Anyone NOT buying/brought any presents, but making them instead?

[CathMGreen]

Was wondering if anyone here has decided to have a 'home made' Xmas? All pressies home made, from chutney's to decorations? Anyone else sick to the high teeth of the commercialism that surrounds it? Or is anyone not even bothering with ANY presents, whatsoever? And having a truly 'frugal' Xmas??

I have tried these past few years making 95% of all the pressies, but not really sure if it is truly appreciated by people or if I should even bother any more...anyone else feel that you are looked up on as 'cheap and scrooge like' for NOT buying stuff for people?

Would be interested in any replies.

Many thanks.

I have knitted some gloves for my daughter and half way through another pair for son's girlfriend. But all the other presents are standard shop bought computer games etc!

I have knitted three cowls, three pairs of boot toppers, two hats and one pair of wrist warmers.

I have personalised three bath towels for toddlers relatives where the parents said 'anything but toys'.

I will be making chocolate teaspoons and sweet/chocolate kebabs on christmas eve morning.

I have bought four presents (and one of those was a handmade item on etsy)

I think I've done good :)

Adult presents are homemade in our family.

I have made a couple of cushions, a doorstop, some Christmas Pudding flavoured brandy, some truffles plus various sock monkeys/friendship bracelets/soft toys.

I say that, but at least three of the above still have bits to finish - eek!

Cool to get such fab replies....Kirstie Allsop would be proud..lol..

I have made various jars of things, jam, chutneys, sauces etc. I have even made my own cards this year....though worked out a bit more pricey than if I was to buy..oh well, was fun!

I don't think any one 'should' feel they need to celebrate, or buy anything..and as for people that get themselves into debt...the mind boggles! The Christmas marketing machine seems to have started way earlier this year...anyone else notice (I think it was...) the Co-op ad where there was Santa in one of the summer ads?? That just was NOT RIGHT!!

I would love to find out if anyone is just going with the religious side of things, say attending Midnight Mass on the 24th, or a visit to church on the 25th, then a small dinner...NO presents, NO spending?

But, IMHO as the origins of Xmas are very varied, to celebrate something because the media tells you too, or expects you to is something I question. So many get sucked into feeling they 'have to' "well, because it's tradition..aint it?" But what exactly IS the 'real' tradition, we are celebrating?

Well done to anyone who is 'bucking the media trend' and doing things themselves!

:-)

I have knitted cowls, hats, mug cosies (with mugs and hot chocolate enclosed), baby bits, pot porri hearts. I have scrimped this year on most people but spent more on my own kids. My 14 yo does not like knitted things.

I usually do a fair bit of home made but this year we have done all shop bought gifts. I just dont have the time to make everything and like you say most people aren't all that thankful for them anyway!

In an ideal world I would do hand made or buy from etsy though

I have made chilli chutney and grown little chilli plants to give as gift sets for a couple of people. My mum is getting a strawberry plant that I grew myself. DH will be getting home-made shortbread.

Most presents were bought this year but I'm getting better at home-made stuff. I was a bit put off the last couple years because I found, unless you're clever, I can be just as expensive to make it yourself and some people just don't appreciate the effort. This year I made stuff out of home-grown produce, that I was doing anyway, using stuff I already had at home, and only for those people who actually appreciate it, after-all a gift should be something the person will enjoy, not something I think they should enjoy because it took me an age to make!

Oh, and I still have to make a cushion for my step dad and some arts and crafts aprons for the kids, best get a wiggle on.....

Hand made gifts for Yule/Winter Solstice tomorrow, though I confess to having bought one or two of those.

Oh my I had so many plans...…

But have grown even more disabled this year I need to admit my limits njow (BOOOOO! To limits...)

But may intake this opportunity to tell you what I HAVE managed as I have struggled and worked as I was so desperate just to do them....

Have made Xmas cake for most of family - every bloody stage was a pig and monde I got ingredients I had to follow through..... I bakednthem yesterday, 5 days before Xmas for crunchiest same so hmmmmm...hoping to ice tomorrow...ran out of marzipan..... Epic fail BUT to be fair,my family will love them whatever they are like and as my back, arms, shoulder and neck have been oknqacked AI am delighted I even got the damn things baked!

I have also spent hours on a cross stitch bookmark for my six year old book mlover. We made a corner of her room her library too with new bookshelves and recycling lots of stuff so she be like Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and have her own library..... I have sewn for 30mins each day which is Max before I get into trouble and its the first craft I have managed since new hand and arm tablets HURRAY!!! Its totally rainbow covered :-D

Anyway....thanks for reading my chuntering drivel but I am am pleased I could do atg least a little something.