I'm panicking...

[Zaphodsotherhead]

I usually push the boat out at Christmas. Four of the five adult children come to me and revert to gleeful childhood, pillowcases of presents under the tree, blowout dinner, board games, everyone sleeping on the floor on Christmas Eve...you get the picture.

This year I'm saving for a house move and I haven't even STARTED Christmas shopping yet. I've told them it's going to be a 'thin' Christmas - but i don't think I can actually do it!

WHAT can I get my two sons (30, 25) and two daughters (29, 23) that will fill pillowcases (to ease my guilt) not cost too much (so I can move house) and be useful?

I've left it too late, haven't I? Oh god, tell me I haven't left it too late....

My gifts for my 8 year olds won’t fill pillow cases!! You don’t need to do that they are adults. My mum is paying for my car mot this year!

Pillows?

They are adults, what are they buying you? I ask this because I know people give gifts of things they want themselves.
You can arrange all the things you are describing in 1 day. It will be great.

A nice big fluffy blanket each with matching slippers, sweets, nice pens/pencils and colouring/quiz book and a really good board game. Fridge full of yummy cheeses and dips..time to make memories together..

Bulky items for adults

Throws and blankets
A new board game for you all to play
Selection boxes come in largish boxes and are relative cheap
Cheapish pictures from the range, tk maxx etc if you see anything that might suit
Bottles of wine
Books - check out charity shops or secondhand books on amazon. Some look practically new for a tiny propertion of the retail price
Big bag of haribo or other sweets

An activity certificate in a giant envelope. For something they like.
Eg. For A girly day at a cafe for the two of you.
For a massage from you.
For a hike somewhere special (you arrange the route/ a picnic/ activity).
I love getting the gift of people’s time and company.

In this case tbh I'd just ask. There must be something they need, or at least something they really want.

Make the small items into a multi layered and boxed gift.

So for example, if it’s some socks, put them in a cereal box and wrap that up. Then put that inside a bigger box. We do things like this every year.

Ever since I've been 14/15 my parents have asked me what I want/need. They ask me now what to buy for my kids.

Just ask. My dad usually give me money or a gift card now. My mum still asks me if there anything I want or need. MIL doesnt and it gets on my nerves because we end up with a load of tat and stuff that's never used

I would see if they still want to do the pillow case thing, and if they do then suggest they contribute....
Eg each buys each sibling a stocking gift in addition to the present they would normally get them.
So each is already getting 3 stocking presents, plus yours should fill the pillowcase!
Should probably agree a price limit together too.
Siblings could combine budgets to get a more expensive gift, etc.

If that is too much hassle for them, then maybe they don't want the pillow case tradition that much? In which case maybe end the tradition this year.

Pomegranate, clementines, a jar of something nice and maybe a tea towel or two?

Easy, cheap, recyclable.

Bloody hell. I'm hoping to put money in a card when mine are thst age.

Some home made gingerbread? Nice tea?

I always do something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read (Or board game) plus smelly gift set linyx £4 dove £5

Most people haven’t started shopping yet so of course you haven’t left it too late!
I really think that at those ages you need to stick with your ‘thin’ Christmas. Surely the main joy is you all being together and having nice food/drink?
I was spoilt rotten by my dad at Christmas (lived with him after my parents divorced as a teen), but by the time I was around 25/26 it became one or two nice gifts (such as a coat or pair of boots I wanted, or a nice watch for example).
If you do the whole pillow case thing again this year, when will it end?! When they have DC of their own will you be expected to do it for everyone? They’re perfectly old enough to accept that you’re scaling it back due to moving house (indeed they could do a big pillow case for you after all your years of spoiling them!)

Why not suggest you do a secret santa pillowcase? Everyone has one name and has to fill the pillowcase for that person. People can give lists of suggestions of the kinds of things they;d love or need, so it's not a waste of money on novelty landfill.

New personalised average person stocking imo!!
As adults they should appreciate Santa is fiscally challenged this year....

Firstly you need to know your budget
most importantly you need to stop buying piles of crap to fill a stocking , they are adults they probably dont need anything
My daughter in laws family do a secret Santa for the adults and set a limit of about £25 they then pick a theme , one year the present had to begin with the intiial of the receive

Pizza blankets for sure.

Lovely fluffy blankets (see Aldi) and a board game (check supermarkets for deals). Multipacks of socks. Go to Home Bargains for toiletries and chocolates etc! You could easily fill a pillow case and not go ott on the cost. Add in some good books from Tesco deal or similar

I’d book £20-25 tickets for a show for you all to attend. Book it on your birthday weekend- they won’t be able to say no.
It will take about 6 minutes to book.
Trip to the poundshop for Xmas socks and a box of chocs each.
They are adults, they will be fine with a ‘thin‘ Xmas.
Sorted.
They can pay for your meal as your bday gift later in the year.

Also, it’s only just November. How would it be anywhere near too late??

You're about 10 years too late to worry filling pillowcases for them. They're really not going to be looking for big piles of stuff, are they?

Your Christmas sounds awesome!

We still do the pillowcase thing too but it has had to evolve to fit in with weight/hand luggage/juggling sticky toddlers restrictions.

Buy a few very small things that will fit into a balloon and then blow up the balloons.

Whoopee cushions never fail to amuse.

My mum makes me a hamper with lots of nice foodie treats in, she always gets things she knows I like and I really appreciate it when we get into the miserable January days.

It's personal, looks impressive and doesn't need to cost a lot. You can but the diy hamper sets in places like card factory and b&m for about a fiver.

Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with edible bits. Nice box of biscuits, wine or a posh soft drink, a nod to their childhood with some tuck shop type sweets and their favourite treat cereal, something festive like a chocolate reindeer and something savoury like crackers or crisps or nuts. I really like edible gifts now I have my own home (I'm early 30s) as it reduces clutter and even if I am not going to eat it all, I can keep nicer bits in the cupboard (e.g. box of biscuits and wine) for when guests come over so it all gets used. Plus you can get all this kind of stuff quite cheaply and easily. I once did a secret santa and the person who had me knew I liked fizzy drinks and chocolate so got me all varieties of pop (like the novelty flavoured vanilla coke that was out at the time and cream soda and dr pepper - stuff I wouldn't normally buy) and different slabs of chocolate- whole nut, fruit and nut, dark etc. I thought it was a great gift!

I would suggest secret santa this year for everyone.