Homemade Gifts, Marian Roche

There's no doubt that the threat of a cash-poor-Christmas hangs over us and we are unnerved. Let's be honest, we've been spoiled. It's been a while since the Irish adult had to deal with Christmas presents – recession-style. The damn kids have no need to worry. Santa tends to be recession proof; it's the grownups that we should be concerned about. Imagine their sad little faces if the standard of gift nosedives and devolves into toiletry sets from Lidl. It's an unsettling thought.


However some people are actually welcoming a return to a simpler experience of Christmas – one that is less flash and more thoughtful. It's up to you this festive season. You can ignore George Lee and shop till you drop, or take the initiative and create your own gifts. You may choose to give to charity, or not to give presents at all. But no matter what happens, it will still be Christmas.


And look on the bright side; if the worst happens and we have to revert to a Reeling in the Years Christmas, just remember Switzer's window and you'll realise there was magic back then too.


Homemade Gifts


Marian Roche


management accountant


I always used to make things when I was younger – jewellery and stuff like that – as presents for my cousins and my friends but I suppose I got out of the habit. You tend to start buying people a Brown Thomas voucher just because it's convenient and easy.


But last Christmas, I decided that I'd had enough of that. I thought those presents have no meaning really, it's just money. So I decided I'd start doing some crafting again and give them as presents.


At Christmas you have to give so many presents. I'd give hats and scarves because it's just easier to do three of one type of scarf or hat than to do loads of different types.


There's definitely more of an interest in crafts this year. I've had a few people contacting me to look for ideas and patterns. I think everyone is coming around to the idea of crafts for Christmas and there's a big push on the internet to buy handmade. The website buyhandmade.org is really popular. You can decide all your presents this Christmas will be handmade, whether you buy them handmade or you make them yourself or whatever.


Of course it's a recession, and if you're looking for nice cheap presents like pyjamas or things like that, you can find them in shops like Penney's and they're lovely presents, but there's no guarantee that they're made ethically. You just don't have that same knowledge you have when they're made from scratch. You can't pinpoint who actually did make it.


Handmade cards are absolutely simple, as is crochet or knitting. What I found brilliant for learning crochet or knitting was YouTube. There are videos on YouTube showing you how to knit, and it's very, very simple. You'd have it picked up on a rainy Saturday in a half hour. Other than that, handmade edible presents are simple, like jam or sweets. A friend of mine makes red-onion marmalade and chutneys. She's not a professional cook; she just makes them at home and jars them up and gives them out at Christmas. So there are plenty of ideas out there and for anyone who is conscious of being ethical, then handmade presents are a brilliant idea.


But there are always going to be people who like branded stuff and if it's not branded they've no interest in it. I'm sure a lot of those people are probably going to New York this week or next, to stock up on the discounted labels stuff, but I do think in times of recession there's a sense of people appreciating things that are organic and homemade.


Marian's Craft Blog can be found on www.mademarian.net


big spender


Michael Minogue


post graduate


I love the build up to Christmas. I went over to New York the last couple of Christmases to get the latest iPod or whatever, but I think there was probably better value back then with the dollar, so I'm not going to bother this year.


I've already started my Christmas shopping. I got my mom a Kitchenaid Artisan Espresso Maker. It was like €700. There's no Christmas Day surprise to spoil though – she knows what she's getting because it's already in her kitchen. I couldn't wait to try it out.


I've also just got a new Nokia 96 for myself to replace my iPhone that I got last year just because it's 3G enabled. You have to move with the technology. And I'll be buying a few Christmas fancies – you know, clothes-wise, Thomas Pink shirts and the like, stuff to get you through the year.


From about mid-November, when the lights go on, I get into the Christmas spirit and start shopping. The sales in January are great but it's an anti climax at that point and you want to get your family and friends nice gifts for Christmas Day. Maybe they'll call you crazy for spending too much but you know, when it's for people that are important to you, then you don't mind spending the cash.


The shopping buzz is great. You walk into the stores and they are a showcase for Christmas. The perfume on the counter, the box sets, the gift packages. I'm a sucker for packaging. It's like a two-year old when you get them a gift; they get so much enjoyment from the box, even more than with the toy inside. I guess I'm the same.


I'll definitely miss the New York shopping experience this year; the stores are fantastic. You come out with a goodie bag for yourself as well as getting a present for someone else.


I spend money at Christmas and enjoy spending it because I don't have a mortgage and I'm not affected by negative equity. So I'm probably in the demographic that has a disposable income. There are plenty of people at the moment with worries to do with the recession but you'd have to have a good reason not to buy gifts for Christmas. But I guess some people do have a reason.


For me though, Christmas is Christmas; I don't think the recession is going to affect my spending habits, especially living and studying in Belfast. There's better value up here. The way I look at it is, maybe things are going to get worse, so I'm willing to spend this year and worry about next Christmas, next Christmas.


not buying any gifts


Carol Quinlan


dental hygienist


I absolutely, one hundred percent, won't be spending this Christmas like I would have done in the past. Let's just say I'll be a lot more careful what I spend my money on and won't be splashing out on expensive presents. Why would I spend lots of money on a gift that may or may not be liked by somebody with the recession in full swing? I'd rather give it to a good cause.


Anyway, for me Christmas is a time for family and friends. It's about getting everybody in the one place and people dropping by; not about the big gift. That's what my mother instilled in me. My parents and husband don't expect, or want, anything this year; maybe a token gesture, but that's it.


There's a huge amount of pressure on people, whether there's a recession or not, to give all these lavish gifts. To be honest I'm the type of person who would wonder why you are spending so much on Christmas when, two days later, you can get the item for half the price in the sales.


Don't get me wrong – in better times I would have spent lots of money on all the finer things in life. I loved my luxuries and wouldn't have thought twice about buying designer jeans and a pricey top, or expensive treats for my family, but this Christmas I'm much more cautious about cash. I'm looking at what I have, as opposed to what I don't have.


The recession is a reality check. I'm self employed and if a patient doesn't come in then I don't get paid. In these times, you start to think, do I have enough money to pay the mortgage? Have I put enough money by for the times when I'm not working?


I think there are a lot of people who will share my stance. You just aren't going to go out and spend crazy unnecessary money when you don't know what your financial situation is going to be like after Christmas. I don't think I'm a scrooge for cutting back this Christmas, I'm just being forced to be sensible. We're in a recession. There is so much more at stake than simply being seen to give impressive gifts.


charity gifts


Celine Dee


client services director


I think that people will be much more measured and for the first time in many years put budgets in place. We've all been guilty of developing lists of gifts for loved ones, then being swayed on the shop floor and spending much more than what we had planned. But I think this year people will stick quite rigidly to what they'll spend and look at ways to get more bang for their buck.


In terms of myself, I'll be making donations in lieu of gifts. Last year I volunteered in South Africa with a wonderful NGO called Home from Home (www.homefromhome.org.za). In South Africa, 28,500 children are abandoned each year and many of them have HIV. Home From Home sets up foster homes in the townships around Cape Town to care for these abandoned children. When I worked with the NGO in the largest informal settlement, Khayalitsha, I realised how incredibly lucky I am and I also started to understand the ridiculous amounts of money I squander on gifts that are often not needed and sometimes not wanted.


Because money goes so far in these under-privileged communities – €20 can keep a child alive for a month – I decided to use the cash intended for my Christmas shopping to buy necessities for the Home from Home charity. So the charity's founders compiled a list of what was needed, which included paving around the houses, basic household necessities and school uniforms for the little ones whose school year starts in January. I bought what they required, had everything photographed, including the many happy children, and placed the pictures in Christmas cards. I am lucky to have a connection directly to the charity so I know that 100% of what I donate is being put to good use.


I just think that it's important to acknowledge that there's need all around us, in Dublin, in Ireland, and throughout the world, and those of us who can give, no matter how small, should.


I know the recession is hitting every sector and it's inevitable if consumer spending is down that charities will be affected. But what's required is a change in mindset – instead of buying expensive gifts and donating money on top of this, substituting one or two regular gifts for ethical gifts would protect charities and the less well off from losing out because of the recession.