Selfsufficientish.com

OH and I have been discussing christmas earlier this evening and although she, believe it or not, is virtually all done on the prezzy side we couldn't believe how much we have spent. Although she tends to look for the bargains through the year. We have decided that next year, I know, this year isn't here yet, we will make our own gifts. One thing that came up is she could offer vouchers for cakes. She gets a lot of orders for birthday and wedding cakes.
We were wondering what other sufficientish people do.

I am making everything this year. Some aromatherapy bath thingys, some knitted bits and bobs. We always make our own cards.

From Santa we are all going to put up a stocking and hope it get filled with goodies - Santa usually brings us fruit, fairtrade chocolates and the obligitory pair of socks, I guess he will bring E a few wee toys too, but nothing fancy (she's only 15 months old and her grandparents do the spoiling )

I have gone for cheapness and home made this year. Unlless people have specifically asked for stuff that is. bargain toys for sophie, one of my brothers is into old issues of guinness book of records so i have got one old copy of that plus a really rare pub quiz book based on it, plus some "grandad" pjs from asda which he loves and i got cheap in the summer sale. the other brother has some toys and will be getting some decent pens and pencils for his graphic artworks. Jim's present came from a second hand shop; two really recent playstation games for a tenner. My l'il sis has a top (£2 from next discount store), an original abba book from when they were first famous (she's a huge abba fan) and a game which i got in the asda sale- last years xmas stock lol!
my dad collects novelty beer glasses so that's him sorted from various charity shops, my mum has two second hand dvds-played to check they're ok- Victorian Kitchen and Victorian Kitchen Garden. I actually got myself another second hand copy of the kitchen one as it's just as fab as when we used to watch it on telly lol! she's also got a second hand copy of john seymore's forgotten household crafts... my aunt's birthday pressie was cheap at asda (stuff for her allotment), her xmas is one of boot's 3 for 2 gift sets (she specifically asked for it 'cos she loves the handcream that's in it) my other aunt wants a donation to Unicef... for my sister in law I am currently making a backpack in the shape of a slug. she loves the cuddly slugs I've been making for sophie and children of jim's colleagues and so I thought, size the pattern up, whack a strap on it and there she goes. Now my little bro wants one too so I'm going to size it up even more and make him one for his birthday. all made from material I already had or have picked up in jumble sales.

This year I've spent the least ever, yet got the most for it and I'm so proud of myself!

family keep asking what I want for xmas and my birthday, I've said something home made, cash or vouchers. The only think I've asked for specifically is perfume from my mum.

This will be the third year where we have a £20 budget for each of us. I think we put much more thought into what we buy for each other trying to get the max for our £20.

It's the same for birthdays too.

us 20/30 somethings on jim's side of the family are having asecret santa. we didnt decide until recently so i asked to pick my sis in law Jules as I'd already got her slug half done. budget limit is a tenner each.

a wish list is not a bad idea.. there are some pretty practical kitcheny things i want and himself would prolly feel was unfair to buy me, but I do really want them, and this is the green light...
with a wish list you get less stuff you really dont want

we dont give presents to many people, outside of the 3 of us, we mostly only give to children, by arrangement with their parents - it suits everyone. and the 90 somethings.. who are childish about the present thing too
after that its homemade little things just for fun... bag of hm fudge.. jam etc. and thats optional.

I have bought my husband a new iron for Xmas. I bet that's a first!

We are trying really hard to not spend toooooo much this year, so lots of folks are getting sloe gin or rumtopf (lucky them!) or handknits (not so lucky, hahaha!) or homebaking from us.

DH & I are dead keen on Christmas but hate the ott commercialness & waste of it all so have put together a website with humungous quantities of info including a lot of stuff about homemade pressies, cards, sustainable wrapping ideas etc. It's got a bit out of control but it keeps us happy...

You can get to it via my blog or through my little www symbol if you fancy a look.

mrsflibble wrote: as I'd already got her slug half done.

You could have had entire slugs from me for free!

Millymollymandy wrote:I have bought my husband a new iron for Xmas. I bet that's a first!

Brilliant! Does he do your ironing, too?

Yes, and he asked for a new one! Suits me fine, new vacuum dear?

what's an iron?

Oh, I've got one stuck in the back of the cupboard somewhere.... Used to use it when I was unemployed and had to get a shirt ironed for the occasional job interview.

oh, you mean that white thing with a metal bottom? the one which is either on high heat or off?! hmmm. actually, i have no idea where ours is since we moved and i have a pile of ironing to do

My step dad gave everyone blackberry gin (home made) last year, so this year I've made sloe gin, blackberry gin, blackberry and brown sugar vodka, rhubarb schnapps and plum brandy as pressies. Bit stuck with the kids