Help - what to buy rich friends with no money!

[Justsayit123]

Got great friends and have been invited to theirs for Christmas Day. However, they are likely to get us expensive gifts probably costing a few hundred each and we can’t reciprocate. Plus there is 5 of us and 3 of them. They have harrods tea bags like I buy sainsbury red label! Any suggestions of what I could buy which is nice but not costing the earth?

While we are definitely not Harrods tea bags kind of rich, we are significantly better off than both of our families and we REALLY don't want them to spend money on us at Christmas. I like buying them expensive things they couldn't buy themselves but I really don't want them to feel that they need to do anything in return. I'm sure your friends will feel the same

What can you afford? Give us a budget ….

you could get something ironic, like Nicky Haslam’s what makes you common tea towel (Harrods tea bags?!)

National trust sell beautiful woollen blankets for £60

Speak to them now!!

Explain that you are worried and see what they say

You could suggest a secret Santa or set a price limit

Or you go for a planter with bulbs
You get an old pot or dish from a charity shop
Hyacinth bulbs from supermarket and maybe some more moss from a florist

Make jam? Make biscuits? Nice bottle of wine.

Surely they know you’re not wealthy and don’t expect expensive gifts? Food always goes down well - a hamper? If you’re adept and making homemade food that’s always a nice option too. Or a wine they particularly like?

Give a house gift - maybe a lovely bunch of flowers, with an artisan jam, honey and marmalade, or local hand made chocolates.

Better to go for quality in a house gift than dividing budget across individual presents.

Like  this on Vinted for £5

Are you a good cook? I’d bake and decorate a Christmas cake, and pair it with a nice bottle of Port.

Granted it’s possible they might not love Christmas cake but any decent person would value a gift like that.

The bulbs and homemade jam ideas are lovely too.

Buy a nice hamper for the family. If you can, go to fortnum and mason itself and you can create a nice do it yourself one for well under £100 and it can be filled with lovely stuff. If not, then somewhere like Lina stores you can build yours own to your budget online and can get sent to you to take over.

Op, honestly I’d be in the friend category and genuinely it’s the thought that counts, the people who have money don’t tend to count the cost of everything as you are. If you bear that in mind then you will realise that it isn’t about how much money they have, what they can afford, what else they get, what they give, and you’re not competing. It is simply about buying a small low cost and thoughtful gift.

that can be anything from a lovely Xmas panettone from markies, to a poinsettia, or a gift hamper.

are they really going to spend a few hundred on each of you? Have they done this before, as that’s unusual. No matter how wealthy.

I'm on the other side of this scenario and I really just want everyone to have a good time, but obviously you need some kind of token. I'd appreciate:

• a good wine to be shared at dinner
• box of chocs that is just for me (I like those monty bojangles ones which I think you can get for about £7)
• an entertaining game we can all play, maybe you come up with a fun quiz or something like that
• a book you think is really good (if you're a reader) or similarly if you're an expert in something a thing from that genre (plant you know will work in the garden, or something like that?)

This is

the Sarah Raven verson which is £35

But if you get a massive bowl/ bucket and make your own it can look really impressive for not a lot

Agree- small and thoughtful

Flowers!

I would just say that you're really looking forward to Christmas but you're a bit worried about finances. How about doing a secret Santa where each person buys someone a present for a set amount decided by you.

Even if they do spend hundreds on you, I don't think that's the norm, they are the ones choosing to spend more (as opposed to you choosing to spend less!). I probably only ever spend £30 max on my closest friends. Doubt they will care honestly. I'd go for something personal that is a bit of an in joke. Personal touches are far more important than price.

I’d go with little packs of homemade and decorated biscuits each, something like a nice scarf or blanket, if they have a DC then a family game they can all play.

I'd mention it now to be honest. Maybe suggest a secret Santa with a budget?

This. I'm significantly better off than most of the people who end up at ours for Christmas and I honestly just enjoy treating them! We all know they can't reciprocate and that's fine. They'll appreciate whatever you give them as long as it's thoughtful - if they don't I don't think they're great friends!

If they have a child, buy something (small but thoughtful) for them, ask for suggestions?

Then just take some bits so you have things to hand over when you get there , chocolates, a bottle of wine or a liqueur or something else they like to drink, a pot of early daffs or hyacinths. I'm sure they won't be expecting expensive gifts if they know your circumstances.

Edit: When I'm hosting the last thing on my mind is what the guests will bring, I'm far more concerned in having everything organised for the guests and getting the meal ready!

I wouldn't be impressed by anyone buying Harrods tea bags, that's just the naff type of thing tourists might do on their first visit to London

Definitely don't try and reciprocate by spending lots - I don't expect they'd want you to do that and if they're that rich then a hamper from Fortnum's probably won't be that much of a treat to them anyway, tbh. I love spending a lot on presents but I'd hate friends to feel obliged to spend a lot in return.

If you can't speak to them about it then I'd go homemade gifts all the way - jam or brownies or some biscotti, or local honey or sloe gin. Thoughtfully chosen books are also a good shout.

I would definitely make something..... something as simple as buying a load of different nuts from Aldi, making a coating for them and roasting them in oven. Google Christmas nut recipes.
Then get a nice jar from Asda and wrap a ribbon around it. This will be a real treat.

You could also make nice biscuits and put in a nice tin.

I’d be tempted to go homemade if you’re good at cooking or anything similar, I have a similar type of situation and when I first started making homemade stuff I felt like a 5 year old giving a bit of a shit present while she was spending lots, but she really loved the thoughtfulness/effort