I’ve thought a little more about this, WhyNot, and I think you first need to look at this different. In your OP, you sound (understandably, because being poor does suck) hopeless at not being able to buy “real” gifts in a store.
Instead, you should look at it and say “What can I give that can’t be bought with money?” You mention a sewing machine, but not your skill level. If you are average or beyond, or are otherwise good at crafts, anything custom-made for the teens hobby or sport is wonderful. I know that in many sports and some hobbies, I could need a custom-made thingie for my special needs. I can’t buy them in the normal shop, and getting them custom-made in a tailor shop or similar would cost hundreds of dollars. Only very rich and very poor (but crafty) people still have handmade things…
Note that I’m not thinking of a suit or a dress - not only would you need tailor-level of skill, the cloth itself is quite expensive. But a bag or rucksack with all the compartments and dimensions that the wearer specifiys, or a tool belt specially for his tools (and on his birthday, he gets a screwdriver size 8, next year size 10, etc, till the belt is full, or his relatives participate) … nobody else will have that.
Sometimes, teens are embarrassed to spend time with their parents, but Uncle Joe who live 6 hrs. away is so cool, he would love to spend a weekend talking seriously/ having a big adventure with him. So you offer to cook a special Dinner for Uncle Joe, and drive the teen, and Uncle joe spends a special weekend with the teen. (As example).
One more thing, WhyNot. If you don’t have the money to buy gifts, neither will the WhyBoy, and he might feel bad about not being able to give you, his dad or his kid sister some gift. Maybe you can talk to them about how he could solve the problem by giving you something immaterial you would want?
Talked with my SO about this yesterday over breakfast, and we agreed that a dollar store trip is in store for the younger one so she can do her Christmas shopping for her brother, my SO and me without breaking the bank. She’s making ornaments with her picture in them for her dad and grandparents and aunts and uncles. My ex already took her shopping (with his money) for something for her cousin, so she’s set.
I’ve suggested to my son that a night of cooking dinner and taking his little sister to his friend’s house for a sleepover (said friend also has a little sibling about her age) would be a wonderful gift for my SO and I AND his little sister, all in one. A grown-up dinner date for us and a sleepover with her little friend for her! He liked the idea, and suggested that he pick us up a dollar movie rental on his way home from school, make dinner and the little one can help set the table and such before they leave, so the gift is from both of them. Isn’t that sweet?! My kids rock. He’s also planning on gifting his grandmothers with some house/yardwork that he’d normally get paid for, so he’s got things under control, too.
Very wise of you to mention it, though. It’s very important to me that kids learn that giving presents is just as fun as getting them.
And…and…the lawyers said this morning that the deal might be done by Friday! :smack: My breath, I’m not holding it.
I just thought of one I did when I was broke. I took old family pictures and bought some cheap “photo funnies” (those little stick on sayings and stuff) and made my daughter a “here’s your life” photo album, she was about 16 at the time. I was afraid it would be really lame, but I made it anyway. Turns out, she really cherished it, it was her favorite gift that year. She’s 31 now, but still has it and loves it.
Since the butter toffee came up earlier in this thread…
I’ve suddenly gotten the confectionery bug, and a couple of nights ago I tried to make toffee myself. I’ve had lots of cooked sugar disasters in the past, but I guess I’m older or wiser or something now, because it worked! The toffee was delicious. I’m all fired up to try nougat, marshmallows, Turkish delight, and all kinds of other things, now.
One observation though: I think a 3:4 ratio of butter to sugar might be better than 1:1. I used 1:1, at the advice of many many toffee recipes, and it came out greasy to the touch. YMMV.
Last night I got a Williams-Sonoma catalogue in the mail. They will sell you a pound of butter toffee for $29.95! Since I just made a pound for about, oh, $3, I laughed my ass off. I am on top of the world. Next: the $26.50 pound of peppermint bark…
The year I turned 16 was a really rough year in our household. While I am pretty sure I got something for Christmas, I am sure it was small. The real present was that I was allowed to help make Christmas for my little sisters. I made Barbie furniture for the other a stuffed animal. I also organized my sisters to get the tree up.
My mom taking me into her confidence was a recognition of my almost adult status that has was the best present I ever got.
Marshmallows: incredibly easy. Add some peppermint extract, then dip in dark chocolate – Omigod.
Truffles - super easy
Caramel - defeated me utterly, after 4 tries, some too hard, some too soft, I just gave up.
Never tried nougat. IMHO, candies that must come to a very specific temperature or are sensitive to humidity are challenging. The ones that don’t have this characteristic are fairly easy.
yes, it is a bit damp and buttery but I think that’s the way it has to be to come up from the pan you pour it into.
Yeah, seriously that sort of thing makes me feel deliciously superior.
I lined my pan with parchment paper before I poured it out, and there was no trouble with it coming up. I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to experiment again. Alas, this weekend I’m tied up with the annual Christmas cookie bake-off.
Nougat sounds extremely fiddly. Divinity fudge sounds like the training-wheels version of it; I’m going to make that my next experiment.
