Christmas 2010 Let's Get Organised

chrisbethany

Hi All - I make and stash for Christmas all year round cos, like many of you, I hate the crowds and pressure nearer the time. So far it's knitted dishcloths, marmalade, oven mitts out of some lovely quilted Laura Ashley fabric I found in the loft.

The family all know & are fine that we can't afford to spend much as DH out of work for almost 2 yrs now, which has really helped (the understanding, not the unemployment!!). Last year I felt very overwhelmed with it all, and said we weren't going to do Christmas in terms of pressies, and that also helped. The previous year I made hampers for my 2 married DDs, and put all the goodies on Christmas trays from £1 shop. Together with hotties with knitted covers, , mugs with choc, m-mallows, etc, and lots of things I'd made during the year (sock monkeys, hats etc) they looked really good, wrapped with clear cellophane. I'm feeling more positive about the whole thing this year, and have started something similar again. 86 yr old mum will get a x stitch or something knitted - haven't decided yet. Friends get pots of marmalade, chutney or the infamous knitted dishcloths!

Happy crafting,

Chris X

moneysavingmumofone

chickywiggle wrote: »

some good shopping going on.

i really must hunt out the things i have got already.

i'm after cheap 'things' for men - couple of pound max (but look about £5-£10 IYSWIM) - pk of 5 socks or keyrings preferably.

just picked up £70 of kids books (about 6 wheres wally and 6 toddler books with cd's) for £10 - brand new so thats the families kids sorted - esp as I have 5 of their birthdays between now and christmas!!

Sports direct do packs of 3 or 5 kangol socks in a nice box for 2.99 that look at least worth 5-7 pounds.

Hi everyone
Hope you dont mind me joining in, I LOVE Christmas! Im so excited about this year, I want it to be just like last years which was nearly perfect. (my nan was too ill to join us) My DS' christmas list is growing by the day but Im good at allocating things he'd like to his nans so I dont have to buy all the expensive things on his list lol. Ive mainly bought small presents so far, must get my bum into gear and start buying more main presents! I do have both nieces sorted so at least thats two people done!

chickywiggle

moneysavingmumofone wrote: »

Sports direct do packs of 3 or 5 kangol socks in a nice box for 2.99 that look at least worth 5-7 pounds.

cheers. i shall wait for the "constantly closing down then re-openig 2 days later under a new sports name that is closing down" shop to re-open as a sports direct.......... failing that i have a hunch there is one at meadowhell :eek:

Mrs_Ryan

Can I join in too?

I've just got my first Xmas pressie - a Bench watch for my sis - should have been £40 :eek: from Avon - but it was £10 when you spend £10. otherwise I'm nowhere near as organised as any of the rest of you!!!

^!£$&

Welcome to the newbies, glad everyone has their christmas heads on!

And yes I totally agree about the christmas shopping crowds I want to get as much done now as possible to avoid them!

I such a geek I have a spread sheet and when I buy something I add it to the section for that person so I know exactly how much I've spent on everyone, also I keep a record the of price I paid and the normal (full price) cost.
Having just checked my spreadsheet I'm pleased to report I've got at least half of my presents sorted now!

Also I have found a lovely countdown clock to christmas, It's currently 143 days to go people!!:rudolf::xmassmile:snow_laug:santa2:
http://www.xmasclock.com/

elysia2003

Woo Hoo - Last time I looked it was 148, not that I'm counting. :rotfl:

cdsmiler

Morning all,

I'm part of the thrify gifty threads and although I read this thread last year, I forgot all about it until now!! Hope you don't mind me joining in!

moneysavingmumofone wrote: »

Hope you dont mind me joining in, I LOVE Christmas! Im so excited about this year, I want it to be just like last years which was nearly perfect. (my nan was too ill to join us) My DS' christmas list is growing by the day but Im good at allocating things he'd like to his nans so I dont have to buy all the expensive things on his list lol. Ive mainly bought small presents so far, must get my bum into gear and start buying more main presents! I do have both nieces sorted so at least thats two people done!

Lol that's what I'll be doing with my DD this year and for years to come!!!!

Got to wait for lists from my family before I can do the shopping, but I'm gathering vouchers, and just starting to look at making some jams and things. Did some lovely cross stitch cards last year for closer family, but I was pregnant and had plenty of time to do that!! lol Scrap that for this year...

So many of you are doing fab!!

snowbrow - I do that too with my spreadsheet!! Then I show hubby how much we've 'saved'! He humours me.... lol

Clare x

greenieweenie

the-green-apple website is great for eco gifts and has quite a few buy this get this free offers. i think you need to be a fan on facebook to see all the latest vouchers etc though.

midnightraven3

last year i decided to make hampers for everyone
one reason was down to cost, another was if i am honest i was fed up with the usual what to buy question

i love making things and dont really get into the whole christmas hype, so it was ideal

with trepidation i made my hampers
and i sat looking at them all lined up waiting to go to their recipients
doubt crept in
what if they dont like them?
what if they think its weird?

i got the usual thank you cards etc
but a few weeks later i got phone calls
"ooooh can you make more of the sweetcorn relish/soap?" etc
everyone LOVED them

so i have spent this year thinking what to make & do for this year
and have pretty much got myself sorted:T

now is where i have a dilema

all these baskets are for aunties etc
i used to spend roughly £20-£30 on each for christmas
last year my baskets cost me roughly £10 each ( all homemade things)
but as you know, hampers look impressive

3 of them have asked me to make baskets for them, for them to give as gifts:eek: 13 baskets in all

what would you do?
none of them are money orientated and wouldnt care i spent £1 or £100 on them
all of them are very comfortable financially

but i dont want to make money from them
nor do i want to confess how much my baskets actually cost

anyone have any words of wisdom for me please?

midnightraven3

Gosh apologies for the uber long post
i didnt realize how much this was bothering me:(

and it all just came out
sorry:(