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I don't know about anyone else, but this year I'm trying to think of ways to give inexpensive Christmas presents as there's not much in the bank. I still want to buy 'main' presents for my closest family and partner, but it's all the other people that I end up spending a tenner or so on... a tenner here, a tenner there, it adds up so quickly. So... I bought some hyacinth bulbs and will try to get some nice pots to plant up soon and give those as gifts. I also thought of maybe making some festive biscuits or truffles or something to go in nice boxes.

  I'd appreciate any other ideas from people, I'm sure I'm not being all that creative so I await to hear what the rest of you are up to!

aldi's getting fancy wellies in on thursday, 1st november, 5.99, cheapest I've seen is a tenner in b&q...you could buy cheap plant pots and decorate them as well
my friend used to make marshmallow treats..
get different coloured marshmellows, put each one in a paper cup, dark chocolate on top and a smartie, they used to go down a bomb, they'd look nice in a home made box  ;D
no doubt there's loads more ideas out there, Jeannine told us about lovely drink mixes, hope she does it again, I've lost them  ;D

Last Christmas I gave my mother-in-law a home made hamper. I bought a large plastic box (from a cheapie store). Shredded magazine pages for packing and colour. Each time I went shopping I looked for unusual items I knew she would never buy, often I got two for one bargains. I also made some home made items and when she opened it up she was delighted. She now uses the plastic container for all her packets of biscuits and crisps for when the kids come over.

This year I'm doing the similar sort of thing, but this time I'm filling with packets of seeds (bought in sales), gloves, string, pot labels, seed trays, small pots, trowel etc etc.  :)

Lauren

if you have a printer on your computer scan in and  print off photos of people and pets important to them, cut them out and put them in one of those clip frames ever so cheap dont even need printing on photo paper, i usally put something in to work around last year i put the year printed it out in a nice font and colour cut it out and put it in the centre you can put a gift tag or similar in the centre and i also for my daughters 18th included some of that shiny confetti stuff. these are cheap easy to make and very personal just an idea

CRACKERS. For some quick and effective gift. Save your toilet roll tubes, buy some decorative paper and some of that Christmas ribbon that matches. Insert a couple of packets of seeds or a gift voucher into the cardboard tube. Cover with the paper and use the ribbon to make the ends of a cracker. Voila instant gift  ;D

Keep the boxes you get from your Christmas cards. Line the base with a piece of tissue paper. Decorate the lid with a nice piece of paper and then fill the box with home made chocolates, fudge or truffles.

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/home-made-chocolate-truffles,796,RC.html

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/hand-made-chocolates,900,RC.html

May i suggest the £! shop they have some lovely things some brand names i would think 2/3 items in a little box decorated would be rather nice.
 Also you mentioned bulbs what about planting up a pot of beautifull crocus, and putting a red or silver bow  on it wrap it like a bunch of flowers in Christmas paper & the bow tied around it will look lovely & i am sure will be very happily recieved.    What about a couple of packets of flower seeds or veggie seeds nicely wrapped with a sticky Christmas bow on.
I shant go on because i am sure more peeps will come up with ideas.
Good luck you have lots of time to look around and dress things up,i have had to do it many times for friends.  Rosebud :)

If you've saved any seeds this year you can print out pretty packets for them here:

http://theseedsite.co.uk/envelope.html

(no affiliation etc!)

I sometimes make simple bookmarks as quick and easy gifts - just plait or twist some embroidery thread and add beads at either end. Chopped up charity shop necklaces are good for this!

If you're into making your own preserves, fill the little jars that sandwich spreads come in with different types of jams/jellies/marmalades for a posh 'breakfast selection'.

HTH!

Claire

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/__121b_tkbdHWKYzuhS9nQnDlEVnB2LLXmIUgcQC48Xp8Yfco8=. have a look here.

My best pressy last year was from my big bro. He knotted everyone a key fob. If you are interested in this kind of thing I can furnish you with instructions!

A boy scout leader made me one over a pint a few years ago, its still going strong. Looked very complicated though he made it so easy and fast.

I would love to have a go, at least with decent destructions it 'might' be easier ;D

Thanks everyone so much for these ideas, great! The links are really useful, I've just printed out some of the seed packet designs to investigate. It's got me thinking all creatively, but any more ideas are really welcome! I had a thought of maybe making some jewellery, this may be harder than anticipated though!

I have a 'make your own' candles set somewhere, can't find it at the moment though, so suspect it maybe in the attic.
DD has discovered that she too has a candle making set, but we need an old saucepan!
I know mine is an easy to do one, fill a glass with sand wax and haet it up, just wish I could find it!!

I thought about the seed idea above, I have lots of packets of 'pretty' tomato seeds, so I thought I could do some envelopes and put say 5 or 10 seeds of each type in a little envelope, an idea for Dad. I mentioned it to Mum and she said he is fussy and will only grow Gardeners Delight!

I like the sweets idea, just a shame that they don't store longer.

I am now thinking about getting a photo album and printing off some photos of the children. That would go down very well, just a case of trying to find photo albums.

Any other ideas are most welcomed, I will keep my eye on this thread!

If you are thinking of decorating glasses as was mentioned earlier, Ik*a  sell boxes of glasses really cheaply. A couple of champagne glasses and some seeds in a packet inside would be different.
One just can't have enough champagne glasses don't you know!! :D

Ikea are selling tins of christmas ginger biscates for £1 and they look more expensive.

You could also make hampers with lotty stuff inc home made chutneys and pickles.

Then add retro sweets from there childhood you can get these from
http://www.retrosweets.co.uk/
http://www.retrotuckshopsweetsdirect.co.uk/
http://www.keepitsweet.co.uk/catalog/

If you have access to a printer you can make family recipie books they can use?

I think Bastins do reasonably priced photo albums

what about some house plants from fruit or veg seed such as Lemon, Orange, Lychees, Passion fruit, Avocado, Date Palms - they all make lovely houseplants and if you started them now they will/should have germinated and got going by xmas  :)

we got 4 pieces of ginger from morrison's for 39p..three of them had bumps on them so we have 3 ginger plants, apparently these make nice house plants as well  ;D

we started a ginger plant, but do you need to bury the ginger, or leave it on top of the soil?
We left it on top, but I am now wondering if I should cover it.
Cheers

I covered it, just leaving the 'bump' above, they're now shooting so they must like it  ;D

Some of the online photo sites do lovely albums and other gifts for you at amazing prices if your photos are digital. We did a lovely one for my m-i-law's 70th brthday. Have a look at Bonusprint for example;

http://www.bonusprint.co.uk/pages/photo_books_digital_prints.htm?level=2 (http://www.bonusprint.co.uk/pages/photo_books_digital_prints.htm?level=2)

I found this site for some Xmas Present Ideas, there is some cheap deals and stuff on there.

Please contact me for advertising rates !

give your name is this your site your advertising????

think so, cam   :(

Hi

I found this link on the BBC, which looks at making stuff for Personalised Christmas hampers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/christmas/essentials_presents.shtml#the_coffee_or_tea-lover's_hamper

Including

The coffee or tea-lover's hamper
Choose a variety of teas or coffees in small packets and wrap them up with a new teapot or a cafetière and perhaps some cups. Add some chocolate-covered coffee beans and homemade biscuits or biscotti.

James Martin's Homemade cranberry biscotti
Phil Vickery's Raisin biscotti
Gino D'Acampo's Amaretti biscuits

The chocolate-lover's hamper
Choose a selection of different good-quality chocolates, including anything from classic milk chocolate to innovative flavour combinations and interestingly shaped chocolates. Add some homemade chocolate cookies or muffins. You could also include a chocolate fondue set and special treats, such as shortbread and dried fruit, to dip into the melted chocolate.

Nigella Lawson's Intense chocolate cookies
Sue Lawrence's Christmas mini-muffins
Shortbread

The vegetarian hamper

Wrap up the veggie treats with a vegetarian cookbook or some seeds so they can grow their own vegetables

Choose an array of vegetarian delights such as artisan cheeses, selections of dried fruits and nuts, unusual pestos, jars of roasted vegetables, preserves and chutneys, plus some homemade oatcakes and pickled vegetables. Make sure to tell the recipient to store the hamper in a cool, dry place before opening. Wrap up the veggie treats with a vegetarian cookbook or some seeds so they can grow their own vegetables. If your recipient is an organic food-lover then make the hamper extra special by using all organic products and ingredients.

Pickled pears or peaches
Mrs Beeton's Pickled beetroot
Keith Floyd's Green tomato chutney
Lemon curd

The spice-lover's hamper
Display a range of Christmas-inspired spices such as cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg, in attractive spice jars. For an added touch, wrap the spices up with a spice rack or pestle and mortar. Include some homemade spiced biscuits, chutney or vanilla-infused sugar. You can include your own homemade mulled wine, resealed with a cork, and labelled with the recipient's name, for some Christmas cheer.

Antony Worrall Thompson's Spiced oat biscuits
Nigella Lawson's Christmas chutney
James Martin's Vanilla sugar
Mulled wine

The gluten-free hamper
For those with a gluten intolerance, surprise them with a range of gluten-free goodies. Include a selection of gluten-free cakes, biscuits and preserves. Try making some homemade delights, but keep in mind that some may only last for a few days. You could also add an inspiring gluten-free cookbook.

Darina Allen and Rosemary Kearney's Blueberry muffins
Darina Allen and Rosemary Kearney's Brownies
Michelle Berriedale-Johnson's Christmas pudding


The deli-lover's hamper
Choose a selection of artisan cheeses, jars of marinated vegetables and olives, cured sausages and good-quality flavoured olive oil. Make sure to tell the recipient to store the hamper in a cool, dry place before opening. To make it extra-special include a wooden board or attractive serving plate to display the deli treats. Include some homemade chutney and savoury biscuits.

Pinki Sharma's Pumpkin and apple chutney
Rick Stein's Parmesan biscuits
Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi's Preserved courgettes
Rick Stein's Piccalilli

The British speciality hamper
Choose a range of British delights, where possible sourcing local ingredients, including speciality cheese, homemade seasonal jams and chutneys and homemade festive drinks. Make sure to tell the recipient to store the hamper in a cool, dry place before opening.

Gerard Baker's Sloe gin
Bramble jelly
Mrs Beeton's Carrot jam
Simon Rimmer's Pumpkin pickle

The cheese-lover's hamper
Many cheeses come in small sizes which are ideal for this type of present. Choose a selection of four or five and partner them with some good chutneys, marmalades, pickled onions and unusual cheese biscuits. You could also add a wooden cheese board or a cheese knife. Don't forget to tell the recipient to store the hamper in a cool, dry place before opening.

Pickled onions
Eliza Acton's Quince marmalade
Roxy Beaujolais's Onion marmalade
James Martin's Oatcakes

If this does not provide you with ideas for this year then you might want to book mark for next year :)

Cambourne7

We havve been having budget Christmas's for a while - deliberately to make the whole family think about what others might like rather than buying an expensive gift.

In previous years I have started windowsill herb collections for the cooks in the family from cuttings of sage, rosemary, thyme and also started some soft herbs off like basil (from seed pads). In little terracotta pots (bought cheaply), placed in a big enough terracotta trough and decorated - these look lovely on the kitchen windowsill. They do need a bit of planning though.

I also cheekily have got people some "experiences". For example for one of the younger members of the family who wanted to work with animals particularly exotics I got them a days work experience at a local Zoo. Just cost me the time to arrange. So in comparison with a "walking with wolves" experience costing around £60 then was good value.

Some of the better gifts I have received have been when people have thought about what my interests really are. I have gotten really old gardening books (pre 2nd world war) bought for pennies at jumble sales but brilliant reading.

Yes i think i will be having a simlar 'budget' christmas :)

Fortunalty what my hubbie really really wants is out of stock so he cant have it :)

I alway get the OH a pair of slippers and a vibrator. Then if she does not like the slippers she can go and...... The rest of the answer you will find somewhere in the watershed.

oh dear ace, i would have though that you would have included batterys :)