Christmas 09 Let's Get Organised!!

teacherandmum

thought i'd jump in with my budget for this year

£20 each for mum, dad, bro, sis, BIL, nephew, best buddy x 2, work secret santa (we have no contact with DH family so no spends on them)

£100 usually on dh (getting him a pine rocking chair for the library this year from local furniture shop(that sounds posh but it;s more like an oversized cupboard)

£50 to £100 on DD - going to get some small play stuff like dolls house etc from e bay i think and perhaps a dressing up box? usually get one big present from us and then colouring books and cheapy bits for stocking.

DH and i both put £20 a month into a xmas account which we use to buy presents, cards and paper and any left gets spent on a night out or food for christmas day etc

SazM030306

teacherandmum wrote: »

£100 usually on dh (getting him a pine rocking chair for the library this year from local furniture shop(that sounds posh but it;s more like an oversized cupboard)

I was just trying to work out how a rocking chair could look like an oversized cupboard...then I got you
It's late LOL I'm off to bed now..xxx

pretzelnut

If anyone has a THORNTONS outlet centre near them or an outlet centre with a thorntons they do chocolate coins for 35p a bag i remember getting about 10 bags a few weeks back, dates go to feb 2010 i think.

I am now disappearing for a week or so to have my daughter, she's not due to be born till thursday afternoon (c-section) but i'll be too busy tommorrow getting the last few bits ready to pop on. I'll get DF to pop on and give you all an update as soon as he can. Catch you soon ladies - hope i dont miss any good bargains in the meantime.

Claire_Bear

Good luck! Hope everything goes smoothly for you and see you when you get back. Lots of hugs and good wishes for you and baby girl :j

Mrs_Ryan

More bargains today - yay! courtesy of avon online's very good sale section.

Necklace for mum - was £7 now £4; gorgeous silver desk clock with butterfly for SIL - was £10 now £6 - yay!!

Also found pressie for Dad - book about Newcastle United's Fairs Cup win in 1969 (he went to the final leg at St James Park and took my mum when they were courting ) 14.99 plus postage on official NUFC website, on Amazon £11.49 with free postage :j

fedupandskint

Good luck princess and I hope it all goes well for you and your new daughter! Thanks for the Thorntons tips regarding chocolate coins.

If anyone has a poundstretcher near them they are selling large bags of Wherthers for £1 (numerous varieties) useful for pots of gold

Does anyone know where I could buy a reasonable priced men's umbrella that is decent quality?

Also I want to put together a food hamper for OH and try for a stir fry theme (minus the wok as has a nice one already) but I am struggling to think of things to go in apart from sweet chilli sauce that I am going to make myself from a nigella recipe any ideas?

^!£$&

MummyYummy wrote: »

I've just caught up on this thread and I am SOOOOOOOOOO excited!! :rotfl:

Quick update on what I've still got to get/make:

Pyjamas/slippers/dressing gown for DS

Vouchers for my grandparents (Marks & Spencer - does anyone know if there is a expiry on these? Could I buy them now and they still be ok to use after Xmas?)

Blockbuster voucher for my mum and step-dad's movie hamper (again does anyone know about expiry?)

An Amazon voucher and new top (to go with the jeans I've already bought) for OH

5x Chocolate slabs

2x Plum and almond chutney

2x Apple and ginger chutney

A few snacks for my movie hampers

A gift (maybe homemade) for DS keyworker

Cello wrap and tissue paper

I think thats it :T

I will take some photos of the hampers I have already made - although they aren't wrapped yet.

Hi Re: the Blockbuster Voucher (I work there as my 2nd job) and its all an electronic giftcard system like next etc now since the paper vouchers were phased out last year. The old style paper ones didnt have an expiry and I am 99% sure the giftcards dont have either!
Put it this way in my 5yrs of working there I have never refused a gift card due to it being expired, but I can double check for you when I go in this weekend!

Money_maker

Good luck Princesswoo - be nice to see a couple of piccys of your new daughter when you're back

Pictures of children all dressed up for Christmas make lovely cards, gifts in a frame or calendars.

little_miss_moneysaver_3

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Little_Miss --- Saw some green red and white candy canes in morrisons today.

Thanks Sammy_Kaye, only just read this, all these Christmas threads are thriving!! Trying to remember where our local Morrisons is. Hmm will ask OH later

shelley_crow wrote: »

Just spotted chocolate coins at Tesco, £1.99 BOGOF, could prob get them cheaper elsewhere but it's the first lot of xmas stuff I have seen in the shops x

Shelly_Crow - great! I definately know where our tescos is. The ones I got in Hobbycraft were 99p a bag, and were Cadburys Will drag OH shopping tonight and see.

He's not enjoying my organisation and our front room disappeared under paper, red pom poms and half my craft cupboard, then when he gets home I need to go out for something I don't have! Ah Bah humbug to him.

Good luck Princesswoo, hope all goes well for you. And of course a nice piccy

cheesy*wotsit

kingshir wrote: »

I made my Christmas cake at the weekend and we've already eaten the 'taster' one:eek: Wish I'd made 2 to sample:p

Kingshir: I'm making mine this weekend, but need to know if poundland/equivalent do baking tins, etc? Not been in my new one yet.

Janeym8: I've never made an Xmas cake before but Morrisons have a freeby mag you pick up at the till and this month's (Sept/Oct) has a recipe in so you might find that useful? Don't know what it's like but that's the one I'm using.