making home made gifts as I am skint?

[eggontoast]

On maternity leave, due in 2 weeks. As having a year off, without a full wage, I plan to make chilli jam and ?? who knows (ideas welcome) as Christmas presents for my family who refuse not to buy me anything hence making me feel too guilty to boycott altogether.

Basically, I am going for its the thought that counts?

[LetThereBeRock]

YANBU. I love homemade gifts,particuarly if they're edible. I'd be thrilled if someone gave me chili jam and other items of that nature.

[saltyseadog]

YANBU.

FAb article in this month's W&H mag full of recipes for home made presents e.g. chilli oil, toffees, italian biscuits etc.

Also, if you can get a copy of Rachel Allen's 'Home Cooking' from your library there's a whole chapter on that sort of stuff.

[TeaSleepFood]

Definately not BU
I did exactly the same and knitted booties for my NCT friends who were due at similar time.
FLavoured oils and vodka are always winners - nice and cheap from aldi!

[Montifer]

I think home made gifts are lovely and so much more personal.

It shows you have spent time and effort.

Whilst receiving bought presents is lovely, I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by the whole shopping madness which surrounds Christmas and would happily receive home made chilli jam, which sounds lovely btw.
Would be very interested to know how you make that

Sadly I exhausted my home craft talents with knitted scarves and chocolate truffles last year.
Am thinking of going for jars of biscuit / muffin mix and a repeat of the delicious boozy truffles this year.

[PerArduaAdAstra]

YANBU at all. Much more interesting than some other token which people don't need - or even particularly want. I'm looking forward to a bottle of sloe gin from my dsis this year

There's a couple of good gift type recipes here which I'm thinking about doing for a wheat-intolerant friend - any use?

[SqueezyCheesyPumpkin]

YANBU. Home made gifts are fab because you know the person who made it spent time doing it.

Check you local £1 shop for cheap jars and bottles that might come in handy.

[Firawla]

yanbu, obv as long as you make something nice
i think a lot of people will be doing home-made this year from what i have heard.

[BLEEPyouYOUbleepingBLEEP]

Hmmmm...going against the tide perhaps, but the thought counts when it's with your DC making you gifts, but perhaps not an adult.

My SIL made home made gifts one year, and we got some teddy material place mats lol

Of course we pretended to be grateful, if you're thinking of making chilli jam, prob don't bother barf

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Homemade gifts are lovely.

I do it every year for teachers and friends. I've made truffles, cranberry and white chocolate cookies, mini christmas cakes, christmas chutney, onion jam....

I've made mincemeat this year and will be doing mince pies as gifts for the ds's teachers.

Also this year I have no idea what to buy for my mum and dad so I'm going to make a selection of homemade bits.

I think people really appreciate the effort.

[SpookyAlice]

Sloe Gin always goes down well in our family, and love jams etc.

I got a really great book for my birthday called Homemade which has some great ideas in.

Also, have you looked at LaurieFairycake's candle thread? I was thinking of candles myself.

[SpookyAlice]

candles thread

[eggontoast]

PerArduaAdAstra - I am going to have to locate a recipe - it is not something I have ever made before!! Might try some boozy truffles too as I have some alcohol I will never drink in the cupboard - cheers!!

Saltyseadog - I will go to the library tomorrow - good thinking and very helpful. Thanks

All other supporters - thanks. Only one negative so, statistically likely to be appreciated, especially given my family know I'm skint!

[SqueezyCheesyPumpkin]

Alice, the candles are FAB. Have made some and given them as little gifts and they've been much appreciated

[dawntigga]

YANBU I'd love home made gifts esp if they are edible! You need to bear in mind however, not everyone thinks the same. I made a really nice ginger bread house one year, took ages decorating it etc. to overhear the sil saying:

'Well she only made it herself it didn't cost her much'

The ungrateful cow.

SILCanKissMyBacksideTiggaxx

[OurLadyOfPerpetualBloodSucker]

I think it's a great idea, but somehow my stuff never quite matches the photos in the books.

Presentation is everything.

< slapdash >

[MistergodthisisSal]

Tigga, your SIL sounds stupid ungrateful.

I love homemade gifts. Even if it's not something you particularly like, knowing someone went to all the trouble makes all the difference. I prefer homemade gifts over bought any day. Sadly I normally buy (lazy), but might try to change this year.

[echt]

Bleep, the OP is skint, not trying to be cute. She's doing her best in trying circumstances.

Good on you, egg.

[PerArduaAdAstra]

Bleep - look at it this way. Your SIL has no taste. Would you rather she demonstrated this by spending silly money on something equally naff, but that you'd feel obliged to keep because it technically has value?

[cakeywakeywhizzbangmakey]

I love homemade gifts! OurLady is right though in that the presentation really counts. If you make some homemade labels and get some snazzy fabric to cover the lids you can make the jars look really jazzy.

Delia Smith does a lovely Christmas Chutney that is fab and dead easy to make www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/vegetarian-food/christmas-chutney.html

And if you don't have a preserving pan, it's worth giving your local WI a shout and seeing if a friendly local lady is happy to lend you hers. Have fun

[Drayford]

I love getting homemade presents - more thoughtful than a 3 for 2 offer from boots!

Yum to Chilli Jam - I might pinch that idea myself!

We have a tradition in our family of making and truffles and chocolates for christmas gifts & DC love making them. We also give Sloe Gin and Raspberry vodka (all brewing nicely in my larder at the moment) decanted into those lovely cheap bottles from IKEA.

[Drayford]

PS: Not too late to make tarragon or other herb vinegar, or chilli oil for drizzling on pizzas or bread.

[eggontoast]

thanks echt.

[crazylizzy]

Personally, I would prefer a jar of home made chilli jam rather than a £500 Harrods present any day I think home made gifts are truly wonderful.

[Katz]

has anyone suggested bath bombs?

very very cheap and easy to make.

recipe here:

www.thesoapkitchen.co.uk/bath_bomb_recipe.htm

get the bicarb from the cleaning bit of supermarket Tesco was about £1 for 500g i think and the citric acid from a halal or indian grocers, they sell large bags again was very cheap.

few drops of food colouring and a few drops of essential oils, use up any old ones!!

you can add glitter/dried roses if you want to give a bit more.

then use any moulds you have or we used cockie cutters.

worked so well the teachers didn't realise they were home made!

[cakeywakeywhizzbangmakey]

I'm sure I don't need to say it, but it might be worth doing any preserving asap for Xmas pressies - preserves need time to mature before they're opened (and it might be hard to find the time once your DC is here ).

Oooh! Or are your thoughts turning to making stuff for Xmas because you're nesting?