I've no idea what to get!

[itsthemenopausenotme]

I don't have many presents to get ... very small family. It's just my mum who's 80, dd who's 17, my partner and my two older kids ages 30 and 27, i usually get them vouchers.

I'm extremely skint this year. Dd is applying to uni and I'm a single parent so a lot of costs involved, plus saving for prom next year. I moved house in the summer and am still recovering.

Anyway.... I've no idea what to get dm. She doesn't want much and gets what she needs herself. She's not local and I won't be able to afford to visit as I don't drive, so must be something I can send. I'm thinking maybe a DVD or cd, but again difficult because she often buys what she wants. She's into Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, that sort of thing.

Dd 17 ... I've no idea. Normally would go clothes shopping with her but can't afford it this year. I'm thinking maybe a Pandora ring as I know there's one she likes, but need to find out which without giving out away. Luckily I got her a nice beauty advent calender with an amazon voucher I had.

Not sure what to do about the eldest two as I can't really stretch to decent vouchers. Again they're not local, one is abroad and I'll probably not see them over Christmas.

Dp will probably get some books if I can think of some he hasn't read and will enjoy.

Any ideas for any of these?

Looking at the cost of Pandora rings, I might not be able to stretch to that either, so ideas for a 17 year old girl that are cheap but don't look it! would be great.

How about this for your mum if she likes classical music 🎶 I ordered it yesterday- seems like a great price.

What about a subscription gift for the older children? If they're into cooking "Spicery" are good and I think that they have 25% off their subscriptions tomorrow?!?!?

Maybe be honest with your 17yo and give her a voucher towards the ring. Or start her a Uni survival pack with things that she might need- although be careful as sometimes you can end up spending more money buying bits and bobs this way 😉

Could you do some homemade vouchers for dd this year that she can cash through the year? Maybe one that costs each month and a couple of silly ones. Things like, a coffee in town with mum, free pass on chores, extra hour out past usual curfew, cinema tickets (especially if there's films coming out she wants to see)

I've just got an echo dot for music and the radio would your mum or dd like that? They are currently half price at £24.99 on Amazon/tesco/Argos. I've got Amazon music linked to mine but can do Spotify too. Dds have enjoyed asking questions about topics at school so might be helpful for dd.

How about a photo gift for your mum? There's a few apps where you can get free things. I have freetiles and they are a square mounted photo, freephotobooks, free prints, snapfish for prints which you could frame. There also often codes for free or cheap photo calendars, mugs and other gifts. Come over to the bargain thread someone on there might know a current one!

A love as a gift for Christmas will do or maybe a thing which is not too costly but they would love to have.

Sorry i don't understand your message Paul ... A love? They know i love them ....

That cd looks great hopeful, not sure if she's got it or not, I'll have to ask and i hate doing that.

The children aren't into cooking sadly but not sure a subscription would work out that cheap anyway. Generally they get a voucher for £30 And i can't stretch to that this year!

I think a put together survival kit would work out quite expensive and may just stress her out at the moment as she's so much going on.

Dd wouldn't use the dot and my mum wouldn't know how to, she struggles with her android tablet!

Keep an eye out for the Black Friday deals this week, quite a lot of stuff will hopefully come down in price!

For your DD, as pp suggested maybe a voucher or money towards the pandora ring? (Keep an eye out to see if it ends up on a Black Friday deal too).

You could also buy some smaller bits and maybe do a stocking? Just really cheap stuff like her favourite sweets/chocolate, nice shower gel, new nail polish and lipstick?

Something personalised? Or a photo in a nice frame. You also can’t go wrong with chocolates if they eat them. Is everyone able to chip in so you can all get together for Christmas rather than buying gifts this year?

Yes that's a good idea. I'll see what bits and pieces i can get.

I have bought jewellery from ebay in the past and its been fine.
It is definitely the type of thing that people get for presents and then regift.
Our DD really likes Alex Munroe jewellery and I managed to get the fox necklace that she really loved for £120 cheaper on Ebay! It came in its original box and was in perfect condition. DD is totally non the wiser.

Barbra Streisand has a new cd out if that’s any good?

Older kids I would get a nice bottle of wine each. They will understand.

What sort of books is dp into?

Ds doesn't drink anything but beer but outs a good idea, I'll look for something that can be posted directly to him.

Dd is abroad but i may be able to get something sent anyway.

Not sure about jewellery for dd17, she likes cats, any suggestions? Jewellery or anything!

Dp reads ... Mainly indie stuff, about 90s, loves catcher in the rye.

Has dp read Ready Player One? The book and film are both good fun.

You don't say what your budget is so sorry if these are over but do you know what perfume your DD likes?

Amazon have some heavily reduced at the minute. I was in Superdrug the other day and the woman told me the jimmy choo one had been selling like hot cakes so must be popular.

Amazon have it here

I also bought mother in law this the other day it's a good size, really pleased with it.

Boots also have some lovely gift sets in at the minute, or if you really want to get her a Pandora ring check eBay or local Facebook selling sites youll be able to pick one up much cheaper.

Have a look at yumbles OP. I’ve just bought my FIL a selection of 3 beers which was £10 and delivery was only £1.50 I think (they’ll deliver direct too) It’s lots of different independent sellers so lots of different food and drink gifts for a variety of budgets.

Thanks!

I'd say my budget is about £20 each.

Thanks for the link to yumbles, I'll have a look, sounds perfect!

Not sure perfume will be in my budget but I'll have a look.

I'll look at the book too, not heard of it, thanks.

Sorry I should have said the perfume was just under £20. Have a look at thread 12 it's the bargains thread and there's some really good ideas on there

How much would it cost to visit your mum? I would rather see my daughter than have a present.

£150 - theres no chance

Thanks I'll check out the bargain thread - on the Christmas board?

Yes it's on the Christmas board check the last few pages of the thread named - Thread 11 the one with the chocolates, the new thread only started yesterday so most of the offers from the end of the last thread will still be available. The new thread is called Thread 12 where we hope black Friday doesn't turn out to be slightly grey. They're great threads people add any really good deals they see they ve helped me get some really good bargains

Thread 11 may be better actually there were some beauty subscription boxes on there 2 for £5 which might be suitable for your DD you just cancel the subscription as soon as you've received them so that the subscription doesn't carry on.

Great thanks.

Can I use my tesco vouchers to buy things? I used to save them for big things like tumble dryer but that doesn't seem to be an option anymore. How do you spend them now?