I hate Christmas, I really do. I don’t talk to most of my MAGA family and I worked front-end in a post office. So in general it’s just all shite to me.
However, in the past couple months I reached out to my aunt who isn’t a diehard MAGA for help to get out of a really shitty situation. And surprisingly, she’s helped me a tonne.
Now I’m in contact with her at least every couple days and we go out for breakfast and stuff.
Now, usually I spend Xmas alone or with my partner. Don’t have a partner right now, and I find myself invited to my aunt’s for Xmas.
And I kind of feel the need to go. (I originally was going to cancel saying I’m feeling sick but have decided not to do that.)
I’d like to get them some cheap gifts despite having not a lot of money. I don’t just want to show up empty handed even if that’d be okay. I can spare a bit.
So, any ideas?
PS:
I have one idea for her, which will probably be a plant since I know she likes plants and gardening. But for the uncle and cousin+ his partner I kind of have no clue.
Under different circumstances I might do some art but I moved with very little and don’t have any art supplies which would be more expensive then the gifts at this point. So any art suggestions while appreciated are kind of out for now.
Invite them to do something with you, bonus if it’s something that’s best to do in spring or summer because that gives you time to save.
For example:
- A picnic in a beautiful outdoor space near you e.g. park, botanical gardens, etc.
- A game where you solve clues together to get to the next destination. Where I live we have a few different ones that take you around different parts of the city. (I was gifted this and really enjoyed it.)
Can you get your hands on a pencil and a piece of paper? If yes, that’s really all you need for a well-worded letter or card. If you want to get a gift, you can try and look into second-hand markets in your area, those usually have cheap things that might be nice. You can also check online markets, because with luck, you can find stuff for free. Sometimes people give away plants as well.
Of course, if you get anything second-hand, inspect the items for stuff like dirt, holes, anything broken, etc. With a plant you should check it for pests and diseases as well.
Cookies are cheap and easy
I’ve been in your situation, and had friends in your situation. So here’s my advice.
Get them nothing.
Others have suggested baked goods or something which is fine if you can bake but they know exactly where your life is right now.
Instead, write them a letter, a physical letter in ink, on a nice card or something, expressing how grateful you are for their help and you’re so happy to spend the holidays with them. It’s what I did, it’s what others did when I helped them out. It’s all that should be needed. I’m still extremely close with all of them and we now shower each other with gifts to make up for then.
Just my 5¢ (adjusted for inflation)
This is an excellent suggestion. Just sayin’ bc it would have never occurred to me.
This. I’ve helped a few people over the years and I’ve been helped too and with experience on both sides nothing is as impactful as the recognition of how much the help has improved life. A card which says something about the difficulties and how the help felt to receive can be a massive positive, more than any potted plant or simple gift. It lasts forever and is something they can come back to time and again.
Yeah! I was thinking a heartfelt card, but a letter might be even better.
Any sort of festive food: for example, chocolate, mince pies, etc. Lindor truffles are nice and a small box is affordable, or perhaps some Guylian chocolate seashells. If you know she’s into something specific (a posh marmalade or jam, for example) you could go with that instead. It demonstrates you chose something whilst thinking of them.
Such gifts are relatively affordable, easy to share and almost always appreciated.
Yesterday I made orange marmalade, I was surprised how easy it was. Two kilos of oranges yielded 3 kilos of marmalade.
Paddington would be proud.
I just shoved an orange marmalade thumbprint cookie in my face. Might need to go get a few more soon
As someone who is well off and helps a lot of people. A heartfelt note/letter.cost ya nothing.
…and lasts forever.
Food. Fancy treats from a store if you can afford them, or home-made candies/baked goods.
Bake something super easy.
Fudge and/or peppermint bark make great gifts and are both pretty easy to make for any skill level. Dress it up with a dollar store Christmas tin and bow for extra appeal.
Peanut butter fudge is even easier. Alton Brown’s method is super easy to execute.
A nice Christmas card with a handwritten personal note just saying how much you really have appreciated their kindness this past year. It doesn’t need to be detailed, just an honest and simple recognition and appreciation means a lot.
I’d lean toward making something. What depends on what youre good at/interested in.
For example, we’ve been making Christmas cards. Its just random designs on watercolor paper. Then you cut that paper out into shapes, and take some cardboard to go underneath, and glue it onto cardstock. This particular idea comes from Andrea Nelson, simple watercolor tags and cards.
The results are great, and a personally written, handmade card… Well to me that beats out most cheap gifts because it has thought and intention behind it.
You can also make ornaments (there are some great ones like a marbling paint bath for cheap wooden ornaments from craft stores, taking cheap ornaments and repainting them with more details, cheap craft ornaments and doing a chalky finish, felt and glitter, whatever) or whatever else. We do a lot of crafting and repurposing here, in case you couldn’t guess.
Maybe you could bake some bread, make cookies, a pie, etc.
You mentioned a plant - what about a cheap planter with some custom work on it?
Maybe some dining room placemats if youre good at sewing?
Mugs with the mixings for hot chocolate?
Diy air freshener with some essential oils?
It doesnt have to be a lot of money, complicated, etc to be a great gift. One year I printed up an old map of an area my parents lived in, and traced specific roads and important spots I knew about in twine on the map (with a decent bit of glue obviously, then mod podged the whole damn thing).
So, what things are you into creating? How could that be related to a gift that shows your appreciation?
A plant for the aunt sounds perfect. If the partner is a woman, a different plant for her too, yes it’s normative but as a woman myself I like a plant. For the guys a big bottle of fancy beer is often appreciated, unless they don’t/shouldn’t drink. One I’m liking these days is La Fin Du Monde because it feels like we’re living in the end of the world. It’s 750 ML, so wine-sized, but beer. About $12 at BevMo in my area.
I’ve been on both sides of this and I absolutely hate receiving gifts that are purchased.
The gifts that make my ugly cry into a pillow are handmade. Whether it’s a crocheted lap blanket, some cookies, or a card with a handwritten note, I will remember those forever.
If they know your situation, they will be riddled with guilt if you buy them anything. It sounds like you have a good person in your life and they want what’s best for you with no strings attached ❤️
Bake her a loaf of bread:
Here’s the simplest recipe possible, absolutely no kneading, 4 ingredients (I add 1 tbs of oil, softer crust, which makes 5 ingredients)…you just have to leave it to rise for 15-24 hrs, so it ain’t quick. If you want a cheese bread, add a cup of shredded cheese plus another tsp salt.
If your aunt has a garden, some native flower seeds could make a nice gift— at my local garden center they run about $1-2 per packet. Tie up a few packets with some rustic twine, and you’re good to go. If it’s in your budget, add a small hand trowel or pair of gardening gloves. Note: take a look at what gardening zone she lives in and check the seed packets to determine how the plants would fair in that area.
Something self-made is probably the way to go. Another option could be books, especially if you can come up with something that both meant a lot to you and you think would be enjoyed by the recipients. This can be quite cheap if you have secondhand bookstores nearby, and you can personalize them with a handwritten inscription.
