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

phunkles

Well i opened my sealed pot that I started doing it must of been around June time last year with £2 coins in only i had £148 pound in and Ive put that into my new sealed pot as an incentive (plus I have Xmas and Birthday money still to spend)
Ive started making birthday cards for the year ahead now so slowly workign down a ever growing list - there not impressive cards but well I made them and I reckon even with buying a fair bit of stuff with xmas money i should come out of the year with a low level of spends on cards. Once birthdays are all done and in envelopes and in a box ready to be given out on actual birthdays Ill start on Xmas cards, again bought a fair bit in sales online and got some stuff for Xmas so im hoping I can have a lower cost Xmas.
My sealed pot I'll be adding £2 and maybe some notes to it this year Im not sure I hate the way £5 notes always gather dust in my purse and then i end up paying for something with a pile of battered fivers oops.
Plan is sealed jar plus any babysitting money will pay for Xmas 2009.
Just need to get a plan rolling for birthday presents and xmas presents and well ill have a relatively stress free year yipppee!

furrypig

clarabella23 wrote: »

OOOhhh, a shiny new thread, me likes!:T

Well, you've all inspired me with your crafting that i'm going to have a try making a scrapbook with my little girl of her lif so far. Got some a3 pads reduced in a bookstore that's closing down near me, down to £3 and they're really good thick paper too! so had to buy 2 obv.:p
Now I want to get some cheap stamps and patterned sheets of card-any ideas of somewhere cheap?
If this one goes well i may even do one for someone else as a christmas pressie...or maybe Tyla can!:D
Hope everyone and there doggies are feeling ok x

hi clarabella I think if I remember rightly there is a list of places to buy from online on the card making thread it's really quite good I've got lots of ideas from there and most are appropriate for scrapbooking too. I have ordered from www.madaboutcards.co.uk www.charmedcardsandcrafts.co.uk www.artymiss.co.uk ( tho had a couple of problems with what I ordered so not used them again not v good customer services as never got a reply from my emails) have got a few bits form ebay and I've used some other places but can't think where now!! there are lots of sales on at the moment so you can probably find some bargains! I have also got some bits from the works, from wh smith, partners etc etc I jsut keep a look out for things!

hope that helps and good luck I would love to see your work when you start! I have all the kit and haven't created anything yet!! There actually is a scrapbooking thread on here somewhere would you believe but noone has used it for ages!

sarahf191979

Morning all

Woke up this morning and my garden and street are covered in snow.......How lovely, but cold!!

Thought I'd pop on been really busy with everything this last few weeks and theres no rest for us yet, we are at the funeral on friday so will be another sad day for us and OH's family.

Have managed a few OC/ Money Nutral Bits,

Done my note book
Bought all my Xmas cards and wrapping paper for next year

Bought a load of stuff to put away for Xmas but not got round to sorting them out yet, or sorting out what I already have in the gift box :eek:

Just waiting for £100 of Argos vouchers to come that will go in the Teapot with the £25 Argos vouchers, & £9 of luncheon vouchers ready for next Xmas.

So not doing to bad, just need to get organised again, everything went to pot after our Sad news, but never mind, I'm sure we will get there again!

Glad to hear everyone is doing well and back onboard for this year, missing you all...

Sarah
x

PS has anyone bought any easter egg's yet? I noticed tesco's had the MINI Egg's out the other day

rufusdog52

I checked myDD's holiday letter and the amount owing was 140 so when I pay off the 40 I have I will only owe 100. Really pleased about that. Had yet another Daily Click payout this morning for £20 and used £15 of it to buy some wool to make Christmas presents out of. should get at least 4 presents, may be even more as I am hoping to make dolls with clothes so wont need big amounts for each.

jamtart6

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

I checked myDD's holiday letter and the amount owing was 140 so when I pay off the 40 I have I will only owe 100. Really pleased about that. Had yet another Daily Click payout this morning for £20 and used £15 of it to buy some wool to make Christmas presents out of. should get at least 4 presents, may be even more as I am hoping to make dolls with clothes so wont need big amounts for each.

My eldest niece rang me last night as I had given her son an Arsenal themed hamper for Christmas and included a £5 zavvi voucher which my daughter won at school in a competition back in October and didnt want. Of course they havent been able to use it and she wanted to know which shop I bought it from. He had plenty in his hamper without the voucher and I wish now I hadnt bothered but wasnt to know the firm would go bust.

so she just can't make use of the £5 voucher from zavvi and she rang you up to ask where you bought it?! Did she ask you for the £5 in cash instead? :rolleyes:

rufusdog52

jamtart6 wrote: »

so she just can't make use of the £5 voucher from zavvi and she rang you up to ask where you bought it?! Did she ask you for the £5 in cash instead? :rolleyes:

Well she didnt know how much was on the card lol. Sounded a bit miffed when I said it was only a fiver. My Oh said he dont know why I bother as they only got my DD something that looked like it came from the pound shop. May be I will cut down a bit next year and give the great nieces and nephews a selection box each.

findingmyfeet

morning ladies,
well back at last and feel like i have missed loads, not had time to read the back posts yet but just wanted to say hello and no i hadnt legged it and fell off the ends of the earth.

Joined the £4k challenge....should be a laugh if nothing else.. me saving money will be a novelty...so lets see how long i can last for. First week fine cos i havent been in the country!!

Took loads of photos of snow scenes on holiday and thought i might try and make them in to xmas cards for next year. Beautiful snowy, wintry scenes..what do you think? Would people go for that oris it a naff idea?

Going to plan all birthdays and gifts for the year later on when i get a mo , and keep a look out for cheap/reduced stuff etc all year round instead of 5 minutes before i need them.

got to dash but back later x

jamtart6

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Well she didnt know how much was on the card lol. Sounded a bit miffed when I said it was only a fiver. My Oh said he dont know why I bother as they only got my DD something that looked like it came from the pound shop. May be I will cut down a bit next year and give the great nieces and nephews a selection box each.

Ah I see..I couldnt work out why she would ring you up about it! Yep I too will be cutting down on spends this year as I dont think we'll be able to afford as much as previous years. The most ungrateful receivers will be ditched first


Who can advise me the best survey sites (or otherwise) to get ARGOS (including Nectar points) and AMAZON vouchers please? I use these two places more than any (except Boots) to buy gifts from so want to start building up my stock of vouchers

jamtart6

findingmyfeet wrote: »

morning ladies,
well back at last and feel like i have missed loads, not had time to read the back posts yet but just wanted to say hello and no i hadnt legged it and fell off the ends of the earth.

Joined the £4k challenge....should be a laugh if nothing else.. me saving money will be a novelty...so lets see how long i can last for. First week fine cos i havent been in the country!!

Took loads of photos of snow scenes on holiday and thought i might try and make them in to xmas cards for next year. Beautiful snowy, wintry scenes..what do you think? Would people go for that oris it a naff idea?

Going to plan all birthdays and gifts for the year later on when i get a mo , and keep a look out for cheap/reduced stuff etc all year round instead of 5 minutes before i need them.

got to dash but back later x

Great idea on the cards. Loads of places do introductory offers on 6x4 photo printing e.g. Jessops, Snapfish etc give you free prints. Buy some A5 card from the Paper Mill and some cheapo envelopes and all your beautifully handcrafted cards will have cost you next to nothing! Super! :T

findingmyfeet

thanks for that jamtart- will have a go sooner rather than later , be prepared and all that , if i leave it i wont do it it. Thought i might do personalised messages inside too.