Hi,

Over the next couple of weeks, we're going to be talking all things Christmas. Great presents, rubbish presents... it'll all be here. So to get yourself in the mood, keep an eye on this thread!

The UKTV Style team

Hi everyone,
So today's idea is to give a lottery ticket (or two) to your friends for Xmas. It might mean you end up giving them more than just a ticket (and if they win, they might even share their winnings with you!)
What do you reckon? A good idea or a waste of cash?
Let us know now!
The UKTV Style Team

I think it's a good idea - a present that could benefit lots of people if used correctly

I used to give 5 pounds worth of lottery tickets for birthdays and christmas's to my friends and family and over the years I have lost a fortune! I have now stopped doing it as the chance of winning is almost zilch and I felt i was just throwing money away. Had I of put that money in the pot at least I would have something to show for it, as it is I am poorer than I ever was it that's possible haha....

hI ALL

I think it could be a good idea but a scratch card might be better than a lottery ticket – they look more colourful and nicer and the recipient can ‘play’ it straight away rather than wait for the draw. Also, the payouts on scratch cards are more limited and (let’s face it) if you gave someone a lottery ticket and they won big you’d be asking yourself “what if I’d kept it” for the rest of your life!
The other thing is that I only think it would make a good gift if there was at least one other present involved – otherwise statistically you’ve got a good chance of giving them nothing! You could have fun with it though – I once gave my friend three gifts wishing them ‘Good Health’ ‘Wealth’ and a ‘Long Life’. The ‘Good Health’ was a lovely bottle of port, the ‘Wealth’ was a scratch card and the ‘Long Life’ was a carton of Long Life milk! He laughed so hard that Cola came out of his nose!!!!!!!! Which was odd because he wasn’t drinking Cola at the time!

Let them buy their own!!

I have done both over the years scratch cards and lucky dips, no-one has ever won anything(not to my knowledge anyway)they are all still living in the same places

I would rather give something more personal and worth the money.

I like the EuroMillions Lottery have won more times than i lost this year, will never play national lottery again! So yes may give a Euro Millions Ticket !

I dont think it would give them a lottery ticket but i might give them something from Oxfam Unwrapped. Say for example you buy your friend a plant, the plants that you bought actually go to someone in africa that needs it and your friend gets a card telling them about it

You could buy your in-law a cow

It does depend on the person who is going to receive it but I think that it does have merit particularily if it is somebody can't get out and about much.

Neil

if you want a list of rubbish presents i'm sure i could give you a very long list i have had from 2 ex husbands over the years, most of them bought by his mother!!

I always put a scratch card inside the families xmas cards & birthday cards for friends and family, it's only £1 that I probably would have spent that day without even thinking about it on a drink and a newspaper or something along those lines.
You should feel great if they win!
If you care about someone enough to celebrate thier birthday etc in the first place and all you can afford is a card and £1 stake it says just as much as the most expensive pressie!

Merry Xmas 2'all
& 2'all a gr8 2006

p.s..........
Hope y'all have someone special 2 put a nice s'prise in ur cards!

Jacq'

My husband does the lottery every week without fail, me being "tight" careful with my hard earned cash, I put it in a jar every week. This comes in handy for presents at Xmas time. All the best for 2006 everyone.

Think it would be a great present to stick in somebody's Christmas stocking.

I think buying goats, cows or plants is a very good idea, not only does it help us to be less materialistic and selfish at this time of the year, which we are all guilty off one way or another, it helps someone a lot less fortunate to have a more sustainable future........

fantasticccccccc

Brilliaaaaaaaant idea !!

Yes, today's Christmas present is a goat for charity! Surely this is a great way to get over wasting money buying rubbish gifts? But question is... will your great aunt Gertrude appreciate it?

The UKTV Style team

My son bought me a year's subscription to the lottery as a present. Same numbers twice a week and not even a tenner!!!
Last year my grandchildren bought me a charity "Nanny" Goat which made me feel pretty good!! (Mind you I probably would have felt VERY good had the lottery numbers come up!!!!) Both are good ideas.

Buying animals for people that cannot afford to get the vet in should they become ill is not on. Also they eat more food than they produce. If it's a cow for milk the calf will have to be killed so that it doesn't drink the milk. So please give your hard earned cash to a sensible charity.

Fantastic idea,
we are all buying a goat at work rather than sending cards, we think we might be able to afford a beehive and some chickens too!
Merry Christmas!

In reply to dogfox- Buying animals for people in Africa is sensible. Goats & cows can eat grass, people can't. If it gets ill and can't be cured, they can kill it. It's not the end of the world. & far nicer than letting people starve to death.

Hi Kathy I agree they can eat grass and humans not but if grass can grow so can crops. The return from crops will be far greater in food than a goat for instance which is only food when dead unless you're thinking of milk. 2500 gallons of water is needed to produce 1 pound of meat, 25 gallons to produce 1 pound of wheat. There so many more statistics I will not bore you with. Many more charities one can give to such as HIPPO to help the third world.

I think the goats and cows are generally used for their milk.

Vegetations grows in many places that would be no use for growing crops, I would imagine the good land would be used for crops. Oxfam and the other charities that sell goats, etc, also sell seeds and trees.