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

elysia2003

Wow that's a bargain! DD's first Vsmile (not the motion) cost £80 so I'm glad to see the prices are coming down (just checked Toys R us and you can get the motion one for £30). She loved it so much when she outgrew it we bought the V smile Pro - but with the Nintendo DS's becoming cheaper it wasn't much of a hit, so there are a very limited number of games.

I wholeheartedly recommend anything with the VTech branding - well worth the money.

sarahf191979

Wow everyone is going rarring guns, I feel so ashamed sorry I've not been around just been so busy. Dont feel like I've stopped for weeks and weeks.

Thanks for another great challenge mum2one and miss hoodie (you are truely wonderful)

Where I'm upto:

Santas Challenge – August

Back to school.
All got and named thanks to tescos deals (Thanks Elsysia)

Car Boots
Don't do them but do love them

Cleaning Challenge
Not even looked at this, I have that much stuff, stuffed in them that I would hate to think what I might find, my get OH to do this when the kids are back in school as there are pressies in the bottom

Christmas Lists
Have my lists printed off most are already filled, but have a list of who and what I need to get now sales are starting and xmas stuff is finding it's way into the shops -

ANYONE see the tins of Chocs in Tescos??? ............. if I bought them now I'd eat them LOL :rotfl:


Batteries
Always got batteries in, kids always need them for one toy or another.

Me Me Me
Well its my Birthday on Wednesday so I will be treating myself then, want to get a new winter coat so that might just be my treat.

Lists / Notebooks
· Christmas cards - Got in Jan sales
· Presents - Most got, still a few to buy
· Accessories – tape, scissors, ribbon, cello wrap, paper – Already got!
· Cooking – It just get eaten when I cook:rotfl:
· Christmas Cake – My lovely mum makes mine
· Food list – Started will be putting a few extra each week

FUN CHALLENGE

Whos going to be the first to spot an Xmas catalogue
Not seen one yet!! But Tescos have tins of choc in does that count???


Crafting Items
Are there any simple ideas that you could share, that we could do with the children, get them involved -

Ohhhh Lots and lots of ideas too many to list at this time of the morning when I need another Coffee though lol:rotfl: anyone wanting to see my craft ideas - just GOOGLE Kids Christmas Crafts LOL:rotfl:

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for making this a sussessful thread - and a big thanks to you and everyone else on here making me see you can buy things for less money, think about it more, plan better gifts and a nice calm december it works!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone is so wonderful on here, I feel like this thread and the money one are my second home filled with friends.....althoguh I feel really guilty as I haven't been popping in as much of late. Keep up the good work mum2one, you are our head elf who keeps us all in check. I don't know how you do it, all the uni stuff and everything else, your a star.

Well I better get ready

Take care
Sarah
x

welshkaz

Morning all its a gorgeous day here in wales 3rd day on the trot wow a summer at last lol, I was just wondering if anyone puts a xmas hamper together over the months to come for themselves or do people not bother now last few years ive bought tesco or asda stamps but i may do a hamper for myself this year...

supa-girl

Hi everyone

Sounds like everyone has been busy over the bank holiday!! I am making progress, but will really focus once the older kids are back at school.

Today we off to the naerby factory outlet to see if we can get school shoes - there is a Clarks there and they have up to 70% off the shop prices. Last year I got a pair of £35 school shoes for £11, so hopefully I will get all 3 pairs we need for the shop price of 1 pair!

They also have a dsicount book/craft store so I will having a nose in there as well, seeing as we're in the area

Yesterday I got a few bits and pieces in the Tesco seasonal sale. A couple of waxed cardboard buckets with pictures of lollies on, 2 for 50p, which I am going to use to make the sweetie hampers for my nephews and nieces. I also found some awesome sweets on ebay, which I haven't ordered yet - chocolate lego men, lego block sweets, dolphin jelly sweets (niece obsessed with dolphins!).......brilliant! Have saved them to my favourite shops.

I also got some plastic sandcastle buckets which were reduced to 30p, I am going to use them to make the "weather" themed gifts for the toddlers in the family as it's something they can keep afterwards. The orange ones I am going to keep for the older kids to use for trick or treating at halloween!

I got a few other little stocking fillers and bits and pieces, as well a ssome reduced summer games, incl a wooden rounders set for £6 came home with 3 bags of stuff (only went to get cold and flu capsules :eek:) but had only spent £16, which was fab considering how much stuff I had got.

I think with regards to the nintendo DS, it depends on the child a lot. My DS2 struggles with some of the wii games still and he is 6 but DS1 could handle them with ease from about 4 or 5. They both want DS's but I am mean and have said the wii is enough. That was popular! My friend has them for her kids, and says they are a godsend for things like long car journeys.......her son had one at 3 and could use it fine- just depends on the child really. Foxy has your DD tried someone elses?

I would second the vtech toys too - we have the walk and learn and it has been passed down 4 times and is still going strong!! DS3 likes it now, but DD2 still thinks of it as "hers" so we have one or two fights about it :eek:

I would also second Wilkinsons for craft stuff - my kids always want to spend their pocket money there and I usually get something for DD2 (age 2) as well. Last time we were there I got her a little paint your own wooden trinket box and a paint your own wooden jigsaw puzzle - the 2 of them together were less than £4!


SG

cdsmiler

Well Sunday really was chutney making day wasn't it!! lol Some of my parent's tomato plants had blight, so they had to rescue all the tomatoes from it before it was too late, so they ended up with a load of green tomatoes! So we made green tomato and runner bean chutney! Tasted a lot better than I thought it was going to. Next weekend we're making apple pies (to freeze - found a local small farm who were selling cooking apples - £1 for 2kg!!!) and I'm doing my raspberry jam - all while hubby is left home alone to do his final OU essay! (for this year! lol)

You're all doing so well!! I can't keep up today on everything everyone's done, but you've all been doing fab!!

I need to sort out a few essentials for Crimbo yet though. I have a few rolls of wrapping paper - bought from a card shop the other week x2 6m for £1! Not sure what's in the loft though. Need to check. Likewise need to check on cards - we're hopefully making some (silly photo of DD dressed up or something!! lol) but always need spares for people I've forgotten (oops) or neighbours or something...... Didn't get to the sales in January, had too much else on with a new born baby and all that snow!! lol So if anyone sees any good value cards or wrapping paper (or wrapping ribbons, bows etc) anywhere, let me know? Ta!

Glad everyone had a fab bank holiday weekend!

Clare x

JennyJewell

Hi
This thread sounds lovely and exciting, (mainly because it talks about Xmas and I would love to be organised for Xmas this year ).
Can you please show me where to look for challenges etc and what I need to do and can I join you please
Jen x

NickyBo_2

mum2one wrote: »

Santas Challenge – August
Don’t worry as usual its a pick and mix, so have fun. As we still have 2 weeks or so of school holidays, will try to be gentle. Miss Hoodie did come up with a lot of ideas!!! But we’ve narrowed the list down!
Back to school.
School uniforms – hopefully were nearly all sorted, but don’t forget to name tag the items, would say sew in 2, as the most obvious the back of neck in jumpers, sweatshirts etc this one gets pulled out.
School Bag – Do we need a new school bag, pump bag, pumps, even worth getting the next size as well– name everywhere.
Younger children – if any start nursery, reception, 1st year, accidents can happen, what we did with Miss Hoodie, was put a spare pair of pants, in a pencil case in her bag. Schools do have spares, but sometimes a bit of famaliar items help.
Swimming with school – Anyone whos starting swimming with schools, my top tip is buy the next size swimsuit, tend to be by Xmas/Feb or the growth spurt, the only swimwear available, is the lovely sports shops!!

Car Boots
Nows the time to get the last minute items ready for selling, most schools will have at least 1 car boot in Sept – they try to cash in on gd weather. Better still double up and share the cost......

Cleaning Challenge
Its not that bad!! Miss Hoodie has suggested wardrobes........ think really its a hint to say I need to go shopping!!! The task is what doesn’t fit, the other part (according to the posh stylists on TV), if it hasn’t been wore for a year, you won’t wear it. I find that adult clothes go anytime on ebay, but childrens summer clothes, espically swimwear goes a lot better Feb time than Sept.........

Christmas Lists
Hopefully were all sorted with the christmas lists and budgets, but with our families, if they want the must have toy / gadget etc, nows the time to start price hunting, and buying if necessary, (don’t forget double up vouchers Tesco), Argos clearance – can link into your local stores clearance.
I still have nightmares from a couple of years ago, when Miss Hoodie, 2 weeks b4 xmas decided she wanted the “Mummy I can swim doll”, for love nor money, it was a nightmare, I had about 10 argos stores on notification via text if stock came in, I ended up going to Chester (1hr away) got the doll home, she saw the bag and her words were “I hope thats not for me, its ugly”..... lucky ebay to the rescue, there were people charging stupid prices and buyers paying. I just added train fare on.
Batteries – Its rare for items to come with batteries, start checking now and keep a mixture of batteries ready! Nothing worse than tears and tantrums due to no batteries.
Me Me Me- We ladies and gentleman, spend the year being organised, now its our time to look for a treat, whether its long soak in bath, bottle of wine, box of chocs, - once the schools go back, have your treat and let us know. Next months challenge Miss Hoodie has already started!

Lists / Notebooks
Use this month for finishing the lists - thoughts
· Christmas cards
· Presents
· Accessories – tape, scissors, ribbon, cello wrap, paper – start buying these now, so spread the expense
· Cooking – Plan a few freezer meals – get the recipies ready
· Christmas Cake – Making your own, list the ingredients, check your tins, how many cakes have you got to do?
· Food list – Any extras needed, certain items, packet Brandy sauce grab when you see, they sell out, do the list and spread out over the coming weeks

FUN CHALLENGE
Whos going to be the first to spot an Xmas catalogue

Crafting Items
Are there any simple ideas that you could share, that we could do with the children, get them involved

I’ve tried to be gentle this month, as with this being last challenge before new school year, have tried to split between school and get the lists ready.....Won’t make this month too hard, as we have the wardrobe.
Don’t forget ladies and gentleman, have that treat – we deserve it......

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for making this a sussessful thread, i’ve picked a few ideas, got a list of what I want to try, and everytime I see a box I think What would Mary do with that.
Have fun, xx
(Ps –Miss Hoodie left the craft bag in the hallway..... so my wonderful winners from last challenge, apologies, but when get home ur have a little surprise).

Hi Jenny,

Of course you can join us, the more the merrier!

The challenges are on the 24th of the month. I've quoted the August challenges as I thought that would be the easiest way for you to find it

Hope you have fun here with us

supa-girl

Hi everyone

Just a quickie, while tea is cooking

Got the school shoes today, not as cheap as last year but got Clarks shoes for £21 each rrp £36 so still a decent saving. Also got a book each for LO's (they had a choice of that or a go on the digger ride and they all chose a book instead) and as they had 5 books for £4 I got some extras - 2 little lift the flap weather books, perfact for the "weather hampers" I am doing for the toddlers of the family and a book about horses and ponies for the "horsey hamper" I am doing for my horse mad niece! Worked out less than £1 each so I am really pleased with them!

Gotta run....dinner burning!!!

SG

mary-op

Hello all :j

Welcome to the thread Jenny :T

Spent all day today painting the craft drawers my neighbour gave me............13 drawers (quite narrow thank goodness):eek: Seemed to take forever -was painting them cream and kept going out for a bit of sunshine...........so bright it was.......then came in and the paint looked even brighter..........lol:rotfl: Still need to touch a bit up here and there but it looks a lot better than it did and got me motivated to sort out my water colours and fit them in a couple of drawers. Want to get all my art/craft stuff in if I can so it's all in one place.

Soc.worker coming tomorrow, hopefully young girl coming to clean Thursday is she's feeling better.....then maybe by the weekend I'll be back to 'christmassy' stuff.

fedupandskint

Some bargain spices today from Mr T - some for baking for Christmas, some for chutney and some for winter casseroles and curries

I think they have a lot on offer ready for Eid so picked up a big bag of basmati rice too to keep me stocked up for winter

Not much else going on apart from pricing up a cake cost to see if I can offer some for sale