A HAMPER can tick all the right boxes as a Christmas prezzie – but is often an expensive option to pick.
You will save plenty of money by making your own, and it is a good way to keep yourself occupied while spending more time indoors due to lockdown.
Also, it is a great way to get big gifts sorted out early.
You can buy a wicker hamper from as little as £12.99 on Amazon.co.uk, and I have plenty of ideas for tasty treats which you can use to fill it.
FESTIVE BITES: It wouldn’t be Christmas without a few festive-themed nibbles in there.
You can do it yourself for far less than many put together by supermarkets.
Pick up Tesco’s £1.50 Christmas pudding, £5 cheese selection box and £2.50 Finest mini fruit cake to start things off, and add snacks and a bottle of drink for a special touch.
CHEERS TO THAT: What is a festive hamper without a bottle of fizz? I’m a big fan of Freixenet Prosecco DOC — and the bottle looks a bit special, too. It will be perfect for gifting.
Buy a bottle for £9 at Asda, down from £12. Plus, if you stock up, you can save 25 per cent by buying six bottles.
SAVING: at least £3
CHOC STOCKED: Aldi has some fabulous chocolatey treats.
I’m obsessed with its Belgian chocolate marshmallows, and chocolate-drenched Specially Selected honeycomb, which both cost £1.79.
Similar gourmet-style hamper goodies cost £6.50 per bag on Yumbles.com.
EXTRA NIBBLES: As well as sweet treats, cheese and booze, I love a few tapas-style nibbles in a hamper. Lidl is fab for bargain bites and its cured meats are a winner.
The deluxe antipasti platter with Parma ham is just £1.99, far cheaper than those sold at Waitrose for £3.50.
If you are gifting to a vegetarian, there are pots of deluxe olives for £1.99. You can always make these look fancier by putting them in kilner-style jars.
SAVING: £1.51 on a platter
- Prices correct at time of going to press. Offers subject to availability
Deal of the day
THIS LED gaming set is super-cool, plus it is on sale for £29.99, down from £59.99 at studio.co.uk. A great gift.
SAVE: £30
Cheap treat
KFC is giving out free gravy with every order made through its mobile app until January 3. Select “add on a free regular gravy”.
SAVE: £1.29
