I made my own DIY Christmas hampers & saved hundreds – here’s the best supermarket for the cheapest but fanciest haul

IF you are stuck for inspiration, a Christmas hamper is a great gift with a personal touch. 

But they can be pricey - a Classic Christmas hamper from Fortnum and Mason will set you back £200 and even an M&S Collection Hamper costs £55.

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As yummy as they are, you can make your own DIY version for much less simply picking your own goodies from the supermarket.

Lynsey Hope, 42, from West Malling, Kent, put together seven hampers from seven supermarkets to see which offered best value - and the yummiest treats.

She bought a from Dunelm and spent around £15 in each shop - making each hamper around £20 in total.

Here, Lynsey reveals how she got on:

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TESCO

• Finest Prosecco Brut (37.5cl): £5
• Finest Belgian Hot Chocolate Flakes: £5
• Quadruple Chocolate Cookies: £2.25
• Finest Milk Chocolate Florentines: £2.75
• Basket: £5
• TOTAL: £20

Lynsey says: ";Probably my least favourite of all the supermarket hampers.

"It was harder to fill and we couldn't get a full size bottle of Prosecco in the basket on budget.

"Tesco had some lovely festive gifts but lots of it was around a fiver.

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";The hot chocolate flakes were amazing though."

RATING: 2/5

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ASDA

• Espresso Martini Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur: £8
• Crunchy Pretzel Milk Chocolate Slab: £2.50
• Winter Blend Roast and Ground Coffee: £3
• Handmade Milk Chocolate Honeycomb: £2
• Basket: £5
• TOTAL: £20.50

Lynsey: "Not the bulkiest of hampers, but Asda did have some lovely festive items on offer.

"We loved the milk chocolate honeycomb and the crunchy pretzel chocolate slab.

"The espresso martini liqueur was absolutely delicious and made a nice change from mulled wine."

RATING: 2/5

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ALDI

• Mini Chocolate Panettone: £1.49
• Mulled Wine: £2.39
• Specially Selected Gourmet Rosemary Crackers: 89p
• Hotel Collection Lime, Basil and Mandarin Candle: £3.15
• Dairyfine Salted Caramel Gonks: £1.29
• Dairyfine Milk Chocolate Reindeer: 89p
• Specially Selected Fudge Clotted Cream: £1.79
• Specially Selected All Butter Mince Pies: £1.99
• Basket: £5
• TOTAL: £18.88

Lynsey says: "Aldi's hamper was my pick of the bunch.

"It was full to bursting and that's with a proper alcoholic bottle of mulled wine and one of the Jo Malone candle 'dupes', which smelt divine.

"The mince pies and fudge tasted as good as more expensive brands and there was a fantastic selection of festive gifts in store, so much so that it was hard to choose what to put in the hamper.

"You could easily make a special hamper for kids or teens too. And you still get change from £20."

RATING: 5/5

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M&S

• All Butter Spice Shortbread: £2.50
• 4 Rodney Reindeer Mince Pies: £3
• Let it Sloe Bucks Fizz: £4
• Classic Panettone: £3.50
• 6 Month Matured Christmas Pudding: £1.75
• Basket: £5
• TOTAL: £19.75

Lynsey says: "I was really impressed by this M&;S hamper.

"I managed to buy lots more for £15 than I'd expected including a lovely, looking bottle of Bucks Fizz.

"The mince pies were yummy and the panettone was my favourite, but all the food was delicious and it was packaged beautifully.

"I reckon anyone would love to receive this."

RATING: 4/5

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SAINSBURY'S

• By Sainsbury's Salted Espresso Martini Cocktail Box: £6.50
• Taste the Difference Mini Panettone: £3
• Taste the Difference Belgian Chocolate Shortbread Stars: £3.25
• Taste the Difference Seville Orange Marmalade: £1.80
• Basket: £5
• TOTAL: £19.55

Lynsey says: "I really liked the Sainsbury's product but it was quite hard to get this one full and in budget, especially if you wanted to add some booze.

"There was a good selection of festive alcohol in store.

"I went for this novelty Salted Espresso Martini Cocktail Box, which would be a great gift for any cocktail lovers, and it made a nice change from wine.

"The food was all delicious and good quality."

RATING: 3/5

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LIDL

• Milk chocolate Stirrers: £1.99
• Organic Tea and Infusion Selection: £2.99
• Deluxe Pigs in Blankets Crisps: £3
• Deluxe All Butter Mince Pies: £2.29
• Deluxe Mini Chocolate Panettone: £1.49
• Deluxe Non-alcoholic Mulled Punch: £1.99
• Deluxe Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Biscuits: £1.49
• Basket: £5
• TOTAL: £20.24

Lynsey says: "Lidl was such good value for money, you could have filled an even bigger basket.

"There was a good selection too.

"I liked the tea and milk chocolate stirrers and the mince pies were yummy.

"I did go slightly over the £20 budget, by 24p, as I didn't want to cut anything out.

"My only complaint with Lidl's hamper is the non-alcoholic mulled punch.

"I probably would have preferred a bottle of fizz but would have had to lose lots of the other treats to get it in budget.

";Overall though, these are great products at an incredible price."

RATING: 4/5

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MORRISONS

• The Best Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG: £9
• The Best Black Forest Shortbread Rounds: £2
• The Best Smoky Red Pepper and Chipotle Chutney: £1.75
• Pigs in Blankets Crisps: £1.35
• Basket: £5
• TOTAL: £19.10

Lynsey says: "Loved that I could get a really nice bottle of Prosecco at Morrisons for just £9 and still add a few other treats to the hamper.

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"It wasn't the bulkiest but the fizz made it look impressive.

"The crisps were padded it out and were delicious too."

RATING: 3/5

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