The Thrifty Gifty Girls 'n' Guys 2009 (Organised & Money Neutral for All Occasions)

mum2one

I dont know if Im sad or organised!! (answers on a postcard plz).

But have just been on halfcost,
www.halfcost.co.uk
theres a few xmas things left, 75% off, but for any ladies that do their own cards, they've got the attachments and they work out at 75p pack instead of £3.00)

Few bargains to be had, also the FF15 discount still works, (15% discount off ur order as well as free postage and packing).

xx

candyblue

OH and I got £80 in boots gift vouchers for xmas, have just been out to the half price sale and spent them all got lots of pressies for next xmas and also some nice perfume each.

We also went in to Homebase and bought wrapping paper at 20p a roll, plain paers so can do for anything throughout the year and better still 3 for 2 still, we got 15 rolls in total! Also bought a load of baubles that I wanted before xmas that were £4 each again reduced to 20p on 3 for 2:D Very happy!!

Would it be too much to wrap all the pressies up for Xmas 2009 now??

scattymam1

:eek: eek I've missed you all. Hope every one had a great christmas but oh dear poor mel, hope everything is getting better now and you have a fun new year to make up for it all!!

I never stopped from the tuesday before christmas right through til the end of boxing day - what a crazy, rushed, relative filled time I had, it was nice but at the end of it all I told my husband I hated christmas - I think it's the run up and the waiting for it I enjoy the most, because now it's over I'm getting excited about planning again for next year:eek: . Planning on being pregnant or ready to drop another baby this time next year so I've decided to make it easier on myself as I'll have the excuse of being pregnant all the ladies are getting purses with vouchers in or maybe a small jewellery item and the men I'll do the same for but with wallets and vouchers. The amount of presents we got was unbelieveable (and here's us thinking there was a credit crunch).(p.s. I don't hate christmas at all but next year I can't be doing as much running around - it' so tiring).

mum2one - I've pm'd about that list - sounds very useful and thanks for the reminder about halfcost, found some good things on there today as I have some birthdays coming up.

Sylphraven - I would suggest getting started on ebay and on some survey and cashback sites to start working up some vouchers so you can be money neutral. I do so many but IPSOS and Lightspeed panel are the best for me at the moment. Also, have already bought my christmas cards, bought them half price in wilkos today, there was a pack of 20 for 75p as well that was half price down to 37p too - that will do for my dd's class next year.

jamtart6

hello all i'm on my swish new lappytop its very nice!!

To all those who are aiming to start the money neutral now is the best time to start buying bargains for next year!

My best tip for now is go through all the stuff you already have and see if the presents will do anyone for next year...before buying more in the sales otherwise you will have a mound of presents"

mary43

jamttart - already done that -had some things that just aren't 'me' so they'll be recycled on to someone else. Even had a few bits left over from my little hoard from this year and with a bit of de-cluttering on the cards in the near future I might be able to add to it.
January last year I did the charity shops and got some real bargains from other peoples unwanted pressies so I'll do the same this year. Worked out well and saved me a fair bit.
Made a list of stuff to make and who for so I've made a start

scattymam1

2008 I managed to be money neutral for all the birthday presents through the year and all christmas presents for other people, but not for me, my oh and my dd.

Right here goes my 2009 goals:
This year I plan to be money neutral for everyone for all birthdays and christmases and for my husband and dd, including my dd's party this year and we have one cousins wedding this year also to add to the pot.

My list what I have so far mostly from Nov/Dec as I used all last years vouchers on christmas 2008 in sep/oct or during the year for birthdays)
IPSOS - £10 Argos voucher in post and 790 points
Lightspeed - 1180 (that's approx. £10)
Quidco - 0.14p
Toluna - £10 amazon voucher in post and 1100 points
pigsback - £1190 (that's £10 too)
onepoll - £26.65
pinecone - £3 in paypal
pureprofile - £3.50
Coke Zone -206 points
Amazon vouchers = £5
Tesco - £1.50
Boots - Approx. £5
slicethepie- £2.00
Also, have £43 love to shop vouchers dh got but whether or not I can snatch them or not I don't know
Have a few presents I am going to recycle cos my dd and me won't use them or already have them so that saves a bit.

So it's not even 2009 yet and already doing quite well.:T
I love this game:rotfl:

scattymam1

mary43 - love that tip - do you think the start of January or the end of january will be the best for shopping around charity shops?

mum2one

QuidcoPart 1
MerchantCash
MyPixMania 30p
Maximuscle 25p
PhotoBox £5.00
Secret Sales 25p
Lands End 15p
IBOOD.com 40P
Trueprint Alliance + leicester Current account£ 50.00
Alliance + leicester savings account £20.00
Snapfish £3.50 GM1 £1.30
Vente Privee UK £1.00
Emailinform 85p
Flatmate 85p Plum offers 80p
UK prize draw 75p
Get me a ticket 70p
Instant win for now 50p
Voice in a crowd 50p
Pampers 54p
COMPARETHEMARKET.COM 50p
Get me a quiz 50p
Microsoft Office Live 50p
SpeedDater Online 50p
Avis Holiday Competition 45p
Secret Sales 25p
02 free sim 60p

PART 2 - ADDITIONAL CLICKS
MORE THAN ONE CLICK
GoCompare.com £2.00
Confused.com £1.00
Orange Sim 60p


DAILY CLICKS
The High Street Web 4p
Kellko 2p
JUST A QUICK CONDENSED VERSION OF QUIDCO.

HOPE IT HELPS XX

sylphraven

Thanks guys, picking up some great tips. Going sale hunting tomorrow, hoping I can convince my mom to have the kids for a couple of hours, though a pushchair is great to take the shopping home its not exactly sale friendly when your trying to nip through a gap.

Spent yesterday collecting together christmas recipes & craft ideas while they are still fresh, ready to print out when I've picked up a nice folder.

Is it best to wait a month to put things on ebay due to the sales being on, people selling off unwanted pressies etc, was just wondering if, due to the time of year, people would be buying less from ebay this month & putting more on?

mary43

scattymam = might go into town tomorrow just to see whats there.........think last year I started mid Jan but can't remember............seems an age ago.
We've got 5 charity shops here, only small ones but I managed to get enough stuff through the year and had surplus !
Good luck............amazing what things people don't want in the gift line