Christmas bonus for builders?!?!

[AChickenCalledKorma]

We are in the middle of a major building project (big extension and total renovation of our house). Builders have been on site since August and will be with us for a couple of months yet.

I feel like we should get them some sort of Christmas present - probably of the drinkable variety. But I have no idea what to get, how much to spend etc etc. DH is no use because he's teetotal. He also quite rightly points out that we are paying them shed-loads of money already, and the main man is substantially more well-off than we are (on account of having his kids at a rather expensive school down the road!) so we are talking "nice gesture" rather than an actual Christmas bonus!

Anyone have any idea what the done thing is?

[SizzleSazz]

I would buy a crate of lager/beer and a couple of selection boxes for them to share. Beer & chocolate can't go wrong

[7to25]

I agree.
Two crates and forget the chocs.

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Similar here, but a shared crate of cold lager on a remote building site doesn't sound so good to me. I've specific gifts for certain people:
eg. champagne, baby toy and special tree decoration for site manager with new baby

one labourer is an ex-alcoholic but I know he has his grandchildren staying for christmas so he has a family game + chocolates

posh wine + italian breadsticks+ tapenade and giant gold coin for our project surveyor

Then am taking enough things, but varied items so everyone on site (8?) has something - bottle vodka, bottle port, 2 x mulled wine and various chocolates. They can fight amognst themselves which they'd rather take home!

I've spent more on them than my family

[ggirl]

we had builders and gave them a bouquet of flowers to take to their wives...dh in flower business though..but it did go down well with them as they worked long hrs for us and we were conscious of them being late home to their families
suppose it depends if they're married or not

but maybe a bottle of their favourite tipple if you know it

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Giant tub of hot chocolate and sack of marshmallows for January on site???

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Thanks guys. Still haven't decided but I've got more ideas now!

[WindUpBird]

I was just about to post the same question and found this thread! In a similar situation to you. Our builders have just finished half our building works, it's their last day tomorrow until January and also wanted to get them something. I don't know what they drink though alcohol is the obvious choice. Let me know what you decide!

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Hi WindUpBird - hope your works are going well.

I have decided to do a "lucky dip" hamper - i.e. a cardboard box wrapped in Xmas paper, with an assortment of beer/wine/chocolate/fancy biscuits etc. Thought I'd let them divvy it up between themselves - then I don't have to be telepathic about what they all like to eat/drink!

(Am impressed at betterwhenthesunshines' detailed knowledge of her builders' tastes, but in my defence, we've moved out for the duration, so I haven't actually been living in their back pockets!)

[Miller1977]

Sounds good, I'm sure they will like it.

[sweetkitty]

I've got ours two crates of beer, they are young men about 21-25 (how old do I feel) so I think beer will go down well.

[WindUpBird]

I've just given our builders a tin of biscuits each and a mini crate each with 2 bottles of ale, one fizzy wine and one red wine! Like you say, AChickenCalledKorma, they are being paid well for the work, why I should be giving them a present as well, I don't know, but the work has been very good so far! Thanks for helping me dither about what to get!