Is it a bit strange to ask for food for Christmas presents?

[Confusedcookie]

I don't mean this to sound braggy but it's just to give context - We're very lucky that at Christmas my parents, DHs parents and my Nan will usually give us or spend on us between £50-100. Now we aren't skint at all but we are quite frugal and like to save money when we can, so this got me thinking. Would it be strange to use say the £100 present to buy half a lamb for the freezer?
Then the other money for a milk man subscription for a year for milk (obviously) and eggs, or maybe ask for things like nice herbal teas and fresh coffee?
I know I'd be more than happy to give that to a friend or family member as a present but then as I say I'm quite frugal so it makes sense to me but I'm wonder if others wouldn't see it as a "proper" present, especially as I say we aren't struggling with money.
Just to add - they'll ask what we would like for Christmas so it's not as if they'd normally buy a surprise and I'd be upsetting them by asking for something specific instead.
Yabu - Christmas is a time to buy treats!
Yanbu - it makes sense!

We gave BIL and SIL a cheese hamper last year. They loved it and have asked for the same again.

We gave BIL and SIL a cheese hamper last year. They loved it and have asked for the same again.

The only thing is think about is the admin of setting up a subscription for someone else, would it auto renew (got caught out with a magazine subscription for FIL with that one year)
Not sure how milk delivery works but if they pay can you choose what you want.
Would a gift voucher be better? A local shop if you have one rather than a chain of that's your preference.

What did you give BIL and SIL? 😄

I think the milk might be a bit odd, but the lamb is a great idea. It was a good enough gift for the shepherds to bring to Jesus...

People want to treat you one way or another. To me paying your milk bill, which you'd otherwise pay with no difficulty I assume, is more like paying your council tax bill than buying a gift subscription. Consumables generally, great, though you might end up needing to eat some of them quite quickly.

I saw a cheese subscription thing lately which I think I'd like to receive.

I’m doing this, this year. There’s some lovely hot chocolate (Knoops) that is very expensive and I wouldn’t buy for myself, along with the M&S fancy Dark Milk chocolate I love. Like you say, it’ll brighten up the dull January days.

OP, I think that asking for a gift subscription for the milk man/food delivery would be ok, but like a PP said, asking for meat for the freezer would be a bit odd for me. Is there a butchers close by that do a gift card? Or alternatively ask for a gift card for Sainsbury’s then you can spend it on whatever?

Ooh I like the idea of a cheese hamper - and that seems more present like so will look into that.
The milk would be from a local farm and the meat would be from a local butcher. We tend to do it that whoever is hosting Christmas day has the turkey paid for by the guests so I guess that's why I didn't think it was too strange an idea.
We did have a flock of 8 but we're down to one now and won't be replacing until at the earliest next summer, but might take a year off as we're expecting our first child so will be busier next year, I think that's why I was thinking eggs but as someone else said maybe that's a bit like asking to have your council tax bill paid so maybe not 😂
I think it's like others have said, we don't want more stuff, our house isn't massive so there isn't room. Alcohol is the go to present but my husband very rarely drinks and still has beer he got last Christmas sitting in the cupboard and I do like a drink but will be trying to breast feed next year so it'd just be sitting in the cupboard too.
I already make my own jam, chutneys and flavoured butters otherwise I like the suggestion of those sorts of hampers too. Thanks 😊

We stopped adult Christmas presents, but we all do Christmas market/London trips. I buy my sister fancy biscuits from F&M, winterberry wine. She gets me hand made chocolate etc. We should be moving towards less stuff.

Sorry perhaps the council tax bill came out ruder than I intended! I was only referring to the milk and the very next poster said she thought the milk sounded fine.

I guess it depends what you are brought up with. Half a lamb in the freezer sounds quite inspired to me, but maybe it's weirder if you are not used by buying meat this way. You know your family best.

Don't worry I thought it was funny 🤣

Once I asked a relative for coffee pods, she worked in a supermarket and filled a shoe box with ones close to bb date. It was brilliant and they lasted years. And I’ll always think of her when making my morning coffee.

Asking for a voucher for your butchers might be a good way to do it.

This is why we have almost totally stopped buying gifts. With my side of the family we get together over Christmad for food drinks and games.....there may be the odd silly joke gift if someone finds something appropriate!
Dh only has his parents and we just exchange token gifts
It's so much more fun, we all have more than enough stuff!

I was just thinking this morning of asking for food/drink gifts this year. Food is so expensive now that even having nice meat is a luxury. I love having a house full of food at Christmas so asking for foodstuffs to stock the larder seems a lovely idea. I would prefer to be able to buy something more gift-y though. Maybe the lamb but not the milk, which is just an everyday expense.

My friend always buys her family a large order from the award winning butcher / deli local to us. It's the kind of place that sells really top quality everything. As much locally sourced as they can. It is also probably out of most people's budgets for their weekly meat consumption, seen more as a special occasion buy. Her family love this as they fill the freezer and it lasts them several months.

I’ve bought my brother a hamper for years. He’s got everything else he needs and it’s always the little luxuries he wouldn’t buy for himself.
Can’t see anything wrong with asking for what you want for Christmas. Surely that makes things easier for relatives instead of guessing?

Ask for a meat hamper?

Anyone who thinks it’s wrong to give food or drink, especially when the person has asked for it, is a dick, in my humble opinion. Who needs more stuff? Who knows what sort of things I like to have around me better than I know myself? I’m in my 50s now and I’ve got what I need in my house. I don’t need yet more landfill stuffing it up.

I love receiving food and drink as gifts because I hate clutter and stuff for the sake of stuff. I’m also not into clothes, make up or perfume so I can be difficult to buy for! If someone bought me a lovely cheeseboard or a hamper, I’d be made up.

So yes, I’d be happy if I gave someone money and they chose to spend it on food. Though as others have said, I’d probably feel a bit sad and worried if they spent it on their weekly Aldi shop, but would hope they could use it for treat or luxury items. I’d see it as not much different to giving someone a voucher for a restaurant or afternoon tea, which are fairly standard gifts and usually well-received by most.

"DHs parents and my Nan will usually give us or spend on us between £50-100."

Just ask them for the money this year then and tell them what you'd like to spend it on 🤷‍♂️

'Asking for food' is a strange way to put it.

We get a monthly olive oil subscription which we love. In fact we like it so much we’re thinking of buying some for others this year!

I love receiving consumables, as long as they are something we genuinely use (ie not wine which we don’t drink)

In your shoes I’d ask for Riverford vouchers, thinking about their chef collaboration meal kits and other treats. Then end up spending them on normal weekly veg boxes because I too am frugal.

I’ve gifted numerous hampers over the years but would it would feel odd if I gifted someone half a lamb joint, sorry.

Yes I’d be happy to buy a family member that if it’s what they wanted

I've tended to move to food for some relatives

DSis gets a selection of meats, cheeses and chutneys/olives etc from the Fine Cheese company delivered

DD's both get food, often from abroad such as risotto mixes from Italy, specialty honey, truffle products, fancy pasta from Italy.

I've got them pumpkin jam too this year from Porto to go with cheese and cold meats - I wouldn't have thought of that but most restaurants seem to give it.

They also have banana jam from Spain simply because I hadn't ever seen it before. Also specialty nut butters.

Herbal teas definitely a lovely present - bird and blend popular with Gen Z
Also got them M and S shortbread tea as recommended on here

So yes, food can make a great gift