Help me. Cheap but not tacky. How to survive..

[OnNaturesCourse]

Normally spend ridiculous amounts of money at Christmas on gifts and decorations, but our LO is here now so naturally things are a little tighter.

We need to buy for our siblings (males and females) two sets of parents, step father and mother, two grandmother's, two grandfather's, four godparents, and a couple of aunts and uncles.

We usually spend roughly 50-70£ on each but would like to see this under 25£ this year.

I considered the 'child home made' route but LO is only 1 so that might be tricky - has anyone done this with little kids, if so what did you make?

I'd like to steer clear of Christmas related gifts as I feel its a shame to gift something that can't really be used until the next year. Also clear of drink related stuff as there are some underagers, and some non drinkers.

Any clues?

What about Xmas treats hampers for grown ups??

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-christmas-treats-tray/p3633078?sku=237611218&skwcid=2dx92700038071668957&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMII4a9YGz3gIVyr3tCh1wYgwdEAQYAiABEgLE3PDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or get some baskets from eBay and buy things you know they'll like. You can do the same with smellies instead of getting the generic gift packs select some favourites and package nicely in a basket. I like the sanctuary products and they're often in 3 for 2 in boots.

I'm going along this route this year - except my budget is smaller!

I noticed Wilko have a 'make your own hamper' type section, which is a good starting point. You can get one or two nice treats and fill it up with cheaper bits and bobs from there.

Oh and also, last year I made up a box of treats for my MIL - some toiletries (3 for 2 boots) with some nice chocolates and mini baileys. She loved it.

It's cheaper and I think it shows that you've put a lot of thought into it.

If you usually spend los on decorations then presumably you have plenty and shouldn't need to buy any this year.

Regarding gifts, it's not entirely clear from your post but I think you're buying for @ 20 people? £25 on each for that number of people is still a lot! Do you really need to buy for aunts, uncles and godparents for example?

I do understand that there are established norms in families so it can be difficult to just stop but maybe take the opportunity this year to tell everyone you're cutting back. Can you agree with siblings that you'll all stop buying for each other or suggest secret Santa/a cap on spending?

Do you have an outlet place near you? Where I live I bought some Yankee candle gift sets for under a tenner each! Got them for my mil and grandma.

Hobby craft have vases for 8 quid, I'm planning on getting the kids handprints printed on them and but a nice bunch of flowers to go with them.

We are getting my parents national trust membership but paying monthly so it won't feel like such a hit.

I'm hitting up tk maxx this afternoon for stocking fillers too xx

I love hampers but honestly don’t think that they’re a budget gift. It’s difficult to find nice baskets for less than £4 which is a lot to spend before anything even goes in. Then if you bake you often end up paying for more ingredients than you use so it’s not particularly cost effective, especially if you make mistakes or eat your weight on Christmas goodies

Would you consider suggesting a secret Santa with your family? Or just reaching out to people about dropping gift giving altogether. It can be surprising how enthusiastic people can be. I’m a bit old fashioned in still sending Christmas cards but it can be a way to reach out and show that you’re thinking of people without the expense and obligation of a gift.

Pressed send too soon!

Books can be a substantial but relatively cost effective gift and it’s something that can be tailored to individual interests. Or you could use a book as the basis of a gift - for instance pairing a recipe book with a set of unusual cookie cutters and some pretty kitchen implements or oven gloves.

I have a budget of £20ish for my sisters. I am getting a selection of bits in the 3 for 2 at boots. Mostly things that may provoke memories such as toe socks and nerds. Then adding a bottle of Gin for Elder sis and makeup for younger.
Books are great too. adult colouring books and nice pencils.

I honestly think books are the nicest present I could give or receive.

We do photo calendars for the grandparents, among other stuff. They can be done quite cheaply, I prefer Vistaprint which aren’t the cheapest but I paid around £10 each this year.

Hampers are a good idea- start buying a few bits every week to spread the cost.I don't put them in an actual basket- just use a jute shopping bag with a Xmas design on it.

You might be surprised at who wants to opt out of gifts.

Depends on whether you're creative!

Earlier this year I snaffled a huge bag of pine cones from a forest. Cleaned dried and opened those up.
Orange slices. Dried in oven on 80 degrees then finished on the radiator.
Buy some cheap sparkly additions like berries from garden centre, Wilko or the like.

Then go oil hunting. I buy a few bottles each year of a gorgeous spiced orange one. Find the refresher type oils. Normally £2/3 a bottle. Add this to your Christmas pine cones and oranges.

Put it all into a nice cello bag and maybe a jute one over the top. Christmas scented pot pourri, home made and smells great.

Or you can make scented pinecone firelighters which are easy and cheap.

Add a lovely classic Christmas tree decoration or similar and it's a nice gift. I've bought 'designer' ones from Georg Jensen or spaceform for £10 or so but just buy to budget and what you think recipient will like.

A few years ago I brought advent calendars and it went down a storm with the adults who hadn't had one for years. Obviously you can get lots of different ones at different price points but even good chocolate ones can be under £15 (hotel chocolat). You can also buy in bulk potentially if you want to. IA stationary addict loved the Smiggles. It's particularly good I think for people you aren't seeing on the day or who are hard to buy 'stuff' for and a bit more than just a box of chocolates.

I had done photo calendars for those we were seeing on the day though as I didn't want to be empty handed.

We've received a lot of photo gifts from photo shoots of children which might be cute. They do tend to get stuck in a drawer though so depends on your family and friends. Nanny would put it up - and likes getting updated ones each year - but other people not so much.

I would pre warn people that you are cutting back this year. £25-£30 is quite reasonable per person but if they are spending £50-£70 and expecting a gift of that value. I assume you spend different amounts on aunts uncles ect?

For £20/25 you don’t even need to take the cheap Wilkos route. I think particularly the older people might prefer one more expensive thing. So bottle of something for the drinkers, nice bath oil or hand cream, lovely diary. Or, as a previous poster said - books. You could get several or a really good hardback for that amount. Books never look tacky.

Since I've had my little boy I've done a photo calendar every year for the grandparents. Vistaprint do fantastic ones- about £12 but the more you buy the cheaper it gets. You just upload photos from your phone and you can pick different designs. They do all sorts of personalised gifts like mugs etc. The grandparents are made up cos it's 12 different photos of their previous grandchild they can enjoy all year round. Absolute winner!!

My personal take is always one pricier thing rather than more numerous cheaper ones, as others have said. It obviously depends on what you and the recipient are in to, what access you have to things already (baking stuff/craft stuff etc) and some hampers can definitely be lovely. However, each year I receive a sort of hamper from someone which tends to be full of bits and pieces that I won't use, which is such a shame. It's still a wonderful generous gift, but I would be over the moon with a book, or X/Y/Z (things personal to me that might not apply). I feel bad that this person wastes their money on things that don't get used.

I think books are a great shout. At that kind of budget other things I'd love would be a voucher for a place that does great breakfast near us, a S'well/Chillys bottle, two lovely wine glasses, a blanket (shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/throws-rugs/c265 some of these are nice), a pot for the garden - maybe with a small olive tree if you were buying a joint present.

Some charity shops keep donated items that are new for their Christmas stock. The one I volunteer in has lots of lovely new items that will go out soon in the Christmas gift section.

Thank you for the ideas.

Unfortunately our family are gift people, and everyone of them help us out and spoil our LO throughout the year, so I don't want to cut back the gifts... Just the cost.

Everyone knows there are cut backs though, and understand.

Everyone on my list is needed, it's already cut back so much! (friends etc)

www.magpieline.com/shop/outlet/

Try magpie clearance section, I've bought loads of nice inexpensive gifts from there. Even their none sale items are decently priced.

Could you give a family gift if you have several people living together to save buying individual gifts? I bought my cousins the articulate board game one year which was appreciated.

www.rexlondontrade.com

Given the reduced budget is agreed/expected I just buy small but luxury lovely things rather than try to bulk things out e.g.
Friend constantly using hand cream got Aesop hand cream for her birthday: Aesop resurrection small one is £19, bigger one is £25
Huda obsessions eye shadow palettes are beautiful and massively covetable: obsessions £25
Hotel Chocolat sleeksters £23