a depressing xmas....i have £108 to spend on pressies for 11 people....main ppl are DS and DP

[faeriemum]

arghhhhhh, its less then £10 each.....omg im started to shite myself!

Can you not only buy for Ds and Dp ??

I am broke this year and so I am only buying little gifts for my mum and dad (like a diary) and my brothers will get sweets. They will be gifts off my kids and all of them are fine with this, the'y rather me spend my money on the kids presents.

It is depressing, yes, but it's possible.

I have whittled my present buying for just immediate family and 2 close friends, because it was getting ridiculous. I'm sure alot of the people you are buying presents for will understand if you don;t.

Have a look in somewhere like Asda or Tesco, where you can pick up small gifts and cheap toys etc.

Good Luck!

Don't forget Boots, Superdrug, Woolies and other places have 3 for 2 on lots off stuff.

ok i've seen in woolies for nans etc pot puree stuff it's £2, only a token and depends how much u wanna spend but thought it was worth it.

we've not got much either is year it's token pressies or nothing, i'm also recycling some of our unwanted unused gifts

Boots and M&S have good 3 for 2 offers which include children's toys so they might be worth a look.

Waterstones often have 3 for 2 on books as well.

Have you any points on Tesco clubcard, Boots advantage card, nectar card etc that you could use too?

Lovin' from the oven!

Don't start worrying yet.Just tell all the other people that money is very tight this christmas and buy them something small for £5 or under.The supermarkets are doing some very cheep gift sets,after all it's the thought that counts.
You and DP could agree not to buy gifts,give each other vouchers for treats in bed
Then spend the rest on DS

ooh and the book club there's a book i'm getting for my dad on there which he will love - mrs beetons xmas food only £2.99 a fab pressie from J to his poppy

Try charity shops too, you might get a nice frame of book or something.

How about token gifts for immediate family and then buying chickens or a goat for the third world and sending everyone charity cards telling them that this is what you did. I did that last year for my family in Ireland and they were all really pleased. They knew I had little money and they thought it was a sensible way of using it.

we're only doing presents for people under 25, which means 2 nieces, 2 nephews, dh and ds. plus mum who is hosting us.

i volunteered to help sort bric a brac for a fete thing and got ds's present for £2 as you get first pick of everything! - still might be worth trying.

have done 3 for 2 in Boots for two others.

otherwise BOOKS. Book People catalogue well worth trying, esp if you have a group of several of about the same age. i think they do 4 charlie and lola books for a tenner or something, could be good.

boots are doing some nice gifts sets for cheap and theyre on special offer buy 2 sets and get 1 free

Boots also have extra points nights. Ask your local one when theirs is. That way, you should be able to get a bit more toward your pressies.

Could you make some of your pressies? Give biscuits, cakes or sweets in nice boxes?

Think token gifts for DP excellent idea. How much is a lie in followed by breakfast in bed worth to you? To me priceless.

We've decided to cut down on presents this year as last year it got ridiculous I'm one of 5 kids 4 of which have partners then theres my parents my DH's dad his 2 siblings and their partners our 2 children and my 1 niece!!! Each couple is basically getting a bottle of something between 2 I'll get my mum and dad something each and my FIL but I'm focussing on the children and even then I'm trying to restrict myself. It can turn into such a nightmare thinking of things to buy just for the sake of it.

Also babysitting vouchers for friends can go down well.
What special talents do you have? Can you give your mum a massage and manicure voucher? DIY obv.

honestly truly the nicest presents we had last year were homemade - knitted gloves and socks, photographs of nice times,stuff like that. i reckon enough is enough with all this xmas excess anyway.

you can get lovely books for children seriously reduced on amazon or 3 for 2 at waterstones at the moment. get something great for DS and homemade fudge for everyone else.

honestly truly the nicest presents we had last year were homemade - knitted gloves and socks, photographs of nice times,stuff like that. i reckon enough is enough with all this xmas excess anyway.

you can get lovely books for children seriously reduced on amazon or 3 for 2 at waterstones at the moment. get something great for DS and homemade fudge for everyone else.

I can second the book people, can get book collections for a tenner and spread the books out between people... they can then swap between themselves and read them all. Packs of 10kids books for a tenner. And it really is the thought that counts and not the money spent.

Just bought DH a years membership with the wildfowl and wetlands trust. Means we'll have a years worth of family days out and we're supporting a good cause.
There may be something similar for your son and hubby?

How old is your DS, I could do it if I had to. Make a list of people you need to buy for and I will have a go. Put a note by the names, old, young, likes sweets etc and I will see what I can come up with if you like.

Couldn't you just suggest that instead of buying presents you'd rather everyone get together & do something. Not sure of the age ranges you have though.

If that's no good look out for all the 3 for 2 offers on. Woolies had some really good bargains - got several children's gifts for under £5 & on 3 for 2 as well.

For closer people you could get a little gift & then make a voucher book of things like a nights babysitting or things that are relevant to them.

Also in WHSmith they had a selection of DVDs including fairly new ones on 3 for £18 or 5 for £20.

I am lucky, I dont have many to buy for but my dd has been spoilt this year, kind of. I have bought her a load of toys, all second hand, either from paper or NCT sale, she's only 18 months so will be perfectly happy with whatever she gets. Dh and I never buy for each other anyway.

have a look at hmv online as they have dvd's from £1.99 for children and delivery is free. also if you belong to the cashback site quidco you can get 11% cashback.