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

nickynoo08

Hiya everyone, you can deffinately count me in for 2009.
I am also taking part in the sealed pot challenge but as mine is for xmas and i dont want to be rushing round in december so i too will open mine in october.
Need your advice on summat too please. I always do park hampers every year (only get vouchers), mainly because in the past if the money was sat in my bank it would have been spent:rolleyes:. Thing is is i automatically put an order in back in oct last year ready for 09 and i dont think i'm gonna need them. I've already got a fair amount of gifts, cards, paper, tags and stuff ready for my hampers stashed away. They would certainly come in handy as a 'just in case' but i'm in two minds. Whaddaya reckon?

pinkladymel

If you go through www.vistaprint.com/amazon you can get 20 photocards printed for free but I think you have to pay a little bit for postage. There are loads of great offers on there. I think your card ideas sound beautiful.

It just started to snow here! We have already got thick snow LOL. It's bloomin freezing and my heating can't heat to the temp I want fast enough because it is -8.

I have completed a stamping tutorial on my blog that a friend asked for if anyone wants to watch it but I am very embarassed about it!!

https://pinkladymel.blogspot.com

Can I just say, I have nothing for sale and nothing to gain from people going to my blog.. I just like to be helpful. Someone once complained about me having my blog in my signature because they obviously couldn't believe anyone would want to be nice!!

I haven't bought a magazine for ages because I like to look online and get ideas for free. There is nothing like sitting down on the settee with a good mag though but I am just sick of the ones out at the minute.

If you have lots of peels offs and stickers and Do crafts products then their own Creativity magazine is brilliant. I used to love simply cardmaking and papercraft for ideas using more expensive but better quality stash.

For scrapbooking there is the magazine I am in called Creativity Life.. again this is a Do crafts one and has brilliant ideas in. I love Scrapbook Inspirations but it is very pricey at 3.99 and thin. You can't beat the American magazines for ideas though I love Creating Keepsakes.

rufusdog don't feel downhearted. Making them a hamper was such a kind and thoughtful thing to do and I know how sickening it is when they just want to know how much it is and how much they can get out of you and not even consider the thought gone into the gift.

I like to look here to find out the latest scrapbooking shop bargains:
http://www.ukscrappers.co.uk/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Sarah, I am wishing you some love and strength to get through this month as I know it will be hard. Being a wife and mother you never get time to think for yourself because you have to think and love everyone else... I hope you are ok x

pinkladymel

nickynoo I would without a doubt AVOID park hampers or anything where you put money in. Everyone is going bust these days and keeping their financial situations a secret. If there is one thing I would strongly advise everyone it would be to not buy vouchers or invest money in anything.

Have you thought about doing the sealed tin challenge and you can put the money in, in notes every month? I am going to hide mine and then in October when we are worrying over how we will afford Christmas I will get my tin out and my husband will think I am awesome

jamtart6

PLM - Loved the tutorial! Bless your posh voice and the text comments that pop up had me in stitches "close your eyes and imagine me cleaning the stamp" LOL well done you

mum2one

jamtart6 wrote: »

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

Totally agree re cutting back, same here themost ungrateful and those that missed dd for both her bday and xmas, espically miffed as one family, I brought the mum, dad, and 3 children, as the mum has said I've out u on the xmas list..........yes........dd got a pair of socks from Woolworths!!

So far have knocked 4 off bday list, and 9 off xmas list!
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

The only ones I can think off is Valued Opinions, they def do Argos, Amazon dont know, unless there are any special offers via reviews as there was last yr! x

mum2one

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

There look brillaint, my friend did the xmas shots of flowers etc and they were really nice.
If yo go through Quidco,
PhotoBox - 50 free photos - £5.00 cashback - postage £1.35
Trueprint and Snapfish are both on Quidco - 20 free prints, postage 99p, not sure on how much cashback off hand.
x

paddingtondoo

jamtart
you can get Amazon vouchers from Toluna (will take an age though) and lightspeed panel (I've had £30 from them in the last couple of months)

Don't know about Argos as I always get either Amazon or Boots to spend with money off coupons and glitches

bikerchick1066

I'm loving this new thread!

Got a new money box for Crimbo which can ony be opened with a can opener, so am saving £1 a day for Christmas 2009. Looking forward to opening it on 10th October as that's my Birthday x

mhagster

Gosh! My first ever posting....if you knew how long I have been a MSE lurker for!! I love Christmas,especially the run up to it and enjoyed reading everyone's postings last year. I managed to have a reasonably inexpensive time as we were able to exchange airmiles & hotel loyalty points for vouchers. So childrens gifts were bought with those!

Managed to get a few things for nieces in the sales although determined this year not to buy too much for them.....my downfall is to buy early in the sales & then see things as the year goes on & think ' such & such would like that!'


So hope to join in with all you fellow organisers this year
M

JordanShannon

Loupenguin wrote: »

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if any of you can help me with some questions about these magazines? Today I bought quick and crafty and you can craft. I was wondering if anyone knows whether you get the free gifts every month if you subscribe? Or if anyone knows a better craft magazine to subscribe too?
I made a mother's day card today and valentine's card today so im getting more organised thanks to this thread and on the money neautral front I bought a gift for my friends birthday using my boots points!So today i am very happy!

Loupenguin x

I brought exactly the same ones!! and now thanks to PLM :mad: I now have an addiction to them, AND i have a list of things that i want!!!:p Thanks a lot MEL:rotfl: love you really!:D will post about my shiny new products that i get or buy.
*hugs everyone*
..xx