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

sarahf191979

hi everyone, hope your all ok, had a lovely week away spent all morning today shopping and washing, just gone through all my emails will catch up on here after tea. Glad to be home though, just thought i'd say hi.

Sarah
x

mary-op

Hi all
After back ache from yesterdays pantry clear out -even with young girl doing the bulk of it - I thought today would be an easy sitting down task so sorted out grandaughters presents for her birthday/christmas -already done it and forgot to pop bits in..............lol Then started on grandsons.........I'd got it all -just had to pack it into shoe box..........well, shoe box I'd done for him no way would all the christmas bits fit in so I've ended up with packing it all in a bigger box (covered in not such 'boyish' paper but can't see him worrying over that).............so got that all done and few bits that needed 'gift bags' before I put them in. Then started on his birthday...........I'd done him a noticeboard (old cork one I'd had from last year) and had to rummage around to find a box big enough for it to go it............managed in the end but gave up on the wrapping up..........was worn out by then.........................lol

98 -if you nip over to 'freebies board' and type in search box 'free name a star' and 'mars' the sites will more than likely come up.

3_cheeky_princesses - thats a long time to wait for an appoinment. Ring them up and complain about it..........or see your GP and get him to do it for you. Might have more clout coming from him. Good luck.

Well, only just logged on so off to see what else is happening in the virtual world...................lol:rotfl:

mum2one

Good evening ladies, hope ur ok,
will catch up later with the posts. xx

mum2one

SANTAS CHALLENGE – OCTOBER

This is a bit of a mix and match challenge, were getting nearer to Xmas, so have tried to cover one and all.


THE HALF TERM CHALLENGE –
(those without kids you don’t get out of this…. You just have less to do!)

KIDS ROOMS
Those magic places where shoes disappear, clothes find a black hole and disappear!!

THE TASK- TIDY THE ROOM
Generally younger children get given toys, clothes, older children have the I want list, XBOX, DS Games, Mobile Phones etc…

Joking aside Christmas is the main time new things end up in the bedroom, now the children are off school they have no excuse for tidying up, those toys, clothes, games etc they have grown out of,

SELL – Some items, ebay, local paper free adds, now the time to sell, as some people can’t afford new, but would snap your hand off for items.

SAVE – This may sound daft but I find if I sell DDs summer clothes espically swimwear in Feb, on ebay it sells.

RECYCLE – Charity shops, free-cycle or push comes to shove the bin.

LADIES – Apply the same principle to our bedrooms, there may be that dress we brought in the sale that jumped into our hands, and we never wore it.

Obviously the postal strikes – can and will affect ebay sales, so if we do ebay, sounds daft but mention the postal strike in the listing, as that your covered yourself in terms of any delays.



THE PANTRY – THE FOOD CUPBOARDS – FRIDGE – FREEZER

Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to clean them all, just have a quick check through, is there anything that may need desperately cleaning, any packaging split.

COOKING CHRISTMAS DINNER
I can’t take the credit for the saying, as it was one lovely lady who wrote it, and it was along the lines-
“It’s basically Sunday Lunch just a bit posher”
DON’T FEEL UNDER PRESSURE

CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS
This may sound daft, but now onwards is the best time to start getting dates in diaries –
1. What dates do the schools break up – is there a PT day.
2. Is there a nativity play
3. Am I being dragged alone to the school fete
4. GRAB A SPARE PRESENT – UR BOUND TO HAVE A BEGGING LETTER FOR A DONATION – SAFE BET AIM FOR SOMETHING FOR TOMBOLA - SMELLIES
5. Christmas arrangements with friends
6. SOUND DAFT – BUT – WHO HAVE YOU GOT COMEING FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER – OR ARE YOU GOING TO SOMEONES FOR CHRISTMAS


EMERGENCY LIST – TELEPHONE NUMBERS
I mean this in the nicest of ways – and I hope none of us have to use it.
OUT OF HOURS DOCTORS
CASUALTY DEPT
CHEMIST
WHICH CHEMIST IS DUTY CHEMIST OVER FESTIVE PERIOD – USUALLY 12-1PM/ 1-2PM
3 DIFFERENT TAXI FIRMS
DENTIST
OUT OF HOURS DENTIST ARRANGEMENTS


POSTAL STRIKE
Sorry to mention it again, but obviously strike action may be planned, and its all the backlog.

Christmas Cards, Presents – Maybe worth posting inbetween times, and letting the person know so they can keep an eye out.

PROMOTIONS/OFFERS
Obviously its not just us as individuals that are affected its businesses, but a lot of businesses are offering courier service at no extra charge, so my idea, if you have an email etc sent, or a special offer, hunt mine out, let us all know.

Hawkins bazaar – upgraded free to courier (if the postage strike contines)

Snapfish (photo-processing) – courier service (if postage strike continues) free of charge

Boots – free delievery over £45 or pick up from store (free – even if you don’t spend £45.

RACK YOUR BRAINS
It seems to be popular choice for xmas prezzies Hampers, now I was thinking of if we all pooled our ideas, then even if we don’t need them for this yr, we can always copy + file away.

Egs
Baby Hampers
Gardening
Travel
Teenagers
Food (NO JAMTART – NOT THE EXPENSIVE ONES!!)

If you have done a hamper and are willing to share contents and prices that would be brilliant, as me esp going down the hamper route (cheaper).

Hopefully we’re all ok, once I’ve got the all the xmas info back, dd will do her magic and will send you your partner in crimes name and their answers.

Xx

mary-op

mum2one -think I'm getting off lightly -no kids so don't have to worry about kids rooms..............do have to sort out our bedroom though.............summer stuff needs putting away so I know what I've got for winter (got rid of loads last year so hoping with the odd bits I've added from charity shops I'll have enough to 'ring the changes'.

Pantry - did that with help this week
Freezer - OH is sorting that out........load of meat been ordered so we need the space

Emergency list of phone numbers -what a good idea......we've normally got them anyway but still good reminder for some who might not have, especially which chemist might be open.

Presents are almost done............several boxes have got to the 'tied up with ribbon' stage...............the rest just need that.........boxed and tied up. Everything is there.
If I see anymore ideas on crafts thread I'll keep them for next year.

Postal service is a pain............Think I might just post a few parcels beginning of November then at least they'll be done. Might have to post more than normal depending on whether OH is well enough to go and see son and grandchildren. If not, have to post them all.

Should just be me and OH for christmas dinner, maybe the older lad we look after unless he goes to his brothers so no major panic over 'catering'.

(Patting self on back for feeling little bit organised..............:j Least I think so.............bet theres something/someone I'll have forgotten...........lol)

mary-op

98 - found the link for name a star :j

www.FreeNameAStar.com

ragz_2

Picked up the boys' main pressies in Argos today and ordered the last one from Tesco so that's them sorted apart from a few arty bits I need to pick up.

Re postal strikes, there won't be any in December as the government have told Royal Mail they aren't allowed to ruin Christmas! There may be a few more before then though, quite possibly next Saturday. (My brother's a postie).

Thanks Mum2one for the Santa's challenge, my boys' room is smelling mouldy and I need an excuse to sort out under their beds. Toys I'm leaving until nearer the time but I do have a mental list of what's going... I love the pre xmas Toy Cull...

mary-op

Well............kick myself up the backside.............:eek:
Here's me full of 'self praise' at being so bloomin' organised and I've forgotten all about the photo album for little grandson...........photos need copying and putting in - wrap it up so thats done..................plus I started on a christmas story for him and can't get my head round it...............:mad:
Serves me right for being so full of myself..............lol:rotfl:

98 - I found the link for the Mars thing but every time I try to add it my internet connection goes off................

Well, think I'd best go and do a bit of 'self analysis' - not as organised and clever as I thought............how embarassing.......................:rolleyes:

sarahf191979

Another Fab challenge and ideas mum2one. :j eventually caught up on all the posts on here (not done money nuetral yet though). Hugs to all who need them. Well done on your Job JS, and hugs to dd scattymam, hope she heals quickly. And welcome to all newbies.

Feeling a bit out of the loop after our week away, but feeling refreshed and all the cobwebs have been blown away so feel raring to go on the christmas front now. Just ordered 3 more bits for DS1 prop box just need to find something to put it in now. DS1 has also informed us this week he wants a green screen:eek: and FX software for his movie making so will have to look into that this week.

Right off to make another coffee and catch up on some more bits online.

take care

JaneLiz

Ooh, I've never seen these santa's challenges before. I get off pretty lightly considering I'm a teenager who obviously lives with her parents but going to do as much as I can!

Definitely need to tidy my room.. and get rid of old clothes too!