cones too...

www.katescreativespace.com/2012/10/19/homemade-pinecone-firelighters/

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

If you've got apples in the garden, or a neighbour is giving them away, a good, fruity apple chutney is lovely and easy to make, and you can use a few jars that would otherwise go in the recycling.

Once or twice I've made some really cheesy cheese straws - so moreish - and have given those when I know it won't be long between giving and the person opening the present. My recipe includes English mustard, lots of mature Cheddar, and cayenne pepper, though I always add more of those than it says.
There are never any left, and I have to keep Dh away from them if they're for an occasion later, or he'd scoff so many.

[Mrsmadevans]

Thank you Duchess I would love to make some for my parents but is the end result very hard toffee and if it is can I adjust the recipe for a softer teoffee. Parents late 80s can't chew very well .Thank you my Dear!