Am having to cut back on amount spent on Christmas presents this year , as a result I want to buy a gift for the family rather than individual gifts. Has anyone got any ideas for the below?

Family 1. aunt , uncle and 2 cousins ( girls aged 17 and 13 )

Family 2. step sister and hubby - 3 kids ( 6 yrs , 4 ys and 8mnths )

Wanted to get something a bit different than chocs / bisc etc but can't think where to start!!

For family one,  how about some sort of family board game, plenty about which all the family can enjoy, or one gaming station game also family games on those too.

For family two, um, still thinking................. :-D

Buy a cheap basket somewhere and do a 'Night at the Movies' hamper - a family type film on DVD, some bags of nice popcorn and pick'n'mix type sweets - perhaps?

M.

Last year I went for Oxfam unwrapped gifts for families eg goats for a family, books, a health visitor, fishing equipment etc... I was surprised how pleased people were with them (guess what they're getting again this year :-D)

LOL......
CVL....Not that I diont care about such things....but.....I would not thank anybody for a goat for a family or any similar 'gift'.
My selection of charity is where I would prefer donations to go if that was the case.
I did look at these when they first came about and gave them due consideration but decided that it was not for me.
The more  see of them the more they grate on me.
Karen :)

We, as a family brother ect have a competition re adult gifts we set a limit £5 and see what we can get. One year I got OH a hand push lawnmower off ebay, got it in bits and stuck it under the tree. Last year a flying jacket sheepskin. Ive had paint by numbers - kept me busy all boxing day plus one of those wooden frogs that you stroke his back with a stick and it goes "rivit". Daft but we know we love each other and we do do a lot throughout the year so dont need an expensive pressie, he thinks Im expensive enough.

So this year my brother & his wife have joined in, so there combined gift will be £10 or two at £5, be imaginative, go to a car boot and just have a laugh.

For kids if girls I love Bodyshop stuff, boys you really cant beat book or hmv or Game vouchers.

Or Pizza Hut and get them all a meal deal? as kids dinners out at pizza hut were the bees knees.

Make stuff, cookies, jams, sweeties.

One of OH's fav. last year was a jar of flying saucers, chewies ect.... Get the kids making fudge or toffee, I love home made bits and pieces. One of my best from about 20 years ago Mum got small tiles they stuck cork on the back and we had coasters for the bedside table still using mine now.

Its a recession so everyone will be thankful that we are still all here and kicking!

I like this idea great for families with small kids especially with a new movie or the re released Walt disney Classics, anything bar Bambi (when they shot his Mum Waahhhh!!!)

> Last year I went for Oxfam unwrapped gifts for families eg goats for a family,

I got this a couple of years ago from my sister and her family, I love goats and can't have any so I was absolutely over the moon with my goat. Hubby and kids panicked because they thought that I had actually got a goat somehow. lol

Blimey , love all these ideas!! Spoilt for choice now  :)

I'm with Lily Mc on this one. I get a large gift bag and put in the latest DVD or game, popcorn, fancy sweets and drinks. Also for the adults a 'wine night in' - a few bottles of nice wine, crackers, cheese, pickles, crisps etc. I always go for the 'best of' ranges for something a bit unusual. They are always well received and people comment on how personal they are.

As a family we really cut back on our spending as it was getting out of hand. I now really enjoy Christmas shopping on a budget as I have to really think about what I'm buying and we keep the money for holidays and treats throughout the year.

Right , have decided on the 'night in at the movies' for first family cause think its such a wonderful unique idea which each family member will love!! So thank you for that suggestion :)

Still can't think of anything for family 2 though - so any ideas would be really really appreciated!

I think the 'night in at the movies' is a great idea. You could also make individual bags of sweets for each of them and put in all their favourites. You could even ordering some retro sweet for the adults to enjoy off a website such as http://www.aquarterof.co.uk/ - bring back some memories!

> Buy a cheap basket somewhere

I bought a set of 2 in Wilko's yesterday for £10, really good quality I think people would use again for storage etc.

I'm also doing hampers this year, slowly buying things I see on offer I know the couples would like/use.  I'm really waiting for the department stores to have their special 25% off days, that normally saves me a fortune! Have also found myself trawling ebay for some things e.g. discontinued denby OH's mum has.

> family 2

how about cinema tokens? I'm sure I saw that Tesco were doing double rewards if you exchanged your clubcard points.

Oh thank you! Have been looking for suitable baskets - popping into Wilko's on Saturday :)  Have to say , this idea is so much fun. Am really enjoying finding bits and bobs to go in the hamper!

> Have to say , this idea is so much fun. Am really enjoying finding bits and bobs to go in the hamper!

Try your charity shops aswell, the cancer research one near me has some lovely candles & christmassey stuff in at the minute.

Also Fiar trade is a nice touch.