♥♥ MSE Organised For Christmas 2009 ♥♥

FreebieRocker

scattymam1 wrote: »

Ah thanks freebie rocker - going to watch out at home bargains and wilkos for cheap pound rolls - just need the one - trying to get it as cheap as poss.

Well it's £5 for 6 rolls so maybe you could stock up for the next 5 years too if you went there? lol.
Wilkos would probably do it at some point as well actually now I think about it!

mhagster

rabbit01 wrote: »

Getting organised is the best way to save money.

I have been using a program called MYInfoSafe to help me get my information overload under control, sofar so good.

Anyway, that is my top tip!

Is this SPAM in our midst......surely not?

mhagster

has anyone ordered direct from sizzix? I have a side kick and just had a look on their website, was going order some Christmas dies but my computer didn't recognize it as a safe site.
Any advice!!

paddingtondoo

mhagster wrote: »

has anyone ordered direct from sizzix? I have a side kick and just had a look on their website, was going order some Christmas dies but my computer didn't recognize it as a safe site.
Any advice!!

I have - in January - they sent me an email saying it would be delayed due to volume of orders and I got mine a couple of days later by courier in a (rather heavy:o) sturdy cardboard box - no probs whatsoever and what a bargain - managed to resist another alphabet a couple of weeks ago ***gold star for me***

I have a cuttlebug now but still have a sidekick that I let DD use :c)

Anglea

On the subject of getting organised, I went a bit mad this year and bought lots of different folders and files for my all round organising. Plus in the charity shops I got one of those greeting card books that have sections for each month with cards already in them. Most of the cards supplied were a bit strange :rolleyes: but a few of them can be used. So I've gone out and bought a whole lot of new cards to fit every occasion (I hope) but must admit I totally forgot about Father's Day. This year I'm trying to have lots of cards on standby in case I don't feel like making any. And I'm already in a 'wish I hadn't started it' dilemma with a birthday cross stitch.

Scattymam - I'm feeling all warm inside reading about your wrapping paper and those ribbons. That's reminded me. I never bother with nice wrapping techniques, ribbon etc, haven't done that in years. Never organised enough.

Mel- I've realised that I forgot to buy the sealed tin today, I went to the shop that sells them but it slipped my mind.

One idea I saw on the tv craft shopping was to make your decoupage design in advance (or whatever papercraft you are doing) and then store them in a box so they are ready for whenever you want to make a card. I never thought to do that before. What about the rest of you - do you make them in advance?

MadamMim2013

Hellooo, I'm mega chuffed with myself:D
Decided I was going to cross stitch a card for my friends wedding.... I started at midday... was nearly finished by 8pm ( but didn't do any between 3 and 6)
Will crack on in the morning and hope to finish it completely by tomorrow eve!! :rotfl:
Sorry just pleased with my determination, been meaning to do this for ages.... now I am! :T
Thanks to all you guys with your motivating tips!!!! :kisses:

Lucy_Lu_4

Hello everyone,

The thread was on page 8 when I last had a chance to read it, I can't believe how quickly it's progressing!

Mel - your photo makes are absolutely stunning.

Julie - thank you for all the Christmas pressie ideas.

My Rudolph Day will be Rudolph Eve Day on the 24th as that's a Sunday. I think I will update my birthday and Christmas present lists and revisit what I've bought people so far.

I went to Hobbycraft today and spent far too much money! I really shouldn't go in there!

I posted this on the crafting for Christmas thread ages ago but thought I'd post it here too...


I am in the process of making a Christmas folder. It's an arch ringbinder and is shiny and red (I thought it looked like a Christmassy colour although I will probably decorate it too!) and I bought it in the WHSmiths sale. In it I so far have a few sections:

- Information about being organised, planning and budgeting
- A list of shops I like to buy presents from and offers they have, eg M&S and Boots do 3 for 2 and I like the BHS Christmas shop which is also 20% off a lot of the time
- Lists of people I need to buy for, presents I want to make, etc
- A food and drink section - I am in the process of cutting out recipes from Christmas magazines
- A craft section of things I want to make and ideas of Christmas card designs
- A list of what I bought people last year and for their birthdays

If anyone else has done a similar thing or has any ideas of what else I could include I would love to hear from you.

The second thing I am working on is a present and budget Excel spreadsheet. I have no idea how to use Excel but my boyfriend is in the process of converting me, he has made me a chart that will list everyone I need to buy for, it will calculate how much I have spent on them and let me know when I am over or under budget. I have to say that it is very clever and he is right in saying that it will help control my spending. I am determined to either stick to my budget for each person but ideally I really want to come in under as we really need to save money. I am going to make presents this year as well and have boxes and jars saved already which is driving my boyfriend mad!

Following on from saving money and budgeting...
I find such great bargains and end up saving money on a particular item but knowing how cheaply I've bought things, I then carry on buying loads more presents for the same person. In the end I end up spending a lot more and giving them loads of presents! Does anyone else know what I mean and end up doing this too? I need to break the habit and am going to try to come in under budget for the amount I allocate people. I'm also going to try to train myself to imagine I've spent the full price or to imagine that it is worth more so when I do my budget I will save more money.

Giggle

Julie H I will definitely keep you encouraged in your mission and I wish you so much success for something that is very close to me too.. What did you do to raise all that money? I hope that everything goes ok and if you need any support please let me know x

Thank you i did a disco last year got the room for free and the disco for free so that was a great help. I had tea lights in lovely little glasses and everyone paid a £1.00 for them and they got a lables on the which said **in the memory of** and then they could write the persons name on there and they looked so nice all lit up on all the tables i put on some food and we had a raffle as well i may need help with the sticky lables again this year if anyone can help me with them as i just cant get the hang of them

smilelols

I love reading this thread so thought I'd join in!!
I've made all my Christmas cards (cross stitch them) and have bought about 90% of my Christmas pressies (boots 75% off sale is the best place to start). I've also been picking up bits in Marks and Spencers when they've been reduced.
Definatly need to get more organised with my lists - like the idea of a Christmas folder so might give that a go! As I really dont remember half of what I've bought (the cupboard and the space under my bed is groaning with the amount of 'bargains' I've picked up so far!

smilelols

You've inspired me and I've started trying to put together a folder to organise me for Christmas. So far the sections I have are: -
Presents
Christmas Cards
Cake recipes for work (i bake us treats over the Christmas period at work)
List of food I need to purchase for my friends 'Christmas meal day' - (usually held in at the beginnig of Dec)
List of food to get as 'contruibutions' (I spend Christmas with a friend so but food etc to take with me)

Any other areas I need to think about to get myself organised in??