Organised Christmas 2008.. The countdown has begun!

logan

noggin wrote: »

the new pj's on cmas eve is a right nice idea. do you wrap them up and have them as a little pressie on cmas eve? i'd really like that i think- especially because its my favorite day of the year and we're hardly going to see the kids with work then preparing dinner then work again.
I might have a look in Primark next week see if there are any bargains.

While I think on- my little lad has just asked if he can hang his stocking in his bedroom this year. Does anyone have ideas of what I could put in their stockings for when they first wake up Christmas morning? only thing i can think of is like sweets or socks...! (not very imaginative really!) any ideas anybody? it is for DS (5) and DD (2)

xx

Our family tradition with stocking was always an orange, a bar of chocolate, a packet of felt pens and some small toys
we still caryy this on with the kids too and they love it

gettingricher

thanks for the link - can't wait to get to the local shop to get my box!!

findingmyfeet

hello everyone,
just been browsing and discovered you. I love xmas but get told to shut up by everyone in my family, think they are just miserable. Got lots to read on here but just wanted to pose a question : never been mse before this summer but wondered HOW MUCH DO YOU ALL SPEND ON XMAS ?( just the gift side) I have always spent far too much and this year it just cant happen ( we dont have as much money as before), what is seen to be a reasonable amount for the kids- 2 teenagers ? Everyone else in the family i have decided a tenner maximum each. Is this ok , too much or am i being mean.? Dont want to come out of xmas with a huge bill but do really want to enjoy the build up and the day.

thanks everyone

findingmyfeet

sorry forgot to add XMAS TRADITIONS- in this house we have tiny silly gift each on christmas eve, usually the hardest puzzle etc i can finfd for DH and DS and something small and girlie, but daft for DD. We usually have a meal at home and settle down to lovely christmassy films n chocs.But still put out carrots for the reindeer and mince pie for santa!!!!!!!!! ( they are 16 and 17)

logan

findingmyfeet wrote: »

hello everyone,
just been browsing and discovered you. I love xmas but get told to shut up by everyone in my family, think they are just miserable. Got lots to read on here but just wanted to pose a question : never been mse before this summer but wondered HOW MUCH DO YOU ALL SPEND ON XMAS ?( just the gift side) I have always spent far too much and this year it just cant happen ( we dont have as much money as before), what is seen to be a reasonable amount for the kids- 2 teenagers ? Everyone else in the family i have decided a tenner maximum each. Is this ok , too much or am i being mean.? Dont want to come out of xmas with a huge bill but do really want to enjoy the build up and the day.

thanks everyone

i have 3 kids (2, 7, 9) and this year we've set a maximum spend of £200 each

emay

Finally feel like I'm getting somewhere!! Finished the kitchen, cleared loads of junk (and well out of date stuff) from the cupboards, so got plenty of room again!!! Finally got the weeds pulled from front garden, and liner put down (only had it sitting in hallway for 18 months!!!).
O/H went to visit one of mates in Hull so I took advantage of his offer to pay for my bus ticket and went shopping, didn't have a lot to spend but got a few bits (and even more ideas), found a bloke in Lush that was excited about Christmas too!!!
Got some cards made over the weekend, only about another 20 to go (plus the ones my mum wants)

teedy23

I just bought 4 fleecy hotwater bottles from Primark, 3 red hearty ones for the girls, and a blue stripy one for the grandson but I think I,ll try and get a superhero motif to put on the front of his. Winter snugglies for £3 a go, I always get the jammies for the family, it,s one of our traditions. That, and I try to get the grand daughter up for a night to stick the cloves into oranges, it,s getting more difficult now she,s almost 15 but I,m adamant.

mum2one

findingmyfeet wrote: »

hello everyone,
just been browsing and discovered you. I love xmas but get told to shut up by everyone in my family, think they are just miserable. Got lots to read on here but just wanted to pose a question : never been mse before this summer but wondered HOW MUCH DO YOU ALL SPEND ON XMAS ?( just the gift side) I have always spent far too much and this year it just cant happen ( we dont have as much money as before), what is seen to be a reasonable amount for the kids- 2 teenagers ? Everyone else in the family i have decided a tenner maximum each. Is this ok , too much or am i being mean.? Dont want to come out of xmas with a huge bill but do really want to enjoy the build up and the day.

thanks everyone

Im sure xmas gets dearer every yr, welcome to the nicest thread on here!!
My xmas budget, I have to buy presents off dd (shes 6), but try to budget and buy throughout the yr.

Person me dd
parents 50 20
uncles/ aunts 0 5
school friends 4
teachers etc 3
my friends £10

They are the max I would spend, we live with my parents, and as I have no oh cheaper.........

teenagers £100 maximum

findingmyfeet

thanks for that LOGAN and MUM2one-- that gives me more of an idea what to do. I used to spend between 200 and 300 each on them but cant afford that this time, think it will be nearer the 100 each mark if im doing well! Also got an agreement going with the adults in the family this year- we are only buying for each others children so that should help loads with the old budget.

Now off to make a cuppa , armed with my note pad to get the list going of things to buy, things to do etc. Right where shall i start..........the kettle...

thanks everyone, must start organising myself, i think you may be hearing from me again......( desparately trying not to watch national lampoons christmas vacation... my fave funny film.. once i've put that on theres no stopping me, trying to at least get through october. I order my lot to be in, we light the fire in the living room, snack tray lights off...then film..christmas begins.............)
byebye for now

sweetpeas_2

We both have large families and buy small gifts more as a token then anything else.
I have managed to do so well this year- I dropped on some GOREGOUS 10p scarves in Primark earlier on in the year, so I got 6 of them for various people.
Also got a load of tops from MK One in the sale for £1. So I am doing some little box sets with a scarf and top in for some of the women I buy for- so they have only cost me £1.10 each.:D
Buy little bits for my cousins kids- some 49p Pirates of the Carribean badges in sale at Disney store, and a big "paint a bug" thing from a poundshop- so that's another 3 people sorted.
I also got some handbags for 75p from Primark, which I use for my cousin (she's 11) and have put 2 25p bangles from Primark in it.

It is so easy to go mental and spend more then you can afford- which we did last year... so this year I promised myself we'd be alot more careful. I buy things throughout the year. As it is now- I've got a few more bits left for 11 family members- but it only totals £50 if I keep within my budget- which I will! Some of them I've got bits for already so they just need a box of choc or whatever. (We buy for 33 people altogether inc each other and our 2 kids :eek: - but as I say, alot of them only cost a few quid)

I don't buy cheap crap, I just pick up bargains when I see them.

I have spent £60 on the kids, but I tend to get away with it as the rest of the stuff they want I pass on to family members to buy them cos they always want ideas. Teenagers I would say £100 max. If they want something big- eg DS or something, then I might say £100 for a DS then like £20 on little bits and pieces. Otherwise £100 is loads. You can get so much for £100 if you look in the right places.

xx