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

[LetterBug]

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?

@Itsalmostanaccessory

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.

I agree. They're your family...just explain your situation. Tell them you won't be getting them gifts and that you aren't expecting anything from them.

Letterbug if i was your Mum i would rather you told me you weren't doing presents and why, i would be heartbroken if i later learned that you had really struggled and gone without just to buy me a present. x

Olio is your friend
Supermarket Food is reduced yellow label and short dated but some foods will last ages.
Request Free carrots, parsnips, & potatoes, carrots, brocolli, and red cabbage they all last ages .

Eggs and mushrooms will last a week or two.
Also look out for mince pies, croissants, Danish pastries and bread if you have freezer space.

So it's gone from "I've £100 for food and gifts til January" and is now "just gifts". The OP suggested someone struggling to eat at all and get through December. The latter post, not so much.

Well, £100 on a few peoples gifts doesn't need Mumsnet wisdom. In fact, that's quite a luxurious budget for some.

Quietly irritated I bothered making a suggestion tbh.

@bunfightinaisle3

So it's gone from "I've £100 for food and gifts til January" and is now "just gifts". The OP suggested someone struggling to eat at all and get through December. The latter post, not so much.

Well, £100 on a few peoples gifts doesn't need Mumsnet wisdom. In fact, that's quite a luxurious budget for some.

Quietly irritated I bothered making a suggestion tbh.

Agree.

Yes, what's the £100 meant to cover?

Anything you can sell on Facebook market place etc to raise a bit of cash? Lots of people are putting things up for sale to make way for Christmas toys. Also, people are looking out for bargains as well so have a rummage through old toys, books & homeware.

And what do you mean by ”I started in October”?

Lidl do lovely Christmas cactuses for £2, I got one last year which has been repotted twice and is now enormous and has just flowered.

This year I have bought a couple along with nice pots for a couple of pounds each and repotted them so they look nice.

Lidl also do German Christmas biscuits and sweets pretty cheaply.

As others have said tell them you cannot afford presents this year so don’t exchange gifts.

I would be devastated if my daughter bought me a Christmas gift when she was really struggling financially.

It's far more important you have food on the table for your children. Just be honest and say you can't do presents this year.

I've been faffing about on Canva. I've "designed" posters with song lyrics on one and quote from a book on the other.
I'm going to print and frame.

When I was a kid and my parents and ILs would say they didn’t want a thing, I would rack my brain to find something to give. It’s natural to want to show our appreciation by giving gifts! Now, older, and after just paying for a couple of big ticket items for my son and DIL’s house, they want so badly to do something for me. And I don’t want any more stuff! I really only want “consumables”, just to not rob them of the pleasure of gift giving. I suggested spices, cheeses, chocolates, flavored vinegars or oils. I would be absolutely delighted with just a card, but if they must gift me, I want something I will use up, eat or grow outside. My house is full of stuff from the years, and I don’t want more stuff!

Can you bake well? Nice homemade breads! Or cookies. Do you sew? Garden? Think of things you can give that come from you, not purchased. And tell them the truth, that you’re budget is too tight this year. They may surprise you and suggest cutting back on “stuff” from now on.

I usually only send token gifts to my parents (they’re much better off than me, and really don’t need anything). But I thought back to childhood traditions and favourite sweets, so eg my mum a mini toblerone and my dad a chocolate orange. They thought it was lovely that I’d remembered. Or there’s a couple of confectionery items they sell in my part of the country but not theirs, which they really like. Is there anything like that that would work for you?

Could you do "vouchers" for stuff you can do for then that doesn't cost money? So foot/hand massage, babysitting, cleaning, DIY, something like that?

Or buy cheap nice looking glass jars and make up Cookie mixture in layers? Shouldn't cost very much for the raw ingredients. Then nicely decorated labels with the ingredients/instructions?

Do you have a community larder near you? Our church does this every week. You pay £1 and can then fill up a bag with fresh produce. No need to evidence your income or anything.

If you really want to get something. Pop to The Works and get everyone a paperback on the 3 for £5 deal and then pop to the supermarket and get them all some cheap choc! Then explain it’s a small gift this year as you’re stretched.

Then prioritise your food.

Get a pack of those clear photo baubles from Amazon and put a special pic or two inside for each person/couple. Inexpensive, easy and always gone down well with recipients as very personal. Throw in £1 selection boxes to finish them off

@LowlandLucky

Letterbug if i was your Mum i would rather you told me you weren't doing presents and why, i would be heartbroken if i later learned that you had really struggled and gone without just to buy me a present. x

Exactly.

And I'm sure your family would rather have your company on Christmas day than an excuse about self isolation so that you could buy them a present.

Pound shop/ supermarket mugs filled with a few chocs. Yummy and useful.
For parents, what about printing out a nice photo of you/you and kids and buying a photo frame for it.

@kikipie

Make a voucher for a treat next year, a trip out or a lunch, it doesn’t have to be expensive, and do it when you can afford it.

Perfect solution

I'd be so upset if someone was massively struggling for money and was panicking about getting me a gift.
I think Xmas is a time if you can afford it to spoil people who will be struggling?

A well chosen book, a box/bar of chocolate and fluffy socks. Available at all price points!

However I've been very impressed with moon pig photo ideas, personalised mugs, post card etc

A tin of condensed milk, a bag of sugar and a block of butter, some milk = scottish tablet.

It's delicious, a treat, ridiculously addictive and will be a talking point.

You can buy sellophane gift bags or - more eco friendly - some old fashioned sweet paper bags. Then buy some Christmas ribbon - hey presto.

bakingwithgranny.co.uk/recipe/scottish-tablet/