Well, Christmas is stealthily approaching. I have noticed some shiny stuff in my local Reject Shop that would normally be in my budget, however this year I am broke...Like really broke. Like 'using newspaper to wipe my ass' and 'eating tuna and crackers and stealing vegetables from my neighbours garden' broke. I considered visiting fiverr.com to donate sperm to raise some $, but that idea is fraught with hazards of the logistical, ethical and legal variety.
So, I have decided that I am going to 'make' my Christmas presents, starting with the obligatory Christmas card that I am obliged to send people.
What do others think of home made cards and presents? Would you be insulted if anyone aside from a 4 year old made and gave you a gift? What is something that you been given that has proved to be a great gift and obviously home made or cost phuckall?
I wouldn't be insulted at all. To be honest, it could even be better. It really is the thought that counts, and going to the effort of making something is better than the 20bucks I give my brother, which he quickly gives back to me
. (Ahh the art of giving).
As long as it isn't a half arsed attempt that will be thrown away/break/useless.
Semi-homemade stuff that I have been given and love are photo things. A super cheap frame/not too hard to make yourself, with a blown up photo/a collage of photos (super cheap to get printed, especially when there are deals on) is great for family/friends.
The difference between being a cheapskate and being a crafty legend is personalisation.
Once gave a girlfriends brother 12 empty king brown bottles. They were sterilised and had a label which was made from a drawing his daughter had made and glued to bottle with clag. Absolute winner and got six bottles back full.
As for cards, get funny photo of your dog wearing novelty antlers. Make template card in word and write a personalised greeting on each card and save as pdf that if required can be easily printed. Send pdf to friends/family with covering email that you are having a "green" christmas and you have saved yourself printing and mailing costs.
The key is personalised. Generic will end you up with the cheapskate label.
Oh and baking stuff never fails.
Homegrownbaked is always better than the stuff you buy in , er, shops.
Honestly if a mate baked me a cake I'd be well happy. I also don't think I'd forget it. Do you even remember what you got last year?
Thankyou for the replies
. I don't have a dog/cat, however my neighbour has some mini-horses, calves and a couple of Llamas at the minute so maybe I could arrange a photoshoot. A friend suggested making Christmas cakes sans alcohol (fark good liqueur is expensive) but I still have to do the maths.
Thankyou for the ideas so far and keep 'em coming.
Last year I received books and CD's
We make all sorts of relish's, jams, pastes, tom sauce,bbq sauce etc from our garden throughout the year and often give them as gifts and people are / seem thrilled. We sometimes even make a personalised label and glue them on for extra points. Well thought out presents rock. People always give us back food stuff as they know how much we enjoy all things food. Homemade cards are all we do these days - the fiancé is pretty creative with the camera and we just print her abstract shots then glu them onto cards....sure beats spending $5 bucks on a crap one!
Post some of your efforts!
I've never sent an xmas card in my life, and people still talk to me.
Maybe save them money from them and get those who really deserve it a custom present from fiverr?
Otherwise I'd recommend a letter. Good old fashioned 3 page snail mail, cost under a dollar, and getting increasingly valuable in this email world.
Go to Vistaprint.com, you can get personalized mugs,calenders,stationary and other stuff. A lot of it is free you only pay postage.
^^^ Or Snapfish? Although if the Hamsta can't afford a chrissy card, probably not interested in printing.
Go the homemade goods - sauces, relishes, conserves/preserves etc. Catch some fish/seafood & put together a platter.
Re; Panda's comment re; mate baking me a cake - I'd obviously accept it, but with one eyebrow raised!
If your friends and family know your financial situation surely they won't be offended by cheap / homemade gifts?
You can also do the 'voucher' system - ie give someone a voucher for you to mow their lawn, or clean their pool, or babysit while they enjoy an adults night out, or whatever other talents you have to offer.
What about second hand clothing?
The second or third time I met the mum inlaw she asked me to try on this jacket that she had hanging in the wardrobe,it was a bit tight around the shoulders and looked .....cheap, so I politely said it didn't quite fit.
8 months later she gave it to me for Xmas ,forgetting that I'd already knocked it back..
So I accepted it with thanks and continue to remind the wife to this day
: Can Bulls without horns still kick arse (or rather my arse)?
: Can Bulls without horns still kick arse (or rather my arse)?
Photoshop I will. Thanks FormulaNova, I felt like a bit of a wuss for not at least attempting to get in there and get a photo. I kept thinking that he may have been as gentle as a Lamb
For the ladies, you can buy cheap glass bottles and aromatherapy oils in $2 shops, a bag of rock salt and food colouring in the grocery store and make bath salts. Or instead of buying the bottles you can rinse out pasta sauce bottles and tie a ribbon around the lid.
Buy a bottle of pitted olives, drain, chop up a chilli, garlic and rosemary then put it all back in the bottle, fill with olive oil and let sit for a few days.
I severely dislike the commercial nature of Christmas. I would be a whole lot happier if I got nothing but homemade presents from everyone forever, let alone the 4 year olds. I'm trying to promote the idea at home of one half decent pressie per person at Christmas, and one at birthday, which is all I got as a kid.
