Christmas 2010 Let's Get Organised

Money_maker

Bought my first Christmas present for this year - one of the Mr Men scooters off the grabbit thread.

Also ordered some of the little perfumes from the low spend board.

DH thinks I'm mad although he proudly told his mum that I've started Christmas shopping! Also got a lovely metal guitar shaped cd rack for £3.99 at Dunelm Mill for DS2 - problem is everyone told me I was mean to hold on to it so he's had it already. Lots of bargains at Dunelm.

Keeping an eye on the Book People / Red House sites as they have some good offers on at the moment.

7 months to go exactly!!

Wendy5704

Money_maker wrote: »

Bought my first Christmas present for this year - one of the Mr Men scooters off the grabbit thread.

Also ordered some of the little perfumes from the low spend board.

DH thinks I'm mad although he proudly told his mum that I've started Christmas shopping! Also got a lovely metal guitar shaped cd rack for £3.99 at Dunelm Mill for DS2 - problem is everyone told me I was mean to hold on to it so he's had it already. Lots of bargains at Dunelm.

Keeping an eye on the Book People / Red House sites as they have some good offers on at the moment.

7 months to go exactly!!

Great start. Everyone tells me Im really mad for starting Christmas early but I really love it. It seems to of got worse mind since I started this site.

^!£$&

Boots Clearance Offers

In boots today picked up these magnetic photo frames reduced to £1
http://www.boots.com/en/Magnetic-Photo-Frames-4-pack_922457/
And this wooden photo frame for £3 ( perfect for piccies of the kids for grandparents for xmas)
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Maple-Wooden-Collection-Photo-Frame_922254/
What's more I got them to the checkout and they were on bogof!

Also got small sanctuary bath gift set with candle and miniatures for £1.71 from £7

These were in the clearance section of my local boots!

chickywiggle

i got my mum some socks from poundland the other day

Wendy5704

snowbrow wrote: »

Boots Clearance Offers

In boots today picked up these magnetic photo frames reduced to £1
http://www.boots.com/en/Magnetic-Photo-Frames-4-pack_922457/
And this wooden photo frame for £3 ( perfect for piccies of the kids for grandparents for xmas)
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Maple-Wooden-Collection-Photo-Frame_922254/
What's more I got them to the checkout and they were on bogof!

Also got small sanctuary bath gift set with candle and miniatures for £1.71 from £7

These were in the clearance section of my local boots!

I love these magnetic photo frames but my local store doesnt sell them. I will be keeping my eyes open for them. Thanks

lizalloareds

fab buys snowbrow

sammy_kaye18

Hello all

Sorry I have been slightly AWOL lately - trying to get things sorted for Holly Bump's appearance so Christmas has been somewhat on a back burner at the minute - I seem to have a steady stream of birthdays between now and her estimated arrival! starting with Ben's last week, cousin on the 19th June, then fathers day on the 20th June, the boyfriends on June 21st so saving and planning for those. Plus everyone thinks it is going to be about then that Holly Bump will put in an appearance so wanting to be ahead of myself!

However have had Ben off school the last few days poorly and he was playing on his grandma's wii and loved it so think I might see about getting one as a joint xmas present for Ben and the boyfriend.

I have managed to work out a budget though so far for their gifts - although my sister pointed out it was a bit cruel to ONLY spend that much - do you think these budgets are a bit harsh?
Ben (6.5 at Xmas) ---- £150
Boyfriend ---- £150
Holly Bump (almost 6 months depending on arrival!) ---- £ 50

It looks harsh for Holly but she will only be about 6 months old by Xmas if she arrives on time and so I don't want to spend a fortune as she'll probably be more interested in the paper and boxes but realise that I can still get her a fair bit with that amount from places like wilkinsons, B&M and Home Bargains (all of which I have local access to). I went mad on bens first xmas and spent about £300 only for him to have giggle fits at a sticky bow being repeatedly stuck to his forehead - lesson learnt!

Ben and my boyfriends amount will each be - £80 to go towards the wii between them so they are really getting about £70 of other presents each. Plus Ben does have a night before Xmas hamper and we do a fair bit in the run up to Xmas where he has little one off Xmas treats too - even if its a hot chocolate and cookie at the local cafe.

Have also got some pretty pale pink fabric that has a pink ballet shoes motif on it and pink ribbon with love hearts on so I'm thinking if I can get some cheap fleece fabric i might make a thin no sew blanket for Holly and then see if I can find some cheap spiderman material and some red or blue fleece and make Ben one too.

Apart from that I have made a start on getting a few gifts together - mainly ethol austin bits.
They had a small pouch in ethol austin of the strawberries and cream scented smellies that were a bubble bath, body cream, lip gloss etc that usually retailed at £4.50 but they were reduced down to £2 each so grabbed two of them - one for mums comfy hamper, one for step sisters
Then they had smoothie books - energiser, healthy heart, revitalising etc - that sort of thing - that are meant to be £2 each but were reduced down to 50p each so figure my sister can have those and I'll get her a cheapy blender so she can make them being that as of July she is going up for pre selection for the army so will be keeping herself fit and healthy.
Also got a notebook with cupcakes on from pound land that I'm not quite sure what to do with yet!
Have found a bag full of cheap Xmas tags I brought at 10p a pack so not sure whether to use those to gift wrap this year or to make cards with as they are glittery etc but would make lovely simple cards that I could probably do as a craft with Ben in the run up to Xmas.
Hoping to get round to starting soon but realistically i think i have more preparation work to do now whilst I have one child in school and babe hasn't arrived yet, because those 6 weeks holiday come July are going to be busy and I dare say holiday crafting/shopping wont get a look in until September when Ben goes back!

lovetomake

I haven't managed to start to actually buy anything yet... I've managed to get £34.50 worth of vouchers (£15 for Sainsburys, £9.50 for Tesco, £5 for Boots and £5 for HMV) though. I thought about saving them up for Christmas and then buying things mostly at the same time but I don't know if it would really be an awful lot of use to save them. Money is money really, isn't it?

chickywiggle

ohhh good luck Sammy_kaye.

i don't think thats harsh at all. mine certainly won't be having anything near as much spent on them (DS and hubby)

Wendy5704

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Hello all

Sorry I have been slightly AWOL lately - trying to get things sorted for Holly Bump's appearance so Christmas has been somewhat on a back burner at the minute - I seem to have a steady stream of birthdays between now and her estimated arrival! starting with Ben's last week, cousin on the 19th June, then fathers day on the 20th June, the boyfriends on June 21st so saving and planning for those. Plus everyone thinks it is going to be about then that Holly Bump will put in an appearance so wanting to be ahead of myself!

I have managed to work out a budget though so far for their gifts - although my sister pointed out it was a bit cruel to ONLY spend that much - do you think these budgets are a bit harsh?
Ben (6.5 at Xmas) ---- £150
Boyfriend ---- £150
Holly Bump (almost 6 months depending on arrival!) ---- £ 50

It looks harsh for Holly but she will only be about 6 months old by Xmas if she arrives on time and so I don't want to spend a fortune as she'll probably be more interested in the paper and boxes but realise that I can still get her a fair bit with that amount from places like wilkinsons, B&M and Home Bargains (all of which I have local access to). I went mad on bens first xmas and spent about £300 only for him to have giggle fits at a sticky bow being repeatedly stuck to his forehead - lesson learnt!

Ben and my boyfriends amount will each be - £80 to go towards the wii between them so they are really getting about £70 of other presents each. Plus Ben does have a night before Xmas hamper and we do a fair bit in the run up to Xmas where he has little one off Xmas treats too - even if its a hot chocolate and cookie at the local cafe.

Have also got some pretty pale pink fabric that has a pink ballet shoes motif on it and pink ribbon with love hearts on so I'm thinking if I can get some cheap fleece fabric i might make a thin no sew blanket for Holly and then see if I can find some cheap spiderman material and some red or blue fleece and make Ben one too.

Apart from that I have made a start on getting a few gifts together - mainly ethol austin bits.
They had a small pouch in ethol austin of the strawberries and cream scented smellies that were a bubble bath, body cream, lip gloss etc that usually retailed at £4.50 but they were reduced down to £2 each so grabbed two of them - one for mums comfy hamper, one for step sisters
Then they had smoothie books - energiser, healthy heart, revitalising etc - that sort of thing - that are meant to be £2 each but were reduced down to 50p each so figure my sister can have those and I'll get her a cheapy blender so she can make them being that as of July she is going up for pre selection for the army so will be keeping herself fit and healthy.
Also got a notebook with cupcakes on from pound land that I'm not quite sure what to do with yet!
Have found a bag full of cheap Xmas tags I brought at 10p a pack so not sure whether to use those to gift wrap this year or to make cards with as they are glittery etc but would make lovely simple cards that I could probably do as a craft with Ben in the run up to Xmas.
Hoping to get round to starting soon but realistically i think i have more preparation work to do now whilst I have one child in school and babe hasn't arrived yet, because those 6 weeks holiday come July are going to be busy and I dare say holiday crafting/shopping wont get a look in until September when Ben goes back!

Congratulations Sammy_Kaye. Baby Holly will be here before you know it. I think your budgets are fine. She will be too young to know any different. You will get an awful lot for her for the budget you have.