Does this sound like a good enough Christmas present?

[Christmasiscomingitis]

Selection of home made jams and chutneys (made now)
Biscuits (home made nearer the time)
A house plant (grown by us from seed) and a watering can (bought in bulk so quite cheap)
Hand made Christmas decoration for the tree, one for everyone but personalised
Also a second hand book or a treat such as chocolate that would be different for everyone depending on what they like. But over all cost per person/ couple would be less than £5 as the home made bits are basically free or cost a few hours pence to make.

This is the only thing I can think of that I can make myself, so basically everything will be free. Is this good enough or am I going to be embarrassing myself?

I'm not really worried about my family as we aren't very materialistic but I don't want to embarrass my self with Dhs family.

We usually get different gifts for everyone, ask what they want and have a £10-15 spend per person (bought throughout the year to spread costs, also what they asked for so nothing like this.) Sometimes someone will ask for something and I can find it for a fiver or something, find one second hand (fine for our family) so it comes out cheap enough.

I have asked that we exchange no gifts or just for the children but everyone has said we don't have to buy for them but they will still buy for us. I don't want to be only receiving on Christmas and this is the best I can think of.

If anyone else has any easy(ish) handmade gift ideas I'm all ears. I can bake, sew and knit so anything along those lines would be great.
(all gifts are for adults but if you have any ideas for kids let me have it)

Thank you for reading if you got this far. We struggle at Christmas as it is but this year with everything going up I just need to get it sorted now. Sorry for the essay.

Your version of being “high and mighty” is to do what?

Oh I don't want to get into it too much, I don't really like her too much after that but I'm not going to be a big meany and say she cant have any jam. it's not like I'm knitting sweaters for everyone and I'll be spending 10 hours on her gift. It's bulk cooking for everyone so not too much of a problem really PLUS she's Inc with db so nothing extra on my plate.

I'd love to be one of those people who stand up for themselves but it would be awkward and I don't know if she'll be part of the family for 1 year or 10 or 50, so I wouldn't want to cause an argument or any awkwardness for the sake of a few comments.

Do you like jam @Endlesslypatient82 this is the pressing matter 😄

They are lovely, thoughtful gifts

Gosh sounds lovely. Would skip the second hand book though - and it's not free! The ingredients for the foods and your time! If you were to buy these things off the shelf you are talking at least £20/per head.
I'd be much happier with this as a gift than the usual smelly bath stuff that's everyone's gift fallback.

The problem with all these items that you are suggesting, is that they all involve your time. And that time has a tremendous amount of value.
Time spent making all the stuff, shopping for the right jars, hampers, fabric, whatever... time spent months ahead planning when you are going to begin making your chutney or fruit gin... time spent looking for just the right book for just the right person.
Each item sounds fine (I would enjoy the biscuits, probably not eat the chutney, probably end up with a dead plant as I struggle to keep any house plant alive, and it would be hit or miss as to whether I enjoyed the book), but it is taking you so much time (plus a good bit of money, once you add it all up) for something that you DO NOT WANT TO DO.
How much is your time worth? Think about, if you are in paid employment, what is your hourly rate? Are you comfortable giving that amount of money to these people, particularly the ones you don't like that much, because that is what is really happening. OR think about all the other things you could be doing with that time - spending it reading, relaxing with your family, a day-trip out, catching up in garden, whatever. What all this gift-making and seeking means is that you are not giving that time to yourself, your partner, or your kids (if you have them), or to friends that you really love, because you are giving it to the mean girl-friend who commented so rudely on your gift last time.
Put your foot down. Make it clear, finally, that you will not be giving or accepting adult presents this year. It might be uncomfortable, but then it is done. And I bet other family members will be secretly glad too.

You said “they” bitched about you.

Did not realise it was “just” your SIL although still unacceptable. Presumably you were actually entertaining her ie cooking etc if she was in your home. And no one interjected??

jam - love it.

I would love your gift.

All the gifts sound lovely, I would love to receive something like that! I personally love second hand books, something about the smell just makes them feel extra special 😂!

Every year I make Chilli jelly and give taste with a nice piece of cheese made to look pretty. I often make decorated cellophane bags of Rocky road or rum and raisin fudge. My family actually say they prefer these as they are delicious. A friend always bakes and decorates a small Christmas cake for me every year. I really appreciate it.
If they want to give you presents regardless of you asking them not to, that is down to them. Cutting back, especially with a recession looming is a good idea.

I'd love homemade jam or chutney. Along those lines, could you pot up some spring bulbs in nice pots? - these could be second hand. They won't have blossomed by Christmas, but they won't be past they're best like the chilli plants I grew for Christmas one year.

This is lovely, and what Christmas should be about. I would much rather receive something that someone had put their time and love (for some family members at least 😉) into. It's just one big commercial frenzy now and very sad that people get themselves into debt over one day of the year.

this is actually a great idea. I think I'll do this. To be honest I was worrying about keeping the plants alive and thriving enough for gifts.

thanks!

@Lakeyloo and others saying that Christmas has become too commercialised.

I agree! there is a reason why people in Christmas films usually only get one gift from santa. You only need one!

On that note, has anyone managed to bring Christmas back to basics with children?
I don't think my house can cope with another barbie.

If it’s a jar I just put a bit of Christmas ribbon round it and a gold bow on top. If it’s a plate then I usually just wrap it up. Because I’ve done it for so long everyone knows what it is anyway!

my mother would cover a shoebox in wrapping paper and use that to pack things in. I’m lazy.

I'm glad some people would like this kind of present. and I bet some of you are wondering if it'll be you getting the homemade bits and bobs.

And I am kind of cheating here, I have quite a few crafty hobbies and enjoy making things. I'd he decluttering as well as making bits and bobs.

I find Christmas is a great way to motivate me to finish projects too.
oh dear its only August and I can't wait!

I'll have to have a look in my craft boxes, I think i have Christmas ribbon. if I don't them I certainly do have at least red and green.

I fucking love jam, but I agree with this.

If you really feel you have to give gifts however, would the family be open to a Family Secret Santa? It can seem more like changing the usual present tradition to something fun, rather than just changing to cut costs.

Of course you'll probably be matched with the SIL ingrate if you do this

Now see, I'd love the watering can. Anything secondhand is fine, too.

Agree that you should just dispense with gifts, though. Or just take fudge/biscuits. Be brave and start the trend.

Why do you hate second hand books? I genuinely can't think of a reason (barring scribbled in books obviously). Do you buy all your books new instead, or do you have a kindle? Or use a library?

I can understand a preference for Kindle books over paper books, but I can't understand the mindset of hating secondhand books.

This is a brilliant idea. Old photos in inexpensive and secondhand frames.

I always f

Whoops sent too soon
I always do second hand books. I try and find Something I think Each person will Like.

Buy from charity. Cheap for me, good for charity. Second hand so person won't mind handing on if they don't like it. Books are easy to store, but can be personal.

It's environmentally better than joke presents or wasted food. As not everyone likes chutney.

Op
I think it's lovely that you are doing this x

It sounds lovely. Give me that any day over a bayliss & harding gift set or a bottle of alcohol I don’t drink

I think that all sounds so lovely and incredibly thoughtful. If you're doing the hamper I would add a little note listing all of the items with extra little tidbits of info like when the seed was planted, the preserve jarred etc. I would cherish a gift like that and feel very loved.

You will never please all of the people all of the time. The only thing in your control is your own actions, so focus on what you want to give and if people look down on it that says more about them than you.

I’d be OK receiving a second hand book.
Not too keen on second hand chocolate though.