Nice (but bargainous) things to put in hamper for the PILs?

[DTisMYdoctor]

Planning on doing a foodie hamper for the in-laws for Christmas. Any ideas what to put in apart from the obligatory bottle of fizz? Ideally looking for bargains, 3 for 2 etc to get as much as possible. Budget around £30-£40.

Rosie, perhaps we should take our hamper hatred elsewhere! The worst ones are the ingredients to make a hot chocolate presented in a mug - WHO FFS doesn't own their own mugs already? Who needs yet more novelty mugs cluttering up the place? A 'sachet' of hot chocolate? Somehow more insulting than if you'd just given them a Costa voucher.
If any of my family are reading this and thinking of making me one, just don't. Donate the money to charity.

I can understand your hatred of receiving one yourself if it's something you really dislike but I don't see what the problem is with what I do for my sister. She and her family would not be able to afford those 'posh biscuits in M&S' so what's wrong with me giving them something they would be missing out on that I know they want, for them and for their kids? I couldn't sit back munching my 'posh chocolate' knowing my own family were going without anything nice, at christmas of all times,to make sure they could afford to heat and light their home

Ok.
Bottle of port/prosecco/red wine
Cheese board and crackers
Xmas cake/pud
Posh biscuits
Posh choc
Jam
Chutney
Stollen
Pannetone
Candied peel
Posh tinned ham
Hampers can be lovely if thought and time are put into them.
Dint buys tuff you like, buy stuff the recipient will like!

Ok I get some of you don't want a hamper!

However, for all the hamper haters there are people who do like them, such as my lovely PILs.

They're hard to buy for - they have busy active lives and if they want/need something they'll buy it themselves.

In the past we've bought them restaurant vouchers and the such like. They're fond of posh M&S biscuits and naice chutneys etc. and they don't always buy stuff like that on a day to day basis, seeing it as more of a treat.

I've no intention of putting in free shampoo samples, cheap DVDs, boxes of tea they wouldn't use or Christmas goodies rapidly approaching their sell by date.

I plan to make up a hamper so I can put in foodie things I know they'll like, rather than get them some over-priced festive hamper. I'd like to fill it as much as possible, hence the use of bargainous in the title - I did mean good offers that are on rather than freebies to save money.

Some good ideas though so thank you for those.

I would like a hamper. Waitrose has some good offers on Cava and nice biscuits in Marks (both have loads of other nice things).

But I'm with you on the ingredients in a jar or mug type things (unless from a child or teen).

One if money is that much of an issue, i'd just give them the cash. It might actually be needed to pay something important. And if not, they can get themselves some nice biscuits if they think they're important.
That's just what i'd do though, as I don't like hamper presents (did you guess? ) and would possibly throw a box of teabags at someone if they given to me under the guise of a 'present'!
Just seems like sometimes it's £30 worth of tat in a box which is a waste of money.

How about something from the spicery?

I have just ordered from here

Lots of unusual things for a hamper

hallow I'd give them money if it would help but it will not solve the problem of them putting food on the table if they use it to pay the electricity bill I do what I can for them, I have limited funds myself. There's no easy answer for them, my BIL works as many hours as he can but it's getting harder and harder for them to make ends meet. DSis is going to look for work in january but in the meantime, if giving them food and yes, 'posh biscuits' eases the pressure just for a few days then it's worth every penny.

I really like the idea of the popcorn and movie hamper. If anyone who knows me wants to do that, feel free

You'd only get scary Japanese horror films from me outraged

I am going to bow out now as Hallows is right, I shouldn't be spoiling the OP's thread.

Not before I've agreed with the comment about tat in a box though. And the hot choc sachet in a mug did make me .

Can I also just add 'cookie mixture in a jar'. If I could be arsed to make cookies, I would have the ingredients already. 'Helpfully' piling said ingredients into layers inside a jar hasn't made me any more inclined to do so surprisingly enough.

Oh and I can't look because I'm using the app, but whoever makes a hamper using local food, wine and beer ... can you send me one pls!

rosie wait till you get my pyjama box hamper from my mum! I love it!!!!!

Thick pj bottoms, vest tops, socks, ski socks, usually a pyjama hoodie, some slipper sock type thing, pyjama shorts and t-shirts! I lufffs it!!!

Dp hates it! Until january when its freezing and he's trying to wear my ski socks....

Hi, I ordered a hamper for my in-laws last year that didn't get delivered on time or in fact ever but that's a whole other story.

In desperation I dashed out to the local shops and bought some naice bits from Waitrose but bulked the contents out with lots of bits from the 99p Shop. Honestly there are lots of foody things you can buy in there that can pass as posh like Nairns oatcakes, biscuits, olives. PIL were very pleased with it. The 99p shop is well worth a look.

holiday

I really want some cherry and cinnamon jam now after reading about it on one of the links. Can't find it to buy anywhere though and don't think I can be arsed to make it.

Fwiw OP my suggestions would be as folows for foodie hamper:

Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, Port, Salted caramels, the Lindor Champagne Truffles, for my Dad some sort of fruit soaking in alcohol from the Wooden Spoon Company, huge bar of Galaxy which he loves, a mini stilton, chocolate brazils, strawberry bonbons, M&S pistachio cookies, mini dundee cake - he never buys any of this for himself as he war generation and uses all his money to spoil everybody else but these are things he loves.

I do a hamper for my parents, I started a couple of years ago when I realised that after they had had a couple of massive clearouts of clutter, that consumables were the way to go. I know my mum would not thank me for filling up her recently cleared out cupboards/shelves with more ornaments or clothes that are not really to her taste.

We live in London but my parents live 200+ miles away. So, the contents of their hamper I buy from places that they would not be able to source locally to them. Food from Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges food hall and Fortnum & Masons. They visit us for a weekend at the beginning of December so the hamper is given to them then so that they can enjoy its contents in the run up to Christmas. I know they really look forward to opening it and by the time we see them next just after Christmas it has all been eaten/enjoyed. My mum uses whichever basket/box I've used for the hamper for storing Christmas decorations/cards in. This year, I think am going to be mainly getting things from Borough Market and local independent bakers/butchers. I usually get my Dad a bottle of whisky from the whisky shop at Vinopolis as they do more unusual single malts there.

I love collecting all the bits and pieces together and planning how am going to wrap it. It's one of my favourite things about Christmas.

Sounds amazing Guitargirl and very sensible to give to at the start of December.

Or you could think outside the box Rosie, and make a hamper personlised to the person's likes,

Or I could just dispense with the basket altogther and buy a gift personalised to the person's likes

Will be making up a hamper for mil, she's a fussy old stick, but her favourite goodies are sea salt fudge, posh jams, dark choc covered gingers, shortbread, fruit cake, Christmas pud and fruit jellies. Sweet tooth anyone? No idea about bargains, I'm running at the last minute before the Christmas visit, so I'll be purchasing most of it from M&S and Waitrose.

OK Grumpy Rosie, tell me what to put in your hamper, coz if you were my relly you would be SO getting one

I've given a cheese hamper with an assortment of good cheeses and the bits to have with it and some good cheese knives. Was very appreciated.

I do agree though that the generic hampers with contents chosen by the retailer rather than specific to the individual is a pretty poor gift.