Gift Cupboard/Organizing & Book donating.

16011996

Hi,

I've had a search but i can't seem to find the advice i'm looking for. Sorry if it is out there, but i can't find it. I've been through the sales and got lots of stuff for gifts throughout the year and for next xmas, but i've no idea about storing them or anything. do any of you have a system? do you keep a list of what you've given who? or a list even of what you have? i've pressies for kids and male and female adults, some for birthdays, some for xmas and some bits for party bags for the kids birthdays and that. i've no idea where to start. any help much appreciated.

Also, where is the best place to donate books too? i usually send them to my local charity shop, but they don't want them as they have lots in stock, and i'm not sure what else to do with them. i'd take them to charity shops in town, but theres too many to carry from where you can park.

Thanks,

160.

Bargain_Rzl

Have you thought about selling your old books on Amazon?

gooismeid

you could also try selling them on https://www.greenmetropolis.com, or for kids' books you can take them to an Early Learning Centre (and get 50% off any new kids' books). Not sure how long the ELC offer is for tho. Also for kids' books, ask if your local primary school would like them. And for more grown-up novels, what about donating them to a senior citizens' day centre or old peoples' home near you?

squeaky

The thread in the link might help, and there's also mention of gift cupboards in the June Diary Archive.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=26833

Ronankfan

I write a list of the things i have bought and keep them in a box in the wardrobe - then i know what i have got if there are any up coming birthdays, etc

fruityslh

I also buy in sales and throughout the year, mye system is relatively simple, I bought some decorative cardboard storagesboxes from Ikea which sit very nicely on the top of my wardrobes. I have one for cards and wrap, one for birthdays and one for Christmas. I have a specific budget for Christmas so I keep track of what I've bought and for who on a simple Exel spreadsheet (I started this as I often forgot who I'd got what for and they can be in there for up to 12 months)

Birthdays I just check to see if their is something suitable in the box to send about 1 month before, if not I keep my eye open for a bargain.

I'll add that I tend to buy small gifts, as most of my family are miles away and I have to post,hence easy to keep in boxes, but will buy something bigger if I get to see them for their birthday. I always have a standbuy of Sales jewellery for the ladies and smellies for the men, for kids it's usually an item of clothing.

I've also just bought a load of sales baby stuff for my sister who's expecting in June and my friend who's due August, but in neutral colours, I'll purchase a small teddy in the pink or blue once they arrive (hopefully in a sale somewhere)

Pooky

I keep a list of what I've bought for each person on my present list, I keep the next 6 months worth in a box in the wardrobe ( I sometimes even wrap them and lable them just to make sure I don't forget who's getting what).

I always try and keep a box of choccies, a pack of nice smellies and a gift voucher in there too for emergancy gifts.

I keep a list in my handbag of people I still need to buy for and look for suitable bits as I'm in shops. I've done all the minor birthdays and my nephews and nieces xmas pressies so far this year. Need one more male birthday pressie - (back to boots at the weekend for a bargin). I buy bits towards DD's and DH's presents when I see them but I normally wait until nearer the time to see what they need/want.

As for books - kiddies books - try local playgroups and schools. Adult ones - ask at the library - they may know of a local scheme to donate them too. Failing that list them on your local Freecycle.

HOLsale

you try swapping your books at read it swap it

http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/

books go pretty quickly and you can swap for things you want to read or that would make nice presents sometimes if someone wants a book i've not been able to shift any other way and doesn't have anything i want on their list but DOES have something that will sell on ebay or amazon i will swap that way as well... it's up to you what you do with the swapped books

there is of course bookcrossing http://www.bookcrossing.com/

another way of freeing books

as for the system of gifts well in advance... i just chuck mine in boxes in my linen cupboard and rifle through them once a month to see what i've accumulated

Hermia

I store my gifts in a (big) box in the top of my wardrobe. My mum bought me one of those Birthday Card books last Christmas and when I get a present I mark it down in that.

I get rid of old books via https://www.bookcrossing.com (yah!) or give them to a charity shop, although I know many charity shops are inundated with them and don't want any more. I'm a librarian and libraries are generally not keen on donations. We only accept donations if they are up-to-date and in excellent condition. When we buy books for the library the processing is done for us, but when we get donated books we have to process them ourselves and the processing can be expensive. Unless we are sure a book will go out a lot and last well we don't really want it.

franney

I spent half an hour organising my pressie box this afternoon
I stuck a post-it note on each one to say who it was for and made alist as well to stick on the outside so i know at a glance who is bought for and who isn't. I also wrote another list in my filofax (which goes everywhere with me) of people left to buy for so if i am out and about and i spot any bargains i won't buy for someone already allocated with a gift! I think i might be making the job harder than it needs to be but i'll see how it goes
Last year i just chucked everything in a box and rummaged everytime a birthday came up but this year i am trying to be more organised:)
I also have a list of birthday cards left to buy for the year, thought i had a lot but there's still 32 to get! Last year i bought all cards at the beginning of each month, this year i will try and get as many as i can in the sales and special ones i am going to make myself

ivyleaf

When I've finished wih books I often donate them to the library - then if I miss them I can always borrow them back later on!