Christmas 09 Let's Get Organised!!

pretzelnut

I never used to get a lot as a child for xmas, we weren't very rich in fact we grew up on a council estate in a single parent family and my mum was quite poor compared to other residents as back then there was no benefits for working single mums unlike today.

Not that there is anything wrong with growing up on a council estate i lived on one for 18 years and loved every minute of it, but back then some 28 years ago - times were very hard. Which i can fully appreciate now i'm an adult although i didnt understand it at all when i was little.

For xmas i usually got a doll and some new clothes. As i got older i got board games, pen's & paper and clothes. When i was 8 i got a second hand black and white Tv for xmas - one where you had to turn the dial to change channel.

When i was 9 we had the best christmas ever for presents - although it was a very sad christmas as my grandad who i adored died a few weeks before. But in his will he had left all his insurance money to us his grandkids with strict instructions that we were to be spoilt for christmas, and we were.

When i was 12 my mum bought me a cd player - the year that whigfields saturday night was released and then said that she couldnt afford to buy me any cd's to play on it, how daft was that? But back then they were about £16 an album. And £5-6 for a single.

But by the time i was about 13 things started to pick up for my mum financially and i then got £100 to spend in the sales plus a selection box.

When i was very little i never asked for anything as i soon learnt that i probably wouldnt get it, but what i did get i appreciated as i knew it's all my mum could afford.

I used to get really disheartened when other kids got bikes, games consoles and every else you could imagine all at once and they just took it for granted cos they were spoilt.

I remember 1 year when i went back to school in january i lied like hell about what i got so that i didnt get bullied by the other kids for being poor. As it was my 1st christmas at secondary school and things were totally different at secondary school.

But i DONT remember many if any of the presents i got, i remember the day and the fun we had around the dinner table, because even though we had little money christmas was always made special as we were surrounded by family and happy memories. And happy memories are 1 thing that you cant buy no matter how much money you have.

KK22_2

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this thread! I thought I was doing well starting to get organised in October but you've all put me to shame haha! I'm doing some hampers for everyone this year as money is a tight and I really liked some of the ideas that i have seen on the hamper thread.

I was wondering if anyone has seen any cheap cocktail related items on their travels. Looking for all sorts of items really, shaker, decorations etc. I have glasses already but that's about it. I know of a few places but want to price a few other shops before I buy.

TIA for any help

Claire_Bear

Register with Vodkat, they have an instant-win competition to win a cocktail kit, I know a lot of people (myself included) have won one It has a cocktail shaker in it, four flashing ice cubes, 4 vodkat stirrers, and two packets of table confetti

Link here http://www.vodkatparty.com/Page/Competition.aspx

Good luck!

JordanShannon

Hi girls,

I got a right bargain today was in Morrisons and saw a Laptop lap tray with drinks holder and light attached for £10 looked at the tag and saw that it was reduced to £7.89 - thought great i'm quids in took it to the check out and came up at £4.89!!! :eek::eek: how good is that!! Perfect for my grandad who is a computer freak
Also went into Sainsbury's and brought The Stiggy Bank (Top Gear Piggy Bank) for £5, worthers for 98p, large chocolate coins 35p each and a bag of chocolate coins for £1!!!
To put the icing on the cake i also have a stall at a Childbirth Charity Event to sell my nappy cakes this Saturday!!!! I'm so excited trying to plan out what i still need to do

All in all a very productive and positive day!!!
Will catch up soon after i've had some sleep as have to be up bright and early tomorrow morning

JS
xx

Ang2664

Anyone doing cocktail hampers - In our Asda, in their £1 section, I picked up some cocktail accessory sets; bottle purers, plastic ice cubes, umberellas, swizzel stick.spoons and straws I think. There are about 45 pieces in each pack I think (they are upstairs "hiding" at the moment).

Mrs_Ryan

Just a quick question - doing a pink smellies hamper for Mum and sis, got some lovely stuff but what do I put it in this is the first time I've done anything like this!

victory

moromir wrote: »

I have been reading the hamper threads with interest but I was wondering - where do you all source these nice wicker baskets? (some even have a beige liner with ties) cheaply enough to keep them economical? I looked in Wilkinsons website and even there I'd be looking at a significant cost if I wanted to make a few hampers, does anyone have any ideas of where else I could look?

Thanks

I bought all mine on sunday at the car boot sale, no more than 30p each and the massive ones were 50p each, all the ones I saw I bought so now I have loads but also got some in the sale last jan at wilkinsons:D

jemtom

mrs ryan - you coud buy wicker baskets or boxes, apart from my aunties and uncles im using my avon boxes which orders come in and wrapping them with x-mas paper.

victory

http://www.ehow.com/video_4437553_choose-right-size-gift-basket.html
fabulousd step by step guide of choosing baskets, making them, what to put in, how to use the cellophane go have a look very helpful:D

SazM030306

Claire_Bear wrote: »

Register with Vodkat, they have an instant-win competition to win a cocktail kit, I know a lot of people (myself included) have won one It has a cocktail shaker in it, four flashing ice cubes, 4 vodkat stirrers, and two packets of table confetti

Link here http://www.vodkatparty.com/Page/Competition.aspx

Good luck!

Thank you for this, I just won!!! xxx