Calculating Christmas

I have written a list of all the birthday and Christmas presents I need to buy between now and the end of January and then allocated either a £10, £15 or £20 or other rounded figure next to each person. I then totted up the amount it totals and we have a whopping £460 worth of gifts to buy! We haven't been over generous either in that amount so it is astonishing to see how much Christmas and birthdays can add up to.

Last year I made a lot of my presents. I made cushions and cookie ingredient jars, chutneys and jams but I don't think the recipients were that thrilled so I have given up on that idea this year.

I love hampers and the fact that they can be tailored to the person you are giving it too. Here are a few of my hamper ideas. You can go as extravagant or as thrifty as you like with each.

Fireside Film Night Hamper
Popcorn, DVD's, fluffy socks, hot chocolate set complete with marshmallows, perhaps a cheapish blanket from Ikea. Doritos and dip. Strawberry laces and sour snakes or other sweets. Fondue set.

Pamper Hamper
A basket full of luxury goodness. Body lotions, bath essences, face masks, eye mask, flannels, hair towel, slippers, robe, hair grips and hair band, body brush and exfoliating mit, bath bombs, soap, mini bottle of champagne or wine, lip balms, perfume, chocolate truffles.

Couple's Hamper
Choose a large basket or box and one half is dedicated to the male and the other is for the female. Each can have a pair of socks and some chocolate. The woman can have a nice candle and the male can have some lynx or similar. Small bottle of wine for the lady and bottle of beer/ale for the male. Mr and Mrs board game, each could have a nice scarf or pair of slippers, cufflinks and a bracelet.

Baking Hamper
Cupcake and muffin cases, icing, sprinkles, biscuit cutters, cake stand, pallet knives, flower presses, cake liners, madeleine tray, bundt tin, recipe book, recipe stand etc.

Family Night
Board games, sweets, pack of cards, domino's, uno, popcorn and crisps, DVD's, pizza vouchers.

Savoury Lover
Home made oat biscuits, crackers, home made chutney, selection of cheeses and small bottle of wine.

Green Fingers Hamper
Home made bird seed feeders, winter plant seeds, nice outdoor plant pot, mini bird house, birds of Britain book.

Ice Cream Sundae Kit - Idea from Pinterest
Check this out! Great idea for kids, or big kids! Filled with assorted sweet toppings and sprinkles, a variety of sauces and waffle cones.

The thing with hampers is you can tailor them to male or female. You can still have a male pamper hamper but full it with Gillette shaving products and lynx smellies. If you have a teenage boy you can do the Film Hamper but add lots of sweets and some funny DVD's and maybe a board game.

Also, it is very easy to overspend. Sometimes you think it might not look enough to be worthy of being called a hamper. Be careful. But what can make it look more enticing is the fact that you have gone to so much effort to source items specific to them. It's amazing what cellophane bags, cute labels and pretty ribbons can do to tease the eyes.

I have seen a lot of hampers on google images that look, quite frankly, naff. Try not to pad it out with whatever cheap tat you can find. If you have a smaller budget, invest in one or two items that will be worth while and add a couple of little extras. Leave room in the purse for a bit of nice packaging.

What do you think to hampers? Would you like to receive one?