New Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2010- Santas Challenges

Winter_Jasmine

Happy New Year All!! :beer:
I loooove this thread so much, thank you all for your advice so far! I'm really prone to New Year blues as I fall a bit flat after the fun of planning Christmas but now I can carry on with it all year and be so much more organised with birthdays, which I'm normally rubbish at :rotfl:

I've set up a spreadsheet (don't normally do this until Oct/Nov and then for Christmas only) and have included birthdays and Mother's and Father's days. I'm going to note down pressy ideas through the year and try to beat my budget for as many pressies as possible. I have to say I was a bit shocked at what my budget needs to be though - I've always saved for Christmas but badly underestimated how much other occasions cost :eek:. Will be super prepared now though :T

I started making my own cards last year but went off the boil so I'm determined to get back into it and have ordered lots of bargains from Do Crafts and Craft Superstore. I'll get cracking as soon as it all arrives so I can actually make decent ones instead of last minute messes.

My biggest problem is going to be keeping my mouth shut when I find bargains (not on here though of course) - my Body Shop bargains have now been allocated to the birthdays of the only four suitable candidates on my list who I haven't told about them!!

mary-op

Hello all :j
No hangover for me.........medication won't allow drink and I'm not that fussed anyway. Sat up and watched the tele (am I turning into a real 'oldie??')
No shops open in our little town today so I'll hang on till next week (or maybe tomorrow ?)
Done nothing 'crafty'...........real lazy day (whats new ?) started to fill in a Family Tree book my son gave me -why of why do these things never allow for more than one marriage ?- had to change it here and there and hope I haven't wrecked it.
Lovely Womans Memory Book from my friend I can't wait to fill in so can see not much getting done for a while................lol

Junior -good to see someone so young being so organised...............like the idea of the ID folder.......is that a small folder or A4 size ? I could do with something along a small ID line...........I don't drive and first thing I'm always asked for is a driving license :mad:

Well, off now to see whats happening elsewhere in our virtual world..............:rotfl:

98jdougl

Have started organising my spare room upstairs to be my gifting/crafting central next year have got labels made up for my shelves and am enlisting OH's help since it has turned into a dumping ground for pretty much everything and is in dire need of a sort out. And who knows what treasures may be unearthed.
Have started listing some of my stuff on ebay - have hundreds of jewellery that I need to get rid of- trying to do it in lots if I dont have sets. Just cheap costume stuff but I never wear it so hoping to get some funds from selling it to go towards presents. Wish me luck - never sold on ebay before (eeek)

rachelet

Thanks Sugar for the spreadsheet. I am going to spend the evening filling out what presents I have already got for this year and all birthdays and events etc. Got to be a bit more organised this year as baby is due beginning of May and I already have 3 children, 2 of whom have birthdays in December! So unless I am organised, it is an expensive month. I did try and make a few bits for Christmas this year, but started too late really, so am going to start much earlier this year.

I made some Baileys chocolate truffles to take to my friend's NYE party last night and they went down so well, that I think I might make some of them for Christmas presents next year!

Have bought a few things in the sales mainly for the kids' birthdays and Christmas.

Looking forward to posting throughout the year and hearing everyone else's ideas.

Tiara_2

Thanks so much for the tip- I popped there yesterday and got 6 lovely rolls of paper So 18 meters for £1, that's amazing value!!
All their Christmas Cards and tags were half price as well, and I got some lovely Thank You notes for 50p

I am hoping to brave the sales tomorrow to see if I can get started on any pressie buying for 2010!

Half_pint wrote: »

If anybody is looking for wrapping paper, Card Warehouse are selling 3 metre rolls for 50p per roll or six rolls for £1:T

Pips_Mum

rachelet wrote: »

I made some Baileys chocolate truffles to take to my friend's NYE party last night and they went down so well, that I think I might make some of them for Christmas presents next year!

Yum! How do you make them please?

Heva04

The last few days I have picked up

Mum's birthday (16 Jan) Ghost Perfume set - Boots £13.99 (1/2 price)
Grans Birthday (14 Jan) 5th Avenue Perfume set - Perfume shop £9.99 (1/2 price)

Moving house in March went to Dunnes and bought Ceramic white accessories for the two bathrooms (1 Bathroom & 1 WC) all came to £6.00.
We bought two toilet brushes with holders, two soap dishes, two toothbrush holders and two liquid soap dispensers.

We also bought for £4 two glass spotty jars for kitchen and 4 chrome egg cups.

Winter_Jasmine

Pips_Mum wrote: »

Yum! How do you make them please?

Was just going to ask the same thing!

nickynoo08

Happy New Year everyone,
Didnt do much last night, in fact i was in bed by half 9:o
Just finished writing my list of birthdays coming up for the next few months only got my brothers to get, everything else is done and dusted:D. I have never been so organised.
Boo our sainsbugs has nowt left in the sale, only gift wrap (have 5 rolls) and cards (got about 200:o), still want to get a few bits from boots tho if they have anything left on monday.

Rachelet could you post the recipie for the bailieys truffles they sound delish.

alyssa_liss

Sugarhunny1 wrote: »

hi everyone,

Thanks everyone for saying how good the spreadsheet is! I, of course, cant take ANY credit for it as I didnt set it up but I know Joyce didn't mind me passing it on a few years ago to fellow MSEr's.

My in box is now half empty if anyone else would like a copy!

Unfortunately I don't have a Sainbury's near me so cant pop out and get any bargains. I have to go into town and ASDA tomorrow so if i'm lucky I might pick up a bargain or two!

Sugar xxx

thanks for the spread sheet is great just spent ages filling it out