Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2009- Santas Challenges

Lucy_Lu_4

Glad there are a few of us without kids!

Great challenge mum2one, I'll post mine when I've gone through it all.

I went shopping today and found some great finds that will interest you...

Red5 (kind of like the gadget shop and Menkind) has a sale on, I bought a lipstick pen for £2, was £3. This would be ideal for girly and pamper hampers.

Also in Red5 I bought astronaunt ice-cream for £3 (not in the sale). It is in a packet and ready to eat, neapolitan flavour and is "space technology" approved. I am going to give it to my boyfriend in his advent hamper but it would also make a great gift to go in the space themed hampers some people are doing.

Virgin Vie has a huge sale on, nearly all of the shop! I spoke to a sales assistant, Richard Branson has sold his part of the company so they can no longer use the name. For that reason, they are having to get rid of everything that has the V logo on it! There are two weeks left of the sale and they have to get rid of everything so go stock up girlies!

They had a lovely bluey-green necklace and bracelet set that was £45 now £10, earrings for £2, they had a make-up set that was £25 now £10, nail varnishes are reduced, bath stuff, make up, practically the whole shop.

I bought...

clubbing purses for girly hampers and presents, were £10.50 now £2.10 http://shop.vieathome.com/product.aspx?p=sale-sale-must-haves-clubbing-purse-black&id=14422&q=1&level1Id=641&level2Id=1015

A cocktail party bubble bath jar in cellophane and gift wrapped - was £10 now £4, this will be great for a girly or pamper hamper or a cocktail hamper
A red nail varnish that was £6.50 now £1.75
A necklace in a gift box and gift bag that was £15 now £5

Go stock up for girly presents! Here is the store locator: http://public.vieathome.com/how_do_you_like_to_shop/pages/store_locator.aspx
There are a few outlet stores, I'd love to go there, things would be even cheaper!

I haven't posted the sale link as there is hardly anything on it and it doesn't do them justice, you really need to go to a store. I went to Bluewater and practically the whole shop is reduced.

New Look have a set of two pairs of socks that are chocolate brown colour and soft pink with choclate lover type messages and pictures, you could split them and give a pair to one person and a pair to another and put them in chocolate hampers.

Lakeland have a sale on so if you are doing cooking hampers you might find some nice bits in there.

Lucy_Lu_4

Forgot to say, something made me really mad. I was paying for something and the woman said "would you be interested in having a loyalty card where you'll be given points each time you shop and a £5 gift voucher?" I said, "Is it a credit card?" and she replied yes. I couldn't believe it, I was fuming and I so nearly went into one. I know they try to get you to sign up to store credit cards but she was pitching it like a Boots loyalty card and didn't say it was a credit card, I thought it was so dishonest and misleading, I was not happy.

Sorry, rant over!

bravobeastie

Hi Lucy, where was that?

footballmanagerwidow

Evening all.

Picked up those Elle bags today from the sorting office I got off Ministry of Deals and they are fab! They were meant to be for SIL's Xmas but i'm having to pinch them to make up her birthday present instead...they're coming to stay with us next week and it's her birthday on Thursday so i'm going to do my very first hamper! Bought the cellophane off Ebay today so once that comes it'll be all done. Anyway, here's my mini challenge:

How many people to buy for? 14 (including DH & 3 sproglets)

Estimated Budget? £550

Actual spend? £15.50

Presents completed/half done/not started:


Completed: 0
Half Done: 4
Nothing Done: 10

Original/Proper cost of prezzies? £25.00ish

Lucy_Lu_4

bravobeastie wrote: »

Hi Lucy, where was that?

It was in Evans, I was not best pleased. They do size 14 clothes and some really nice bits, very up to date with trends and colours and some fab accessories.

Lucy_Lu_4

This website is fab! Christmas receipes, crafts, decorating, party planning, checklists and organising tips, stuff for kids, the lot! http://www.celebrating-christmas.com

Free downloadable Christmas 2008 magazine; reading this has really got me in the mood! You can also sign up to be told when you can download this year's version - http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/magazine.shtml

Free cake receipe downloads and Christmas computer bits - http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/freebies.shtml

Be warned, you'll be looking at the site for ages...

Lucy_Lu_4

Look how much they are charging for this!! We could do this ourselves, woud be a good idea for hampers - http://www.needapresent.com/shop/getSearchresults.aspx?rcp=51&sid=none

If you are nifty on the computer you could make this yourself, would look lovely in a frame - http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/personalised-magazine-cover

You could easily make this yourself and use sweets that look like tablets, eg smarties and tic tacs. You could design your own personal label and packaging and give medicine instructions lol. If you are doing it for women Poundland sell plastic pink tool boxes with a clear lid that has all the compartments and I've seen "medicine chocolate" in the supermarkets but again, you could buy a normal chocolate bar and design your own label - http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/first-aid-chocolate-box

This looks fab - would be great for cocktail hampers - http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/ice-shot-glasses

I wonder if this works! http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/grow-christmas-trees

sammy_kaye18

mary-op wrote: »

sammy -=you're scaring me with your countdowns............lol:eek: Keep thinking of yet more things I have to do:eek:

Lol - dont worry was sat attempting to do some cross stitch for my mums birthday present in November - how rude that her, her twin and my father in law all share a birthday - and cant seem to get motivated with it so in turn all my Xmas stuff is starting to suffer so I need the reminder to get my backside in gear!

sarahf191979

Knock Knock
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Igloo
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Igloo Suzie like I knew Suzie ... ![/SIZE]

sarahf191979

Great Links Lucy Lu, some more I have added to my Fav's and some more ideas for my craft list.