Christmas 09 Let's Get Organised!!

tobys_mummy_2

Anyone finished their shopping yet? I finished today (except for DS' bike which won't come into stock for another month) Woooooooo hooooooooo. Just gotta wrap it now.

I have spent a maximum of £5 per person or couple except for DS. I've been buying things in the sales throughout the year so it doesn't look like I've only spent £5 iyswim.

^!£$&

Just bought a 3 cd boxset of christmas songs from play for only £3.99
All original recordings too
http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/5574994/The-Best-Of-Christmas-75-Original-Recordings/Product.html

esmf73

I am toying with the idea of wrapping these up again for "Santa" to bring as DS has no idea that they are actually there. He is only 5 and will have his 6th birthday 2 weeks before Christmas, so December is pressie overload for him.
I do feel quite guilty though. Is this a bit stingy or am I just being daft! I'm going to do it anyway!![/QUOTE]


DEFINATELY wrap them!!!! Or use them as gifts from you! I've done just that this year for my boys. 5 and 4. Their stocking fillers are sharpened pencils and colouring books that they've had for ages and just not used - or used one page which I've ripped out!! Luckily my lads seem to like the Value exercise books and a pencil. So that's what I've done this year.

I've told my mum to look through charity shops for board games which she can wrap and give them, and as she gave us some vouchers last year which we've not used I've offered them back to her so she can buy us presents with them this year.

I have already sorted through my kids toys and recycled half of them to the local charity shop / ebay. And my OH is getting things that he doesn't know he already has (he has so much junk!).

I think its a great idea - they'll never know.:T:T:T

cyclingyorkie

tryingtobegood wrote: »

Hi all, I'm new to this thread so I'm starting to read my way through it (backwards :rotfl:)
Like a lot of people I'm going to be struggling a bit as I had to raid the Christmas savings pot to pay for car stuff... I had actually thought I was quite well oraganised as I've been saving £10/week since January:mad:. What's done is done.
Last year my DS and DD were completely overwhelmed by the amount of presents that they got from Santa and family to the extent that I put a lot away on top of the wardrobe as they got far too much. I have been bringing some out throughout the year and still have 2 games (Operation and Twister) and 3 boys character packs which were all given as gifts from various family members. I am toying with the idea of wrapping these up again for "Santa" to bring as DS has no idea that they are actually there. He is only 5 and will have his 6th birthday 2 weeks before Christmas, so December is pressie overload for him.
I do feel quite guilty though. Is this a bit stingy or am I just being daft! I'm going to do it anyway!!

just do it!

ds is 17 - and believe me it's not long before they want playstations etc.

he really only wants cash now! Not much to open at christmas - enjoy whilst you can!

victory

how much cash are you giving to your DS 17? It is just that mine turned 16 this year and is demanding:rotfl: money for xmas as well as wrapped presents:rolleyes: I said up to £100 is fair enough and he goes on and on that so and so gets £500 that £100 is only 2 xbox games and a bit of change that it gets nothing etc:rolleyes: ungrateful :rolleyes:

cyclingyorkie

he wants some money to go to Spain on holiday next year - haven't decided yet how much I will give him......

he works part time at MacDonalds - and I am just getting him used to the fact that he has to pay for his stuff!

he does moan that mates get more - i point out that a games console will be useless if we are on the street - the mortgage and bills come first!

victory

I am having huge probs with him turning 16, he has decided he is now a man and is entitled to everything that is without a part time job because he can't find the time to get one with all the weekend football matches he goes to do, so it is demanding for free, any money he does get is free of bills and throw away money for his xbox games or whatever so he is loosing the value, he needs to get off his butt and get a job:D

cdsmiler

wannabepennypincher wrote: »

Bought my very first present today! Got a little disheartened as my nephew and oldest niece were being complete brats about the presents I got him for his birthday as I put together some £3 DVDs and a helicopter and lifeboat from asda that were about £6 and my sister stuck up for them by saying they knew that they were cheap on there own and she usually got them things like when she went shopping and they normally got a really big toy for birthdays. He also refused to even look at the cake I made him as his mum already "got one she paid for" so the hampers I had planned for them with a gingerbread house and homemade sweets is now a tenner in a card x3 (oldest niece,nephew and sister).

Oh my word. Like someone else said, she'll regret that attitude when they're teenagers! Spoilt little....

tryingtobegood wrote: »

Last year my DS and DD were completely overwhelmed by the amount of presents that they got from Santa and family to the extent that I put a lot away on top of the wardrobe as they got far too much. I have been bringing some out throughout the year and still have 2 games (Operation and Twister) and 3 boys character packs which were all given as gifts from various family members. I am toying with the idea of wrapping these up again for "Santa" to bring as DS has no idea that they are actually there. He is only 5 and will have his 6th birthday 2 weeks before Christmas, so December is pressie overload for him.
I do feel quite guilty though. Is this a bit stingy or am I just being daft! I'm going to do it anyway!!

No, sounds like a good plan to me. My first baby is due this December, and I'm already thinking about future years and the balancing of pressies for birthday and christmas. It'll either be overload, or people saying "Oh well, think of it as a joint pressie for Christmas and Birthday"!

Oh, I've just been looking at my speadsheet of christmas buying, and although there's a fair old way to go, we've so far spent £177 but the RRP for everything totals as over £600!!! Wow! Looks good when it's written like that doesn't it!! lol

Clare x

pir

wannabepennypincher wrote: »

Bought my very first present today! Got a little disheartened as my nephew and oldest niece were being complete brats about the presents I got him for his birthday as I put together some £3 DVDs and a helicopter and lifeboat from asda that were about £6 and my sister stuck up for them by saying they knew that they were cheap on there own and she usually got them things like when she went shopping and they normally got a really big toy for birthdays. He also refused to even look at the cake I made him as his mum already "got one she paid for" so the hampers I had planned for them with a gingerbread house and homemade sweets is now a tenner in a card x3 (oldest niece,nephew and sister).

What ages are the brats? I think that is behaviour that has been learnt from the parents.

queenb1981

Ruth_honey wrote: »

Money_maker wrote: »

I've just got to know where you can get this pasta from - please!QUOTE]

It was IKEA. In the food shop after the checkout. Haven't been there in a while, so not sure if they're doing it this year. If I go and they have, I'll post on here. They were cute!

They are selling that pasta again, i got some on sunday