buying for and organizing your hampers

mah_jong

I am really really surprised at just how cheap you all do your hampers for. They certainly look fabulous, I love looking at the picture thread! Well done!!

I live in a part of the UK without Tesco, wilkies , poundland et al. However I am getting more organized every year, certainly the money has been saved, so with that in mind perhaps I should start BUYING in Jan for Christmas 09! Is this what you do, gather bargains through the year ? But have you already decided on themes, or do you theme according to bargains? I do get paper and cards in the sales already.

So when I hit a town WHERE should I go? What are your favourite shops for Christmas hamper buys?

RustyFlange

Hi,

I buy bits throughout the year although I didn't know about this site at christmas last year so for me all of the bits I have picked up for hampers have been from a selection of places and all for a bargain price ... I think the key is to have eyes in the back and side of your head and a nose for smelling out the cheapy prices for quality items.
I made the mistake of buying loads of toys for my sons birthday (his b'day is sept) I picked them up in Jan and feb and put them away however his mind changed and so far only my daughter has played with them lol ... so I think this Jan I will pick up bits but not for my son as he changes his mind so often. However I think babies etc are very easy to please.

If you hit a town, check out wilkos, QS, Poundland, Wilkos, Home bargains, B&M stores, Aunaturale and such places, this is providint the town you hit has shops like these Remember to scour charity shops in Jan/Feb as people get rid of their unwanted gifts in charity shops around these times. Also car boot sales if you have them locally these are always good for picking up bargains

RoxieW

the works, matalan, any of the big supermarkets

rainmac

I don't start thinking about Xmas until midway through the year and then give myself several months to think, plan and buy. I do buy cheap cards and paper in the January sales but only if I see ones I like and the prices are good.

Whenever you start make sure you have a list of who you need to buy for and then make a note of what you've bought otherwise you may end up buying for the same person more than once. I find it helps noting some ideas of the type of pressie for each person before I shop and buy. A lot of my buying this year has been done on the internet and I reckon I've saved quite a bit in petrol and car parking. If you want to make things for gifts e.g. bath salts in jars, it often helps reduce your costs to make the same gift for several people.

HTH

mary43

Organizing ??? Oh eck !! Thats my worst bit !! I started buying bits and pieces earlier this year but instead of putting stuff in the relevant baskets which would have made sense - it all got slung on the spare bed - result being I now have to sift through it all to see who's having what !

No special theme to any of them -that would have made sorting them out easier - my own fault...........memo to self - next time be organized !

Mind you I am good at lists............got a list of who's getting a basket or box - got a list of what I've bought - it's just the sorting out bit