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 

Product Review of Wooden Farm House Shape Sorter from The Laser Boutique

When searching for an educational toy for my Godson for Christmas 2016, I stumbled across a page on Facebook that I had been following for quite some time.The Laser Boutique specialises in a variety of wooden toys and gifts, a lot of which can be personalised too.

I read some review comments of their products before I ordered and decided that they were the UK business I wanted to support this year. I believe that when you find a decent product and great service, it’s good to tell others about it. I will put all their links at the end of my review for their Facebook, Website and toy I bought.

So let me explain what item I ordered. The gift I was after needed to be an educational toy and wooden, I believe in the joy that comes with these sorts of things, and wooden is far better than any sorts of plastics. When I spotted the Farm House Shape Sorter I knew that this was the one. It was colourful and highly detailed, perfect for learning children.

The building comes with two roof sections that can be personalised, and there are holes in the sides for the eight animals to be posted through, this will help a child with their dexterity skills. The building also has a handle so it can be easily transported and lifted. The whole toy is painted beautifully with nice details, and the animals are all smooth and anatomically correct. The nature of learning with shapes allows a child to distinguish the differences, and eventually they will learn the language skills with their parents aid, to know the names of the animals they are playing with. Wooden toys such as this encourage imagination and learning.

Overall this toy makes a wonderful gift, and hopefully one that will supply the child with years of fun and learning. Even my Godson’s older brother has been playing with it! This item has been a hit with the family right from the start, and we all agree that you cannot beat great quality wooden toys. Especially educational ones and from companies that put such a lot of effort into the personal touch too.

Final Review

Appearance
5/5
A bright and colourful appearance with this toy can be excellent for a child with their mental development of shapes and colours. it encourages imagination and is ideal for educational play from 12 months of age. Because it is has the many colours and shapes, it is appealing to young children when all the while stimulating learning.

Quality
5/5
The entire toy and its contents are well built, beautifully painted and the pieces fit together perfectly. It’s also got the safety tested sticker on the box to ensure you know the quality has been thoroughly tested before sale.

Value for Money
5/5
Personally I think it’s an excellent price for what you get, you cannot put a price on a child’s education, and when a toy is this well made, it should last a long time. Toys such as these can be used for years after the preferred age required, and are strong enough to be played with and passed down to other children. I was happy with the amount I paid and the postage for it to arrive safely.

Thank you very much for reading this review, I hope you have enjoyed it, and you will take a moment to check out The Laser Boutique website too.

Sabrina 

The Laser Boutique Website
http://the-laser-boutique.com/
The Laser Boutique – Farm House Shape Sorter
http://the-laser-boutique.com/product/farm-house-play-set-shape-sorter/
The Laser Boutique Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheLaserBoutique/