ideas for budget gifts when I'm used to spending lots

[Crocodilian]

I normally go way over the top at Christmas but due to covid our finances are the worst they have ever ever been and things are extremely tight. Normally I might spend £150-200 per person on adult family members but this year I could really do with keeping it to no more than about £30 per person, ideally £20. I do know that we're lucky to still be able to spend that much.

I'm already worried about what on earth to get people. Normally we'd buy about four 'good' presents for each person. The other adults in our immediate family are all well-off and buy similar, and it will be really obvious if I go from giving four presents to giving one, and reducing our budget to a tiny tiny proportion.

Any advice about how to deal with this would be very welcome, and any gift ideas appreciated.

Will need to buy for:
Mum (early 60s, retired, likes art/craft/beauty stuff/learning languages)
Dad (early 60s, retired, likes photography/model railways/walking/wildlife and nature)
Sister (mid 20s, no kids, WFH in professional job, likes beauty and fashion/gadgets/cats/fancy food and drink)
BIL (early 30s, has a 3-y-o, travels a lot for work, likes junk food/watching sport/gadgets/comedy)
BIL's DD aged three, has a large extended family so gets lots of gifts.

The only idea I have so far is a framed photo of my baby for my parents!

Any help or ideas very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Maybe you do this already, but if not, maybe invest time in making the wrapping look really special? The gift will look luxurious and people will hopefully appreciate the effort you have gone to.

[Ninkanink]

I would start by looking at Facebook businesses because you can find lots of handcrafted beautiful items for not much money and you will be supporting a small business, usually run by just one person, and buying something truly special.

Some of my favourites are:

Debbie Barber ceramics
Julia Crossland Art
Louise Rawling Art
Justine Hadfield glass
Sam Cannon Art

Once you follow some art and handcrafting pages you will find that other artisans pop up on their pages and you can find lots of lovely stuff.

Or, if you want to be able to spend more, suggest that this year you all do a secret Santa so that every person just buys one gift for one other person - gives you a much better budget and no one is left out or made to spend more than they can afford.

You’ve got to be honest now and tell your family that you cannot afford expensive gifts this year. Unless they’re stupid or otherwise horrible, grabby people, they will understand.

[Ninkanink]

(Just to be clear I don’t mean glittery shite! There are actual craftswomen and men/artists who sell on Facebook)

[WaltzForDebbie]

Definitely mention it to them. We had a conversation a few years back with DB and DS. We now do a family present at Christmas (something like a family board game they want). It is normally around £30 so that keeps down the stress and the cost.

I quite like foodie gifts eg. extra nice teas/coffees (bird & blend are good). Or a box of nice beers or cheeses or a hamper you make yourself, It still feels like a treat as you wouldn't get it normally.

For luxury presents I always fancied the Chanel Compact Mirror. Or you could get a book on beauty like Sali Hughes "Pretty Iconic".

Our family have never gone in for expensive pressies though. It's the thought that counts.

[MariaG87]

Photo calendars are fairly cheap? This sort of thing etsy.me/2FwvtsA