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Christmas

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Original poster

Homemade cd an acceptable Christmas present?

141 replies

DieAntword · 07/08/2018 13:12

I don't have a lot of money. I am not crafty AT ALL. People tell me, often, that I have a beautiful voice (I sing to my kids a lot in public because it soothes them and ...I love singing anyway). I like my voice I think it's nice.

I once took singing lessons for a term because at uni there was an option to do a terms worth of music modules but you had to do either an instrument or singing lessons and choir. She said I had a good voice for being "wild and untamed".

I want to do a CD of folk music songs as a Christmas present for friends and family because a pack of recordable CDs is cheap and I don't have a lot of money but it would still take work, it's not like I'm just going to belt out the songs - I will practice and try and get them to a good level.

On the other hand no matter how well I know a song there are moments I don't quite hit a note or my voice cracks a bit or something - I can never get it perfect. I imagine that's true of most singers tbh (every band I have seen live has made mistakes that were smoothed over in the studio produced versions) but obviously I can't afford access to a studio to make it "perfect".

Would you find a gift like that insulting? A bit egotistical (like... why would someone be so arrogant as to think you want to hear their singing)? Or would you appreciate it for the thought and work that went in? (and hopefully you like the music too!)

OP posts:
FatCow2018 · 08/08/2018 06:04

OP, I didn't learn to drive until I was 25. Before then I thought nothing of accepting lifts, as I didn't realise that the trip to the hospital and back actually cost £5 in fuel. I cringe now when I think of it,so please do offer to pay petrol money. The £3/5/10 you pay will be a heck of a lot cheaper than a taxi but won't leave you taking the piss a bit, albeit unintentionally.

Karmaisabish · 08/08/2018 06:17

I love homemade gifts.
I appreciate them very much.

But I think this would make me Confused a little. For one I have no CD player. 2 music is very personal I doubt a group of people would all want to listen to the same thing and 3 it just seems a bit odd.

purplecorkheart · 08/08/2018 06:23

Could you make jars of Chutney for everyone?

BunnyBath · 08/08/2018 06:44

The CD is a definite no. It would go straight in the bin, I'm afraid.

Why would you be carrying your 2 year old? Do you not have a stroller?!

Original poster
DieAntword · 08/08/2018 06:52

Why would you be carrying your 2 year old? Do you not have a stroller?!

The 6 month old is in the buggy. He does sit on the front of it sometimes but it clearly wasn’t designed to have that much weight on it because it ruins the handling.

Sadly one of those women gave us the buggy too (she’d kept it since her kids were little). Other godmother gave us our second’s cot too.

We’re terrible people I guess.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 08/08/2018 06:53

Get a sling for the baby and toddler in the buggy surely?

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 08/08/2018 06:58

all bits of family video footage and photographs put together really nicely with music

I don’t think this is the same unless the person who made those DVDs was also the only person on them...

giveitfive · 08/08/2018 07:04

I've got a relative who has her poems printed into booklets....

Fucking awful.

It just forces us to gush over a talent no-one can see. Ebery Christmas we have a thing about the "awesome" poetry....

If It was a kid's "talent gift" and has potato stamp decor on the cover - that would be totally different.

I'd rather Have a toblerone from Poundland.... (and I generally like poetry)...

I genuinely think this is the type of thing only your nan will love.

Lallypopstick · 08/08/2018 07:06

What's with the chutney obsession on here?

Original poster
DieAntword · 08/08/2018 07:08

Get a sling for the baby and toddler in the buggy surely?

Yeah actually I could give that a go. My mum got me a baby carrier at Christmas and when he was front facing it hurt too much to use the carrier but he’s old enough to go backpack style now.

OP posts:
WhirlwindHugs · 08/08/2018 07:12

If you are keen to do the singing you could write a kind of thank you song that is specific to the people who you are giving it too?

You can use the tune of something traditional and then change the words.

That would be really thoughtful, and even if they only listened to it once I'm sure they would be pleased.

Also don't worry about petrol money etc, you could offer every so often but giving someone a lift to church and then charging petrol money is not likely to be high up any Christian's list of things they want to do!

TeeBee · 08/08/2018 07:13

Noooooo, don't do it. I'd seriously cringe for you if I received that. I'd be aghast then put it in the bin. Bake cookies instead.

ComeTheFuck0nBridget · 08/08/2018 07:14

I think it would be lovely OP

ClashCityRocker · 08/08/2018 07:17

Actually, if your parents love hearing you sing, I think it would be a lovely gesture.

Maybe not for other people, but for your parents I think it could be a nice gift.

And if you just do it specifically for your parents you could pick songs you know they like.

Vitalogy · 08/08/2018 07:19

but I have no valuable skills to offer and not a huge amount of time. You mentioned the computer programming that you do. Not for a gift idea but in exchange for the lift giving, helping people out with their computing issues?

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 08/08/2018 07:22

What's with the chutney obsession on here

Chutney is amazing and it goes with cheese. Nothing that goes with cheese can be bad except maybe marmite. HTH

Vitalogy · 08/08/2018 07:22

I'd go with the cookie gift idea too. You can make healthy ish ones with fruits/seeds in.

Bumdishcloths · 08/08/2018 07:49

The woe is me attitude is palpable. If people know that you are hard up, just don't give gifts, and explain that unfortunately your budget doesn't stretch to them. You could invite everyone over for a thank you meal, or something similar.

Bumdishcloths · 08/08/2018 07:50

Also if you're hellbent on making a cd, make a mixtape type one specific to each person's musical tastes.

Original poster
DieAntword · 08/08/2018 08:16

The woe is me attitude is palpable. If people know that you are hard up, just don't give gifts, and explain that unfortunately your budget doesn't stretch to them.

I wouldn't need to explain anything, no-one (apart from my mum) as far as I know expects one.

I don't see how I can have a "woe is me" attitude. I don't have any "woe". My life is good. I have specific impediments in terms of money and time - most of which honestly are my own fault (like my husband just bought himself a £400 bike and accessories on top. He has started cycling to work which should save money in the long run but at £50 for a monthly bus ticket it will take several months and in the mean time we have less - and we obviously buy too much food because we're both fat, I keep taking the kids out to soft play even though it's a rip off and there's perfectly good playgrounds around and then I always get tempted to buy the rip off food - just loads of little stupid decisions like that).

I'm quite happy to get them some pretty stationary or something, I have no problem with that, it's not even the cost that bothers me as much as it's just the same old thing I always get people, usually well received and something I'd love because I adore stationary, but I just feel like it's a bit mass produced, anyone can get it, I wish I could get people something genuinely unique that comes from the heart instead of stuff that if they really wanted they could just buy themselves. If I was rich I could get people things they can't buy themselves because the outlay is too much - my dad's getting me a bike trailer for Christmas to put the kids in, once I have that we won't need another lift ever again.

OP posts:
ProseccoPoppy · 08/08/2018 08:19

How about making stationary as a gift? I would love a set of handmade notecards, or a lovely notebook that someone had decorated for me.

Original poster
DieAntword · 08/08/2018 08:45

How about making stationary as a gift? I would love a set of handmade notecards, or a lovely notebook that someone had decorated for me.

I lack any skill for that sort of thing.

OP posts:
LucyFox · 08/08/2018 08:52

Next time somebody asks you to sing more, why not say lightly “maybe I should record a few songs then you could play them whenever you like?” and see what the reaction is ... do it with 1-2 friends & you will soon know whether it’s a good idea. We don’t know your voice or your friends!

BunnyBath · 08/08/2018 08:59

For God's sake. Get a buggy board to attach to the back of the buggy for the two year old to stand on. Why do you need this much help with basic suggestions? A lot of people have a toddler and a baby (myself included). How do you think everyone else does it?!

Bumdishcloths · 08/08/2018 09:20

"I lack any skill for that sort of thing"

There's the woe is me. And in several other posts. Plenty of people have made good suggestions but you're dismissing all of them.