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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

£100 in the bank now for food and presents for both parents and sibling. Can I do it?

116 replies

LetterBug · 12/12/2021 18:59

just that really. 100 pounds until January. I haven't gotten my parents anything or my DB. Or done the Christmas shopping.
Any ideas on cheap gifts but not gift sets as my family hate them read: are drowning in them

I really can't think of what they need maybe a household item?

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 12/12/2021 19:19

I’ve bee. There OP. With £100 in the bank, I told all adults that they are not getting presents. I accepted that I might not get anything in return, although I did. It was actually the start of my family doing much smaller scale Christmases, thankfully.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 12/12/2021 19:20

Get yourself to the supermarket directly after Christmas Day. There are often really good bargains to be had with reduced hams etc. You see them selling for less than a quid.

hivemindneeded · 12/12/2021 19:22

Do they like houseplants? This year's cyclamen are incredibly good. I've bought some absolute beauties for about £4 each. If you have a ceramic flowerpot you can put it in, even better. That could be a joint present for DH's grandparents. You could do the same for your mum.

Or... one year a very broke cousin gave me a bird feeder and bag of seeds from Poundland. £2 total. Hours of fun watching the birds and I thought so fondly of her every time I refilled it. Poundland also do lovely Epsom salts in lavender and eucalyptus. You could buy a glass storage jar and fill it with these for under £5. They also do perspex make up storage units that I've seen elsewhere for a lot more. You could buy one and add some sparkly nail polish and a set of make up brushes. £3 total.

Tyger have some lovely diaries and journals for £2-3.
Primark do gorgeous fluffy lounging socks for about £2. And they had sets of two velvet cushion covers for about £2.50-3 last time I looked. Again, they seem similar quality to ones I've seen elsewhere for five times the price.

For food - the famous MN chicken really does work.You can buy one for about £3.50 - roast it, then use leftovers for risotto, sandwiches and make a noodle soup with the carcass.

Allaboutyou222 · 12/12/2021 19:25

When I was a student I made everyone jam. People like it. Fancy jar with ribbons.

Holothane · 12/12/2021 19:27

We’ve really downsized this year in-laws understand and food though nice we’re not going over board either.

fournonblondes · 12/12/2021 19:29

Go last minute and buy something discounted May be Xmas themed. I bought a lovely gingerbread house discounted last minute. Or as other suggested books.

Itsalmostanaccessory · 12/12/2021 19:29

You cant afford gifts. You'll have to tell them that.

Honestly, they do not want £5 tat. It would be an utter waste of the little money you have. Just dont.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 12/12/2021 19:30

Am I alone in thinking that even thinking about buying presents for adults in your situation is madness

I don't have the link but Google for Martin Lewis and the obligation of gift giving

This kind of thing really upsets me, you can't afford to eat but want to buy two fully grown adults a household item that they dont need.

Scandisaurus · 12/12/2021 19:30

I got jars of rhubarb chutney as a gift one year, loved it! And someone made me biscuits, and put it in a vintage tin.
All thoughtful gifts!

Blossom64265 · 12/12/2021 19:32

If you were my family member, I would rather you be honest with me that gifts just can’t happen this year than strain your budget to try to give me something. I’m an adult. I care more about spending time with my family or knowing they are having a happy Christmas than I do about receiving a present.

IncompleteSenten · 12/12/2021 19:34

Tell them you can't afford it. I'd hate it if a family member went without to buy me something.
Nobody has a magic money tree. You have to work only with what you have. I'm sure they will understand that.

Scandisaurus · 12/12/2021 19:34

Is there a card game or board game you and your family used to like playing together when you were younger, maybe you could find one (second hand) and challenge them. Nostalgic memories.

JuneOsborne · 12/12/2021 19:35

I agree with everyone else. Token gifts if you really feel you need to gift something.

Tell us more about the food situation. How many people is that budget for and till when in January? How many meals fo you need it to make? Christmas dinner too?

Innocenta · 12/12/2021 19:38

No gifts would truly be absolutely fine, I think. If you just can't bring yourself to do that, then secondhand book + hand-drawn card would be lovely, and I think by most people, just as appreciated as something more expensive. Some of my favourite books are gifts I've received and were secondhand.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 12/12/2021 19:41

If all else fails, tell them on 23rd that you have to self isolate. That way you spend your £100 on yourself/food and you're clear to get them something reduced on 3rd January.

Scandisaurus · 12/12/2021 19:41

Ok just one more.. 😂 A joint family present could be one of those personalised memory games with photos, I think Asda do them for £15.. Might be fun if you have photos of nice memories together.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 12/12/2021 19:44

Don’t get them anything if that’s all you have in the bank ffs they are grown ups- who cares if they get nothing or wait until January

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 12/12/2021 19:44

@TheYearOfSmallThings

Just explain you can't afford gifts this year. If anyone in my family was short of money I would absolutely hate to think they would waste a penny on something I don't need.

So would l.

Tiree1965 · 12/12/2021 19:45

Rather than spending any of your precious budget could you give them a home made gift voucher for something that you know they don’t like doing and you could do for them eg grass cutting, window washing?

bunfightinaisle3 · 12/12/2021 19:45

There's an app called FreePrints that allows you 40 free photo prints per month (the idea is you eventually buy one of their photo books or other photo merchandise, but you don't have to). I'd get some of my favourite photos printed for free and either make a scrapbook, or get a nice cheap photo frame. Really thoughtful and can be free if you have some frames at home to regift.

HolidayTime2021 · 12/12/2021 19:46

@Readytogogogo

Can you bake? Make Christmas biscuits etc as a present?
Much more expensive than buying some
HolidayTime2021 · 12/12/2021 19:47

@Allaboutyou222

When I was a student I made everyone jam. People like it. Fancy jar with ribbons.
Moe expensive that buying a jar
fourquenelles · 12/12/2021 19:47

In the run up to Christmas the big supermarkets tend to sell basic veggies at a very low price eg 29p for a bag of carrots, cauliflower etc (may be more this year) as an enticement to come in and spend lots more

maddiemookins16mum · 12/12/2021 19:48

@LetterBug

Oh my gosh dhs grandparents! I started in October, how did I forget all of these people?!
Maybe your DH can buy for his GP’s? Are the finances all down to you?
ChiefStockingStuffer · 12/12/2021 19:50

Anyone who loves and cares about you will not want you spending money you don't have for unnecessary presents. Honestly, they won't.

Have your children make everyone cards. If someone you know has a colour printer, add pictures of your family.

But don't spend money you don't have.

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