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

mummyslittleboy

elysia2003 wrote: »

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.

We always do a couple of these as the school run it most years but this year we are also going to do Angel tree which I know some of you might not agree with but it is for children who have a parent in prison, and the parent writes a gift tag for you to put on the present so that the child thinks its from them, I saw the difference this made to a friends child last xmas and I know that it made there face light up thinking his dad was able to give him a present, so this year I have decided to do the same and have put my name down to help.

JaneLiz

Haven't been around for a while, getting stupidly excited about Christmas here! A new The Works and a really good but cheap toy shop have just opened in town, far too exciting lol

elysia2003

Hiya Jane, Lovely to see you.

I've been watching QVC all morning at DD2 has already asked for some things.

Mummys little boy - I've not heard of that. It's not the child's fault their parent is in prison, so it may be something else to consider, thanks.

Kaz where did you get your pots from? I haven't bought mine yet - I may do the same as last year, It depends if I can find some pretty little jars.

mummyslittleboy

elysia2003 wrote: »

Hiya Jane, Lovely to see you.

I've been watching QVC all morning at DD2 has already asked for some things.

Mummys little boy - I've not heard of that. It's not the child's fault their parent is in prison, so it may be something else to consider, thanks.

Kaz where did you get your pots from? I haven't bought mine yet - I may do the same as last year, It depends if I can find some pretty little jars.

Angel tree I hadn't heard of it before my friend received a parcel from them with a present in, we googled them as you do!! and I do think it is a lovely idea. http://www.prisonfellowship.org.uk/angel-tree.html

elysia2003

Not on the subject of Christmas - sorrrrry.

OH found he had a flat tyre on the car this morning, he walked around the corner and found £20 on the floor. Talk about jammy!!!

I have found out I'm a match for someone who needs a Bone Marrow Transplant - only thing is there is a weight limit for donors - so diet starts Monday. Fingers crossed for them that another match comes up in the meantime.

fedupandskint

Hi, have you bought anything yet elysia?

I caved in for the TSV!

mummyslittleboy

mum2one wrote: »

Santas Challenge - September - Setember Sorting

Firstly message from Miss Hoodie, rubber gloves are needed, but as you ladies are all lovely, hopefullly they can pass the job across to hubbys etc ( she's suggested he does this challenge (freezer) - so the ladies should find a man to do it!!)

The Freezer
It's frost free and have inventory done.


Food List
Now the supermarkets are starting to get in the Christmas goodies, nows the time to do the list of the exta goodies and we can spread the buying out, certain things tend to sell out quicker (espically Brandy sauce).

Turkey - digressing slightly - but after reading a news article this morning, it said expect Turkeys to go up in price by at least 10 to 20% due to the increase in price of grain the farmers are having to pay - cost be passed to consumer. Any bargains shout them out

Halloween
I know may seem mad, (we have Oct's santa challenge b4 then), but hallowen falls at the end of half term, and guessing that week, strores will be empty by then, if you need to buy anything or make anything - start now

Half term - October
we are going to use half term week to make any thing craft wise the kids want to give as xmas presents also a good sort out of toys will be done this week to make room for xmas presents.

Stockings
I admit I cheat and but them from hawkins bazaar already made uo and just need to wrap them:D

Ebay
Have a few items of DS's clothing he has outgrown just need to finish sorting his room and list items;)


Christmas Lists
Hopefully we're all getting there withe Christmas - thou sugarspun is on 2012 already:j:j - puts us to shame (only joking), would say use this month as an organised one, Christmas catalogues will be out soon:j, so even more ideas.
Don't forget to allow the spare presents - (secret santa at work, spare ladies, mens, childrens) - you never know.

Secret santas presents
I appriciate that last year was a bit of an experiment, but thinking of re-doing the surprise christmas present - same as last yr - your be given some questions, passed onto another lady, they choose 3 prezzies, then you pass the list to friend, hubby etc they get teh final choice.
The part of secret santa - this month is to make £10, any way - as long as its legal:D, then next months Santas challenge can collectr names and go from there.

Christmas Tree
Need to buy new tree all decs are fine and lights work:D

Christmas Presents - Batteries
sounds daft, but check for batteries - as 9 times out of 10 there the expensive part List of batteries needed made:D

Christmas paper
Now's the time to get the wide rolls of paper, incase you have any big boxes, saves the octopus hands.......

Childrens drawings - When Miss Hoodie was younger she had this thing about the glitter glue pens, and use to love drawing patterns and putting another piece on top, it was novely that the same design came though, we had stacks of them, (kept a few), but with the others I used them as wrapping paper for small presents, espcially uncle and aunts etc, it was the personal touch

Time for the chat
I was chatting to a friend the other day, about christmas. and she was saying how expensive her family is getting, she 2 brothers, 2 sisters, 4 in-laws, 6 nieces and nephews, then her family, they've decided between them just to buy for the children, just thinking that some people who aren't as wonderfully orgainsed as us, and as crafty (in the art terms) as mary, maywant to cut back, but don't know how to say so.

Pampering
Ladies - we must have a pampering, (thou MSE as always), grab a friend, a family member, or just treat yoiurself, whether its an afternoon witha weepie film, a facemask and hair conditioner treatment (thou preferably after the postie has been:cool::p:rotfl:) or even a large slice of chocolate cake....... we deserve it.

Christmas Cakes
Nows the time the shops are getting all the ingredients in ready for cakes, - even if your not baking yet, grab the main bits - before just the very posh labels left - if you have any mixture left over, and it can make a small cake, I use an baked bean tin, makes a great cake for 1 - great in hampers -

Hampers
That brings me nicely on, I know this year, making a few more hampers as prezzies, doesn't have to be tradational wicker baskets, - Mary is the expert here - but if it can be covered use it.

The School Presents - Mums challenge
This is the bit I did dread, as with Mis Hoodie it's everyone but the cook, - she has 4 people reading, then the class room assistant, the Headmnaster, the volunteer that comes in, you know the list its endless. The main people will have something from Boots 75% sale box, the others I'm doing the santas soup. But if we can find out how many people there is - get in now - save the pennies

Yes, theres some lovely ladies that don't have the school run, so this month you can have a little rest......

The I wants.......
DD2 wants a bike ordered deposit paid at halfords when it was in the sale.
DS I have got his main present a train table from toys r us it was half price glad I got it when i did as when I checked the other day it was out of stock.
DD1 Ok I need some help here were is the best place to get ghd straightners the real thing not fake though


Last one - promise - "Don't forget"
This may sound daft, but grab a note back, and put notes in as to where you have put the items, - as my loft is a black hole - we have managed to mislay a box of 800 christmas cards!!

---

As always the challenge list looks long, but think of it like a pick and mix, grab what you fancy..... (only excuses allowed for the freezer challenge - have no freezer, its frost free;))

Mum2one would it be easier to have a seperate thread for the I wants? Just thinking then this thread wont get so filled up with them.

For some reason i feel totally disorganised today:( so am going to do my lists of what need making craft wise and what else I need to buy for kids and relatives etc. Will also do my christmas food list I might be a while!! Also need to finish DS's room and list stuff on ebay.

mum2one

I will get a new I want thread started for the best prices, ideas etc, then it keep them all together

Will link up after, just spent 3 hrs helping Miss Hoodie with her homework, all about Elm trees........ xx

mary-op

Hello all :j
Every intention of ''doing stuff'' today but our lad wants to go out with his friend for the day but I laid down condition that he tidy his room or else..............lol Never thought he would go to the extent of massive de-clutter, up and down stairs, hoovered, spray polished.............fair wore me out supervising him all the time.........don't know what he's up to now but there's a racket going on that needs inspecting.................:eek: good job I did.........cricket ball being thrown about -now confiscated:mad:

Did manage to clear some paperwork out of the way and finished off sons girlfriends birthday box (I'd printed off a chocolate wrapper so had to do that and pop it in) Ribbon I bought I found I hadn't got enough of........found some more after much foraging.
So hopefully tomorrow, once our lad has gone off for the day I can peacefully play with either cards or bits and pieces that are shouting ''finish me'' .

Oh and neighbour has given us another cupboard.........I'll be the ''queen of cupboards'' at this rate but it was so nice I could see it chopped up.........haven't a clue where to put it...........not the wall hanger that her daughter made and gave me but its one of those situations where if you like something enough you find room........don't you ??

susan42

pips mum - hope you grandad get better soon, what a worry:A (((hugs to you al)))l

elysia - I`ve got lots of the things stashed for shoe box as my friends taking some to cuba for me in january, thank you, wd fancy being a match, i cant believe all you get up too...and pots of yellow snow dread to think...lol:eek:

welsh kaz - cant think of any pitfalls to snowman soup but when i was doing mine this afternoon here i read that the white chocolate contained nuts so that might be something to look out for

mum2 one wd on getting the homework sorted. I miss that with my children, mind you DS came in the other day and asked me to draw army men in a battlefield for him for a presentation on a computer game. He needed 3 different types in , 3 situations on a3 paper:o

mary - i`m like you cant see anthing go out, always looking at it to see what i can do with it

Today I made snowman soups, pint of socks and mini pamper kits

I thought I`d make a few and at christmas when I have a party I can hand them out, I usually dress up in an inflatable santa suit . I looking for a turkey outfit this week.

I also listed 14 items on ebay, two sold as I put them BIN so thanks mum2 one and Miss hoodie, I `m really going for the challenges:)

On a positive note the sky women from accounts emailed, as i wouldnt pay the bill , i explained all thats gone on she credited the phone back to account. I agreed to pay for tv viewing...and shes looking into broadband, she asked why I hadnt paid , i told her you wouldnt agree i was with you, she said I should have cancelled, I told her how can i cancel something that you keep telling me i havent got :mad: she`s looking into it now.

But I dont care BT router came and I`m with them:T:T

Just have to sort sky out now