Austerity Christmas..........

[Snadger]

BBC News - Your austerity Christmas

Deffo for next year, (alas too late for this) and I also don't want anything off anybody that isn't second hand or home made!

[Alison]

I make loads of pressies for my family and friends. This year there are a lot of hampers going on - normally just do this for aunties and uncles. For example, my brother and his wife are getting jam, pickle, damson gin, chilli dipping sauce, soap, self saved heritage seeds etc and my other brother's girlfriend has a home knitted scarf and some soap. Even did my newest Godson a cross stitch name plaque for his door. Still buy some stuff but find that a lot of people appreciate the gift of time and love over just hard cash that doesn't take the same effort.

[Jeanied]

That's such a good idea, Snadger. I think all my friends and family would prefer the home made gifts - or even the home grown, home made ones!
Lavender bags and pumpkin cake are the current favourites. Oh, and chilli jam.

[zazen999]

My Bro and SIL are getting another bottle of chili drizzle jelly and their main present this year is a 55lb sack of spuds currently in the boot of my car. I'll pop a bow on it though.

[Brengirl]

I have made a small hamper for my gran'daughters. Cake, mincepies, fudge, rhubarb chutney and homemade raspberry liqueur. Topped off with a sprig of misteltoe.

[Seahorse]

There are probably 100 pressies under our tree this year but almost everything was sourced from charity shops, sales outlets, or was homemade. We do have that great luxury, time, to find things but it really is possible to give lovely gifts that don't break the bank

[selfraising]

Most of my prezzies to family have been homemade this year. I have also wrapped all the presents in brown parcel paper and parcel labels and then decorated them myself with stencils etc. and pretty ribbon

[taff]

the harvest this year made this years presents[sweet chilli dipping sauce, green tomato chutney, piccalilli, tomato and chilli jam, quince jelly, membrillo, green tomato ginger and vanilla jam, courgette chutney] most made form recipes on here , I did buy wool though and some other stuff.

[CaroltheCarrot]

This is the first year I have actually been brave enough to give homemade gifts and I am well chuffed with the reception so far

[taff]

me too, surprising isn't it? there was a time when I would have turned my nose up if someone had given me something hand or home made

[kirsty b]

My family love getting hand/homemade pressies and are now getting right into giving them too. My mum has started making stuff now, all the kids (her grandkids) have got quilts she has made.
My sis is very good at sewing and I hvae something handmade from her this year.
Gave my sis a hamper of stuff last night and she was using one of the bath bombs within an hour of getting home. Will deffo make regularly, but the chemist always questions me when I ask for citric acid - would be an idea to buy in bulk online I think!

[Snadger]

I've heard on the grapevine that one of my daughter-in-laws has made me a Christmas cake as a prezzie. She had mentioned it to OH and wondered if it would be ok as they aint got much money.

Thats one prezzie I am really looking forward to receiving!

[binley100]

I've heard on the grapevine that one of my daughter-in-laws has made me a Christmas cake as a prezzie. She had mentioned it to OH and wondered if it would be ok as they aint got much money.

Thats one prezzie I am really looking forward to receiving!

That's real nice ....... I can remember making my Grandad a Chrissie cake one year and he loved it , I made it in School and mum had already made one for home ..

[Snadger]

Come to think of it, I am now 'on the wagon' having stopped drinking alcohol a few years ago.
I still have all my wine and beer making stuff though, in it's own special cupboard.
I was going to ditch it but maybe if I made a few bottles and brews to give away at Christmas I could renew my interst in brewing.

I once made gallons of Parsnip wine when I had a glut of parsnips. I printed special labels off 'Snadge's kick Ass' and distributed it to friends and family one christmas..........it went down a treat!

The barrels of guiness and brown ale were too handy though..........hence the reason I gave up!

[zazen999]

I've just bottled up 24 bottles of brew - rosehip, blueberry and pomegranate wine, ribena wine, and damson gin.....I've put a few into mini-bottles to give away as samplers to the family. Just the alcoholic flapjacks from the damsons from above; and the chili drizzle to make tomorrow....