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Special Occasions & Other Celebrations Index
What, Why & Welcome: The Special Occasions and Other Celebrations The Gift Basket and Hampers Index Valentine's FiVersMSE Official Free Christmas Gift Cheques Thread [The following additional links have been added by the Forum Team.] Relevant content from MoneySavingExpert.com * Birthday freebies * Free ideas to celebrate…
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Not dropping Santa down the chimney!: The 2024 Santa, Shoebox & Life Challenge. Everyone welcome....
Welcome to the shiny new thread which has a slightly different title and I have just updated the date! Now 2024 Santa's Challenge was set up by Mum2one some years ago but sadly she hasn't posted on this forum for a couple of years, so now we are on our own. We remember her, her Mum and daughter with fondness and hope that…
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Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - it's the 2024 Christmas chatter thread!
Hello and welcome to the 2024 Christmas chatter thread! I honestly cannot believe it's now 2024, time really does fly! If you're new to the thread please pop in for a natter, pull up a chair by the fire and get yourself a hot chocolate - we all love Christmas but are also here to chat about anything else going on in our…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I tell my daughter she needn't have me over next Christmas?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... Since my husband died, I've spent Christmases with one of my daughters and her family. This year, she said several times how expensive hosting is now, and I felt she'd rather just have been with her husband and kids. Should I volunteer to stay at home on my own next year to…
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30th Birthday Present Ideas?
Hi there. A work colleague is turning 30 very soon and our manager is organising a collection for her. There will be 7 people in our department contributing (she may ask some people in other departments as it’s quite a big company). She has also said if we have any ideas for a gift to please let her know. Does anyone have…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I have got my wife a second Christmas gift, as her first one was free?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... I got my wife a reasonably expensive coat for Christmas, from a well-known department store. I submitted my loyalty card when paying, and was told that I had nothing to pay - the loyalty scheme gives one customer their purchase for free every week in each store. But as I got…
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Pre paid debit card as a gift
Hi. We wish to get a pre paid debit card as a gift for an elderly parent. It should be for general use. I have done some research but still not sure how to go about it. Has anyone get experience? Thanks
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Jingle All The Way - It's the 2023 Christmas Chatter Thread!
Hello and welcome to the 2023 Christmas chatter thread! I'm a little late in setting it up this year but it's here and and ready to talk all things Christmas and not Christmas! If you're new to the thread please pop in for a natter, we all love Christmas but are also here to chat about anything else going on in our lives…
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Recommendations for birthday hamper gifts?
I'm looking for a birthday food (& maybe wine) hamper gift in the £40-60 range. I've found that alot of hampers I've bought in the past have had disappointingly little content. Can anyone recommend a good site for this sort of gift?
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Christmas Card Etiquette
Hi - a bit late for this year - but... I like sending cards - some handmade - but am also mindful not to just keep sending regardless - currently do about 70 and get 40+ back (but some are to kiddies or older folk that I don't expect a return card from). I was wondering what is the way of handling some people that now…
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Tiny Budget Christmas (Gifts excluded)
We've had a couple of situations come up and now have to do Christmas on a tight budget. Luckily, we have the majority of our gifts sorted already. However, the problem lies with the rest—food, decorations, festive fun, activities, etc. I am still figuring out where to start, and I'd like some advice or tips on how to make…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Keeping presents fair
When buying gifts for your children for Christmas, how do you keep it fair? I try to see it from their perspective. If they notice an obvious discrepancy in the quantity or value of what they got compared to their siblings, they may have a point, so I try to keep it fair through their eyes. Their mum looks at the bottom…
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Wrapping presents sustainably & cheaply 🎁
MSE Rhiannon's blog gives some ideas about wrapping presents for Christmas (or any other special occasion): Wrapping presents sustainably - how to reuse or recycle paper and fabric to save money and help the environment It includes: * Top tips on how to reuse wrapping paper * When is wrapping 'paper' not recyclable? * The…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should we give our children from other relationships gifts of the same value?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My partner and I both have adult children from previous relationships. We got together three years ago, and historically we've spent different amounts on our children, with him giving more to his kids than I do to mine. We've been discussing whether we should make things…
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MoneySaving Father's Day gift ideas
Do you have any ideas for cheap or free Father's Day gift ideas? Can you suggest an activity, a DIY present, a low-cost item or a homemade card? Do you have any anecdotes about something tried, tested and successful? Let's hear it. Thanks. ✉️ 🎁 ✉️ 🎁 ✉️
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Electronic Greeting Cards or E-Cards recommendations
I send many greeting cards every year and because of Royal Mail unreliability and the cost of postage I am looking for an alternative electronic version. I wonder if anyone uses electronic cards and if you would mind sharing the details and the cost per card or for a subscription.
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60th birthday safari ideas….
Hi all right I need to pick your brains for ideas. My father will be 60 this year. He’s been a hard working military man, raised myself, my sister and taken on his two step children. He has a bad back now but does enjoying riding his tandem bike with his wife. His 60th birthday is coming up and he is going to Africa for a…
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Receiving presents for partner in the post without them knowing
My partners been through a rough 6 months with her elderly mother and I'd like to order her a few gifts as a surprise without her knowing. The only issue is she works from home so is usually her who takes any parcels/post/deliveries in. We don't really know our neighbours enough to ask them, and I'm quite a lone worker in…
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Money Moral Dilemma: What should I do with the money overpaid for the Christmas party I organised?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... Before Christmas, I organised a party at a restaurant for about 35 people. I paid the bill on my credit card, which worked out at £29.15 each, then most people transferred money to me electronically afterwards. Many rounded up what they owed to £30, meaning I now have an…
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The Catskills
I am getting married in December it's my second time and my fiancée's first. He is American from Ohio but also has a property over here too. We have decided to honeymoon in the Catskills. I have never been to the USA what is it like?. The Catskills look beautiful in online images.
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Voucher companies like RedLetterDays and Buyagift
Experience Gift Voucher Shoppers beware. If you are thinking of buying an experience gift voucher for yourself or for a gift, please be very careful when choosing and using Red Letter Days. Red Letter Days used to be a great company to deal with, particularly if there were any queries, but that doesn't seem to be the case…
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