Family gifts on a tight budget.

[Karlee30]

Ideas? Writing a list on who I need to get gifts for 😱

We are on a extremely tight budget this year. Can't afford to spend much at all on family.

This includes my parents, my grandma, my siblings, my uncle and aunt. My husbands mum and his siblings. But a few others like my children's godmother, my godchildren, my daughters best friend who lives next door (they are 6).

We literally don't have much spare right now!

I know this is a bit vague but I don't want to spend much nor do I want to look tight. To add, they don't spend much on us either... my parents don't really buy me or dh anhthing but do get a couple bits for the kids.

My two are the only kids in my immediate family.

My grandma is very generous though. I don't mind spending a little extra on her, she deserves the world but unfortunately I can't afford much.

We have decided to buy everyone novelty socks (my DD’s idea) as we are fed up with searching for lovely gifts and them not being appreciated, the thought of things not being used and ending up in landfill fills me with sadness. Everyone wears socks? 🤣

Honestly, look at second hand gifts. You can get great books, games - you name it. If you buy from a charity shop it's a double gift - to them and the charity and it's also more environmentally friendly. Don't feel any pressure to spend money you don't have. People who love you should understand. And you can still get good presents!

Very simple - Just send a message in the next couple of weeks to any of those people who would normally buy you a gift in return, and say that you are not exchanging gifts this year.

If any of them don't buy gifts in return then you don't need to be getting them anything anyways. You can let them know that you are not in a position to buy gifts this year.

Don't make it difficult for yourself by over thinking it. Send a message and forget about it.

@Lovemusic33

We have decided to buy everyone novelty socks (my DD’s idea) as we are fed up with searching for lovely gifts and them not being appreciated, the thought of things not being used and ending up in landfill fills me with sadness. Everyone wears socks? 🤣

Socks are great. I would love it if someone bought me new socks because I love them! Mil asked what I wanted last year and I just said get me some socks! All mine were getting old 😂

My dd loves socks which is why we decided it’s a good gift. I have found a few places online that sell nice socks and give some of the money to animal charities. So much easier than trawling shops and intervenes for thoughtful gifts that people probably don’t even want.

We do a secret santa with the adults that are there on christmas day. The children all get gifts everyone.

It wasn't so much budgetary for us but it just got to the point where no one wanted anything in particular and it seemed pointless for me to give my sister £50 for her to give me £50 or for my friend to give me a voucher for her to give me exactly the same.

Grandparents get a homemade token from the children.

Last year I messaged a few people and said can we not exchange gifts this year and the response was generally relief! My list was too long. Was so much easier and could focus on my kids.

Tell your parents, uncle, aunt and siblings that money is tight so you will just be buying token gifts this year, or would anyone be interested in a secret santa/gift exchange? Don't buy them all stuff out of obligation, especially if they don't buy anything good for you!

Wait until the fancy Waitrose/marks biscuit boxes drop down to like £2-£2.50 which usually happens around mid/late October then bulk buy them for all the adults. That’s what I do. Never had any complaints, everyone likes a posh biscuit

Secret Santa is a really good idea, everyone gets a gift and nobody feels pressured about the price since there is only one person you prepare a gift for.

If this is not an option then maybe something creative? Last year I've been making calendars with family pics for the relatives who attended a get together and a Smartshow 3d video card + online gift cards for those who never come to family parties. Making calendars at home turned out to be much cheaper than buying or ordering personalized ones, so it was a very budget-friendly decision. I used a calendar software for Windows 10 but there are also online options, and all you have to pay for is basically printing.

If you are crafty, then handmade cards could be a thing. After all, not doing gifts at all is also an option but a nice card would just be a little something to acknowledge the occasion, idk. In my opinion it's better than nothing at all and still it's not too much.

Cut out gifts for adults completely-it’s so liberating. Give a gift to a charity collection instead , you still get the joy of giving and a less fortunate child/person gets a treat .
Or Secret Santa as others have suggested.

Tkmaxx is great for nice socks at good prices.

I'm making all the children hot chocolate stirrers and chocolate bark. Pretty cheap to do and most kids will like it.

We did damson vodka one year and everyone always requests it again! They even return their bottles!! Works with super cheap vodka too