*NEW* Thrifty Gifty - Money Making for Christmas & Occasions 2010

mum2one

Apologies for the delay....

Santas Challenge

School Holidays
By now the schools have broke up, if your on a day out, going on holiday, sounds mad, but double check you have everything, (Miss Hoodie left Big Boy - 3ft dalamtion dog), and we had tears, so rush job to the market and we now have Lola, a little Staffie looking dog - shes happy!!

If your on a drive - and children have ds/ psp etc - pack some spare batteries, be lot cheaper than buying them at the seaside, same for suntan lotion - (I'm hoping - can dream)

Cooking
Is there that must try recipie - do it now enjoy it, if it goes wrong, then say its meant to look like that

Sales
A lot of shops have their summer sales, nowa the chance to get those small gifts for teachers, childrens friends, that family member who u haven't seen for 20 yrs but you still have to buy for

Argos
New catalogue out -
To me - its 2 good points, 1st - gives me an idea on what the prices are for the "I want, I like" and also there have a new sale on, getting rid of the items that not been brought into Winter catalogue

Activities
Most of us have children, wide age range, if anyone can think of freebie, cheap activity pop it on, sure there be at least one of us that wouldn't thought of it.

Christmas
Work through the Christmas list and set budgets, and start seeing if the children/ family members have any ideas for the I wants - the Argos give a base for prices

Hiding Places
Start thinking about the hideing holes for pressies, have a dry run and see if theres any that you forget to give last yr, and you had to do that emergency present!!

Mum time
As we're the ones who do a lot, every week fond 30 mins for you, whether its read a book, hot soak in the bath, paint your nails, that 30 mins refresh you ready for the "I'm bored".....

Bargain Hunting Days Out
Look at leaflets - usually have discount vouchers
Book on-line - usually booking siscount
Look at newspapers, The Sun and News of the World had bogof alton towers vouchers (also valid for other places)
Lastminute.com - apparently they do vouchers
Local museums - they tend to be free
has your town got any events on that are free

Food lists
Start drafting your xmas food shoping, give us all chance to spread the cost and think do we really need it, - Advocat - who really drinks that - but theres usually one in the house just in case guests want one at xmas.

Ice Lollys
Poundland and other places do Ice lolly moulds, get the children invloved, there more likely to eat them if they've helped - won't realise there being healthy.

Xmas Cleaning
You've had a lucky escape, Miss Hoodie said you can have a rest this month. xx

pammyj74

great post

can I add about the days out that netmums is good for seeing what is on in your area. I found out about free day out we had today and the kids had a great time. I wouldnt have known about it otherwise as it wasnt greatly advertised. Also the libraries normally have posters about days out etc as well as visiting the library anyway for a freebie afternoon, my kids like going there occasionally!

I was also thinking of buying a bargain tent so the kids can have fun with it in the garden and maybe we might have a night out there.
Also tesco deals have a few days out which we are going to do.

We have a argos clearance place which I assume will have a lot of the redundant stuff there now and I will be paying that a visit next weekend am waiting for a voucher from VO but not sure if I can use it in there or not.

phunkles

peeks in after quite a long break from here
debates reading back
maybe tomorrow on the train maybe
Hope everyones well x

lauhen

the last of my 55 auctions ended on ebay yesterday, out of the 55 only 7 didnt sell. I managed to make £193.91 for my sons birthday fund, so i certainly dont have to add any money to the fund now which i am extremely pleased about. i am so glad that we sorted the garage out, as this is where we found all the bits to put on, most of it i thought we got rid of ages ago but luckily it got kept.

lauhen

I have also just redeemed £15 in amazon vouchers from surveys,, but i may keep this towards a main christmas present like i did last year.

sylphraven

Hi gals, I'm still here, lurking but really need to give myself a kick up the butt to get serious about earning & making christmas pressies so expect to see a little bit more of me

Money wise I have 24 items on ebay atm, some ending today, others next week. Most will probably only get me 99p, but thats 99p more than I had before (minus fees ofc)

I've started updating the Thrifty Gifty blog again so if anyone wants to catch up on ideas, etc then hopefully they'll be easier to find. If I miss anything please just PM me.

I 2nd Netmums for finding local attractions & things to do.
I'm also posting each saturday on my blog what I've done with the kiddies during the week, & last saturday I put up a HUGE list of ideas to do. I can't post the link myself as its against mse laws but if you click on my user name, go to my homepage, then click on "seasonal fun" in the menu bar it'll take you straight there.

elysia2003

Thanks Sylphraven. I have been blog hopping and came across yours. You have some good ideas on there.

DD2 has been booked into an art club four days a week for two hours each afternoon (only £1 per day as it's mainly funded by lottery) , so it's mainly mornings I have to occupy her and my neice. I've bought lots of bits and pieces from asda and wilkinsons when they've been reduced, so that will sort them out for a while. Trips to library, picnics and days out inbetween but still need ideas - i'll definately check out netmums, (thanks for posting about it Pammy).

NickyBo_2

lauhen wrote: »

the last of my 55 auctions ended on ebay yesterday, out of the 55 only 7 didnt sell. I managed to make £193.91 for my sons birthday fund, so i certainly dont have to add any money to the fund now which i am extremely pleased about. i am so glad that we sorted the garage out, as this is where we found all the bits to put on, most of it i thought we got rid of ages ago but luckily it got kept.

That's excellent, well done!!! :T

I managed to list 3 things on Ebay last night, might get a few more listed over the next few days. They are all little things that will go for 99p if I'm lucky, but it's still more than they are making sitting in the attic!

pammyj74

Just saw on tv about entertaining the kids and we now have 'making a teepee' on our list. I had a pack of canes from £1 shop and I am sure I have a couple of old sheets somewhere. Kids faces lit up when I suggested it so we will wait for a bit of sun and thats another option

lauhen

NickyBo wrote: »

That's excellent, well done!!! :T

I managed to list 3 things on Ebay last night, might get a few more listed over the next few days. They are all little things that will go for 99p if I'm lucky, but it's still more than they are making sitting in the attic!

Thanks nickybo,

I thought most of mine would only go for the minimum 99p, so you never know. You never can tell what people are looking for or want at that time.