Xmas presents for family members....

[MyLifeNow20]

Hi just looking for ideas.....
My family consists of me, DD19, DD16 and DD8.
On my mums side I have my mum, step dad, sister 21 and sister 20.
I normally spend around £20 each on mum and step dad and £25 each on sisters, brought from their wish list of what they want.
My mum normally buys what she feels like buying for mine even though I give her ideas...
This year I cant afford all that and would rather spend my money on my girls.
How do you work something out that is fair?
On my dads side we are doing a secret santa of one gift for £30 so that works really well.

Just be honest with them, I’m a bit over buying adults something they can afford themselves for the sake of buying something just because it’s Christmas! Suggest the secret Santa thing or tell them you can’t afford to buy for the adults this year.

Ive just brought it up with my mum, surprise surprise, shes already brought mine!

Damn those organised sort of people!!

I agree just be honest . It can't be a surprise that people don't have the same budgets with all the cost of living price rises .
If that feels to drastic as your mum has bought yours I'd look to buy creatively , cheaper body spray gift sets for your sisters , Boots 3 for 2 offers or paperback book each and pad out with selection box and scratch card in a Christmas card .
At least save half your usual budget .

There are ways you can make it really special without paying lots eg nice gloves and scarf or slippers but from Primark or a second hand shop, get her eg knitting needles, wool and a book on knitting from a pound shop. We’ve had limits of twenty euro and done well, there’s loads more you can get rather to stooping to things like Nivea/dove/ other seemingly cheap but generally depressing Christmas gifts!! But do talk to her and tell her

So your saying you would normally spend £90 but want to cut back to £30 like with your dads family?

£30 would be £6-£7 each so you could still get nice stuff in that price range like books, edible items, make up, nice homewares, accessories etc...

It all just depends what they are into but with creative thought you can get nice stuff on a low budget.

Could you suggest secret Santa with that side of the family too?

Just buy them cheaper presents. You don’t have to get something from their wish list (as your mum has already proven).

You can get something lovely and thoughtful for a lot less than £25.

Next year, let people know really early if you don’t want to exchange gifts.

I would either say to your mum that you just give some edible gifts this year or suggest a secret santa as well.

She can either return the gift she bought or give it, knowing she may only get a bottle of wine.

I would prefer no gift or just edible instead of generic ones bought to save money, especially things like scarves, beauty sets or candles.

Have a look on the bargain thread for ideas. For example there was a 3 for £20 offer on at Superdrug for the Nadine Baggott skincare beauty box. The contents are worth £95 so brilliant for the price. There are some great bargains around. I'd never not want to buy my mum a Xmas present but you can still get something thoughtful for less if you don't have the money

Thanks for your ideas.
The secret santa probably wont work on that side as mum has already questioned who is an adult... Is my 16yr old an adult?
We have agreed £15 per child/sisters but that wont get much, they like expensive things!

If they like expensive things then they can pay for them out of their own pocket, you shouldn't be feeling bad about this.
Could you agree to team up with your sisters and get each other gift cards for the same shop so they have a decent amount to put towards something of their choosing rather than two smaller separate amounts or two gifts?
I have also cut back this year and texted my friends in September to suggest we stop buying for each others kids due to partly the cost and partly the fact that everyone is just ending up with too much stuff - everyone had good intentions but we ended up with an overwhelming amount of things. Could you suggest meeting for a meal together instead? Will end up cheaper, you can do it at a less expensive time of year and you can control what you spend
Also, nice wrapping makes an otherwise cheaper gift look a lot more expensive

Just say you aren't buying for the adults anymore snd don't expect them to get you anything. It doesn't matter that your mother has bought you something already - she's your mother, I think she'll be fine with not getting a present in return.
Or you can make something, which can at least halve the amount you spend. So get a book (£10) and do homemade chutney or fudge (the latter is easier). Put the food in a cellophane bag or wrapper with a pretty ribbon.

Have a look on the Christmas bargain thread #14, lots of bargains on there. For this year, it's too late for secret Santa but tell your mum now for next year. It's either secret santa or just buying for your sisters only in 2023.

Post their Christmas list on here & the Christmas bargain thread & people can suggest cheaper alternatives.

Suggest the secret santander thing to your family - it's late in the day but everyone will be feeling the pinch...

An alternative might be - dinner of tgeir choice, cooked by you for them. Date to be agreed. You put on food and drink....!

Do you still expect presents for your adult dc if your getting a gift on you dsis and dms?

Have a look at next, google beauty boxes. They have 3 or four at £15 or under, eith contents worth up to £60. They would be nice for your sisters, it’s high end products in them although some are small sizes. I’d love to get one.