£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?

Tell them you can't buy them presents this year(the adults that is) my family would never want presents from me especially if I was struggling financially. Usually my children just choose or make a gift for their grandparents and no other adults in the family although we do often make craft things for them like cards, Christmas tree decorations or biscuits. For the kids theirs toys for a pound which is a good site I found, Smyths and The Entertainer have loads of clearance toys and 3 for 2's I think at Argos and a few other places. Don't be tempted with catalogues or credit cards. Charity shops are also great especially for stocking fillers and if you're really struggling see if your eligible for help with FIND. Hope you have a good Christmas, just keep it simple this year and be happy and calm.

@OnlyHereForTheClothes

Secondhand books are another good one. I love getting secondhand books. I think I'd prefer that to new. You can find them really cheap in some places.

Or shop from your own book case

Re food, it's just a roast dinner.

I've spent God knows how much on goose and galantines, alllll the trimmings. And do you know what, my great intentions with the left overs never happen. If goose was so bloody marvellous, we'd have it throughout the year. But we don't. I spend all the night before and most of Christmas Day in the kitchen. And then feel bloated.

This year, I'm literally doing a roast dinner. Maybe I'll add pigs in blankets, or some cranberry sauce, to give a more festive feel, but by the time you've got crackers on the table (£2.99 B&M) it's Christmassy anyway.

You can do a lovely roast chicken dinner for not a lot at all.

@N0RKS

Please don’t spend money you don’t have. Vouchers for future ‘hoovering’ ‘gardening’ ‘ a proper cooked dinner’ etc will cost nothing to make, and you can design / paint / print them

This

Look on your local Facebook market place, you might find some random bargains there.

You can do a lovely roast chicken dinner for not a lot at all.

Absolutely agree with this. I did a roast chicken for Christmas dinner one year when I was really broke. I found out when my local shop put the reduced stickers on and picked up a large, whole organic chicken for fuck all (can't remember exactly because it was years ago but it was less than £4).

It was really easy to find because no one is buying them at this time of year - most people are buying the ham, turkeys etc.

Add in some gravy, roast potatoes, roast parnsips and fried sprouts, and there you go. Christmas dinner. It really is just a glorifed roast dinner and can be as expensive and complex as you make it.

People spend too much and there is too much waste at Xmas anyway.

A secret Santa does sound like a good idea! This is like me and I’ve started up a wee business 2 weeks ago so I have a trickle of money coming in from that but I’m still into the last £100 of my overdraft. Im on maternity leave so I only have statutory maternity pay and the tiny amount from my new business. I had a handful of change in my jacket pocket the other day to pay for my food shopping because I knew I couldn’t use my bank. Was counting it out thinking I have a nice house, nice car and well paid job yet look at me 🤔 We are literally buying presents for my family for no reason, just for them to buy us some lavish thing back. My sister and I set a limit of £50 on a gift this year, as sometimes it could escalate into £250 territory. I had nothing to buy her, trailed round all the shops the other day in the rain and saw a nice top but thought I’d try to get it cheaper online. Couldn’t so ive ended up getting that but it was £79, totally defeated the idea of a budget. A budget needs to be £10 or under to work I think, any more than that and you’re trying to get an actual gift but you see something they’d actually like for just over it 🙄 It really bugs me what a waste of money the whole Christmas thing is and how much everyone acts like they can afford it when they’re no doubt struggling like me too.

Last Christmas I was pretty skint so I got my mum a calendar with a promise written each month...afternoon tea delivered...mystery gift...lunch out etc. it spread the cost out across the year and meant we spent quality time together which meant a lot to her...getting the same this year as she loved it so much!

Nice candle, bath salts, colouring books etc. Easily done as a token gift. Christmas dinner can be done - if you’re smart - for £50 or so!

Do you need to provide a Christmas Dinner within that £100? Or is it just food to get you through the other days?

I would agree you can't afford gifts. £100 for food for half a month is tight as it is.

Starcaller

Be honest and say you can't afford gifts right now and prioritise food and having some spare for contingency.“

Agree. If you were my child I’d be so upset to find out that buying me a gift had left you short. Please, just tell them. They love you and they’ll understand.

Tell them you can't do gifts this year.

I'd absolutely hate to receive a gift if the giver could not afford to buy it.

The majority of gifting is for the sake of it. It means very little. Can you really fondly remember who gave you what last year? Unless it was something you specifically wanted or needed, I doubt you can?

A couple of years my BIL was unemployed. He said he couldn't exchange gifts. It felt wonderful that he could say that. It also meant we knew to get him a voucher for somewhere with a number of different shops so that hopefully helped him out a little in the New Year.
Two years later DH was made redundant. We were far less hesitant to tell people that we were not buying gifts.

That is what family members want and need one another to do.

Prioritise your money to spend on your own little family this year.

Please don’t worry about presents this year. Use the money you have for food for your own family.

@ConsuelaHammock
The op clarified that they can afford to eat and all bills are paid
The £100 is for buying presents

[quote anon666]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/[/quote]
To some maybe. I hate that stuff. It makes my teeth itch and stomach churn. Just yet more sugar and fat when Christmas is already laden with it. I think with food gifts you have to be sure it's something people really love otherwise it is money and effort down the drain.