Unusual, quirky and fun gifts for friends and family this Christmas without breaking the bank
(11/12/2008)

Hawkin's Bazaar have come up with 10 Top Tips on buying Christmas gifts without breaking the bank.

· Plan your Christmas shopping as far as in advance as possible so you can hit the New Year, spring and summer sales, and stick to your budget for each person.

· Look for fun novelty items – they don’t have to be expensive and are memorable – as well as talking points.

· Create a hamper of gifts which you can fill with lots of smaller gifts, novelty items. Fill the hamper with silver or gold sprayed cones and leaves so they can rummage through and find the presents.

· ‘Glam-Wrap’ your presents. Create a sensation around the wrapping rather than what’s inside. Seek out your nearest florist for Perspex wrapping, bows and fill with glitter / table confetti – for the ultimate glam wrap present.

· Have a Secret Santa family Christmas – each person only buys one gift for the other family member. A budget can be set, under a tenner or under a fiver. This way excitement is also created – who can find the most fun or inspiring gift on a budget!

· Check out price matching and ensure when you buy online you are getting the best price possible. Buying online, will also save you travel and you will avoid the queues.

· Create a List of IOUs for your family and partner... I will IOU washing up or a lift to and from a party.

Gemma Morgan, Head of Purchasing at Hawkin’s Bazaar said: "The trends this Christmas are traditional and retro toys. With 300 new gifts on sale in time for Christmas and 800 items – nearly half of which you can buy for less than a fiver, you will not be disappointed with the ingenious gift ideas you will find at Hawkin’s Bazaar."

For those who want to be inspired and buy unusual, quirky and fun gifts for friends and family this Christmas, Hawkin’s is the perfect place to head for. Hawkin’s, synonymous with gifts and Christmas stockings together with the most unusual stocking fillers, offer unique toys, gifts, novelties and fashionable retro gifts, going under the banner of ‘Because Life’s Too Serious’ and ‘Things you thought had gone forever and things you never even knew existed.”

Check out the new store and enjoy the brand new range of toys and tomfoolery on sale from the Silly Monster Puppets and the new Air Guitar, to the exciting Christmas stockings brimming with an amazing array of stocking fillers to impress even the most difficult person to buy for.