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

mary-op

Hello all :j

I do feel for you single mums.....was one myself after first OH died and youngest son was a tiny baby............not easy time and then when second marriage went pear shaped I was on my own again ! Thank goodness my kids were so good and now they've fled the nest I've got OH which is a great help. Just wish I'd met him sooner.
Ears much better today............I never get ringing, more like constant dull throbbing sound.........makes me feel really weird and would never dare venture into a busy shopping centre without someone with me even on a good day.
Anyway, nuff said.............can't believe its taken me all day to mess about concocting next years journal..............all I'd got to do was count the pages, divide by 12 (got that wrong twice :eek:) and stick the relevant months in -adding the ''January brings the snow'' verses on relevant pages. Printed out Pint of Socks labels and our lad came peering over my shoulder saying ''whats that ??''..........well one of them's for him...........lol (little does he know) and printed off nice friendship verse for my mate. I've got a plastic tube I had some flowers in from craft shop so I'm going to put some mints in it and the verse like a scroll round it once I've covered it with christmas paper.
Keep finding silly little things to do and still haven't transformed the last old place mat into a kitchen organiser !! Two days I've been going to do that ! Oh I could fall out with myself sometimes !!..........:rotfl:

SugarSpun

JaneLiz wrote: »

Does anyone have any ideas about postage costs UK to US? The Royal Mail website is either useless or very confusing.. I just need to know if it's going to cost like £10 or £30... and.. if anyone has experience shipping to the US, can you tell me stuff I need to know?? Thanks

I normally send heavier things by courier - I like interparcel.com because it shows you various different options. I Fed-Exed myself a 21kg box from the UK to Germany this week, cost £38 and took 24 hours

There's also a thread about different options if you search, but remember that sending to the US you need the customs declaration filled in and if you go to the Post Office while it's busy expect them to tut at you if it's not pre-filled out.

I also admire you single parents, it's hard enough with a small demanding child and a husband to pick up the slack, never mind trying to take care of her, do a course AND run the house singlehanded.

What I really came on to post was, I've just been playing with my Christmas/birthdays spreadsheet. Total budget (as though I was ever going to spend it :rotfl:) for all gifts, birthday, anniversary, Valentines, Christmas was €1135. Total spent was €309.10. Total saved from RRP ......

*drumroll*

€1170.10 :j:j:j:j:j

With my creative accounting, since I have saved more than I actually budgeted, I think that means I made money on celebrations this year :rotfl:

Real_Toothfairy

Hi everyone.......Wow this thread does move fast lol Hope everyone is ok and getting over illnesses....injuries etc etc
I have finally started to feel better after the worst gastric flu I have ever had......felt worse than when I had swine flu!!
Not much Xmas stuff done apart from getting DB a fleece jacket to go with his pressies (he always expects me to get him one!). DH took me out on Friday for a date evening!! Had a nice meal and then saw a film (got a few bits of shopping before meal). Managed to start clearing out and sorting larder cupboard.....bottom floor part houses all my tupperware etc .....now why is it that I have loads of lids but only a few boxes....mmmm Also got DD one of these all in one romper suits for grown-ups but it looks like u need to be a giant to fit in it so am going to take the feet off and take it up.
Well thats me for now......gonna make a sausage casserole for dinner and try and make a start on one of the 12 monkeys I need to get done!

Take care all

Lis xx

susan42

Hi everyone, sympathise with single parents, i was one for 10 years, wish this forum was around then...

elysia - i think my mini pamper hampers sold the best, only took 5 as i didnt know what would sell, they were a £1 each and sold out before the doors opened, next was my magnetic memo (pegs) 5 for £1.50 each, took 5 packs and they were fighting over them, then my jewellery disappeared all of a sudden, lady kept coming back and purchasing "gift" of jeweelery when she thought of another £2.50 a bracelet. My cards christmas and other occasions £1 each went quick, i know this sounds bad but the ones i wasnt fussed on sold first :eek:.
I did santa soup in a mug £2.50 they were popular. reindeer food 75p, sold out. Santa snow £1, took 10 and a lady bought them all..
eliz shaw - 4 for £1, sold out. Mini CDM`s 8 in a bag £1.50 sold out.
Santas friends cdm and choc lollies 50p each sold out. sock cakes £1. PENCIL - 50p , bah humbugs - 75p , stall looked very christmasy and was phoned earlier to do one in 2 weeks....I told them i`d have a think about it as i got no stock.

pinkflop

Wow Susan sounds like you did really well!!!!

Thanks for all the messages re. single mums, it is nice to know I have peeps here to talk to!!

I had such a lovely relaxing day. My DS had a rememberance sunday parade with Beavers at church, then we came home and he helped me tidy up - he's only 6 and vacuumed everywhere, tidied away all his toys and cleaned the bathroom!!! Then lunch was ready (roast chicken - yum!), we had that then watched a film together. I then went upstairs and finished all my wrapping - yay!!

We played a game then made scones which we had for tea. A lovely bath and a chapter of the Famous Five rounded the day off nicely. I am now waiting for x factor to start and I will do one of the very many sock monkeys I have to do - just like real toothfairy!!!

mary-op

sugarspun - well done on that whopping saving:T
Must add mine up and see what its cost me..........recycled a lot of stuff from round the house but I know my sons scrapbooks cost me a bit (ink, embellishments etc.)

Toothfairy -good to see you back and feeling better. :T

susan - sounds like you had some really good sales.
Well done - was worth the effort:T

Just spent what seemed like hours on play.com getting dvd for my eldest son........drifted off looking at other stuff in the process and could have spent a fortune but didn't.............OH called that dinner was ready and it brought me down to the ground with a thump. So just ordered the dvd and thats it............least its free delivery with them.
Soon be time to kick the cat off the couch and tell him its my turn..................lol:rotfl:

junior_j

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend! You all sound very busy! Putting me too shame lol!

I had a nice lay in and watched X Factor on catch up earlier then went to Asda and to see my Goddaughter and her family. Then back home to have a nap.. Poor Mollie (my 86yr old friend) has a horrible cold so i rung her and had a natter

Might wrap one or two presents later not too sure yet though! x

Willow92

Evening all!

I have no more presents to buy and I've wrapped most of them. My fiance's buying some more wrapping paper

elysia2003

Well done everyone with your acheivements over the weekend. You're all putting me to shame.

Today - Blitzed the house, did ironing, cooked lunch, checked Grabbit for bargains (ordered myself a camcorder from Debenhams - thought I'd treat myself for a change) Did a Vistaprint order - calendar for my mum, pen with 'To my Nan' on off the girls, and 10 freebie Christmas cards. I've also been comparing energy suppliers for hours (borrrring).

While I was busy, OH helped DD2 to wrap up her presents today, that she's bought everyone last week. It was so funny - she saved two months pocket money! She's 7 so gets £7 a month. I rounded it up to £15 and said you have to buy for 7 (just little stocking fillers) Me, Dad, Sis, Nan, Grandad, Auntie 1 and Auntie 2. So approx £2 each or if we go to Boots we can spend £3 each on two presents and get one free. Ok she said. First present £2.10, second £2.50, Third £3.50 odd, thought to myself Ok we're still in budget then she gets the next four presents @ £6 each so I have to put to it, as she hasn't got enough money, then she asks for her change back. :cool: Kids.

Susan thanks for telling us about your sale. Did you make much profit? I don't want to know how much - I'm not that nosy! I just wondered whether you thought it was worth it for all the time and effort you put in.

xrestrictedx

hiya everyone, oh you all seem soooo busy and lots of you have finished!!!

well the last two days i've been blitzing my two son's bedroom, changing it around and putting their electricals (tv's, wii, x-box, stereo, etc) all in one place, ( on a tall shelf system thingy) at one end of their bunkbed so they can now sit on their beds and watch tv or play their games. i've been catching up on my washing, and this morning, build a nappy cake which is for my daughter, my first attempt, got two more to do if this one goes ok.

went shopping on friday and got all the stuff for a movie night in box courtesy of susan42's wonderful idea, i've completed one and have 4 more left to buy, that'll be my daughter's and their partners pressie's along with pots of gold and a toiletries hamper each. i've also been shredding plain paper to see what its like in the hampers, and wow what a difference it makes, and sooooo much cheaper.

well off to bed now to do an hour of knitting before i go to sleep. lots of love to everyone, hope you all feel better soon, nite xxx