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.
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.
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.
As someone who is well off and helps a lot of people. A heartfelt note/letter.cost ya nothing.
…and lasts forever.
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.
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.
Food. Fancy treats from a store if you can afford them, or home-made candies/baked goods.
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.
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.
Any food item to contribute to appetizers/dinner. Better if it’s homemade or anything that you can say “i tried this recently and thought you would like it.”
You could make handmade artisan popcorn clusters with chocolate, peppermint candy, caramel, and maybe chilli powder sprinkled - poured - melted on them.
I don’t think you need to use fancy art supplies necessarily. Some plain paper and a black biro world probably be fine if you put time and effort into coming up with something nice and heartfelt for them. It sounds like they care about you deeply, in which case something as unique as custom art would mean a bit. Maybe a little flip animation book or something.
My wife and I usually send a little gift card to each of our numerous nieces and nephews when they graduate highschool. One of our nieces is a talented artist, and she sent back a nice little picture she made using my colored chalks on a scrap of paper as a way of saying thanks. It really made our week.
I would say bring the gift of food, like appetizers or special chocolates for everyone.
Maybe a fun party game would be cool too. This is a good game to play because the wrong ones are the best ones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telestrations (no affiliation). Cards Against Humanity can be fun, but it can also be awkward.
I think it’s ok to ask the person ahead of time if they want a certain thing. Especially if it’s like a plant, that creates responsibility for them.
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 ❤️
Origami bouquet of flowers or arrangement of animals? Alternately origami Christmas ornaments?
