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

sylphraven

Sale shopping again today, thats it for me until next wednesday (rumoured to be Boots 75% off starting date), I am NOT going near a shop until then, its too tempting, lol.

Picked up some bath sets in superdrug today for my friend - we have a deal not to spend over £5 on each other. For £2 I got 3 nicebath sets for her, yay! Also got DR Who Trump cards for 49p, they'll go towards DS1s stocking, he's a huge fan.

Also picked up some socks for the kiddies from the M&S sale, thought you guys would like to know that they've got 30% off kids undies atm, which also works on the sale prices. Got several pairs of thick socks for LO, 35p a pair, & 2 pairs of monster slipper socks for DS1 for 70p each, well worth it.

OH is off next week so I'm hoping to sort out the items I've got so far, & allocate in my notebook. Also going to make time to start scrapbooking - I have a huge craft bag of acid/lignin free stickers, sheets, embellishments, just have problems finding time to get going, but after popping into The Range & buying some christmas & snow 12x12 sheets in the sale I have decided to take the plunge. Well worth a look at their sale items if your into scrapbooking/card making, little stamps for 50p, selling off loads of peel offs, christmas papers, etc

grace1990

This year I am really struggling to find a sealed pot, everywahere is sold out!

bikerchick1066

grace1990 wrote: »

This year I am really struggling to find a sealed pot, everywahere is sold out!

Mine came from Past Times. Really cute with kittens on it x

pinkladymel

Sarah, when you say things like that it makes me well up!! To know I made any difference, any happiness to your life just makes me feel so happy and it makes my day. If you ever need a shoulder or just some silly chat let me know I am always here for you x

grace1990 our lovely friend SlyphRaven has found them in poundland. I think we have bought them all.. oops sorry

Sylphraven I am so jealous of your bargains I want to come shopping with you LOL I never find anything!

paddingtondoo There is always need for one more notebook.. everyone knows that

Shevs Don't worry honey.. Once we get the grotto open for the orphans everything will be just fine.. Seriously though.. I hope you are coping alright x

I noticed the other day there are loads of people missing.. Like RoxieW etc where are you all!?

clarabella23 We have dragged you in and now you shall never escape.. It would appear you have caught the dreaded virus. We shop and talk more than we organise

princesswoo Whenever I shop for anything I go to http://hotukdeals.com or the discount and vouchers section of this forum. There is usually a coupon/discoutn code. I have signed up to Quidco.com which is so easy to use. You just login, type your shop name in the box and if it is on there it will come up. You click the button to shop there and it opens your shop in a new window. Do your shopping and it tracks the amount automatically and will show within a few hours. EASY peasy!!

Crazychatter That is brilliant work!! I bet it was such a pain to swap accounts but now it is done the savings are incredible.. perhaps something I should thing about LOL

bunbun2

Mel have just watched your stamping tutorial - it is fab, love the voice! It is perfect as I have stamps and didn't have a clue what to do with them. I much prefer to see rather than read instructions so a big thank you! I shall have a go with my stamps once i have bought an ink pad and some pens. can you just use the pens and not use watercolour or is there no point? what pens should I buy?

jamtart6

bunbun2 wrote: »

Mel have just watched your stamping tutorial - it is fab, love the voice! It is perfect as I have stamps and didn't have a clue what to do with them. I much prefer to see rather than read instructions so a big thank you! I shall have a go with my stamps once i have bought an ink pad and some pens. can you just use the pens and not use watercolour or is there no point? what pens should I buy?

I'll just barge in here... the pens are water based, and when you use a water brush with them they look like watercolours on the page. (can i say water any more times in one sentence?! waterwaterwaterwaterwaterwaterwaterwater:p)

So I would think you would need some waterbased pens and a waterbrush. I will now pass you over to Miss Melanie for some specific instructions

I do not have the patience for stamping but admire all who do! :T

mhagster

Well I have just bought wrapping paper in Tesco. Did I need it? No, not really, but it was only 75p for a 3 roll pack with tags ,ribbon and bows! What a bargain, so I bought 2!

Also bought Christmas cards which were 87p, told the checkout girl they were cheaper than that, waited while someone went to check......they were 87p. oops!

I work next to a garden centre who gave a 50% sale on Christmas decs.....so just had to have a look. Bought some decorations for using on peoples parcels next xmas. And 2 lovely 'buckets' with santa on them that I will fill as hampers for daughters.

Skiergirl

I've finally made a start on getting organised
All the presents are in a jumbled heap in the dining room so 'all' I've got to do is go through them and plan who and what they can be used for, so I need to buy / find a notebook for that.
A few years ago I bought a book from Lakeland for keeping a record of who I'd sent Christmas cards to - it was a fab way to get organised - I think I'll have to dig it out and start using it again.

bikerchick1066

pinkladymel wrote: »

mhagster.. I am so like that! I end up buying everything because it is cheap at the start of the year but then as christmas gets closer I see things that are perfect for people and have to buy them too!! Worse thing is when I open my presents off others they obviously did not put as much thought in IYKWIM!

Bikerchick Sounds like a big spend coming on that day then How about, if you get any extra money you put it in the tin and then when you count it up whatever is extra from 356pounds (or however many days you were saving for) you spend on treating yourself on your birthday!

Hi Pinkladymel

Have worked out that there should be £282 in there by my Birthday. I normally go to the knitting and stitching show at Ally Pally on that Saturday, so should probably leave it sealed until I get home!

All the extra money I make/save on my other challenges is going towards paying off my mortgage early, so this will be strictly £1 a day x

pinkladymel

bikerchick Ohh Ally pally that sounds exciting I know a lot of girls go there on a scrapbooking retreat Good luck on paying off your mortgage earlier, this year

Skiergirl Not only are you getting organised but you are rooting out old things and putting them to use.. how good is that!

Mhagster I think that was much to much of a bargain to leave.. and LOL at the cards!! I would have to buy them after that just because I would feel so guilty and embarrassed but then I am a complete melon!

bunbun Thanks for watching the tutorial and I am glad you found it useful. The pens I have are Whispers Brush markers. A little colour can paint a lot so these are kind of for life really once you buy some. I tried to colour using the pens but they are so dark. You could use colouring pencils or you could buy a set of watercolouring pencils, they had some good branded ones in Poundland. Just remember to use a solvent, colour-fast ink pad like Staz-on so the colour does not run when you paint it. Do you have any ink pads at all? They have some in hobby craft at the moment - the ink it up ones - reduced to 99p to clear. If you just rub a little colour from your ink pad the way I did with my pens, this also produces watercolours. Hope that helps at all x