Only second hand or home made presents. Ideas.

[Allswellthatendswelll]

I thought I might try this this year! Already scouring vinted for toys still in their packaging and picked a lot of sloes for sloe gin.

The only exception will be maybe an experience present for my parents.

Anyone want to share ideas?

Love vinted for clothes and toys. Secondhand books can be lovely via eBay/Abe/World of Books/Amazon.

Sloe Gin is a good shout. Or if you are a good baker, something baked - I think quality is more important than quantity.

Also, would you consider adding consumables - really nice coffee, cheese, chocolate - again a small amount of something the recipient will definitely enjoy rather than going for large quantities.

I would go down the food route - jams, chutneys, cookies, fudge

Home made Festive biscotti/ Christmas cookies in a pretty box or tin?? Can usually get some lovely ones in the charity shops. Or how about a selection of spring bulbs in a terracotta pot/ or a planter?? Home bargains have a empty Christmas hamper basket set for under a tenner x

Ooo peppermint creams or chocolate truffles?? Home made ones are quite easy and children love making them x

My sister, SIL, girl friends exchange the best books we have read in the year.

I made cushion covers one year. It's not too difficult if you have a sewing machine and the feet for zips and piping. I chose fabric to match the recipient's decor and two sets of friends had fabric that was hand painted by DC which they loved.
The Works/Hobbycraft have lots of "blank" jewellery boxes you could decorate or soap making kits.

Gingerbread men.

Gingerbread snowflakes! Use a star cutter and pipe pretty patterns on. Dead easy and delicious 😋

I would wander around charity shops for books, clothes and toys that are like new, you pay less and the charities benefit too.

If you know anyone with a cooking apple tree they will likely have a glut right now, we do and are very happy to give apples away. Chutney and apple jelly will cost you very little to make.

Flavoured salts and flavoured sugars, lots of recipes if you Google.

I love vintage items and have happily received them as gifts.

Are you shopping for adults, children or both? What ages?

Home-made florentines are gorgeous, packed in a lovely box or a tin.

This is my secret Christmas weapon.

Mulled cranberry jelly

It's really good and pretty failsafe recipe, one of my kids teachers messaged me on boxing day to say thanks and ask if I had any for sale.

DH loves chocolate covered ginger and our kids usually make him a big box for Christmas. All it involves is dunking lumps of crystallised ginger in chocolate - it's much cheaper than buying it ready made too.
We usually rinse and dry the ginger to remove the sugar coating before dipping - the chocs come out too sweet otherwise and DH likes his chocolate plain and not overly sweet.
Also, as well as sloe gin, if you are lucky enough to have a quince tree (ours blew down last year 😥) try quince vodka. Grate up a whole quince - skin, core and all - they grate up easily - and add to 1/4 litre of vodka with 4 oz sugar (125gm) in a jar. Turn jar gently once a day to mix. After 6 weeks strain and bottle. If you leave the fruit in there it will break up and make the drink cloudy. It makes a fragrant golden liqueur.

Christmas cake, mince pies, any other christmas treats. Add in Wensleydale truckles that are in most supermarkets in the run up to Christmas.

Books, I love going round second hand book stalls/stores.
Jewellery if there is someone who likes unusual/vintage style

How old are your children? DD did salt dough Christmas ornaments one year and painted aprons for the grandparents. Was fun to do, just get 100% cotton ones and pre-wash and iron.

My issue with biscuits/cakes/sweets is that they don't last very long and over Christmas I stock up myself so I feel I have to eat more than I want.
Chutneys or jellys are better I think.

I love this. If my in-laws ask what I’d like for Christmas I say I’d really appreciate passing on a book that you enjoyed reading.

I once got three hand-selected and used books in my work secret santa. Most people scoffed and were mean and I was clear that I thought it was a fabulous gift.

Second hand books, home made things if you can sew (pencil cases, shopping bags, make up bags are all very easy and lots of videos/turorials).

I always ask for second-hand or home made if possible - my niece shops on Vinted and got me a fabulous skirt last year, but you have to know the person and their style really well.

Chilli jam is another good one, some great ideas above. I find baked goods awkward as they usually need to be made very close to Christmas except biscotti.

Could you do a home-made voucher - trip to a garden or stately home, day out, picnic … to be redeemed in future? Or even a days gardening/cleaning, helping to decorate, wardrobe review etc - these are of course very personal and depend on how well you know the person’s needs/wants.

We make our own flavoured alcohol, mince pie vodka from the hairy bikers, chocolate mint vodka, Fry's peppermint creams work better than after eights.

I love it when someone prints me off a photo and puts it in a frame, especially when it’s one of us, or their children if we’re close. Or of a place that means something to me. Pence for a print, but so much thought.

I’ve charity shopped for Christmas for years, had some brilliant finds. You need to start early, though (thanks for the reminder, OP😁)

My friend makes lovely scented candles which she matches to the colours of peoples homes, they are always well received.

That's just reminded me that when I was at school, my DM used to make the most delicious treacle toffee for me to take to school as gifts around Halloween - she wrapped every piece in waxed paper and bagged them up to hand out to my friends in batches. People went absolutely mad for them and in years since I often used to think she missed her calling as an entrepreneur, bless her.

Nigella Lawson has a good recipe for chilli jam.

A friend and I always exchange charity shop books.

My sil made the BEST FUDGE EVER and packaged it for me because she knows I love it and gave it with a magazine (I’d told her a magazine and some sweets are like a holiday for me!!) It was honestly one of the best presents I’ve ever gotten!!!