Breakfast bags!!
The 'Breakfast Bag' came about because the kids just wanted money for Christmas, Jeff and I didn't want anything! We didn't want to waste money just buying things to have under the tree to open, which then often went to the charity shop further down the line and no one needed the stress of trying to think of what to buy for each other just for the sake of it!.
So, we decided to do things a little different 4/5 years ago. We draw a category out of a hat and each person spends no more than £10 a person, including a gift for themselves, so in our household of 4, a £40 a round spend! We then wrap each round of gifts in the same paper, open together, starting at 'breakfast time' hence the name.
And it all kicks off around the table at 'Breakfast' time !
Someone chooses something to open, we all find the gift in the corresponding paper and open it all at the same time. It makes it fun to guess who had to buy each round!
This year's categories were -
Jeff - drink & alcohol
Me - toiletries
Sophie - socks & accessories
Sam - food and chocolate
Jeff - drink & alcohol
Me - toiletries
Sophie - socks & accessories
Sam - food and chocolate
Jeff had drinks
I had toiletries
Sophie had socks....
...and Sam had food and chocolate.
Jeff always does an extra plant round....
....and a book round!
Sophie did an extra round - a diffuser each.
The idea really, is to only buy things that we either want or will use!!
I always then do a few extra rounds but again, it's only things I know they want, need or have hinted at and they don't cost a lot of money.
Spanish round
Scratchcards
A jar of.....
...wrapped up in a teatowel!
A diary/planner/calendar round!
I did buy myself a yearly planner but couldn't wait to fill it in!!
So self gifted myself a new address book instead!
A mug round!
Razors (needed but expensive!!)
A bag round!
And a 'something you didn't know you needed' round!!
So a lovely selection of gifts, that didn't cost masses. Sam only had to spend £10 on me, Sophie chose to do the extra round, so only a £20 spend! No waste, nothing to take to the charity shop and no stress, trying to think of what to buy!
Sophie and Sam usually only want money, so this way they get money as their main gift
and have a few things to open on the day. However, this year, they did both ask for a few specific things too, which they opened later in the evening.
Nutribullet, knife block and special cream for Sophie
Lego, a camping stove and good sharp knife for Sam
We then have a fun activity to do between Christmas dinner and pudding!
This year it was Lego!
So a really great Christmas!
No waste, no big spend!, no unwanted gifts, no stress!
Just things that we want, need, will use x
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