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Original poster

HELP - Family gifts for aunts and cousins

58 replies

EatPrayYoga · 19/10/2020 21:41

We have a few families we buy for - think aunts and uncles in 40s/50s and cousins, some with teenage children living at home.

We sometimes buy individual gifts but I want to spend less this year. What can we buy as "family" gifts other than chocolates, biscuits / sweets. Budget is £10-20 per family.

Ideas other than edible things were a nice candle, diffuser, family calendar, fun house gadgets (not that I can think of any)...

I buy separately for the nieces and nephews / under 18s.

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Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 20/10/2020 12:54

In normal times we do a secret santa for everyone who will be eating together on xmas day, 1 present per person, £50 limit so everyone gets a decent present and we open them before we eat.

My family wouldn't be up for this. They're not really gift givers in the sense they'll buy well thought out gifts but they will give sweets, edible gifts, money and vouchers.

I'm sure they'd rather buy a box of chocolates or biscuits for each house.

I have previously done this by buying naice chocolates like hotel chocolate or Charbonnel et walker

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Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 20/10/2020 12:55

I think I will just buy them chocolates!!

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Stackle84 · 20/10/2020 12:58

I think most of the things I was going to say has been said but maybe a nice hamper studio have the hamper kit on sale . Make an afternoon tea hamper and buy the cream just before you deliver your package . I have done a few with Christmas cakes and puddings and puddings I know you said no food but they look so lovely .

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 22/10/2020 07:44

I had another good idea the other day and just remembered what it was!

I was thinking instead of chocolates, a fruit basket! I thought it was a really good idea at the time and just now remembered again Confused

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Coffeecak3 · 22/10/2020 07:51

À fruit basket would be good ànyother time but at Christmas might get overlooked until it's past it's best.
It's harder work but I have a friend who gets the perfect gifts by scouring charity and vintage shops.
She has found me some books I wouldn't know we're out there.

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 22/10/2020 07:57

Honestly my aunts are so hard to buy for. One of them reads but the rest don't.

I think they might eat the fruit as everyone would be or home. Or maybe fruit and nuts but then you are into food hamper category.

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OhioOhioOhio · 22/10/2020 10:04

I'd maybe deliver an advent gift instead. Fruit with fancy nuts or a, really special advent calendar.

Floralnomad · 22/10/2020 10:17

I just get chocolates or biscuits and then either a pair of Christmas socks each or a Christmas hand towel . Dunelm have some lovely festive hand towels for £3 at the moment . On the same theme you could buy them a new Christmas tree bauble .

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 22/10/2020 11:57

An advent calendar would usually need to be for one person though so buying naice advent calendar for 4+ people wouldn't work

I like the idea of Christmas socks, more use than a Christmas towel, probably

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Nowisthemonthofmaying · 22/10/2020 12:03

Honestly, I'd just get some biscuits and leave it at that. Fortnums do some beautiful tins if you want something a bit luxurious, I buy them fairly often as gifts if I need something for someone I don't know well.

Floralnomad · 22/10/2020 13:40

We use Christmas hand towels in our downstairs loo from mid November so they get plenty of use really.

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 22/10/2020 13:44

That's good Floralnomad but I'd be giving them as a Christmas gift so they'd have them from Christmas Day and then could probably just about use them til end of Jan. nice idea. I don't think my aunts would appreciate them tbh as they are fussy.

Fortnum biscuits are a good idea

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Bikingbear · 24/10/2020 23:55

I'd go with biscuits. But I'd be more than tempted to suggest that its time to stop. You need to say now so they can stop buying you too.
I don't know many people who buy aunts and cousins. Many adults don't even buy their own siblings never mind cousins.

converseandjeans · 25/10/2020 00:14

I think forget the novelty stuff like mugs & towels. Just do either some champagne (can get in Aldi for about £12) or nice hamper of chocolate. Get some bars rather than boxes - you will get decent amount for £20.

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 25/10/2020 08:59

Yes I agree novelty gifts are probably not for them.

I'm not going to say let's stop as I know my family would continue to buy me sweets and chocolates whether I said stop or not and whether or not I buy for them. And I don't begrudge buying them some chocolates or biscuits at all. If anything I just try to buy something a bit more interesting / luxe without spending loads. I usually get a bit excited at Christmas and buy loads of stuff but I'm not doing that any more.

I'm leaning towards biscuits or chocolates, fruits and nuts.

Haven't ruled our nice candle, diffuser or hand wash.

Another idea was to put together a photo calendar with old family photos.

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myhobbyisouting · 25/10/2020 09:37

Does it matter if they buy for you even if you say not? I know a family like this and everyone on the outside (and many on the inside) are exhausted by it.

Not only at Christmas but all of the time. It is constant birthdays, baby showers etc. This year has been a huge relief for some of them as they've been able to ease off.

You say you're needing to cut down the budget but then that you want to do interesting or deluxe gifts but none of these are luxury items.

"A nice candle, diffuser, family calendar, fun house gadgets" and "Haven't ruled our nice candle, diffuser or hand wash.

Another idea was to put together a photo calendar with old family photos."

They're all things nobody really wants. Doing it 10 times over and each member of the family reciprocating is just a waste.

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 25/10/2020 09:53

I don't understand the first line @myhobbyisouting and I'm not really sure what your point is

I want to give them something and I know they would buy for me regardless so I'm not going to say let's stop gifts. Christmas is the only time I buy for them.

Previously I have spent £30-40 per family and I'm not doing that this year but I don't think that means I can't buy something nice that they will use.

A candle or diffuser or nice hand wash can be a luxury item depending on brand and I could probably get those for about £20 or less. I'd rather get a good quality small gift than something cheaper but more quantitative.

Same with biscuits or chocolates - I consider brands like Charbonnel et walker or Harrods or fortune and mason to be "luxury" so would rather get a smaller box of biscuits or chocolates from them than a big box of Mcvities

Whereas they would often buy m&s or celebrations I have tended to go for Hotel Chocolat or a brand of sweets that are not gifted as often at Christmas

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thelegohooverer · 25/10/2020 09:58

I honestly think chocolates, biscuits or your suggestions of a fruit basket are perfect for family gifts. I would absolutely love to receive a fruit basket.

TFSRM · 25/10/2020 10:41

Nice hot chocolate set from somewhere like Cocoba/Hotel Chocolat/Whittards?

myhobbyisouting · 25/10/2020 11:38

Sorry, it was the way you said you weren't stopping buying because you know they'd buy regardless.

The fact you'd started a thread with HELP as the title and looking to reduce budgets suggested that you were struggling with the expense and it really is unnecessary to buy gifts for the sake of it.

Fair enough if you'd like a diffuser, or think they would. It's just one of those gifts people give for the sake of it in my eyes. Same with fortnum and mason, I'd rather someone got me something because they knew it was something I personally like rather than a generic gift. I really wouldn't like something novelty like a calendar either. It wouldn't get used here.

I'd actually rather they didn't buy me just for the sake of it but if you want to obviously crack on. I think I misunderstood the point of the thread when you asked for help in capitals Grin

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 25/10/2020 11:56

Thanks thelego

Not chocolate is a nice idea TFSRM

myhobby It's more that I wanted to buy something (and yes probably to some degree feel I should) and I'm quite the gift giver generally. I've been told I'm good at gifts and I think I'm quite generous. As I've said above, I think I sometimes go a hit overboard, which is purely my own issue, but I want a wag this year to buy nice things without going "overboard". I don't think I need to spend more than £20 to buy something they will make use of. I'm not buying for the sake of it. I want to buy something to show I care as, like I said, I don't buy for birthdays etc so this is the only time. This isn't a "I want to stop gifts" thread, more of a "help me with ideas" thread.

The "HELP" was probably a bit dramatic Grin

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Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 25/10/2020 11:57

Hot chocolate, not "not chocolate" Hmm

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myhobbyisouting · 25/10/2020 12:16

It was the HELP that got me over invested in helping 😅

I know I said I wouldn't want a calendar, but if you think your family would then photobox are doing a free personalised calendar at the moment.

Or what about personalised coasters since the pubs don't give out beer mats these days....

Original poster
EatPrayYoga · 25/10/2020 12:39

Thanks myhobby I will have a look Smile

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Lovemusic33 · 25/10/2020 20:17

I’m glad we don’t buy for all family members, I just but for kids, my parents and my grandmother and that’s costly enough. I have quite a few aunts, uncles and loads of cousins, don’t buy for any of them.