Mini Hampers/Christmas care package gift advice

[MamaTam]

Hi everyone,

I’m on a budget - haven’t worked out the exact amount but around the £200 mark for 14 people. I’m thinking of doing some Etsy care package style presents in boxes. 7 women/girls and 7 men/boys. My nan and grandad I probably wouldn’t do this for and would just get nice box of chocolate.

I’ve thought about buying luxury minis and dividing them up for each person. Look fantastic are doing their scent edit 5 minis for 55 (with a full size voucher) I think the 20% off code might work too. Pengahlion also do 5 minis for 40. Benefit cheek set for £27 with 20% off code. Plus there are lots of rituals/nuxe/essie gift sets on offer at the moment. Basically it would cost quite a bit but I could get 4-5 luxury minis plus some hotel chocolate and a few herbal teas/hot choc/coffee sachets thrown in. Same for younger kids but with cheaper stuff (revolution strawberry soap, princess face masks, sweets etc). Maybe some mini wine or choc liquor based on what I do buy.

I would divide the products based on who would like what the most - the only issue is would it be worth it if it sits in a cupboard like other bath and body bits for months… also topping up the men’s boxes with not to much ‘beauty’ stuff and probably more chocolate etc. But would that ruin the hotel chocolat. People are selling cheaper range stuff on Etsy for similar prices or more. Or do I just go for individual presents? For between £10-20 for the adults it probably would be as nice/high quality.

Let me know what you think please! Thanks 😊

I like the idea, so long as no one has sensitive skin. I would keep it as generic as possible though - shower gel/foam bath (if they have a bath) as you know they will be used. No moisturiser type things or hand creams and stuff as that's more risky imo. Hotel choc is fab. If someone gave me a bottle of fancy shower gel/body wash and some hotel choc I'd be very happy! I'd do it per couple if there are any couples. You could add a few low cost toiletry bits - but I would say stick to stuff that's easily used and doesn't stay, like you say, in the cupboard!

It sounds lovely but have you budgeted for packaging/boxes/baskets/ribbons/tissue or whatever you plan to use? It can end up costing more than anticipated.

An alternative idea in that price range is to get everyone a book - very easy to cater for individual tastes.

I'd spend £10 per adult on an individual present instead, I think. You can get quite a lot for £10 if you shop ahead.

As a general rule I try to buy people consumables eg.

There's a tradition where people read books and eat chocolate on Christmas Eve so I'd buy people who I know partake a book and some nice chocolate and tell them to open it then.

Other people I'd buy their fave alcohol and snacks and possibly nice glasses to go with it, if I know that they needed glasses.

Beware of buying people fancy teas though - ive ended up with a cupboard full because everyone buys me them but I already have a massive stash of Yorkshire tea. Same with buying mugs - most people already own mugs!

My brother and SIL made me a lovely cheese and crackers hamper last year which I loved!

200 divided by 14 is around £14 each - if it were me I would go for the Boots 3 for 2, get 2 nice sets for £7 each and get a third item of a similar price free.

It's quite flexible, Boots have lots of self care type items and food treats, and you can either buy the same items for every girl and boy or mix and match to suit individual tastes. You also get a little bit more bang for your buck as you get 3 items instead of 2.

The caveat is of course that that's £200 right there, so if you are looking for packaging beyond wrapping paper you will either have to go beyond budget or reduce that spend to around £10 per person instead, which is still doable.

Although your original plan also sounds lovely! I'm just bad at maths so the sound of just 5 things for £55 sounded like quite a high proportion of your budget for little return, but if you can make it fit it sounds like a nice quality over quantity type option :)

I think your idea sounds good, as it’s high end brands so feel quite luxury and not the sort of thing you’d buy yourself. I’d far prefer a penhaglions shower gel and a hotel chocolat slab to a boots gift selection.

How does your budget break down?
£200 divided between 14 is approx £14 each. If you assume slightly cheaper for children, say £10 each for 7 children, that leaves £18.50 each for 7 adults.

5 minis for £55 is £11 each
5 for £40 is £8 each

If you put both of those in one person’s hamper, that would be £19 before you add extras. Plus probably at least £2 for box/ribbons etc to make it gifty. Add chocolate/wine/ other extras and you are easily up to £25 or £30 which takes you over your budget.

Can you go through the list and remove the cost of the chocs you want to get your GPs, then see how the remainder breaks down? Then you’ll know the max you can spend on each box.

I’m really not a fan of ‘hampers’ as they tend to be padded out with crap and actually work out to be quite expensive

I’d buy gift vouchers for a coffee shop / cinema / iTunes etc - at least they’d get used

Miniatures are often very over priced for what you get and buying a big batch and splitting it to try and fit the recipient doesn’t mean the recipient will get what they’d actually like

As a few posters have said, many people would prefer an individual present - I'd love a really good bottle of wine or a well chosen paperback than a selection of "treats".

You can get more for your money by watching for the offers eg Waitrose for the past few years have done 10 fine wines for £10 each, these usually retail for £15-£18 so the recipient gets a splendid bottle of wine and you have more budget to spend on children etc

And don't underestimate the work and cost involved in buying and packaging a lot of small gifts

Agree on the individual presents. Boots is a good suggestion. There were some nice brands including in the 3for2 last year, including for kids (Joules Kids gift sets were lovely). Also, you can collect the advantage points and last year there were a few "spend £60, get £10 of free points etc"

Thank you everyone, lots of really important considerations and advice on here! Each persons box would vary between £5(kids)-£20 but based on what suits them. If I sat down and went through everything I think many are right it would go over the £200 mark. I planned to use those amazon cardboard boxes deeper than the letterbox size like seen on Etsy. Some were the £12 mark for 10 so still a chunk of the budget if I need two lots. Many boots 3 for 2 would end up at the back of the cupboard stash unused with the many others they receive for quite a few people. Only about 5 drinkers and only the children and one friend are into books. Everyone ends up with a big stash of generic chocolate each year (except the vegans).

I think Individual presents is the way forward then!

Thanks everyone for your help 😊