Christmas 09 Let's Get Organised!!

bubblegumcola

Hi everyone, a newbie to this thread. Some brill ideas.

I have only just started to pick up a few bits and pieces for Xmas pressies this week but I need to make a list. Last year I already had my youngest DS his main pressies but I have no idea this year!!

So far I have got the Top Gear amphibious car book for SIL's son
a different book for my middle son - both from Home Bargains. Also got my middle son a Jurassic Park triple Dvd pack from Sainsburys for a fiver.

I am liking the idea of themed hampers for everyone, you can get so many different wee wicker boxes and I was thinking you get some nice plastic ones with lids. Some of the character ones might be nice for kids? Has to be cheap though!!!

Our local school makes reindeer food for sale every year so I knew about that one.

Before I had my dear children my dad and his other half used to make me up a hamper every year of nice tins and boxes from M&S. They used to get a wee box and wrap it in Xmas paper and put tissue paper in amongst all the goodies. I always appreciated it as I knew they spent the time picking the items in the box themselves.

Think my next shopping trip will be on the search for various sizes of boxes!

ragz_2

Wondering if anyone can help me, it's my best friend's birthday a week tomorrow and she has said all she wants is a batch of my homemade brownies! I thought I'd also like to get a nice jar/tin/box to give tem in as then she can re-use it...
Any suggestions on where to get one?
I had found a lovely black Rayware biscuit jar in Co-Op half price but only had pushchair so couldn't carry it. When I went back in MIL's car a few days later they'd all gone

cdsmiler

dori2o wrote: »

We're thinking of what to get my FIL, my wife has no idea, but he likes fishing, but is always complaining about his head being cold. I thought of a beanie hat, then I saw one that had been Crochered. My wife is not the craft type, so I thought I'd give it a go. Told her and she's not stopped laughing since. Not because I can't/wouldn';t be able to do it, but because I'm a man, and she can't imagine me sat in my chair crochering.(sp).

Good for you dori2o!! You have a go!

ragz wrote: »

http://www.professionalfundraising.co.uk/home/content.php?id=1925&pg=2&cat=2

oh dear, they'd HATE us lot then!

Oh seriously - some people need to get a life. WHy protest over early sales of Christmas cards?? Why can't they put their energy into something more worthwhile?!?!

princesswoo wrote: »

Im still here, it was a false alarm with my waters, so i have been taking it easy today,

Thanks for the update!! you take it easy!

Big hello to all the newbies!

Got excited this morning as I had an email from Hawkins Bazaar telling me about their Christmas stock!! Woooo!

Also, on the drive in to work, the weather just reminded me SO much of proper Autumn weather - you know, quite bright (started raining now, hey ho!), chilly, and gives you that feeling that Halloween, 5th November and Christmas are all on their way!! I LOVE this time of year. Autumns the best.

Bit behind with Christmas shopping really - been doing major painting work this week as we're having new carpets fitted today. After this weekend though, I can concentrate a bit more on Christmas stuff. Saying that, I have just bought a pressie for my Mum off Amazon - Torchwood series 2 DVD - for just over £7 - should have been around £17 but had a voucher, and if you look at the RRP it SHOULD be £49.99!! Yeah right, like it would EVER get sold at that price. But still, on my nifty spreadsheet, it's been put in as 'Actual Spend £7.?? (whatever it was)', 'Should Have Been £49.99' Looks great when you compare should have been and actual totals! lol

Anyway, I'm off to look at little gifts I could put into home made crackers. Since we're not contributing much food wise to the family gatherings this Christmas (baby's fault!!), I'm going to make some personalised crackers. Granted, I'm using kits, but at 99pm for a set of 6, including hats, jokes, stickers etc, it's worth it!!

Clare x

cheesy*wotsit

fedupandskint wrote: »

...I have a budget of between £75-100 pp and I only have 3 people to buy for so this is do able for me,

From this thread I have shopped much more wisely and have bought half of 2 people's presents and I know what to get for the rest of theirs. Home Bargains has been a revelation it is so cheap - do you have one close by?

I don't mean to be partronising at all, just helpful and MS

Oh my god. I've only got a budget of £20 pp. Where do people get their money from? Its a shame because I run on the 'its the thought that counts' but I have various label snobs :rolleyes: to buy for and I can see their faces drop when they open a present from me. I dont know whether its that Im gubbins at picking gifts, or they are actually snobs?
I really need some help this year because Im not 'crafty' or 'diy-ish' but need to get some pressies that have that 'wow' factor for as little as possible. I have a poundland, instore and home bargains near me. Help please.

Claire_Bear

Regularly go to Poundland, they sometimes have really good branded make up and toiletries in there like Rimmel and Maybelline, maybe make a little hamper up for people. They look super expensive nd impressive and can be done for very little money. And the best part is that you don't have to be really arty or crafty to make them look good.

yippee_kye_yay

cheesy*wotsit wrote: »

Oh my god. I've only got a budget of £20 pp. Where do people get their money from? Its a shame because I run on the 'its the thought that counts' but I have various label snobs :rolleyes: to buy for and I can see their faces drop when they open a present from me. I dont know whether its that Im gubbins at picking gifts, or they are actually snobs?
I really need some help this year because Im not 'crafty' or 'diy-ish' but need to get some pressies that have that 'wow' factor for as little as possible. I have a poundland, instore and home bargains near me. Help please.

have you heard about the boots botanics and no 7 products hiding behind the pink 'pure' labels in the poundland? i got 5 of the botanics which i will stick in a basket for dads gf it has a rrp of over £25!!!

^!£$&

Any relatives who are fans of Jamie Oliver his new book released this week is less than half price at waterstones just £9.99 with free delivery to store! Picking up one of these for my parents!!


Dont forget quidco is 8%

dizzytina

yippee_kye_yay wrote: »

have you heard about the boots botanics and no 7 products hiding behind the pink 'pure' labels in the poundland? i got 5 of the botanics which i will stick in a basket for dads gf it has a rrp of over £25!!!

Do you mean poundland have No7 and botanics and they put a pink label with pure written on it over the top ? If so i am going straight down there. i love No.7 and botanics. what are the products ? creams, bath stuff? ooooh i'm all excited now or am i just being very blonde and have i read it wrong:rotfl:

yippee_kye_yay

no your right! there was only one no7 that i am aware of, its a fabously firming cream (was called firming something or other on the pure label) the botanics were, a body souffle, moisterising lotion, hand and nails cream, revitalising mask and i cant remember the other one, something for the bath i think.

pollywiggle

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Hi everyone!!!

Can I join in?

Xmas is a nightmare for me!!!! Last year I spent about £3-4000 and thanks to that Im now on a DMP :eek: :rolleyes: Unfortunately mum and dad have spent a fortune on me (us) and our main pressie - a cooker - came the other day. But last year I bought them 13 presents each (:eek:) so this year Im going to buy them a fairly big joint present and Im being strict in saying 4 small presents each only.

Im buying them a digital camcorder (they have everything else. OH suggested a DAB radio but unfortunately while Mum would like it as she loves her music, Dad is deaf so that kind of defeats the object a bit methinks!) But I've done some shopping around and found a really nice Samsung one for £149 in Currys, so going with that I think.
Doing a 'pink smellies hamper' for Mum (also sister) One of the girls I work with is doing Virgin Vie so have ordered some nice pink shower gel from her, plus I bought two cheap pink bath scrunchies from Superdrug, two travel-sized tubes of Soap and Glory handcream, two Vaseline Rose lipbalm pots (Advantage Points are a wonderful thing :rotfl:) two slices of pink Rock Star soap from Lush, and two Per Una bodysprays (bargain - £3 each) also Vera Wang handcream for mum (its pricey but Mum loves it - £13, anyone know where I can find it cheaper?) plus a necklace and earrings set (I get her one every year, probably from Bon Marche, I got her a lovely one last year for £7) and her Lindt Lindor choccies which I get nearer the time.
Brother and BIL will get the same as every year - random Lynx-type sets from Boots (like I say, arent Advantage Points great???) :rotfl:
Niece number 1 - three cans of Impulse, a make-up bag and some Hello Kitty toiletries - DONE!!
Niece number 2 - WH Smith voucher.
Nephew number 1 and 2 - Anyone any ideas on Dr Who bits??? Please??? I cant stand the blasted programme so I dont have a CLUE. I usually end up buying them bubble bath figures every year - nephew number 1 is 11 and nephew number 2 is 8.
Nephew number 3 - Fenwicks voucher.
Dad - have bought him 5 pairs of fresh feet type socks, plus will get him a bottle of whisky and some glasses. Mum has bought him a Nintendo games thingy (dsi? where do I get cheap games for this????)
SIL - pass. I bought her a silver lighter last year but no idea for this year?
Best mate - again, god knows! She has everything. Suggestions could be good!
OH is getting a multi-region DVD player, plus his usual pyjamas/Lynx shower gel/Game voucher/rugby top.

Im not as organised as some - the thought of Xmas is filling me with dread! My job means its difficult for me to get to town so I usually have to get everything in one fell swoop which is worse.

On the Book people website they have a Dr Who Funfax for £1 (was £4.99) & a Dr Who Storybook for £1 (was £7.99) both suitable for 7-9 yrs.