I like the £10 per person idea - could be fun for another year!
We've pretty much agreed no adults' Christmas prezzies this year, as we probably won't be seeing each other in person anyway. Christmas bubbles or no, my parents have said they'll feel safer not visiting/having visitors, and my Sis pointed out that the roads and service stations will be absolutely hooching 23rd, 24th, 26th and 27th with everyone doing their visiting at the same time and fewer than normal using public transport. I predict a COVID spike coming in the new year. No one in my close family is single though, so no-one will be on their own. We'll send money for our nieces and nephews (all teens or almost-teens, and they'd much rather have cash to spend). Sis and I have said that we'll aim to organise a family get-together in the summer when (hopefully) our parents will have had the COVID vaccine.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
That's a good idea, @B3. At my last workplace, we had a departmental secret Santa, about eight of us, names in a hat, pick one out and buy for that person, no-one knows who their gift is from, and the limit is £10. I went to £land, bought nine quite decent gifts, eg tights, socks, chocolates, stationery, and a snazzy carrier to put them in. I had fun wrapping them all and we all had fun watching the recipient unwrap them.
When I was young and balancing a tight budget, people would sometimes buy me useful things knowing I was hard up and I'd think "Oh, I'm glad of that, but it's a bit dull." Others would buy me frivolous treats and I'd think "It's lovely, but I can think of plenty of things I need more." So I devised a formula for choosing presents for poor people: give them something they'd have bought for themselves anyway, but give them a more classy version of it. Really indulgent biscuits, or fine soap, for instance. So it's a money saver and a treat.
My mum had a brilliant idea for my big brother's wedding present. I was 15 and still at school so I hadn't much money. Several months before the wedding, we bought a big strong shopping bag, and each week when she shopped for the family, she'd buy an extra tin or packet of something non-perishable, I'd put it in the bag (hidden in my wardrobe) and reimburse her out of my pocket money. For the last few weeks, when the bag was full, I put the money by, and while they were on honeymoon, I stocked their fridge with butter, bacon, eggs etc.
Thank you @BenCotto    those spoons will be perfect to add to a hamper of goodies for Bro and SIL ... he'll (presumably) be having chemo in the New Year ... his interest in food may not be great ... little funnies and tasty treats to put a smile on his face are the plan ... Ordered ✔
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I was usually caught out in Secret Santa because I used to wrap presents too assiduously. By year 3 I cottoned on and was using the naff wrapping from Poundland.
OH and I both have birthdays close to Xmas so decided years ago that we would do decent birthday prezzies but limit ourselves to £5 each for Xmas. That was really hard - pre Poundland - so we made it £10 and that worked fine for a few years till we moved to Belgium and, for some reason, lost that habit.  Might suggest it again for this year. Â
Same here ... OH’s birthday is just before Cmas and mine is in Jan ... recently we’ve been combining pressies and having a night or two away in foodie pub somewhere lovely on the coast in the New Year. Not going to do that this year so we’re getting each other presents ... 🤔Â
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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When I was young and balancing a tight budget, people would sometimes buy me useful things knowing I was hard up and I'd think "Oh, I'm glad of that, but it's a bit dull." Others would buy me frivolous treats and I'd think "It's lovely, but I can think of plenty of things I need more." So I devised a formula for choosing presents for poor people: give them something they'd have bought for themselves anyway, but give them a more classy version of it. Really indulgent biscuits, or fine soap, for instance. So it's a money saver and a treat.
My mum had a brilliant idea for my big brother's wedding present. I was 15 and still at school so I hadn't much money. Several months before the wedding, we bought a big strong shopping bag, and each week when she shopped for the family, she'd buy an extra tin or packet of something non-perishable, I'd put it in the bag (hidden in my wardrobe) and reimburse her out of my pocket money. For the last few weeks, when the bag was full, I put the money by, and while they were on honeymoon, I stocked their fridge with butter, bacon, eggs etc.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.