Christmas presents

Nice soap
Slipper socks
Nice wine

Actually there are loads of things. But nearly £500 doesn't seem very strict!!!

What about giving vouchers for that amount.
Saves you having to do lots of shopping and wrapping.
Can be used in January sales which will probably mean they will get more for their money.

The post office sell voucher cards that can be used a multiple outlets.

Teenagers usually like to have cash which they may be able to add to other christmas money and buy a bigger item.

I am buying vouchers for a couple of youngsters who live quite far away.
I put inside their Xmas cards.

books never go wrong for adults ,Car books ,Cookery books ,nice coffee table picture books ,I agree the kids would prefer vouchers to spend in the sales

In our family we all agreed to have a secret santa for the grownups, so I only have to buy for two smaller grandchildren and one adult present. It was just getting silly trying to think of things to buy for about your price range for lots of people we have a limit of £50 and all do a wish list online of varying value so you can look to see what people would like and only spend what you can afford.

Magazine subscriptions, National Geographic Kids for GD, Knitting one for me from DD, Family History one for DH, this way the present go on throughout the year. Can't find anything for a 4 year old, so it will have to be Lego again, not that he or his father complains ( should have taken shares in Lego 40 years ago)

The PO vouchers sound like a good idea for adults and older children. Amazon vouchers are multiple choice too. Younger children will like something tangible so depends on their interests, Lego is always popular but I have lost track of the current favourite things as my grandchildren are all grown up.

We don't bother buying for adults if we aren't seeing each other on Christmas Day. If we are then we have a limit of £5 , a bit of a challenge but usually quite amusing. We are lucky we don't need much and buy what we want when we want it. Well apart from the ⛵️and the Lamborghini ect. We have to save for a week or two for those!
Children are tricky, as you know the parents ask them, they are all so individual.

We do "Secret Santa" for the grown-ups and presents for the tinies.

The point of it all for me is being together (as far as possible)
Christmas presence over Christmas presents!

? ? ?

We don't buy presents for adults, way too difficult. Three family members have a birthday in the seven days before Christmas and they get presents then.
Children are sorted from their Amazon and Smiggle wish lists.

watermeadow
For men: films on dvd, music cd's, aftershave and toiletries, bottle of something, Baikeys, whisky, brandy , port, chocolate (men like it too!) shirt or tie,socks.
For women: any amount of toiletries to choose from, perfume, fun slippers,costume jewellery, silver ear rings,scarves, pretty ones or woolly ones.Gloves/hats, chocs,fancy tights, perfumed candles.
For children: boxes of Lego, fun bubble bath, pyjamas, slippers/slippersocks, jigsaw puzzles, games for Wii or computer ( many are under £20) books, colouring or craft items,or anything a bit novel and interesting.?

Baileys! ( Don't buy Baikeys , it's awful!)

I don't buy for adults at all, even if they will be here on the day. People as so well off now they don't need what I can afford.

I have also moved on to experiences now, in that I pay for kids to go and see the latest blockbuster kids film or for my GD a trip to a swish Santa. The memories of those things last longer than a cheap present. Helps the parents out too as it is an expensive time for them.

Teenagers like cash and everyone loves the sales.

Chocolates always go down well, especially novelty ones. I bought a chocolate chess set this year and a chocolate champagne bottle, for a man this year. Dressing up outfits for younger grandchildren, and for ladies, anything in the cosmetic line. Teenagers might prefer a money gift. Men, I think, are the hardest to cater for. Think of their hobbies . . . do they like music? CDs?

We do similar to Tanith. We will be 14 adults and 4 under 9s. We have a circle of guys and a circle of girls. Like Tanith we have a limit of £50 and each provide a wish list. We limit the children's presents to £20. So each individual spends £ 90. Or a couple £140 as children's presents go from the couple. We agree not to exchange presents for those family members not with us. ( we always buy for birthdays) Obviously we have a few friends to buy for but always agree not to spend too much.

I only buy for the grandchildren. The children pool their resources to buy for their parents and I add a small amount to that. Easier since they are at least lower teens. This came about when we realized we were all wasitng several hundred pounds on stuff nobody really wanted.
If I know one of the kids wants a bigger present (the other coin of having teenagers around...) we pitch in with the parents to make it happen. Takes a bit of talking to eachother but it makes for nicer presents...

I usually have a theme for Christmas pressants for the adults across the diffrent families. Some examples are dressing gowns, next year slippers.
In a plastic dustbin - something practical, something silly and something sweet.
Coffee and biscuits - coffee mugs and tin of biscuits.
Chocolate note/coins and wallet/purse.

When I worked in M&S a lady told me she buys a £10 voucher so the adults can have a "dine in for two' special meal with a bottle of wine in Jan when they are hard up. She offers to have the children on a sleepover that night so makes the gift a real treat for the Mums and Dads. Very thoughtful gift, and only £10 for two.

Tesco's have Champagne at £9 a bottle at the moment.
Vouchers are brilliant as you can combine them with money at the sales and get 'bang for your buck'.
Books.
Woolly bobble hats and scarves. Gloves.
Nightwear.
Nice chocolate.
Handcream.

How about doing something crafty? - knit cuddly toys for the small ones, make candles or do some glass painting or make scarves/hats for older ones and then if there's anything left over in your budget, buy vouchers for the kids. Beginners craft kits are cheap and could lead to a new hobby for you.

Most of mine want money to get what they want I just buy for little ones

Watermeadow, I think your budget of £20 per person - particularly the adults - is extremely generous. Well done. One of my gifts, where practicable, is 'IOU one lunch. Date and venue to be arranged in due course'. This has the multiple advantage of eeking out the outlay, a treat to look forward to, and the opportunity to meet up with the individual(s) personally. I know many nice venues where a lovely lunch can be had for far less than £20. One tip......put an EXPIRY date on your offer and stick to it. Amazing how this keeps the process tidy. Certainly works for me! Good luck and hope you have a lovely festive season yourself.

The Activity Superstore has various experiences for both adults and children and quite often have special offers. The vouchers last for 12 months. I'm making "cookie in a jar" for some children this year, have done it in previous years and always well received,

When we were truly poverty-stricken back in 1981 we had the best ever family Christmas - everyone mucked in and made a course for Christmas lunch, which we hosted. 2 GGPs, GM, Parents and 2 kids - 7 and 5. And everyone, including the kids, made decorations, cards and gifts for every other family member. No-one apenr more than £10 in total each, which was easily affordable.

I forgot to say most supermarkets do itune voucher cards.
Great for teenagers.
Amazon do kindle vouchers.