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

queenb1981

just bought the kids their christmas eve pjs in next clearance, they were only £4, so thats another 3 things to tick off list

ellemm

Hi all, still catching up on the last couple of days posts as having computer problems but there seems to be plenty of activity on here! Lots of bright ideas as always.

In the last couple of days I have made toffee vodka, tastes lovely although strong!-just need to bottle some now and today made a batch of apricot & orange chutney.

Still picking up bits & pieces for hampers etc. Bought 4 books in WH Smith today - they are doing bogof on their top paperbacks - that promo finishes tomorrow apparently - got 2 and another 2 at buy one get one half price. I would have bought more but didn't see anything else I fancied.

Also got a DVD storage box (for movie nights hamper) half price. Total came to £17.97 but used a £10 voucher so a fair haul for just under £8.

A quick look round Poundland and I spotted wee plastic baskets (think they're for clothes pegs really) but thought they would do for the grandchildren for bits and bobs so bought 4 - 2 pink, 1 blue and 1 green

Then popped over to M&S-bought a game and two toiletry items, full price £18.50, reduced to £9 and a new pastry brush for £1.50 - again used a £10 voucher..so only spent 50p - was very well pleased. (It's an M&S outlet store hence the reductions)

I had to head for home then as couldn't carry any more :rotfl:

chocolate.orange_2

footballmanagerwidow wrote: »

Evening all!

Was just typing "organised christmas" into google as i'd never even heard of the site until I read about it on this thread and ended up stumbling across the most brilliant site called "organised mum" - you've probably all seen their stuff before but they sell lovely diaries with meal plan sections and loads of other little gorgeous bits and pieces. Anyway, to cut a long story short - I went looking for a website that could save me some money and instead found one that ended up costing me £25...bloody typical! LOL.

I had a family life planner last year and just had this years delivered. I love their products. I would be lost without my family life planner

What did you get ?

Lucy_Lu_4

footballmanagerwidow wrote: »

Hi all!

I am sporadic poster and lurker on the OS board and I stumbled across this wonderful thread accidently this morning. I am one of those people that have many good intentions to start organising for Xmas well in advance but it always seems to fall by the wayside and I end up cramming it all in in the 2 weeks before! This year it NEEDS to be different....as you can see from my sig we have baby number 4 due Xmas day, so it's gonna be really difficult to be as disorganised as I usually am. Does anyone have any tips on keeping motivated? I'm really keen to put together some hamper type presents for family - any tips on these would be welcome too.

Well, I look forward to getting to know some of you hopefully!

FMW x

Welcome FMW.

Here are some hamper ideas:

Baskets

I get my hamper baskets from Wilkinsons for £3: http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Bathroom-Storage/Wicker-Basket/invt/0166779

I find this size fits my needs perfectly although they do do a smaller one but I personally think it's too small and this picture is deceiving: http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Bathroom-Storage/Wilko-Basket-General-Purpose-Willow-Small/invt/0166777?htxt=BTKlMGZ1%2BQnNrYdKzoLF8KYpEvpDQgq1gtk1METMihkZz5%2B1uPC2jgbAVfjOGybuxKNGycKsmm45%0AelFbmSfoMg%3D%3D

They also do a larger one but I can't find it on their website. It is quite big and I haven't needed to use it yet, plus it's also more expensive.

I really want to find wicker baskets cheaper than £3 but I haven't had any luck as yet, not even in pound shops.

This year I am saving cardboard boxes, like delivery ones and will cover them and use those as hamper boxes to save money on buying baskets.


Filling

As the baskets are quite deep, I do a layer of crumpled newspaper then I put a piece of tissue paper over that. Then I put some shredding on top. By using the newspaper I save using shredding, this was my mum's idea. The shredding I use is from Lakeland and is cream and gold. I can't remember who it was, but someone on here said they were going to put tissue paper through a shredder and use that, I think that's a great idea and will use that over newspaper too. I am also going to shred coloured paper which Poundland sell.


Items

I try to get these as cheaply as possible; pound shops, offers, sales, outlet stores, charity shops, boot sales, freebies, etc.

You could do...

A girly hamper - hair turban, bath bits, chocolate, wine, make up, etc

A food hamper - homemade cakes, buscuits, chutneys, sauces

A pamper hamper - a blanket, candles, mini bottle of wine and a glass, a girly dvd, a book

A gardening themed one - gardening gloves (pound shops sell these), a kneeling mat, a gardening themed mug, gardener's soap, a nail brush, gardening seeds

An alcohol one - mini alcohol bottles (saw loads in an off license the other day), two glasses, a wine or cocktail book

A movie themed one - a dvd, popcorn, pick and mix

A coffee themed one featuring Sarah's great coffee receipes, coffee flavoured sweets from Poundland, cappicunio cups, a mug, coffee flavoured cake

Someone on here had a great idea to do a Christmas themed one (I want one of those!), you could do all sorts, a car themed one, a particular sport, an interest, all diferent things. I've done a pink themed one before and this year I'm doing a green themed one.

If you are stuck for ideas tell us the kind of person they are and what type of things they like and are interested in and I'm sure we'll be able to come up with some ideas.

I hope this helps,


Lucy x

Lucy_Lu_4

Congratulations all you mums to be! I'm not planning to be a member of the club just yet but in time. I am broody but the time isn't quite right for us just yet.

After hearing you all frequently discuss Home Bargains, I've just found their website and there aren't any stores near me what-so-ever, they are all up north and I'm in the south-east. I did find this though which maybe of interest to you, they are launching another 30 odd stores: http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=201600

I am going to a boot sale tomorrow and can't wait! Hoping I pick up some great finds.

liley9

evening everyone, well since finding this thread my mind has working overtime causing some serious lack of sleep but i dont mind as long its to do with xmas lol.

i've been looking on ebay for the cello wrap for the hampers what length do you all buy i'm making around 8 hampers maybe more and i prob need a bit for a practice run and what type theres so many to chose from(spotty,dotty and patterned) and does anyone buy the pull bows they seem excellant i just know if i tried to do them myself they would be a disaster.

Lucy_Lu_4

liley9 wrote: »

evening everyone, well since finding this thread my mind has working overtime causing some serious lack of sleep but i dont mind as long its to do with xmas lol.

i've been looking on ebay for the cello wrap for the hampers what length do you all buy i'm making around 8 hampers maybe more and i prob need a bit for a practice run and what type theres so many to chose from(spotty,dotty and patterned) and does anyone buy the pull bows they seem excellant i just know if i tried to do them myself they would be a disaster.

I totally forgot to mention the wrapping of hampers in my earlier post lol.

I use plain cellophane just because it would go with all my hampers so would be cheaper. I bought mine from ebay but I can't remember who the seller was I'm afraid but I'm sure someone will be along to best advise you.

I put the hamper in the middle of the cellophane and work out how much I need to cut by lifting the sides up. I use tape and a staple gun (a pink one from Poundland!) and my mum helps me. I also use florists wire to make it look professional when I tie it up which I get from Hobbycraft. I use ribbon which my mum curls (no matter how hard I try I just can't do it!) and bows.

Here is a picture in true Blue Peter style of one I made earlier...




There is a hamper thread I think on here as well somewhere I think.

mum2one

we.nipped.into.Asda.2ngt.-main.idea.go.to.cash.point.machine.£30.LATER-we-head-out-to-cash.machine.

Coffee-aisle
Boxes-of-Cappicuno,latte,other.flavours.£1.00.box-instead.of.£2.00-to-£2.70.(exp.date.Oct.2010)

Alcohol-aisle-boxed-set-2.x.mini.bottles.glenfiddich.+mini.hipflask.keyring.size.£4.90

Girls
They're-doing-a-clearout-on-accessories-all-75%off,-got.
hairclips,set.of.6,reduced.to.18p
Alice-band-(Camp-rock)75p
2.x.stretchy.bands-18p
high-school.musical.-keyrings.and.necklaces.£1.00.each

Gardening.section-
upto.50%0ff

Bargain-4xbottles.Gaymers.Pear.Cider.also.4.bottles.apple.cider.both£2.00.pack.instead.0f.£3.60

Borrowing.an.idea.of.one.of.the.ladies.on.here,the.gents.24bottles.for.advent.calender.use.them.towards.dads.xmas.prezzi.

xx

Lucy_Lu_4

Thanks mum2one, I feel a trip to Asdas coming on!

mum2one

liley9 wrote: »

evening everyone, well since finding this thread my mind has working overtime causing some serious lack of sleep but i dont mind as long its to do with xmas lol.

i've been looking on ebay for the cello wrap for the hampers what length do you all buy i'm making around 8 hampers maybe more and i prob need a bit for a practice run and what type theres so many to chose from(spotty,dotty and patterned) and does anyone buy the pull bows they seem excellant i just know if i tried to do them myself they would be a disaster.

hi.Lilly

This.is.the.ebay.seller.I.was.recommended.and.hes.brilliant.

nickschicks

I've.had.clear.pink.dots.and.lilac.stripes.in.all.honestly.the.clear.looked.the.best.on.bigger.items.

the.stripes/dots.are.more.suited.if.your.wrapping.a.couple.of.small.things.but.for.bigger.i.found.the.clear.looked.better.

I.personally.don't.use,the.florist.bows.I.brought.a.bit.roll.of.the.curling.ribbon.and.use.that...(cheaper.than.buying.the.small.packages.of.them.

xx