Anonymous basket to a friend of a friend in need, what to include for xmas?

[StaceymAloneForver]

Right so friend of a friend is down on her luck and I want to make xmas a little special, she has grown up children who still live at home (2 dds 20, 18, and a 17yo ds) I want to make a little hamper with nice things for her and her children.

So far I have included:
Nice warm 'bedsocks' for girls and herself
Bath bomb things
Handcream giftset

I'm also thinking of adding normal xmas hamper type things chutney, biscuits chocs etc.

but what else can go in this hamper??? Stuff for the 17 ds??

And as an aside this will be completely anonymous and I really hope it brightens her xmas rather than makes her feel bad!

When you say down on their luck, do you mean money-wise? If so, a few nice things, such as you've described, with a supermarket gift-card might be an idea.

It's just that I've known years in which a packet of toilet roll would have been high on my wish list, in preference to a packet of fancy biscuits for example .

£10 or so on a gift-card, might really make a difference between Christmas and New Year, and when you're slightly strapped for cash, it's nice to be able to splash out unexpectedly.

Ooh me again! Aldi have cheap lindt style chocolate santas and reindeers that I'm told taste just like Lindt ( got some for ds but not tasted) and infant I had an Aldi mince pie at pils and they were loads nicer than my Kipling etc so why not try there to get more for you money?

Would she be offended by a gift card for Tesco/Sainsbos? I would stick one in if not for £20 then she can get some essentials with the cash.

Nail Polish, nail files for the girls.
Lynx/FCUK/Ted Baker body spray for the boy
Nice pens- Stil Gel pens are nice, so are Muji ones, for the kids.

I'd forget the hamper snd send a £50 supermarket voucher tbh

I think my definition of 'posh' includes nescafe! :) hair stuff for the DDs? Frizz-ease? Absolutely agree with after eights & if perishables, something like cracker-barrel cheese. :)

Pasta shapes and a jar of really good pesto or pasta sauce - or both, include some parma ham or pancetta type stuff to go with the pasta.

Jar of fruit cake and I can give you the recipe of you want? Just add melted butter and an unbeaten egg. Wrap a round tin liner round the lid of the jar and add a bow.

really lovely feel good film for them all to sit down and watch or same but in cd form.

Hot chocolate, mini marsh mellows and bubble bath

a pudding - sticky toffee or xmas

a good book

lovely idea, will put a supermarket gift card in instead of the cinema voucher i was thinking, probably more use.

smellys for the boy, why are teenage boys so hard

thanks for all the ideas :)

For the 17 yo DS:

Some branded gloves like Nike from sports direct?

Men are getting more and more into this whole shaving balm and face wash stuff.

I tunes voucher?

IMO I think it's ok to put vouchers in

What a lovely thing to do.

A love film subscription, cheaper than cinema tickets, dvd's and games through the post every month. I'm pretty sure they do three and six month packages

hi stacey - you are a proper christmas fairy!!

Are you going to leave a note? I think it is a LOVELY, LOVELY thing you are doing but i once got an anonymous gift and it weirded me out a little. Not saying you should say who it's from but a few words stating that it is to the XXX family and you wish them a really happy christmas or something like that. I know a hamper's not sinister but i felt slightly uncomfortable knowing that someone had sent me something and i knew nothing about it so a little card could prevent this?......

As for hamper gifts I think you've had wonderful suggestions. Not sure where your budget's at but a board game could be nice?

Teenage boy stuff: Lynx, V05 hair products, sports socks, itunes voucher, mobile phone credit

As an aside, why is your chatname aloneforever - you sound so nice!!!!

oo gloves, thanks for tha idea :)

and will look into love film :)

iloveberries thank you, i was thinking of putting a little xmas card just stating i wished the family a very merry christmas etc.

as you ask i'm not alone anymore i'm engaged but had a bad few years before a MN holiday and ddin't change my name when i came back, i probably should shouldn't i?

yeah, christmas card would be nice.

They will be touched. Thoughtful people are rare :)

nice stationery for the kids new school/college term?

thanks cat - adds 'boy food' to the list

Poundland have fantastic gloves, scarves and fluffy socks/bedsocks in stock. And After Eights are three boxes for £2.

Lottery Lucky dips are a great idea (FIL got a bunch of those on his last birthday from his neighbours and made £30!) Deffo supermarket vouchers too.

You're doing a lovely thing, Stacey

oo ilovemyteddy thanks for the heads up for poundland, hadn't even thought of heading there (don't know quite what i was thinking )

ELF Cosmetics for the Mum/dd's. Very cheap but nice. www.eyeslipsface.co.uk

For the 17yo boy: FOOD! Chocolate Santas, Crisps, Selection boxes.

Very kind of you.

will keep an eye on elf, don't have funds (except cc) until next week but i want some of that, how comes i never knew about it????

Ooh yes, elf is a good call (and so festive!!)

I think it's a good idea to put a card with who it's from too like iloveberries suggested - not for the praise but so they're not freaked out.

bump for anymore ideas??

Not sure if some one mentioned festive napkins and candles?

I can second PP's suggestion of having a look at Aldi. Their Xmas stuff looks fantastic.

This is a very kind thing that you are doing.

I can vouch for aldi christmas food, tis lovely and the reindeers are very good --i didn't eat the one I got for ds, no, not me--

Jjingleetc