Tearing my hair out over housekeeping

garret1

Thanks Kaz.

Can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this. Feeling really good today and OH is really impressed with my efforts!!

Anastacia

Hiya
Just thinking about party bags a bit more. My friend couldnt run to party bags when the kids were little & tied a chocie bar with wrapping ribbon & then other end of the ribbon to a big balloon. Very popular with the kids.

I agree with the others though, dont go to the shops is the best advice though for the overspending problems. Have it delivered. You still get the bargains but you dont buy all the other rubbish.

best wishes
Anastacia

bargainbetty

Hi Garret,

If you like cooking, why not find out the tastes of the teachers involved, and have your kids help you bake a cake or batch of shortbread biscuits for the leaving present? Far more personal than a gift set from some shop, made with love.... etc.

Cheaper too, but that's neither here nor there

chardonnay_2

i think the bubbles on helium balloons will go down a treat. kids love both! well done on the great ideas.

Miss-spent_2

speaking as a teacher I really agree with bargainbetty. I would love some home made biscuits or little cakes given to me rather than the usual candles/flowers/chocs especially if the little ones helped make them.

garret1

Thanks guys. Shopping came in today well under budget :A so am putting any savings to birthdays etc this month. Finished the party invites today:j
after 3 days fighting with my computer and clip art of mermaids!! Decided to save money on the envelopes by printing the invites on A4, rolling them up and tying them with ribbon I have in the sewing box. This is fine as they are all being hand delivered. small saving but feels good. Have all the food and decorations planned so will buy a bit at a time the next few weeks.
Tried to find stardrops everywhere but no luck but we are pretty remote here so it may have to wait till I get to the big smoke...
Bought a microfibre cloth today in Lidl for £2.49 then went to tesco and saw 3 for 89p. Took the lidl ones back for refund...the pre MSE me wouldn't have bothered. And they work so brilliantly i spent the evening actually looking for stuff to clean:D. have decided to do fudge for the teachers with a card made by the kids so if anyone has an easy recipe???
thanks again
B

Poppy9

Another idea for teachers presents is giftaid.

Cafod do some as do Oxfam

Lucie_2

THe HM fudge/biccies idea is great for teachers, but you could also search the freebies thread for ideas. There are often pens, calendars, mugs etc etc

I dare you to be brave & be the first to have a "no party bags" rule! I bet 30 other Mums will breathe a big sigh of relief. Send 'em home with slice of cake & a balloon.

**purpleprincess**

Hey honey!! How's it going?

Sounds like it's going really well!! I'm really pleased for you, and you were under budget!!!:T Cool!!!:cool:

I have sent you a PM xx

mah_jong

Hi Garret1..another highlander here, but far more remote than you! You are soooo lucky to have a lidl near by (I thankfully, live no where near a Tesco,either, but I know that most people love them!).

I bought stardrops in poundstretchers in Inverness, in the high street, during a recent visit to the city!

mah