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

mrsdrb

Hi all, as usual have been lurking a lot and picking up great ideas, thanks -you are all inspirational... I had posted a few days ago with my list of who to buy for, one I was looking ideas for was 10 year old niece who loves horses and also has a birthday soon after xmas.... was on tesco direct site, they have great sale on, picked lovely horse play set but by time i got to pay for it - it was sold out, went browsing on amazon and found this dress designer/ craft set, got great reviews, so ended up ordering 4, 1 for neice and rest will do for freinds daughters for xmas and/or birthday presents for dd1's mates over the next few months
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paper-Fashions-Klutz-Editors/dp/1570545340/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

so horse play thing yet to be identified, this kit thing will do for her b'day

also on amazon got some great books for younger nephews and friends kids, some of which were only pennies, ok postage was £2.75 for each book but still I am happy that I got some great books at fab prices

Monkey About with Chimp and Zee (Chimp & Zee)"
Laurence Anholt; Paperback; £0.01

"Clementine and Mungo"
Sarah Dyer; Paperback; £0.19

Chimp and Zee"
Laurence Anholt; Board book; £0.75

I'm Not Cute!"
Jonathan Allen; Board book; £1.35

Wibbly Pig Can Make a Tent"
Mick Inkpen; Board book; £0.43

"Wriggle and Roar!: Rhymes to Join in with"
Julia Donaldson; Paperback; £0.89


also this week I picked up my order from 2 weeks ago from tesco direct, had ordered an= Neo Hydrax Energy Base reduced from £28 ish to £14, was hard to tell from website what size this item was, so was not sure if it looked substantial or not, thankfully it is, so I will not need to get anything else to bulk it out or have to consider returning it, this present was for my godson so I like to put a bit more effort it


OH thankfully is seeing the sense in my bargain hunting, took the kids out the other day to our local shopping centre and came home with 4 boxes of really lovely xmas cards, 12 in each box, for grand total of £2. I was delighted, good to know I am not the only super keen bargain hunter


also got bop-it extreme game for dd1 on ebay for at least £5 cheaper than all other sources, tesco direct had some at half price, but again like my other purchase I spent so much time browsing on the site by the time I got to checkout they had all sold out

our next main purchase is dsi for dd1 - its a bit out of our budget of £100-120, but she is doing her 11+ exams around that time so we are being a bit more genorous, i am a bit worried about it being so pricey (at mo cheapest is amazon at circa £135), she has said she will take dslite it the dsi is too pricey, but i might ask my mum dad to help pay for dsi, so that we are not out so much money ... I am also going for any competition mentioned on the forum that has a dsi or dslite as a prize ... would be just fab to win one and not have to pay out so much on 1 item


re post on kids lunch boxes earlier, I have also been trying to source new ideas, tried 2 new things this week for kids to test out, mini-quiches and corn fritter things (tin sweetcorn, flour,eggs etc).... kids loved both so I will make up a few batches and freeze them...


so that's all for now, off to trawl net for more bargain/comps

Lucy_Lu_4

One for the boys... http://www.halfpriceperfumes.co.uk/clearance-65/clearance-for-him-105/homer-simpson-soap-on-a-rope-964.html

Lucy_Lu_4

An anti tabacco candle tin for £1.99 that also has a Christmassy scent, pefect present for a smoker, although it gives the impression you condone smoking which some people don't encourage if that makes sense - http://www.halfpriceperfumes.co.uk/gift-sets-2/gift-sets-for-her-19/price-s-anti-tobacco-candle-tin-orange-clove-4598.html

sarahf191979

Thanks for all the ideas Lucy Lu, I'm in a right old Flap got 2 days to organise a party aren't men just wonderful. Been having a look at bits and bobs that I already have in and made a list of what to get tomorrow. So hopefully will stay nice and thrifty lol... if i left it to OH he would go buy one of everything in tescos, and half would be wasted.

Got everything in to make a cake and sweets, just need Chocolate and fruit/ marshmallows for the choc fountain. Will get a couple of drinks offers from where ever i go shopping tomorrow, and will pinch some bottles of wine out of my mums homemade stash.

Hoping the weather will be nice then will be able to use outside. And I'm going to get the kids going on making some decorations after I have caught up online.

Think I'm getting my head around the initial shock now, now I'm just worrying about all the unfinished jobs around the house, but I'm sure no one will notice after a few drinks LOL :rotfl:

mary-op

Hi all................not had much time this weekend to do much -went to tescos this afternoon for mini pens for my post it note holders...........well, what a carry on ! My own fault...........should have got the pens first............some of them don't fit through the ribbon at the side very well and one I've got to re-do altogether.:mad:........ho-hum..............live and learn...........lol
At least I did get around to making a little gift bag for the coaster calendar and a purse for grandaughter.:j
Oh, and I finished off a notebook I'd covered with fabric.......put a flower on the front.......sets it off nicely so I'm pleased with that anyway.

tq16

Lucy_Lu wrote: »

I agree sammy_kaye, my nieces are getting the same girly bits so they don't fight.

We always spoil them and our nephews as we don't have children yet, they get a main 'big' present and little bits.

For their little bits I so far have the following x2 for the girls, aged 6 and 8....

Disney Princess colouring in pencils (Poundland)
Pink hair accessories set (Poundland)
Pink plastic beaker/glass (pound shop)
Disney Princess calculator (Poundland)
Nail varnish (charity shop)

I will buy more, wrap each present individually and will put them in a pink backpack which I will also wrap. I got the backpacks for £4.94 reduced from £10 in the Smiths sale. I thought the backpacks were a good idea rather than a hamper as they can reuse it and take it as their toy bag each when they go to their nan's. I have bought the backbacks in black as well and will do the same thing for our nephews.

This is the backpack - http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-Head+Backpack-33201399.html#

I am also making all four of them a craft box with crafty goodies in.

I spoke to soon saying I was better, I got worse again Thursday night and was sent home from work yesterday. Fingers crossed I am okay today, if I get worse again been told I have to go to hospital. I'll keep you all posted.

How about these- disney princess nail set reduced to £1.85
http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=1008&storeId=90&categoryId=18905&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=18901&top_category=18901&pageView=

Lucy_Lu_4

mary-op wrote: »

Oh, and I finished off a notebook I'd covered with fabric.......put a flower on the front.......sets it off nicely so I'm pleased with that anyway.

Mary, that sounds lovely.

Lucy_Lu_4

tq16 wrote: »

How about these- disney princess nail set reduced to £1.85
http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=1008&storeId=90&categoryId=18905&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=18901&top_category=18901&pageView=

Thank you tq16, they are fantastic! They will love that, thank you so much!

fedupandskint

Could I ask for a little help with some ideas please?

I am well on the way preparing for Christmas and am doing hampers for everyone and Christmas Eve ones too.

Mum and brother sorted

Mum is having a girls night in pamper hamper with hairdryer, numerous hair products, new hair brushes, shower cap, dressing gown and a new radio alarm clock

Brother is having a car care hamper and some skincare and bubblebath things with itunes card and a DAB radio to use when outside

OH I am stuck with he likes itunes and ipod, gone off sweets (likes haribo), he works away a lot, he likes nice skincare and shower stuff but has loads already In fact he doesn't really want for much apart from an xbox which I can't afford to buy. He likes yankee candles and what else? I thought a foodie hamper with some HM chilli jam in, HM truffles or splash out on some really nice ones

So far I have on my list

HM chilli jam/ new pepper grinder/ stir fry stuff - his favourite meal
Chocs/retro sweets jar
i tunes card (always likes, look out for an offer)
Yankee Candle
Skincare and shower gel
Photo album keepsake of our old dog who had to leave us behind this year
Going out shirt (has mentioned this)

Thought about a travel survival kit for when he works away, plus it is his birthday in Oct too and need some more ideas for this.

Any ideas to help?

You're all so helpful on here - I have pjs, flannel reindeer, snowman soup all in Christmas Eve hampers and everyone is getting a pot of gold too.

Many thanks

bunbun2

I have started thinking about my advent box for my 2 boys. this is what I have come up with so far:
advent calendar (my mum usually buys them one so hopefully she will this year!)
jar of jokes - thanks Sarah!
christmas book
choc coins
christmas DVD
post it note holder
coaster calendar
bonbons - thanks Mary! (I can't remember what you used them for but will look back)
choc lollipop
decorating the tree
christmas chocs
christmas quotes in a jar - thanks Sarah!
lush bath bomb
christmas mug
door hanger
reindeer food
making christmas cards
christmas eve hamper - pyjamas, DVD, popcorn/chocs

I will duplicate a few such as the chocs. last year I managed to make all 24 christmas related but not sure if I will be able to this year!
if anyone has any more ideas - the more the merrier!