The Thrifty Gifty Girls 2009 (Organised & Money Neutral for All Occasions) #3

rufusdog52

RustyFlange wrote: »

Not sure which ones you mean? although my first thought was that you means the C'mons?


yes I drive a vauxhal :rotfl:

Yes thats them my youngest wants one lol

[Deleted User]

Apologies for the very long post, but here is my update!

New this month (February, in red). I must find a better way of doing this!

Birthdays
41 birthdays (only 25 to buy pressies for, the rest just get cards!) – [strike]10[/strike] 14 so far bought and wrapped, and all either with points, or collected points when bought (Nectar), or in the sale.

Xmas
29 to buy for ([strike]6 [/strike]7 bought and [strike]2[/strike] 5 half done in the sales).

Not all money neutral (although I have £100 in pressie pot plus £48 M&S vouchers), so technically could be money neutral, but am putting money away when I can, if that makes sense.

Not done a lot of shopping recently as am trying to get some savings in the bank, but feel pretty organised.

The only birthdays coming up in the next month are my niece and nephew, not sure what I am getting them yet – teenagers change their minds a lot, so waiting until nearer the time.


Money Neutral (I think)
Bought xmas wrapping paper and cards in Boots (using points).
Bought 3 xmas presents in Boots sale (using points).
“Re-cycled” a voucher given to my OH to buy FIL bday present.

Not Money Neutral, but Thrifty!
Used the House of Fraser £10 off £50 spend + free delivery offer and got £125 worth of pressies for £40.06! (3 x Xmas pressies)
Bought 5 x presents for upcoming birthdays on Amazon (get Nectar points).
Bought 6 pairs of kids pyjamas for Xmas pressies - £25 inc. P&P in the sales.
Bought 1 birthday pressie through Quidco, so waiting for cashback, not much!

Money in the Pressie Pot
Sold lots of CD’s and made £55 on Music Magpie. (done)
Found $62 in drawer, cashed that in and got £39 (rounded it up to £40). (done)
Have upgraded my phone and will sell my hold handset (should get £49 in M&S vouchers). (done)

Qype Virgin Voucher – Hmmm, think this will be used towards me and DH going for a slap up dinner at L’Escargot (I know this is not Money Saving, but we never go out, and this is the restaurant that my DH booked for our first date 15 years ago, so nice memories!). (chasing)

Also, been accepted for QNA surveys and they offer immediate payment per review of £5-10 Amazon vouchers, apparently you don’t get many to do, but they pay immediately, so hopefully will collect for pressie pot. – (have a whole £1 pending!).

Finally signed up to Quidco – and have a couple of small things waiting to be paid out, but have insurance renewals coming in May so def. Will be going through them to add to the “pot”.

[Deleted User]

jamtart6 wrote: »

OMG we got in this weeks e-mail!! :j:j:j:T:T:T Go Thrifty Gifty girls! Yay love you all!!

edit: err..does that mean we have to be professional if new people arrive?!:eek::rotfl:

Did we? What email? How's your Mum?

jamtart6

:hello::hello::hello:Hello to all the new posters and welcome to our thread!:hello::hello::hello:

You have posted on a very good day as today is Rudolph Day #2 - the 25th of each month, we do a little round up, post some pics of gifts and generally have some sort of organisation (even just a 5 minute think) about Christmas as it is our most favourite event :xmassign::xmastree: Hopefully my partner in crime Miss PinkLadyMel will be along soon to chase us up for our tasks for today


If you have a read of post #1 you will get a better idea of what this thread is all about : Super gifts, Super organised, Super ways to obtain money and Super thrifty as we go along

Here is my round-up of progress so far :

Birthdays
January - None

February - Neighbour (gift set from Boots = neutral )

March - Friend #1 (necklace = neutral), Friend #2 (Next vouchers, smelly set = neutral), Dad's birthday (Malt Whisky = neutral & Journal Jar (need to make) & Need a few other things??? & Gillette Set =neutral)

April - Friend's Baby (In the night garden toy = neutral)



Other
Valentines - Wii game (c/o Zavvi!) & FCUK tin (originally £50 in Boots) and sweeties = Money neutral

Mother's Day - Journal Jar (need to make), Coco Mademoiselle Chanel Body Spray (£30 = neutral:T) & Need something else

Father's Day - Not that organised yet

Christmas
All friend's presents sorted. Smelly set for OH sorted = all neutral :T


Total cash spent :£46.97
Total cash available (from Quidco, eBay etc.) : £116.97

Total cash left to play with: £69.70

I will endeavour to sort out my vouchers and loyalty points today as I'm unsure how many I have :A

I also need to get back onto eBay and will post a challenge for you all soon

jamtart6

goochie wrote: »

Did we? What email? How's your Mum?

The Martin's Money Tips e-mail(see the right of your screen and click where it says "Week of 25 Feb 2009" and then have a look for "get thrifty with your gifties":D Mum not too bad thanks

jamtart6

The_Golden_Goose wrote: »

Hello All!

Great thread/subforum!!!

I am wondering if anyone can give me any inspiration for a present for a friend. She is a first time mother, aged 33 and currently on maternity leave. In the past I have bought (in my non MSE days) hadnbags, jewellery, books, make up bags and usually I spend £15, less if I can. Very much into looking nice and now is very much into her DS, who is gorgeous. Want to buy a present for HER and not for the baby - if you know what I mean!!

I do have an advantage card, but not sure how many points (can you check online?).....

Thank you in advance.

Do you think she would like some sort of scrapbook??

[Deleted User]

Oops forgot to say hello :hello: to Ginak and The Golden Goose and any other newbies I have missed.

RustyFlange

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Yes thats them my youngest wants one lol

Whatever you do don't pay the daft prices for them ... I know a few people who have them and I might be able to persuade one of them to give one up leave it with me ... we have 2 of the cows, OH has one in the back of his car (my fault cause I love Moo and he bought one and refused to let me keep him) then we got given another one which actually makes noises :eek: but another moo so they can't fight over them now

rufusdog52

RustyFlange wrote: »

Whatever you do don't pay the daft prices for them ... I know a few people who have them and I might be able to persuade one of them to give one up leave it with me ... we have 2 of the cows, OH has one in the back of his car (my fault cause I love Moo and he bought one and refused to let me keep him) then we got given another one which actually makes noises :eek: but another moo so they can't fight over them now

Thanks Rusty, I didnt even realise you could buy them doh!!

RustyFlange

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Thanks Rusty, I didnt even realise you could buy them doh!!

You can indeed, infact you have been able to buy them since the advert was released, however if you did buy them then the fukll set was going for around £151 eek! but now not too bad although still unreasonable to be honest for what they are!

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=cmon&_sacat=See-All-Categories

One of the card shops sells them? think it may be clintons or birthdays, also HMV sells them or used to.

I will send out mass emails later on and see if I can get hold of one for you Which one was it that you wanted?