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Christmas

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Original poster

Family gifts on a very tight budget! Ideas?

113 replies

Karleeb30 · 03/10/2021 18:20

Extremely tight on money this year.

We have my mum and stepdad.

Dp's mum and stepdad.

My grandmother.

We both have 3 siblings each so 6 gifts and most are quite a bit younger than us apart from dp's sister who is 30. Siblings range from late teens, early twenties to 30! We are the only ones with dc.

I have uncles who have no children. They tend to spoil mine so I like to buy something nice for them.

Budget gift ideas please?

Finding it hard whilst budgeting to buy dc stuff too. Likely that me and dp will not buy each other anything this year.

OP posts:
SuziLikeSuziQ · 03/10/2021 23:03

Some great ideas! We're on a budget this year so I'm making some things.

I've got sloe gin in production for my sister and a friend - two bottles for the price of one bottle of cheap gin (£15) and some time foraging for sloes! Plus I'll be making some fudge for my dad and a rag rug for my DH (cutting up old clothes, just bought some backing to thread them through). I'll probably knit DS a new hat, too.

It's kind of depressing being on a budget but at least it makes you think a bit more creatively!

Catflapkitkat · 04/10/2021 04:46

Try eBay. I have bought my MIL a pair of M&S jersey trousers for 4.68 plus postage brand new with tags. When doing a search go to sort and filter. Type auction then under condition type brand new with tags.

Twatterati · 04/10/2021 04:59

It's very possible that all the siblings are thinking the same and not wanting to say anything. If you were my sister I'd much prefer you spent the money on your kids and each other, but I know we also feel we should buy, or actually do want to buy for certain people. Some of the gifts are because you feel obligated (and I don't mean your uncle as I know you want to repay his kindness)

Others have suggested it and I think it's a great idea to do a Secret Santa for the adults. Just one present takes a lot of the stress and cost away.

We used to do this, agreed a minimum and maximum budget (to try and make things fairer, if you agree to all buy something £10-15 or £35-40 or £80-100 depending on all the families finances it's a LOT fairer!) and it was so much fun - we sometimes had a 'theme' so you tried to buy for your person along the lines of the theme. We did 'comedy' themed one year, and someone bought BIL a Borat mankini which he kindly and drunkenly modelled!

Other themes were gardening, persons hobby, charity shop/second hand, handmade.

One workplace made Secret Santa really easy by each person listing 3 things they'd quite like that were within the agreed budget.

I really hope you suggest it and your families agree to it. For me, I loved going from buying about 20 presents to buying just one! And I actually preferred receiving one gift than 20. And it saved such a lot of money and worry.

onelittlefrog · 04/10/2021 05:16

@Karleeb30

Are throws real boring gifts? We love wilko waffles throws in this house - they are usually £16 but currently £8! Would you be disappointed if you got a throw? Personally I would be delighted if I got a throw 👀
I wouldn't get someone a throw as I wouldn't be confident enough in their taste in decor, or that they needed it.

I wouldn't want to receive one as a gift. I'd rather choose my own.

For cheap gifts I'd go for chocolate or booze.

blackteaplease · 04/10/2021 06:01

Another vote for either secret Santa or no adult presents. Me and my siblings just buy for the children. DH's family do names out of a hat with a £25/30 limit.

I would much rather you saved tour money of you were my relative

OurMamInHavianas · 04/10/2021 06:04

If you are spending time with the relatives, could you organise an activity instead of buying gifts - so using your time instead of your money.

E.g. design a “treasure hunt” around your house or garden or local area to find clues. Each solved clue gets a little prize at the end e.g. certificate, chocolate santa, puzzle book etc.

Or find a local reasonably cheap attraction (am dram panto, carol concert) and arrange a trip to that for your group.

FestiveFlavours · 04/10/2021 06:23

Home-made ideas to give as actual gifts:

  • giant Pictionary - whiteboard or blackboard, pens, clues (possibly specific ones to your family)
  • Personal “Guess Who” - buy a cheap Guess Who game set and swap the faces for family ones, cartoon characters, sports teams, bands etc.
  • download “Cards against humanity”, print it out, cut out the cards and put into a nice box. They are legally free to download from cardsagainsthumanity.com . A family-friendly version is also available. You could also add cards relevant to your family.
Lemonlemon88 · 04/10/2021 06:32

We no longer do sibling gifts, its just too much when there are DC too.

BikeRunSki · 04/10/2021 06:33

@FusionChefGeoff

Don't try to fit the presents to the budget.

Reduce the number of presents and the problem is solved!!

Secret Santa or better still no gifts for adults.

This!
Spiindoctor · 04/10/2021 06:37

What about a photo of ?family in a nice but cheap frame.

marriednotdead · 04/10/2021 06:55

I am the family member who instigated our secret Santa and it was met with sighs of relief!
The only one who is snobby about it all now gets a tenner in a card for each kid —and has the most debt—
I’ve since cut back further and nobody minds. Gifts are usually token but useful, sometimes bought in charity shops throughout the year. My eldest and her DCs get (and look forward to) new PJs each year- often bought in the sales- and I do them a family treat hamper.
I make up sweetie jars for a couple of the guys- works out about £6 each, you can get a selection from a pound shop and mix them up.. One ‘jar’ was a mini toolbox and went down brilliantly.
Cannot bear the excessive consumerism any longer and refuse to get into debt for it.
Do what’s right for you.

PermanentTemporary · 04/10/2021 07:01

Books - paperbacks. It's always difficult to manage 3 for 2 for Christmas, its never the right book, but if you budget £10-15 per person you can often get something most people will enjoy?

Lulu1919 · 04/10/2021 07:02

Adults.....a lovely bauble for the tree.....I saw some lovely ones yesterday that I would never buy for yelps from but would love ....£5 average

Kids ....teens ....£5 costa voucher, soft cosy socks with a face mask.Mug with a hot choc sachet.
Go to home bargains etc etc
An IOU voucher for tea and cake at your house .
Make some biscuits / cakes wrap in pretty bags ( home bargains )

fedup078 · 04/10/2021 07:05

Do you have any loyalty points? I just bought all my Xmas gifts with Tesco points which I've built up through having my mobile contract with them (I don't even shop there)

hollyhocksarenotmessy · 04/10/2021 07:11

This is our 2nd year of secret santa with siblings and their partners. It's set up via Elfy, so we get to make a wishlist. It's brilliant. Cheaper. You get one nice present you actually want. No worrying about what they'd like. No unwanted gifts stuck in a cupboard for years so environmentally friendly. Bonus - DPs wishlist lets me know what I can get him too!

LeonoraFlorence · 04/10/2021 07:12

Definitely arrange a Secret Santa with your siblings/in laws. It can end up lots of fun and saves you looking for numerous gifts! Will also save you money, of course :)

escapeyou · 04/10/2021 07:25

Try and approach them to cut spending but if not how about cosy socks from Primark which are lovely and about £2 a pair. Then you could get chocolate or a selection box. Or, again Primark gloves. They do leather or suede ones for about £8. They were very good last year and I was very impressed. Fluffy Primark PJs are about £8 a time.

Marks and Spencer also do lovely cosy socks. They are £5 from memory and you could add something like a little hand cream or hand wash.

violetbunny · 04/10/2021 07:32

@Skiptheheartsandflowers

Aldi is your friend. Buy from their top level food and drink range and it's still value prices. Alcohol, chocolates, nice biscuits all round.

The other option to think about is suggesting a family secret Santa where you pick names (there are websites that will randomly assign it if you put all the names in) and then each person gets one present. You can then afford to spend a bit more and still save money overall.

This is a good idea. I used to work for a food company and could buy lovely coffee, sauces, pickles, seasonings, chocolates etc at a discount in their staff shop. One year I bought a few cheap baskets, some ribbons and wrapping and made up hampers for Christmas gifts. They went down really well. Especially the condiments (e.g. interesting spicy sauces) and sweet treats.

LittleMousewithcloggson · 04/10/2021 07:54

I have 3 siblings and DH has 4
Also have step parents on both sides
We do a secret Santa on each side of the family. £20-25 budget so costs us £40-50 in total and Dh and I get two nice gifts each from that which is definitely all we need. It’s definitely the way forward!

If you really want to get gifts then a
£5 Costa (or Starbucks) voucher put in a nice mug (£1-2 from a supermarket or home bargains) and a big bar of chocolate (or Maltesers, heroes etc) wrapped up in cellophane as a mini hamper looks great and costs around £8 each
Or a mug with a mug cake mix (or a recipe book for mug cakes) is under £5
Boots also have some nice half price toiletries online - body butters, nail polishes, hand creams etc for under £5

I personally would love a throw as a present. If budget allows I would add some cosy socks (£1) and a large pack of popcorn or chocolate and label it as a cosy nice in

SilenceOfThePrams · 04/10/2021 07:57

How old are your children?

We have done things like cheap white mugs or pots, set the children loose with sharpies to decorate them, then plant them up with hyacinth or paperwhite bulbs. Works nicely for adults; you can swap the bulbs for a cactus if Uncle Tom doesn’t want daffodils, or if it’s a mug then add a sachet of luxury hot chocolate and a mini pack of chocolates.

We moved to whole family gifts a while ago which is great, means we can give eg a board game or jigsaw puzzle to a family with older children who enjoy them, or a set of biscuit cutters and recipe book for one with younger crafty children, IKEA mason jar filled with biscuits and chocolate coins for another.

Otherwise anyone teenage gets an Amazon or love to shop card here unless they have a specific (and affordable) wish.

gogohm · 04/10/2021 08:02

Hit the charity shops. We get new sealed things all the time, also very good condition you can pass off as new - you'll pay very little and help a good cause

EdgeOfTheSky · 04/10/2021 08:02

We don’t do adult siblings if they have kids, just a kids gift.

Gtfcovid · 04/10/2021 08:30

Buy cheap white mugs and ceramic pens and get your kids to decorate them. You can do the same with wine glasses. Fill them with sweets.

sausagepastapot · 04/10/2021 09:21

I love candle making, it is so easy and very very cheap. A sack of wax, 12 tins, some fragrance oil and wicks would cost about £20.

12 gorgeous home made candles, Bob's your uncle.