Ideal Christmas Gifts On A Budget

Christmas Gifts On A Budget

Have you been stumped by what to get a friend or loved one this Christmas?
Have you shopped around – like, really shopped around and are still stuck?
Have you ever considered making something unique?
Ever thought of a Subscription Gift?

If the answer to any of those is yes, then please keep on reading because I might just have some Christmas tricks and tips for you! And hopefully a huge array of ideas too!

What To Get For Those Who Are A Little Picky

Subscription Boxes are a great way to give a gift that keeps on giving, and for anything between £12 and £30 you can subscribe a loved one to something amazing. Some companies that I have tried also offer up deals where you to pay for three months upfront for example, and it gets delivered to the recipients home. There are also brands that do one off Christmas Boxes too, pay for a one off box and that also gets delivered through the door.

Try and think about what someone loves, and then go from there…

Here are some places that I have tried personally, and if you want to read any of my reviews on any of these then just look for the categories off my main page. There are loads more out there too, just google subscription boxes for more ideas if none of these take your fancy.

Not all of the companies below are Subscription Boxes, but some of them provide presents within presents and gift boxed items as part of their service. This saves you time this Christmas too!

Artemis and Xena – for those who enjoy meditation, positivity and relaxing boxes.
Birchbox – for makeup and cosmetics lovers!
Cherry Diva – for Jewellery lovers they have something for everyone’s tastes.
JewelCandle – Any Candle and Jewellery Lovers in the family?
Jewellery Box UK – A company who have amazing jewellery choices and great gifts.
Secret Scent Box – for people who love to try new fragrances.
Treatbox – literally a box of treats that you can either subscribe to or you can make your own unique box!

Artemis and Xena (above) are offering a special box this Christmas, it’s a 12 days advent box for £19.99. The 12 items wrapped individually in Christmas wrapping paper numbered 1 -12  These items will vary per box so that no individual will receive the exact same items making this a unique gift.

Some things you could find include: Makeup, Stationary, Skincare, Cards, Creative Activities, Nail Varnish, Organisers, Keyrings, Soap, Bath bombs, Notebooks, Planners, Postcards, Sticky Notes, Masks, Body lotion, Lipstick, Glitter, Eyeshadow, Perfume, Hair care, Temporary Tattoos, Stickers, Organic products, Local products, Nail art, bags, purses and more!

They are also offering a special Mystery Box in December. On their website it says this… “Find 5 random items in your box. Each box will be unique so you won’t receive the same box as anyone else! There are NO spoilers so it’s perfect if you love surprises!” Because these are one-off boxes there is no subscription and they make great gifts.

Mystery Box Link Available In December

Birchbox

Birchbox is usually a monthly Subscription service for makeup, cosmetics and beauty lovers. They offer some boxes for December and arriving for Christmas so it might be worth a look if you are gifting to someone who loves this stuff!

Here is their page for anyone wanting to know more about Gifting a Box for Christmas.

Birchbox Gifting Boxes

JewelCandle is a company who specialise in jewellery hidden inside candles.

You can find out all about these gifts within gifts over on their website. They have a range of flavours of Candle and also a range of jewellery types that goes in them.

JewelCandle Website

Secret Scent Box is a company based in the UK which allows the subscriber to discover new designer fragrances each month. Every box you subscribe to you will get 3 designer perfumes or colognes delivered through your letterbox from just £13! If you know someone that adores smelling good then perhaps this is a great Christmas idea for them…

Secret Scent Box Website

Treatbox – Christmas Box or Subscriptions

I am currently subscribed to Treatbox and receive a box each month through my door. They are always themed and can be literally anything! Homeware, Beauty, Edible Treats, Creative Items, Wearable Items and so much more.

In the Treatbox shop the owner also creates special boxes and one off boxes, as well as build your own too! This is worth a look at the website if you think you could be in the mood for choosing items for your loved ones to open up in a box.

Treatbox Main
Treatbox Specials
Treatbox Build Your Own

So You Have Started Christmas Shopping, But Have You Shopped Around?

So most people tend to go to the same old places year after year for their presents, they don’t try anything new. I know people who have never done a search on Amazon, or gone to their local town and searched for independent stores.
Have you ever tried looking for self employed people on Facebook as well?
I have bought things from British businesses for many years now, it’s a good deed and keeps money within our economy. You’re also helping a small business keep going and there are so many talented folk out there doing all sorts of things.

Here are some Facebook businesses that I have ordered from either this year or the past two years while I have been blogging. I recommend the service from each of them. But you’ve got to be quick, a lot close their order books at the start of December.

The Laser Boutique – Wooden Toys and Gifts – Personalised
The Crafty Giraffe – Personalised Engraved Gifts
Awesome Wooden Gifts – Now has her main page over on Etsy so check it out if you want gifts about Mushrooms, Unicorns and Magic…

Don’t be afraid to search for what you want using google and/or Facebook there are so many talented people out there. Check out some of my reviews on my categories too!

Have You Considered Making Someone A Unique Gift?

Sometimes the best thing to do, when you cannot find what you’re looking for, is to make it. You need to decide your budget and then figure out what you will spend on each item.

I once designed photo frames for friends, these days you can buy frames for as little as £1 and then all you need is some paint and added details like sequins or stickers.

I have a How To Make section on the blog too go check it out after this post!

Here are a few ideas on simple things that you could make for a friend or family member this year.  Check out the posts under my “Christmas” category as well for more Christmas gift ideas too! And check out my “Sabrina’s How To Make” category too!

Bracelets or Necklaces
Photo Frame Designs
Trinket Boxes
Memory Boxes
Candle Pots
Makeup Pots

If you have any questions about how you would make something then please get in touch. If you cannot find it already on my blog I will be making lots of gift related posts that will go up in the coming weeks, watch out for those “How To Make” pages!

Hopefully you’ve gotten some great ideas from this post, if not though don’t despair, there will be loads more of my Christmas Gift posts coming up throughout November.

 Sabrina 

Secret Scent Box from August Unboxing, Reveal and Review

On today’s blog post I am doing a first, which is the unboxing of the August Secret Scent Box. I’ve been looking forward to receiving this and to share it with you all. Thank you to Secret Scent Box for this wonderful collaboration.

Secret Scent Box 02 SW

I’ve read a lot about this new subscription box which came into the market in the Spring of 2016. Secret Scent Box works by sending a box to you once a month with three designer and branded fragrances inside. The bottle sizes are all 3ml which allow for up to 30 days of perfume between the three you receive, that is roughly four spritz a day.

Scent Box comes in perfumes ‘For Her’ and colognes ‘For Him’ and you’re guaranteed a new fragrance and designer brands to be included. Priding themselves on supplying a range of different scents so that you experience a range of types, Secret Scent Box are fast becoming a popular choice for bloggers and subscription box lovers alike.

Secret Scent Box 01 SW

I’ve been lucky enough to work with Secret Scent Box this month to bring you the contents of their August box. Not only have I photographed the subscription but there will also be a link to my vlog of this reveal too, where I give my opinion and show you the sizes of the perfumes.

There are many great things about this box, one of which is the design which features enough perfume for the month in which you receive it. Another fabulous aspect is the size of the bottles used as they are perfect for your handbag. The bottles are individually labelled and are easy to read and distinguish. Something even better is that the box fits through your letterbox so there will be no trips to collect any missed post.

Obviously a risk that you take when ordering any kind of secret subscription box is that you are unaware of the products and they might not all be what you will like. However these little perfumes would make great stocking fillers considering we are in the second half of the year fast approaching Christmas. As with everything it would be rare that you would like all of the contents, however I would wear all of the perfumes I received in this August Secret Scent Box, so luckily I am happy about that.

Secret Scent Box is all about the mystery of getting perfumes you may not have tried before. Most of us only purchase a larger scent bottle if we’ve tried it before. As we all know branded perfume isn’t cheap and most of us rely on occasions to receive a new product. By subscribing to Scent Box you can try designer fragrances for a fraction of the cost of a large bottle, and in sizes that are far more convenient to use and carry with you.

It’s an exciting concept to get something new and the way that it’s all presented in the box is professional. The fragrances are 100% authentic and the brands that can be included range from DKNY, Armani and Dior, to Paco Rabanne, Joop and Prada (to name but a few).

So what were the fragrances inside the August box? I think that you’re desperate to know, so here is the reveal for the August Scent Box.

Secret Scent Box 03 SW

Armani – Diamonds
Jimmy Choo – Illicit Flower
Vera Wang – Princess

Secret Scent Box 04 SW

The little cards contained inside are such a fabulous touch to this subscription box. It’s interesting to know what has gone into making a scent. Have you ever looked into what notes make your favourite perfumes? If you compare them I guarantee that some of the aspects will be the same, such as one of the top notes or one of the bass notes. This is a good way of working out if you’re going to like the fragrance or not even before you spray it. Something else to consider as well is spraying the perfume on both your clothing and your skin, because it often smells different between the two. Levels in your skin can effect the smell of the fragrance so it’s always worth doing both before making a decision of if you will wear it.

Secret Scent Box 06 SW

The level of detail and professionalism that Secret Scent Box undertake each month is excellent, and I can recommend this subscription if you’re into perfumes, or if you would like to try something new. You are able to cancel your subscription at any time, and payment is taken on the same date every month if you do wish to join. Each month the new box will arrive during the first few days of the month, and then you can enjoy your new fragrances for a month before the next box arrives through your door. Subscription is currently £15 a month and this includes your delivery.

Secret Scent Box 05 SWSecret Scent Box 08 SWBelow is a link to my video of the unboxing if you wish to hear my thoughts for yourself, and see the physical size of the bottles as I hold them.
https://youtu.be/c6jchOH9pic

Thanks for reading and I hope you have enjoyed this unboxing. Thank you to Secret Scent Box for this review opportunity, and for giving my readers the chance to experience this box with 15% off! Use the code SABRINA15 at the Secret Scent Box website to get yourself 15% off your first box subscription.
If you are interested in subscribing or finding out more about this box then please visit the website here http://www.secretscentbox.co.uk/

Sabrina

Secret Scent Box 09 SW
Secret Scent Box regularly update the fragrances with the latest scents, maybe 2017 could be your year to try it.