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

NickyBo_2

elysia2003 wrote: »

Can I just add something to think about next month. I hope you all don't mind.

Our school and church makes up shoe boxes for OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD with gifts for children in war torn places etc. I do this every year, I feel more christmassy knowing that I've done my bit to help a child who wouldn't otherwise get a gift. Please see the link for details - it really doesn't cost a lot.

I organise this at school. We've done it for the last two years and I sent out letters only yesterday saying we're doing it again this year. Last year we collected 90 filled shoeboxes so we're aiming for 100 this year . I work in a very poor area so the kids at school tend to bring in one or two items for the shoeboxes and we make them up at school. It means that next month I will be wrapping dozens of shoeboxes, I usually end up dreaming about them!
I love organising it though and it makes me feel so Christmassy. My favourite bit is reading stories on the website about children who have received the boxes


Poundland is really good for buying shoebox things, especially if you're making more than one. I buy multipacks of things then split them between a few boxes, e.g. I can buy 8 flannels for £1. When buying multipacks of things I can usually make each shoebox for a couple of pounds. A real bargain when you know that it is probably going to be a child's only Christmas present.

susan42

Wow this thread is moving

mum2one - i had to laugh at miss hoodie and the peeping cars.....I also lost a box of pressies in loft and found then 7 years later when I moved

real tooth fairy - halloween ideas sound lovely but since i moved we get no trick or treaters ans DS & DD 18 so they not interested

fedupandskint - glad you getting back to normal and the jards are in the poundshop

sugarspun - you are so organised, come over to me for a bit and sort me

hi pinkflop- spa £7.50 :eek: wow , where is it?

welshkaz - i bought wicket basket from charity shop, they on my blog hoping they`ll spray ok, last year I used ramekins with gold ribbon

legendmum - I truely dont think you`re being tight wiith dishes for pots of gold because its more for appearance, peeps more interested in whats in them

elysia - operation xmas sounds ace and theres one not far from me, what do you put in yours. Is there anything you cant put in

Nickybo - well done on your 90 boxes:T

Everyone have a great weekend, i`m off to make some santa soup and cards I think, i will drop in and out because we moving so fast

rufusdog52

mummyslittleboy - thanks for that about Co-op, we have one in our town so will go and have a look on Monday. Three bags for a pound is brilliant.


As for the challenge for this month, I am coming off a bit easy this time around.

The Freezer
Ours were done not that long agon so dont really need doing but might give them a quick going over when they run down before our next monthly shop.

Food List
Wont be buying in too much extra this year as OH is working right over Xmas so will only be me and youngest daughter in. I will cook a Christmas dinner but I dont eat meat so will only have to buy a small something for the other two, OH will have his dinner when he gets home as wont be in until about 8. We already have a tin of sweets in lol so thats the most important thing!!

Halloween
Last year daugther said she wasnt doing Halloween anymore, she is 15 now so getting a bit big for it. We dont have many kids come to our road knocking either.

Half term - October
Get away with this too as she is old enough to do her own thing half term. We hardly saw her in the summer hols, was sleeping round her mates half the time.

Stockings
We have a stocking each and last year I filled up OH's and daughter's but mine stayed empty so think I might not bother this year. OH has two expensive things this year so I won't be going overboard on the small stuff. Might just get some bits for daugther.

Ebay
Dont have anything to Ebay.

Christmas Lists
I have my list, made it up January lol and I have nearly finished everyones presents so I will be following sugarspun and starting on next years soon.

Secret santas presents
Will probs join in this again

Christmas Tree
OH sorted out the loft a few weeks ago so we know exactly where the tree is and we have enough decorations still for the whole house.

Christmas Presents - Batteries
Havent bought anything that needs batteries this year.

Christmas paper
Bought all of this in the sale after Christmas last year. Have loads of it and will probs have enough for next year too lol,

Childrens drawings
I will pass this idea on to my eldest daughter as think her three would like to do this.

Time for the chat
We seem to be the opposite, we have always only bought for the kids but year before last one of my sisters gave me a present, so last year I made presents for her and my other sister and they both gave me a present. Have made them something again this year and next year they are both having quilts so know what to get started on.

Pampering
I tend to be on my own a lot these days now daughter is off out and OH works long days and often nights too so have a lot of me time. Think I would like this just to be a night in with my daughter and play a game or watch a film though wont be a weepie, I get too upset lol.

Christmas Cakes
I dont cook these as no one except me likes it.

Hampers
Have all my gifts sorted.

The School Presents
This is something I never started, thank goodness lol. Daughter usually buys for her mates but not the teachers or anyone else.

The I wants.......
This should be sorted too as daughter is getting money. OH has said for last 6 months he wants a phone same as daugthers, have nearly got enough to get it on Amazon so asked him the other day is he sure he still wants it, he said yes then said he might have a sat nav instead, I said well if its same price, I cant afford something dearer so am waiting for him to let me know on this. The Dooyoo points are still clearing so wont have the voucher till next week or week after anyway.

"Don't forget"
I know where everything is as its all on top of my wardrobe in boxes.

elysia2003

Susan I think the main thing that you can't put in is liquids in case they leak (bubble bath's etc) Sweets can go in (if they have a long expiry date) but not chocolate.

The boxes are usually made up to suit a boy/girl - ages say 2-5, 6-10 and 11-15 or something like that. I usually pick a teenage girl, because like Nicky says, the majority of these boxes are made up by school kids, who are going supply gifts suitable for their own age. I know what teenage girls like better than teenage boys (not having one).

I usually put in hat/scarf/gloves, tootbrush. Pens/pencils/notebook. hairbrush/comb. hairbobbles/clips/slides. jewellery bits and peices (from claires) and a little teddy. I start now and when I see bits and pieces no more than £1, I buy them (except for hat scarf and gloves which I buy as cheaply as I can). I buy a load of stuff and me and my Mum go half with the costs, and make two boxes.

If you think this isn't for you. Please don't be offended - I'm not preaching - it's your choice. It costs £2.50 to send each box - if you can't stretch to filling a box, please consider making a £2.50 donation so one box can be sent here.

SugarSpun

Thanks Elysia, I suggested it last month and forgot this time. I have an ongoing joint thing with my mother, I fill the boxes (or at least buy the stuff to go in them) and she wraps them and pays the £2.50 for each one. They normally contain:

washcloth
soap
toothbrush
hat
scarf
gloves
pencils
notebooks (2)
coloured chalks
sweets
bouncy ball
small teddy

Pips_Mum

Elysia and Nicky I used to always do a shoebox too but last year couldnt find anyone nearby doing a drop off? Like you say I used to love knowing a child would be happy because I had taken a little time out of my day to choose a few items.

My Grandad is off of the ventilator still but is on very strong meds still and they are making him hallucinate. He is convinced he has died and my nan is finding it very upsetting.

Ordered a couple more bits off of Ebay so feel well ahaead with it all. Going to tackle the challenge later today and also attempt some flannel reindeers!

Pips_Mum

Just found this:

http://www.craftelf.com/Craft_elf_Holiday_Christmas_melted_snowman_craft_project.htm

Harsh but quite funny!

Legendmum

Well I havent tackled the freezer but have done the food cupboards this morning! Any1 know how long caster sugar lasts because I cant for the life of me find an expiry date on it?! Have thrown out an awful lot of flour, baking powder and other bits, DS only saw a packet of Postman Pat cake mix so guess what I will be doing this afternoon!!! Not going into town today because it is CRAZY on Saturdays and as DS projectile vomited in the middle of town yesterday I am thinking I should keep a low profile for a while!!!

Pips_Mum

I "think" I remember from when I worked in a supermarket that sugar is the only thing that doesnt have a date on as bacteria cannot grow on it so it can never go off.

Just found this
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060920081818AAMt4fT

welshkaz

Woohoo just found little jars for my pots of gold 2 for a £1 so had 6 so going to get cracking on them and if anyone wants the tescos code here it is https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/36914152#Comment_36914152

Its my turn to do the freezers thank goodness they are done quite often tho lol ive just bought a new dustban and brush so its perfect for scooping the frozen peas sprouts and beans from bottom of chest freezer ...

Are there any no,nos for snowman soup or is it foolproof seems a lovely idea for my ds friends in school x