10 Christmas Gifts That Will Save The Recipient Money
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With the cost of living crisis we never really know how bad things might be for some of our nearest and dearest, as often people are too embarrassed to say.
Here I’ve put together a list of gifts which make great presents but should help the recipient to save money too.
1. Hot Water Bottle
There are lots of reasons a hot water bottle makes a great gift, especially in this current freezing weather that we are experiencing.
Hot water bottles can be purchased for around £5 which makes them a great stocking filler or secret Santa gift.
Even if someone already has a hot water bottle, they could use a second one for another member of their family or use two at once for different parts of their body – I’m a big fan of one for my body and one for my feet!
2. Air Fryer
An Air Fryer is a slightly more expensive gift and is probably something I would ask my parents for if they didn’t know what to get me for Christmas.
Air Fryers save money because they are much more efficient than using an oven. The space that needs to be heated is much smaller and therefore cooking times are significantly reduced.
We use our Air Fryer pretty much every day, from cooking sausages for breakfast to fish fingers and chips a teatime for our daughter. I also much prefer frozen chips and wedges cooked in the air fryer, as they come out much crispier.
3. Heated Clothes Airer
Another of the more expensive gifts on this list, but again one which could save the recipient a lot of money in the long run.
Drying clothes in winter can be tricky. A normal airer can take several days to dry and placing them on radiators can cause issues with dampness.
Tumble dryers can be very expensive to run, especially with the recent increases in energy prices.
Essentially, a heated clothes airer solves all of these issues. Clothes dry quickly, it costs a few pence an hour to run and there is no issue with your home feeling damp. The heat generated can actually help to heat the room or area the clothes dryer is in too.
Related Post: 5 Hacks To Dry Clothes Faster
4. Slow Cooker
I love my slow cooker. We use it a couple of times a week and cook everything from curries and stews to whole joints of meats in it.
Small slow cookers (suitable for cooking for 2-3 people) can be purchased for around £20 and larger models come in at around £35+.
Just like an Air Fryer, a slow cooker is very cheap to run. Even though it’s usually left on for several hours it costs less overall than running the oven or hob, even for a short amount of time.
A slow cooker is also perfect for cooking cheaper joints of meats which could mean savings on groceries too.
Simple Slow Cooker Bolognese Recipe
5. Electric Blanket
Single electric blankets can be purchased for around £20 and are lifesavers for those looking to reduce the cost of their heating bills.
A 100-watt electric blanket costs approximately 25p to run for 8 hours overnight – significantly less than having the heating on.
6. Heated throw
A heated throw works in much the same way as an electric blanket but it sits on top of you rather than being underneath.
These make an especially good gift for elderly relatives who may be sat at home for long parts of the day or those that work from home. Just like an electric blanket, electric throws are cheap to run and may temporarily negate the need to switch the heating on.
The cost is around £40 from Amazon although some energy companies have been providing these to customers for free, so it might be worth checking whether you or the intended recipient could be eligible for one.
7. Extra Blankets
You can never have enough blankets, especially during the colder winter months. Blankets can be purchased in all shapes and sizes and can be made to fit a range of budgets too.
You could even look at buying a blanket second-hand or knitting one yourself.
8. Warm Clothing
While most people do own plenty of warm clothing, you can never have too much, whether that’s clothing to wear out in the cold, or extra layers of warmth to wear around your home until the heating comes on.
Additionally, it’s pretty easy to lose some warm clothing, such as scarves and gloves. My daughter is already on her third pair of gloves this winter and you never know whether the person you’re buying for could afford to replace worn items at the moment.
Here are some ideas:
- Dressing Gown
- Slippers
- Oodie (oversized fleece hoody)
- Thermal Vests and Socks
- Hat, Scarf and Gloves Set
- New Coat
- Ear Muffs
- Fleece lined leggings
9. No Gift At All
Sometimes the best gift you can get someone is no gift at all. This means that they will feel no obligation to buy something for you and can save their money for other things.
While I know not everyone gives to receive, people can often feel guilty if they don’t return the kindness that has been shown to them.
If you don’t want to do gifts with people, it’s best to discuss this early in the season.
What To Do When You Have No Money For Christmas
10. Supermarket Gift Vouchers
Supermarket vouchers are always a winner, as the recipient can choose what they spend them on.
They could buy something they need or they could use them for a food shop if money is really tight. This could then free up cash to spend on other important bills or unexpected expenses such as car repair.
While gift vouchers might not be the best idea for high-street stores (with many going into administration in recent months) it’s unlikely any of the big four supermarkets will go bust any time soon.
