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

mandragora_2

Well, this year, for the first time in decades, I started to put little gifty purchases away towards Christmas and other occasions that might come up as the year went on - in part to be thrifty, but also because we live miles out and it's nice not to have to flog into town just to buy one thing.

It paid off today, when, cutting a long story short, I was looking to give a little 'something' to cheer up a work colleague who's having a hard time at the moment. At 11 pm last night I had a quick rattle through the pressie drawer and found a pretty tin that someone had given us for Christmas and that I'd squirreled away as it just isn't the sort of thing we use. I'd completely forgotten about it, but the design on the tin was of something that I knew she'd love. So, I wrapped it up, put them on her desk - and she was delighted. Mind you, I hope she doesn't read this board, as she'd realise just what a skinflint I really am!!

mum2one

I know I have previuosly, raved about halfcost, but the latest parcel I have recieved is appalling, have emailed customer services and am waiting...

Ordered a mix + match parcel, including 12 vodka sets, parcel came today, very exicted.

The address label was correct.
The invoice correct - was miffed to see sticker saying vodka out of stock, fair enough, its happened before and theyve refunded.

The actual parcel contained-
4 x boxes dolphin wall plaques, as soon as I lifted the boxes, they all rattled, smashed to pieces

2 x princess compact mirrors

1 x size 8 pink top.

None of these items were on my order.....

OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING VERY DODGY HAS GONE ON,

Its the 1st incident I've had, but enough to cause concern.

cdsmiler

Good luck Lucy!! Have fun and I'm hoping you're feeling better for it!!

And thanks for the warning mum2one about Halfcost. Let us know how you get on with customer services!

Clare x

vikki_louise

i've had an idea for a hamper (or something like that,) for my mums goddaughter. She is off to uni in Ocotober and thought her xmas present could all be thinks to survive/get through/make like easier at uni.

Does anyone have ANY ideas? I don't! just thought of a few sachets of hot chocolate and some miniture packs of biscuits, what else though? Hopefully she will be very happy there but it would be nice to have things there for little luxuries, especially if shes feeling home sick like some people do

bluestarrz

From my time at uni i know i lived on coffee! Lots of it, so how about different types of coffee if she drinks it? One of those big mugs to hold the sachets in and some chocolate for comfort eating lol! If she doesn't drink coffee, maybe some energy drinks even as a joke? It depends what kind of friend she is really!

If she has a good sense of humour and enjoys going out a lot I'd make some night out tags - a tag with ribbon long enough to go aroundher neck like a chain saying funny things like: "Please return to lost property" etc.. I would then add some drinks miniatures, maybe a drinking games book to play with her new friends and a photo album?

If she is a bit quieter and prefers to study how about an academic diary -either handmade or bought, a post it note holder - this can be handmade easily- right now on the crafting thread they show you how to make them look great! a bookmark - again homemade with a nice quote or even a photo on it?

If you are not entirely sure what she might like then maybe some nice notebooks and pens? can never have too many of those...

Hope that's been some help to you I'll try and think of more, x

NickyBo_2

vikki_louise wrote: »

i've had an idea for a hamper (or something like that,) for my mums goddaughter. She is off to uni in Ocotober and thought her xmas present could all be thinks to survive/get through/make like easier at uni.

Does anyone have ANY ideas? I don't! just thought of a few sachets of hot chocolate and some miniture packs of biscuits, what else though? Hopefully she will be very happy there but it would be nice to have things there for little luxuries, especially if shes feeling home sick like some people do

What a lovely idea

Hmmm, I think definitely include some paracetamol! Also I recommend some throat sweets and Lemsip as I caught so many colds in my first few months at University. Also a pack of tisues. In fact, maybe a little first aid kit with plasters etc.

How about a little padlock and key set? In our shared kitchen we each had a little cupboard for food and we were told to keep it locked as people pinch food :rolleyes:

Writing paper and stamps so she can keep in touch with family and friends?

A nice little photo frame so she can have a photo of family/friends.

Little luxuries like nice shower gel, body lotion, hair stuff as she probably won't be able to afford them anymore

Hope that helps!

NickyBo_2

Has anyone ever tried to paint a tin? I was thinking of painting a big Roses chocolate tin and using it instead of a basket to make a hamper. Just wondered if anyone had tried it and if so, which paints work best?

SugarSpun

Thanks to the fairies for sending me topcashback referrals - I'm going with the first fairy but will try my other email addresses for the other two and see if anything happy happens

sarahf191979

NickyBo wrote: »

Has anyone ever tried to paint a tin? I was thinking of painting a big Roses chocolate tin and using it instead of a basket to make a hamper. Just wondered if anyone had tried it and if so, which paints work best?

No not tried painting, but have used PVA glue and small pictures to make a collage on one that worked pretty well, suppose you could use christmas pictures and do it that way.

HTH

sarahx

scattymam1

Nickybo - I find the paint chips easily and leaves a mess - I think you can get special spray but this costs a fortune and you have to think was it worth paying that to decorate a tin when you could have bought a nice basket for the same money as the spray.

I often wrap boxes in christmas wrap and then fill the boxes but have you seen rainmacs tin...she has used scrap booking paper...any patterned paper would do...have a look - it's on another thread here on mse - link below:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GXbSA2eDVWA/SqD_iH0XmiI/AAAAAAAAE3E/-jGKRrDzoDo/s1600-h/IMGP4424.JPG