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

rufusdog52

Real_Toothfairy wrote: »

Oh and red lips.....I am always buying the lips and teeth chews from Tesco's. 3 for £1 I think But they are mixed in one bag.....Asda do them on own if I remember rightly.

Thanks Real Toothfairy, I will have to get OH to take me to Asda and have a look.

pinkflop

Ooh! Didnt realise there was a 'challenge'! (even though the thread states 'santas challenge'!!! Seriously, I worry about myself sometimes!

I forgot to introduce myself - I am a single mum to a lovely little boy who is 7 five days before xmas :eek:. I am also mad about xmas - all my friends think I am crazy shopping for the following xmas in the January sales. Although I think I have converted one friend who I went shopping with some weeks ago and was pulling out mega bargains in the entertainer for her children. She's cracked on with her xmas shopping now! :j

On to the challenges.....

Freezer

Frost free and not terribly full anyway so no probs there!

Food List

Havent even started this yet! Although I have bought some cadburys biscuits that were BOGOF in sainsburys!

Turkey

Got one from a local farm last year and it was lovely but the goose we had on NYD was better! Just got to convince my BIL to have goose this year (he insists on turkey as "it's tradition" - it's not actually!!!! lol!!!)

Halloween

Dont do this but will get sweets for children who come over.

Half Term

My aunt owns a cottage on the Isle of Wight so will be going there for 5 days. Used my Tesco vouchers for Wightlink vouchers so return ferry crossing is £5, accomodation free!!! Cheap hol!

Stockings

Doing really well here. Nearly finished. Got my DS a Dr who Mini sticker book in The Entertainer today for 50p was £5! And my BIL some 'foot warming pads' - 99p for 2 (half price).

Ebay

Am ebaying like crazy! Made £153 so far and need to put some more bits on this week.

Xmas List

Have my list saved on the computer. Presents, stockings and hampers all listed

Secret Santas Presents

Not sure how this works......!

Christmas Tree

Always get real tree first weekend in Dec.... have Dr's Ball on that weekend so may be feeling a bit fragile so might have to wait till the monday!!! All my decs are up in the loft and I have more than I have space!

Christmas Presents

Only got a couple of things, but am saving for my DS's main present - a playmobil hospital.

Christmas Paper

Have tons! All from jan sales!

Time for the chat

I think xmas is getting more expensive, but as I am 30 now - eek :eek: - my friends are all settling and having children so we're all in the same boat and are looking for ways to save. We only buy for the children, not each other. I only buy a pressie for my best friend who has no partner or children, but this year am making her a hamper. Have already started on strawberry vodka for her.

Pampering

In prep for our Dr's ball (a big affair - I am a nurse) my colleague (and very good friend) are taking ourselves off to a local spa. It has steam rooms, saunas, jacuzzis and you can have treatments. Adults only and it is £7.50 for the day. :j

Christmas Cakes

Not sure if I'm doing one this year. My DS hates it and my sister and I both made one last year and we had cake coming out of our ears!

Hampers

Xmas eve hampers coming along very well. Only doing the one hamper for my friend and the vodka is brewing.....!

The School Presents

Think I'll copy mum2one and do snowman soup! Mega cheap but really effective! I can get DS to help. I have childcare peeps to provide for too! Can get expensive otherwise!

The 'I wants'

Not sure as never think about myself (ahhhh, get the violins out....!)

Dont Forget

MUST write down what I have in my 'present box'!


Think I've made a good start!!!! :T

pinkflop

woops! My post was a bit large! Sorry

mum2one

Hi Pinkflop, your very organised, I have to ask but how do you do the strawberry vodka, I'm drooling here.......
Sounds like very organised for half term, love the Tesco vouchers, we did Blackpool last yr, (when was Haven), now Park resorts, went upto Ty Mawr, (North Wales), def makes a difference.

Got to ask any single doctors!!!!

welshkaz

Im a regular lurker lol, i know theres loads of info on pots of gold etc and ive looked everywhere for suitable pots can anyone tell me what I can use or what you use for the pots please, fab challenge this year and wow everyone are busy bees at the mo, some amazing ideas and so easy to get lost in the xmas spirit shame everyone looks at me like a mad woman when i mention it lol x

lizalloareds

Susan love the pots of snow, need to look for pots now

elysia2003

Hiya Welshkaz - We have't seen you here for ages. Welcome back!

You could use anything for pots of gold. You could either use a gold pot, or anything just filled with gold contents and tied with gold ribbon. Last year I used Nutella jars, filled with gold coins, gold wrapped sweeties, lottery tickets, pair of earrings each, and a few fake gems for sparkle. wrapped in cello and tied with curling ribbon. They looked amazing!

I hope that helps.

Well I did it! I sorted all Christmas pressies out - It took me two hours with me and DD1 helping! Because I lost my spreadsheet I have over bought for a few people and probably have gifts for them to last until 2012 (like sugarspun). Others I had bought for and forgotten about. I have so much for DD2 that some will be put away for her birthday in January. I did try and wrap them and put them in boxes according who they were for but with all the presents all over the bedroom and DD2 trying to peep, we gave up.

I've filled out a spreadsheet but I can't figure out how to get the columns to add up, so without using a calculator (Gosh I'm thick) I need DD1 to sort it out so I know my totals.

Legendmum

welshkaz wrote: »

Im a regular lurker lol, i know theres loads of info on pots of gold etc and ive looked everywhere for suitable pots can anyone tell me what I can use or what you use for the pots please, fab challenge this year and wow everyone are busy bees at the mo, some amazing ideas and so easy to get lost in the xmas spirit shame everyone looks at me like a mad woman when i mention it lol x

I too would like to know this! I have bought today some plastic plant pots from wilkos 35p for 10! It says they are 8cm, I also bought some gold spray but now am wondering whether I am being a meanie by not getting actual tumblers or bowls???:o

mum2one

elysia2003 wrote: »

Hiya Welshkaz - We have't seen you here for ages. Welcome back!

You could use anything for pots of gold. You could either use a gold pot, or anything just filled with gold contents and tied with gold ribbon. Last year I used Nutella jars, filled with gold coins, gold wrapped sweeties, lottery tickets, pair of earrings each, and a few fake gems for sparkle. wrapped in cello and tied with curling ribbon. They looked amazing!

I hope that helps.

Well I did it! I sorted all Christmas pressies out - It took me two hours with me and DD1 helping! Because I lost my spreadsheet I have over bought for a few people and probably have gifts for them to last until 2012 (like sugarspun). Others I had bought for and forgotten about. I have so much for DD2 that some will be put away for her birthday in January. I did try and wrap them and put them in boxes according who they were for but with all the presents all over the bedroom and DD2 trying to peep, we gave up.

I've filled out a spreadsheet but I can't figure out how to get the columns to add up, so without using a calculator (Gosh I'm thick) I need DD1 to sort it out so I know my totals.

For your totals, say you have used column G, rows 2 to 22, then in box G23 write =SUM(G2:G22) and it will do all the adding in the column.

My spreadsheets, I have
sum allocated (say square G23)
sum spent ( say square H23)
saved (say square I23)
proper cost of presents (J23)

I would total each column as G, but change the letter and number as needed.

But if I wanted to see what the sum spent for each person to what they had been allocated- then say that would be column K (say person row 4)

So in column K would do =sum(G4-H23) then it would work it out for me. xx

mum2one

Legendmum wrote: »

I too would like to know this! I have bought today some plastic plant pots from wilkos 35p for 10! It says they are 8cm, I also bought some gold spray but now am wondering whether I am being a meanie by not getting actual tumblers or bowls???:o

At that price I'd snap your hands off, its a bargain, if you had any left, you could make them into little seed pots, can't remember how (Mary...... can remember her hubby made some) and put a little plastic robin on top, great nick nack for children xx