Any great ideas for Money Saving Xmas Presents?

[robbierotten]

Message withdrawn

I am also trying desperately to save money this year.

We are buying 75% of our presents from the car boot or charity shops (car boot is cheaper). We've got LOADS of games and puzzles with the celophane still on them for next to nothing, literally pennies. I've bought really good nic books for pennies for little children and a pair of gloves for about 50p. How much do you want to spend per child?

I made chutney last year which hardly cost anything and used old jam jars. Easiest thing in the world to do, sling all chopped ingredients into a pan, turn on heat, return to settee for about an hour, pour into jars. Google some recipes. Also, make shortbread which is seriously cheap. Put the children's or recipient's initials on or something? We did painted flower pots with sweets in and celophane and ribbons. They cost next to nothing too.

For friends I'm doing a cinema at home, cheap old fave dvd (bootsale £1), packet of popcorn and a special offer bottle of vino, all in a box with shredded paper around it. Good enough per couple and a bit of fun.

We've made bracelets for teachers out of pipe cleaners and glitter. It is deffo the sentiment they like the most.

We also did paper plate calendars. The children painted the paper plates and I printed a photo of them and stuck it to the finished artwork. The little calendars were 10p each. Who doesn't love them?!

Good luck and will look forward to all other ideas!

my dad likes art work so last year i got a canvas out of the works think it was about £4 and put loads of paint on the kitchen table spread it about a bit let her draw pictures with her fingers then press on the canvas (might want to try with a bit of paper first) he loved it now on has wall with all his posh stuff.

voucher saying you will babysit?

You don't need to buy a present for teachers and nursery staff. You can show your appreciation in words with a heartfelt thank you. Or get your DC to make cards. I will be honest and tell you that as a teacher, many of the gifts he is given are passed straight to the charity shop or the bin. Not from ingratitude, but neither of us needs a ton of 'best teacher in the world' corporate tat, and whilst the homemade handprint of the child type things are lovely, we have our own child and would rather see his handprints and handiwork all over the house. He hates chocolate and red wine (why is it never white?) But he keeps the cards with the lovely thank you messages because he is a soppy git

just posting to come back to this thread later

I haven't actually tried them out yet but Dunelm have "print your own photo calendars" for 99p. Comes with 12 pieces of photo paper so you can have a different picture on each page. Perfect for Grandparents.