How to keep family gifts cheap

[autumnalgal]

I am currently starting to think about Christmas and what to buy for family members.

I have an almost 18 year old and a 6 week old baby so would love to keep the cost of gifts for family down whilst also giving them something thoughtful and not just buying cheap tat. I’d be gifting parents, siblings and their children.

So here I am hoping to gain some unique ideas / tips. 😁

TIA!

For my parents last year, I made a photo book of loads of family photos that I had on my phone that they never really get to see otherwise. They keep it on their coffee table and my Dm says she always flicks through it if she needs cheering up!

Any hobbies to go on? Eg. If they like cooking, could you get them a nice plant pot from a charity shop and make them a herb garden?
For the grandparents, maybe make them something using the baby's handprints/footprints/photos (lots of online things where you can just upload something onto a mug or a cushion or a calendar).
For the baby, just wrap up their existing things - they will have no concept or recollection of it.
Take the 18 year old out for a nice dinner/to see a show?

Is doing a Secret Santa between the adults an option? We've been following this route for years and everyone seems to genuinely like it as no one buys and/or gets tons of stuff that's never used.
You make family-related gifts, like photo calendars with birthdays and anniversaries or photo books, etc.
Items like digital photo frames, air humidifiers, lava lamps usually go down well.
Hobby related gifts are great as well, you can look into workshop certificates or gift cards for the arts and crafts stores, etc.

Agree with the Secret Santa - or no presents for adults. Either works well.

If you really can’t do that, then books!

Except for DC do a Secret Santa with a price limit. Ask everyone to provide a list of things they would like within that limit.

What's your idea of cheap?
You can buy 3 adult fiction books for £7.50 at The Works (and I think I saw advertised that it will be 4 for £7.50 as a Black Friday deal).
They also sell children's books (popular titles and new releases) plus toys and crafts.
Baby just needs a "My First Christmas" bib/onesie or something which you can probably get in any supermarket.

Or just give everyone a limit of £10 and ask them to write a list.
There's absolutely loads of stuff I would be happy with for £10 or less.

We do exactly this for siblings and their children. £10. Always have done since they were born and everyone knows what to expect. You can club it together so my Dad and sister club their money together for me and DH which means a £40 gift for us.

My children club their money together, again my sister and my Dad's gift. For us Christmas is about bringing everyone together not expensive splurges on gifts. Realistically if I wanted something for £10 I would just go and buy it, same with my sister. It is more the gesture.

I am sure the 18 year old will understand less money spent. I actually find it incredibly hard to buy for my young adult sons, they don't want much at all.

Agree on a limit to spend then secret Santa