Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Would you be hacked off if you only got a small handmade present from a friend/relative?

51 replies

bintofbohemia · 15/12/2009 08:39

We are skint. Horrendously skint. Dh is out of a job on Christmas Eve, how's that for Dickensian for you? Anyway, as such we have no money for presents, and will be going into debt to give people anything. I'm making some candles to give to people and will probably buy a few cheap bits for some of the children we buy for, but it's all going to look a bit paltry.

Just wondering if people are going to feel a bit hacked off if they buy us presents and get something very small in return? (I know it sucks, and it's hardly the festive spirit and all that, but that's not really how it works with some people, is it?!)

OP posts:
saintnickelas · 15/12/2009 10:30

I love hand-made gifts and would be really really chuffed with homemade cnadles (it's something i've always wanted to do myself!), but i would insist that the wax be recycled, because i would hate that you'd spent any money on me at all.

in fact, a homemade cars weould be enough for me because of your financial sitch.

if you've got kids of your own, is there any way you can give some of their old (in good condition) toys/books to the other children you have to buy for?

displayuntiltwelfthnight · 15/12/2009 10:32

I would love to receive something handmade and personal especially for me instead of something that could just be bought off the shelf in a shop. Shows thought and there's time taken to make it so no need to feel embarrassed because even if you weren't skint, it would be a nice thing to do for people.

bumpybecky · 15/12/2009 10:38

I din't mind getting home made at all I'm also making quite a bit this year.

If you're worried about it not being enough (not that you should worry but...) have you thought about giving a book of vouchers? you could make up mini-cheque book type things with vouchers for baby sitting, gardening, house cleaning, cake etc. That way you're offering your time to the person you're giving to, cheap but so very useful

SnotChristmasYetBaby · 15/12/2009 10:42

I would be delighted, TBH, and very grateful.

I like anything that takes pressure off anyone at this time of year.

gingernutlover · 15/12/2009 10:42

Sorry about your dh's job btw

but ... nothing wrong with homemade bits

I am giving bramble jelly, marmalade vanilla fudge and rum and raisin fudge this year.

also in our local poundstretcher I found lovely fluffy scarves for £3.99, set of handcreams 3 for 99p - ladies sorted. In another pound shop i found 4 xmas miugs for £1 and will fill them with either homemade fudge or quality street from a big tin (£5 for big tin in tescocs at the moment.

Also, do you have a QS near you? Their slipper socks and xmas socks are all on offer, 3 for 2 or buy one get one free, the xmas socks were only £1 a pair to begin with so bargain anyway

If you think there is anyone who is going to get funny then make sure you have mentioned it to them beforehand, that way they cant get annoyed that they spent a fortune on you and got something homemade back (although this is not why you buy someone a gift obviously).

A few of my friends and I have decided to just not do xmas presents this year, is there anyone you could do this with, I'm sure you arent the only ones feeling the pinch.

garciasangria · 15/12/2009 13:01

Hacked off - absolutely not!!! I'd be genuinely thrilled that someone took the time and effort to make something. I think what you're doing is fab, and if they don't like it, they're not worth bothering with.

garciasangria · 15/12/2009 13:28

Meant to add..I don't know if you've the kids sorted yet, but SIL is in a similar position financially, and has bought these for all her nieces and nephews (she has 12 to buy for and on previous Xmases they were spending about £15 per child )

She's getting them just an initial each at 2 or 3 pounds, and painting them herself - admittedly she is v v creative and good at this sort of thing, but I thought it was a fab idea, and, tbh am more hacked off at the mountains of plastic PILs will bestow upon us!

aokay · 15/12/2009 13:47

I think you're great to be thinking about everyone and I would love a handmade present! - we made loads of salt dough decorations (just for us but they are pretty enough for pressies) - I also make chutney which is realy cheap, easy and everyone loves it. We are giving second hand finds to all our children and they will be thrilled,as we've got all of them things they love- so scour the charity shops if you have some time. It really is the thought. Have you tried freegle? - people give nice things away on it and we all have stuff we dont want/need that someone else would enjoy.I could spend more money but like to buy more expensive pressies for birthdays abnd keep Christmas as non - commercial as possible....really hate the whole if you dont spend lots it does'nt count ethos.

moondog · 15/12/2009 13:53

I'd love a handmade present too.
Last year, I really appreciated a homemade pudding and a jar of marmalade.

To dat this year, my best thing has been a home made card from a special needs unit in which I work. Chuffed to bits with it.

MadameDuBain · 15/12/2009 15:35

Well Flamingo - jam or fudge would be OK but cakes and biscuits and things that go off, or things that get fingered a lot in the making eg truffles, just seem a bit yuk. Fine if someone makes them the same day and brings them round, it's the idea of making them and then them sitting around wrapped up. I am a bit weird though.

traceybath · 15/12/2009 16:54

I'm with MadameDuBain in that I wouldn't want homemade foodstuffs just because I make all that stuff myself.

I would rather though you just said - lets not do presents this year as we're cash-poor. I would hate anyone to go into debt to buy a present for me.

I've found generally that people are more than happy to cut down on the number of presents they buy for adults to be honest.

traceybath · 15/12/2009 16:56

Oh but I'd love a home made candle but am aware that all the ingredients cost quite a bit too . . .

Your friends will understand if you don't do presents this year.

VirginPeachyMotherOfSpod · 15/12/2009 17:02

Of cpurse not

we're not skint bt close,my Sister OTOH is well off but wroks all the hours given to her (s does her DH) and is hosting Chriostmas for both sets of inlaws, so I have amde them a Christmas cake and puds.... easy, as I amdemne anyway,and something they simply couldn't do

I felt very but dad informs me they are over the moon with the idea

Original poster
bintofbohemia · 16/12/2009 13:34

thank you everyone, I feel much better about the whole thing today. I've never really bought into the whole materialistic crap about Christmas, and as you've all said, anyone that does't appreciate it is the poorer for it.

It would be really great if the whole recession thing made people a bit more appreciative of the really important things in life. Some really good ideas on here, and I've got the house to myself tonight so am going to get cracking on the candles and see how that goes.

Apprecntice - hello! That's a shame about your DH's interview, is there anything else in the pipeline? Is he in a job at the moment? Dh has another interview today which is erally good, he's now applied for 150 jobs since April and this week is the first time anyone's called him in. It's rough eh, but at least things seem to be starting to pick up? Hope something else comes up for you all, how's your DH coping? Mine is so sad and stressed.

OP posts:
Guad · 16/12/2009 13:36

My friend makes candles as presents. They are really nice.

pagwatch · 16/12/2009 13:38

I love receiving home made presents. It always seems flattering that someone would spend their valuable time.

Heqet · 16/12/2009 13:40

I don't know about anyone else but if someone cares enough about me to want to get me a gift then I love it! Doesn't matter what it is. If it comes with love, it is loved! If someone who is broke, goes to the trouble of making something for someone because it matters to them that much to give them a gift - how can anyone not appreciate that?

muppetgirl · 16/12/2009 13:48

I would love to get homemade gifts...
just wanted to add -do you have any bits of unwanted material? Could you make shopping bags?

I am going to make make some as we're all needing to cut down on using plastic bags.

Sorry if someone's mentioned this!

Hope the New Year brings some sunnier times

Guad · 16/12/2009 13:48

Some years I make things, depends how much time/money I have.

I am doing that cranberry and white choc fudge recipe from mnet for friends this year.

Original poster
bintofbohemia · 16/12/2009 13:50

oooh, shopping bags, that's a good idea. I've been knitting cotton rag bags on big needles but it's taking me a while, sewing would be much quicker!

OP posts:
MisSalToeKisses · 16/12/2009 13:52

I'd love something hand made, and would most definitely not be hacked off! Not that it matters, but if it will make you feel better - wrap it really beautifully - some tissue paper, pretty ribbon (have a look for half price Christmas decorations which seems to be starting) etc, and your candles will look really glamorous.

These things are nicer than just more stuff, and it's special because someone put time and effort into it.

bratnav · 16/12/2009 13:58

Bint, this is exactly what we are doing this year.

We have made individual Christmas cakes and teacup candles, my parents, PIL, all siblings and close friends are being given them. The only person other than the DCs who is getting a bought present is my nephew. I know that all of DHs family and all our friends will be chuffed to bits, my family wont, but sod them, they are arses anyway

cleanandclothed · 16/12/2009 14:04

I would love hand-made presents because it would mean someone had spent time and thought on me. And I think you would also be surprised how much cash-rich time-poor people (who may be considered materialistic) would appreciate someone spending time rather than money. If you are very bothered about someone in particular, why not ask him/her whether there is anything they would like that would cost you time but not much money?

For example, one of my best presents ever was a palette knife. Actual cost about £2.50 or so, but I had looked and looked for one and couldn't find one anywhere. Asked for one for Christmas and I know my mother-in-law spent ages looking for one and finally found one. This year I would really like some long sleeved coloured babygrows for DS. Can't find any anywhere, would be really happy with secondhand ones, but (now I am back at work) don't have the time to search for them!

So go for it, 98% of people will be thrilled even more than with a 'bought' present, and as everyone else says, the ones that aren't aren't worth worrying about!

jemart · 16/12/2009 14:10

I like to recieve handmade gifts as I do alot of crafting myself and I am aware of how much time effort and often expense goes into it. By the same token I rarely actually give anyone things I have made because the automatic assumption (atleast among my relatives ) is that homemade = cheapy token gift becasue we are skint.

Bear · 16/12/2009 16:06

don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but check out Present Sense for ideas

LOL at "my family wont, but sod them, they are arses anyway"

(Never thought I'd type LOL - but I actually did)

Swipe left for the next trending thread