Needing Advice

katsu

You've had some fantastic help. I thought I would share my christmas story with you as we have similar sized challenges. I gave 23 people gifts for £180 last year.

I have 8 people left to go of the 23 for 2010 - mostly ones I'm making gifts for. Last week I got my first full price gift (just perfect for the recipient). Current spend around £130.

I do this by:

* 99p/pound shops - check regularly, lots of junk some great bits
* grabbit board deals
* charity shops - you can get good deals on good condition hardback books, some new goods and other great condition items.
* sales. I can't stress this enough. I even got some 2010 gifts in the pre-christmas 2009 sales!
* I get things when I see them so sometimes have this year and next years' worth of pressies for person X
* I keep storage boxes and a spreadsheet so I know what I've got for whom.
* DH and I pick some people to make a special effort for each year - not everyone.
* when you get a great deal on a gift (e.g. a grabbit £2 T Shirt) don't "top up" what you spend on the recipient to your usual average of £15 or whatever.

Hope this is some help.

I'd also look at the personal spends - break down the £160 - what exactly is it going on? You might be able to trim the elements better than a random £160. Oh, and if DH spends his money by week 2 of 4, I'd suggest he is about to have a quiet two weeks! Show him the budget and your mutual debts and ask him where else to get extra money from? Don't just magic up money for him. I honestly don't mean this harshly - get him to think about where it is all going.

Fortheloveofmoney

katsu wrote: »

I'd also look at the personal spends - break down the £160 - what exactly is it going on? You might be able to trim the elements better than a random £160. Oh, and if DH spends his money by week 2 of 4, I'd suggest he is about to have a quiet two weeks! Show him the budget and your mutual debts and ask him where else to get extra money from? Don't just magic up money for him. I honestly don't mean this harshly - get him to think about where it is all going.

I agree with this. Once it's gone, it's gone. I wouldn't give him extra money. My hubby quite often spends all of his money in one go but he doesn't get any more and neither do i!

nowpanicking

Thanks to fortheloveofmoney and katsu. I've been checking out the christmas threads so have some good ideas... I'm really hopeful that I'm going to drastically cut my christmas budget this year

You're both right about the personal spends money - I've been keeping a spending diary this month and have found that it really helps me stop spending when I don't really need to! For me this month it's been a couple of nights out (which doesn't happen that often ), swimming every week and the odd treat for my wee boy at the weekend. I also have about £17 I pay out at work every 4 weeks for lottery; milk fund; saving for christmas night out.

OH has agreed to pay back any spending he does over the next couple of weeks - for him it's mostly tobacco and booze plus spending on our son - takes him swimming etc during the week...

Pay day is next Thursday so it'll be interesting to see how I do - this is when the spending is usually out of control but with the spending diary fingers crossed

nowpanicking

Hi everyone

Just thought I'd give a wee update as I haven't posted on this thread in a while. The week leading up to pay day was a total disaster!!! OH overspent by over £100 and I stopped doing my spending diary so no idea what I spent my money on.

I managed to put an extra £160 towards the overdraft at the start of the month but then overspent by £166.80 :mad: .... which means I dipped more into my overdraft by £6.80. Not a good start!!

The first 3 weeks went really well - I was keeping a spending diary; was doing the weekly spend challenge; also on the daily "what small dfw have you done today" which was really helping. The last week I just seemed to completely lose enthusiasm. Then when I got paid I ended up spending over £40 on clothes plus £20 on OH on a pair of jeans.

SO... will try again this month and see how I get on. I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks - we're just doing days here and there so hoping for nice weather. Mum2one has given me loads of ideas for things to do so hopefully can have some nice cheap days out.

p.s. the last few months I've been overspending by at least £200 so there has been an improvement so should focus on that... just really frustrated at myself

mum2one

nowpanicking wrote: »

Hi everyone

Just thought I'd give a wee update as I haven't posted on this thread in a while. The week leading up to pay day was a total disaster!!! OH overspent by over £100 and I stopped doing my spending diary so no idea what I spent my money on.

I managed to put an extra £160 towards the overdraft at the start of the month but then overspent by £166.80 :mad: .... which means I dipped more into my overdraft by £6.80. Not a good start!!

The first 3 weeks went really well - I was keeping a spending diary; was doing the weekly spend challenge; also on the daily "what small dfw have you done today" which was really helping. The last week I just seemed to completely lose enthusiasm. Then when I got paid I ended up spending over £40 on clothes plus £20 on OH on a pair of jeans.

SO... will try again this month and see how I get on. I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks - we're just doing days here and there so hoping for nice weather. Mum2one has given me loads of ideas for things to do so hopefully can have some nice cheap days out.

p.s. the last few months I've been overspending by at least £200 so there has been an improvement so should focus on that... just really frustrated at myself

We all have bad months, I've had o increase my od, thou the plan is just for 2 months!!

Look on the positive, at the start of the month u had the money for the OD - but at the end it got spent, but turn it into a positive, yes you increased your od by £7.00 (for quickness), but turn the clock back, say 6 months ago, the whole £170 would of been the overdraft.

The positives -
You started a spending diary
You didn't buy clothes till the end of the month, and again turn the clock back, bet 6 months ago the amount ould of been more.
You said that would been a £200 overspend, previously, this month nearly £7, while if that isn't a positive move forwards I don't know what is.

Don't beat yoyrself up, like diets the 1st few months are tough, (hense the word diet doesn't come out of my mouth!!!), you've done a lot of positive actions and you both should be proud of yourselves.

Hope the weather keeps well. your have loads of fun on ur 2 weeks off, then come back with the cbwebs blown away and try again,maybe just take a week at a time,which ever way you findbest.

take care and thank you xx

mummytogirls

Hi nowpanicking, dont want to gatecrash your thread but need to ask the question!!

Mum2one, is there a thread somewhere for all these hamper and Christmas ideas? Absolutely loving the handprint poem, that is so flipping cute and will defo be doing that for grandparents and godparents. Its really touched me as they do grow up too fast dont they :eek:!! x

mum2one

Dry days

1. Walk in the country or near some fields.Collect some leaves or twigs or anything else you find exciting.
2.Lie on a blanket.. What shapes can you see in the clouds ?
3. Take some pictures. ( This one is great, i let Ben borrow my digital camera and he took some fantastic photos..but a disposible one would work too)
4.Have a picnic or a teddies tea party
5. Go for a bike ride
6. Draw a plant or a flower
7. Plant some seeds

Wet days ... Well as in UK we have nice wet summers

1. Make a collage or picture from leaves
2. Make clouds... These can be pictures using cotton wool or Meringues
3. Make salt dough.. I will find a receipe for this for you all
4. Watch a film then write about it
5. Have a pamper day.. Do your hair,paint your nails and have a face mask ( not very good for boys
6.Read a book then write about it
7. Decorate a cake. This can be one you make or buy
8. Family tree. These can be as little or as big as you want ( Great way to get the grandparents to watch the kids for a few hours )
9. Coin rubbing... Really easy this one a piece of paper ontop of a coin then rub over it with a pencil or wax crayon.
10. Make a paperbag puppet. This came be made into loads of different animals. I will see if i can find some templates
11. Make a sock puppet. Again these can be made as weird or wonderful as you want
12. Perform a puppet show, You can use your paper bag or sock puppets
13. Star in a pop video... Wear your best party gear, do your hair. Pop on your favorite tune. Then magically you become youre favorite pop star !! Ask someone to eith camcorder it or record it on a phone.

I found it worked well so i added a days out one too
Such as visit local zoo or nature reserve. Trip to the cinema.. A game of bowling.

We also scrapbook the summer holidays/ activities we do
You can get a scrapbook for 99p from Wilco or other stores or even use white a4 paper.
Everything goes in there. If we go into town on the bus we add bus tickets and i get the kids to write a little bit about what they did today
Its a fantastic way of making those little memories that stay with a child for a lifetime


MUMS TIME
1. Have a soak in a bubble bath

2. Read a chapter of a book you had started but neglected

3. Try something new ( i mean a fruit or vegetable)

4. Check through your diary for up and coming important dates,make sure you have made or bought all cards for the month ahead.

5. Try a craft or look into starting a new hobby

6. Write a 'real' letter

7. Update your Christmas planner

8. Write a new receipe in your Christmas planner

You could do a lucky dip or pick whichever suits your mood. The choice is yours


Dry Days

• Treasure Map Challenge (follow the map to find some treats!)
• One for the girls - collect flowers and dry them out along with some fruit (such as oranges) to make your own pot pouri
• Scout around the local area and make your own wall map
• Take out some nature books from the library and use the "keys" to try to identify the plants/flowers/trees in your local park.

Wet Days

• Use a big piece of cardboard to make your own board game. When I was around 12 years old I made one with my sister based on a "Lord of the Rings" theme (I loved the Hobbit at the time) and the end was a picture of the Dragon with lots of treasure.
• Design and perform your own dance routine
• Script and perform your own play (a huge fav of mine when I was a kid) I used to film my cousins performances using my uncle's video recorder
• Design your own calendar (using photos/stickers and drawings) - great for Christmas presents!
• Little kids can make their own musical instruments using seeds/dried rice and paper plates (taped together) , paper cups taped together, empty plastic bottles or tupperware bowls etc
• Use a blank notebook or scrap book and various photos of children/family members/friends to let them write and illustrate their very own imaginative story
• Make modelling dough to create your own sculptures (or a bowl for your pot pourri - see above!).

Inside Play
Read a book
Write & illustrate a story
Salt dough models
Paint salt dough models (after baked)
Cook biscuits
Bake a cake & decorate it
Make sweets/truffles
Make a sock puppet
Put on a play with the puppets
Make a collage picture
Alter some clothing (fabric pens/paints/gems etc)
Do some stamping with paint
Make a sun catcher (black card frame and tissue paper)
Make a scratch picture (colour paper in with wax crayon, cover in black paint, leave to dry then scratch picture in, revealing wax crayon below)
Make some beads & jewelery (paper beads, fimo beads)
Finger print pictures
Make some bread & then make into shapes/animals etc

Outside
Body painting (paint with feet, hands etc)
Bubble paint
Picnic out with football, kite etc
Plant some seeds
Paddling pool out
Go blackberry picking
Library trip
Breakfast in the park (it gets busy later on so early morning is perfect to have a play)
Water play (bowls, water guns etc)
Papermache bowl
Papermache piggy bank (made from balloon, loo roll & papermache)
Glass painting
Take a walk to visit family
Explore the town park/countryside



Gardeners hamper

hand cream
nail brush
kneeling mat (Wilkinsons)
gardening gloves (Poundland)
A 5 year gardening diary (Wilkinsons)
A "world's best gardener" mug (Wilkinsons)
gardening tools with a fancy flowery design (Poundland)
gardener's soap (Wikinsons


pamper hamper

Ideas for relaxation/pamper hampers:

box of chocolates or homemade chocolates or truffles etc
mini bottle of wine and a wine glass
A cheap dvd
nail varnish
bubble bath
Snowman soup or hot chocolate sachet
nail file
hair turban (Poundland have these)
a book
a face mask sachet
How about making a cd
fleecey blanket
candles


Send ur name to mars

http://mars9.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/sendyourname/index.cfm

name a star

http://www.freenameastar.com/



[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

mum2one

Apologies for hacking your thread - just copied from my file

.Write numbers from 1 to 100.
[FONT=&quot]2.Find an object in your house that begins with each letter of the alphabet. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3.Write 10 sentences. Use a number word in each sentence. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]4.Make something in the kitchen involving the use of measuring cups. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]5.Go outside and find things for every colour of the rainbow. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]6.Write a story about your pet or a pet you would like to have. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7.Write a letter to someone.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]8.Write the names of five friends, now make as many words using the letters of their names as you can. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]9.Make a scrapbook of animal pictures. You might want to choose an animal you like. See if you can find some old magazines or calendars to look for the pictures. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]10.Read a story to someone. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]11.Count the money in your wallet or ask mum or dad to give you some coins to count. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]12.Keep a journal of what you do during the Summer. Write in it at least 2 times each week.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]13.Write numbers from 101 to 300. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]14.Write the alphabet three times in your best cursive writing. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]15.Go outside. Find things for the sense of touch, things that are smooth, rough, prickly, sharp, hard, soft, dry, wet, etc. Make a log book of what you discover. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]16.Correctly spell as many colour words as you can, try some of the harder ones too like turquoise and burgundy. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]17.Write numbers by 5’s to 100 and then to 1000. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]18.Make little signs to name things in your room. Put them up in your room. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]19.Draw a picture of something outside. Write 5 or more sentences about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]20.Write all the number facts that will add to 10. (6 + 4 = 10, etc. ) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]21.Go on a nature hike. Collect things and put them in a picture. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]22.Pretend you are a giant. Write a short story about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]23.Write numbers from 301 to 500. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]24.Cut out words from the newspaper - one for each letter of the alphabet [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]25.Use the letters in the word UNITED KINGDOM to write as many words as you can. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[FONT=&quot]. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]26. Find a recipe that uses a colour word in it's title and help your mom or dad make it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]27. Count out loud to 1000 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]28.Write 10 sentences. Use a colour word in each sentence. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]29.Write numbers by 2’s to 100 (2, 4, 6...) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]30.Write a fairy tale. Then read it to someone younger than you. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]31.Write a poem about the weather, an animal or a plant.. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]32.Plant something outside or help take care of a garden. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]33.Imagine that you have an alligator as a pet. Write a story about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]34.Cut apart the squares of a comic strip. Mix them up. Rearrange them in the correct order and then rearrange them into a funny mixed up story. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]35.Compare your bike with a friend’s bike. How are the alike? How are they different? Then do a safety check on both bikes.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]36.Make a sandwich. Cut it in half and then in fourths, see if you can cut it into eighths too.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]37.Make a list of everything you can find that is orange.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]38.Cut out words from a magazine. Make sentences out of them. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]39.With your parent's permission, find one person on your street who is elderly and offer to help them with their garden work one afternoon. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]40.Write any ten numbers between 1 to 100. Cut them out and mix them up. Arrange them again from smallest to largest. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]41.Cut out a picture from an old calendar. Cut it into puzzle pieces and then put it back together. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]42.Choose a flower out of your garden, learn everything you can about that flower. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]43.Make price tags for several objects in your room. Make some play money and use it to buy the things in your “play store.” [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]44.What would you do if you lived during the time of dinosaurs? Write a story about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]45.Write numbers from 501 to 700. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]46.Draw a map of your garden, put a treasure (a small box with a few treats) somewhere in your garden and mark it on your map. Invite your friends to try to find the treasure. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]47.Find objects around your home that begin with the sound SH . Draw a picture of each of them or have someone help you write them down. (sheets, shoe, etc.) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]48.Write your name. Cut out each letter. Arrange the letters in A,B,C, order. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]49.Pick anywhere in the world and find out more about that place by going to the library or searching on the internet. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]50.Read 26 books, starting with a book in which the authors last name begins with A, and then B until you get to Z. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]51.Write numbers by 10’s to 500. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]52. Go to the library and check out some books about space. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]53.Go outside and find 3 different kinds of leaves. How are they alike and different? Try to find out what types of leaves they are. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]54.Write numbers from 701 to 1000. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]55.Go outside. Learn which direction is north, south, east, and west. Walk 10 steps north and then 5 steps west. Where are you? (Stay out of the street!) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]56.Volunteer - ask your mom or dad to help you find someplace in your community where you can volunteer once or twice a week to help (places like the library, a veterinarian clinic, a senior's home). [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]57.Collect bottles from your neighborhood and donate the money to a local charity. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]58.Write all the names of animals you know and have a friend do the same thing. Who can write the most names in 5 minutes. Have your mom time you. .[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]59.Find pictures of objects that when matched will make a compound word. Suggestions: a horse and a shoe: a nut and a shell; a tree and a house; a cow and a boy. etc.. Then have a younger relative try to match all the pictures. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]60.Look for rocks in your garden. See if you can find 10 unusual rocks. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]61.Visit 3 tourist spots in your hometown or area. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]62.Make a picture journal of your Summer. Each week take 3 or 4 pictures of some of the things you are doing and when you develop the film, put your photos into your journal and write a description about each picture. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]63.Find out if any of your local museums or libraries have any summer programs just for kids.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]64.Memorize a poem and recite it for your family, or have everyone in your family memorize a poem and have a family poetry night. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]65.Count out loud from 400 to 500. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]66.Have a game night each week with your family, try some indoor and outdoor games. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]67.Make a list of everything you can find that is the colour red. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]68.Make kites with your friends out of newspaper. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]69.Play the “What’s Missing?” game with someone. Find 5-10 objects inside your home. Arrange them on a tray. Have someone look at them for 5 seconds and then cover eyes while you take one of the items away. Can they guess what is missing? Then let your friend remove an item and you try to guess what is missing. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]70.Have a paper airplane contest, who can make a paper airplane that flies the furthest. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]71.Find a neat recipe for a dessert and have your mum or dad help you make it.. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]72.Write a thank you letter to someone who has done a great job or helped you in some way.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]73.Plan a picnic with your family, make up the list of items you want to take and games to play while on your picnic. Then help your mom and dad get things ready for the special day. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]74.Think about a job you might like to do when you grow up. Write a letter to someone who works in that job and ask them questions about their job. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]75.This is the year 2007. Write down 2007 words you can spell or read. You might want to work at this over a few days. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]76.Cut out food pictures from magazines. Make 4 category cards - Dairy Products, Meat, Fruit and Vegetable, and Bread and Cereal. Arrange the pictures under the correct category. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]77.Draw a map of your house and label all the exits you would use in case of a fire. Plan a meeting place with your family in case there ever was a fire and what talk about what you should do as well. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]78.Measure things in your house. Make up a chart. Measure the items by the length of your finger, hand and arm. Then try measuring using a ruler. Record the results. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]79.Play the “Direction Game.” Have someone tell you three directions and see if you can do them correctly and in the right order. Example: Clap your hands 5 times. Go look out the window. Write your name on a piece of paper. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]80.Make up some bubble solution and find some objects around the house to blow bubbles with, try some unique things using straws, string, and other objects. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]81.Practice the times table. Day 1 do the 1 times table, Day 2 do the 2 times table and go as many days as you can. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]82.Go to the library or look on the internet for a neat craft you could make. Ask your mum or dad to help you find all the materials. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]83.Sign up at your local library for their Summer Reading Program. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]84.Get a book about birds and spend one afternoon seeing how many birds you can identify that live in your backyard. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]85.With your mum or dad's help, go through your old books and donate them to a hospital for sick kids to be able to read. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]86.With your mum or dad's help find some "good" old toys and clothes and donate them to a shelter in your town. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]87.On a piece of paper write the dates for 20 days during the Summer months. Beside each date write the name of a fruit or vegetable you ate on that date. See if you can have 20 different fruits or vegetables on your list. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]88.Choose a sport you like. Either find a way you can play that sport or write a list of new things you have learned about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]89.Write a letter to your last teacher. Tell your teacher the best things about your class last year. Give your teacher one new idea you think next year's class would like to learn. Take the letter to school on your first day back to give to your "old" teacher. If they have moved away, ask the school's secretary if they could send the letter to your "old" teacher for you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]90. Write all the number facts that will add to eighteen.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]91.Lay down a blanket in the backyard and go star gazing.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]92.Plant a sunflower seed and keep a journal about how it is growing.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]93.Create a sculpture using rubbish.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]94.Write a play and have family and friends perform it.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]95.Get a skipping rope and count how many times you can skip without missing. Try it again. Can you beat your record?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]96.Make a list of 10 things you could NEVER do in the summer.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]97.Make a list of 10 things you could NEVER do in the winter.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]98.Write a joke and tell your mum or dad the joke.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]99.Pretend to be a pirate and imagine an adventure.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]100.Write an adventure story and read it to a younger child.[/FONT]

After Christmas Organizing

The gifts have been opened. Leftovers chill in the fridge. Before you start focusing on the new year, try these tips to organize next Christmas.

1. Make a list of people who sent you Christmas cards. Add anyone else you'll send cards to next year. (Cross anyone out) Input the list into your computer. Shop for cards at after Christmas sales.

2. Check your inventory of wrapping supplies. Buy them now at 70% off in most stores.

3. Make sure you have enough storage containers for all your decorations. Storage supplies go on sale every January.

4. Open your planner. Start a shopping list for next Christmas. List names. Shop or at least note gift ideas throughout the year.

5. Establish a budget for next Christmas. Include gifts, cards, postage, shipping costs, gift wrap, special meals, holiday clothing and baking supplies. Set up a savings account and arrange for monthly direct deposit.

6. Ask family members what were their favorite and least favorite activities this season. Make a note to focus on preferences and eliminate the least-liked next year.

7. Write Christmas goals in your 2010 planner. For example, July 15th, complete gift list; October 15th, address cards; November 15th, finish shopping; December 8th, reward self with spa day.



COFFEE MOCHA

Fill tub/jar with Equal parts of instant Coffee and Unsweetend Cocoa Powder so half and half

CAFE VIENNA

Fill Jar/ Tub with Coffee and add a pinch of Cinnamon

SWISS MOCHA

The same as Coffee Mocha, but maybe use a differnt coffee or Cocoa so the flavor is different

CAFE VIENNA MIX

4 spoons Coffe
1 spoon Cocoa
Pinch of Cinamon

Keep doing this until Jar/ tub is full

CAFE Au Lait

Equal Parts Coffee & non dairy creamer so half and half

I would leave the Salt out too

Night Cap Coffee

Fill jar/ tub with Coffee
Pinch of Cardamon
Pinch of Cinamon

I have probably made it worse for you but hope it helps

Sarah


Fingerprints poem

There used to be so many
Of my fingerprints to see
On furniture and walls and things
From sticky grubby me

But if you stop and think a while
You'll see i'm growing fast
Those little handprints disappear
They can't bring back whats passed

So here's a small reminder
To keep, not wipe away
Of tiny hands and how they looked
To make you smile some day


A girly hamper - hair turban, bath bits, chocolate, wine, make up, etc

A food hamper - homemade cakes, buscuits, chutneys, sauces

A pamper hamper - a blanket, candles, mini bottle of wine and a glass, a girly dvd, a book

A gardening themed one - gardening gloves (pound shops sell these), a kneeling mat, a gardening themed mug, gardener's soap, a nail brush, gardening seeds

An alcohol one - mini alcohol bottles (saw loads in an off license the other day), two glasses, a wine or cocktail book

A movie themed one - a dvd, popcorn, pick and mix

A coffee themed one featuring Sarah's great coffee receipes, coffee flavoured sweets from Poundland, cappicunio cups, a mug, coffee flavoured cake


Someone on here had a great idea to do a Christmas themed one (I want one of those!), you could do all sorts, a car themed one, a particular sport, an interest, all diferent things. I've done a pink themed one before and this year I'm doing a green themed one.



----Turkey Poop Poem----

You invited me to dinner
with your family and your friends.
You didn't say I was the main dish.
For me it was "THE END!"
You frightened me so badly
I knew I had been duped!
So I left you with my calling card:
This bag of Turkey Poop!



Renindeer food

• 1/4 cup oatmeal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• sprinkle of red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)

free santa letter – use the print off

http://www.freelettersfromsantaclaus.com/free_printable_letters_from_santa.asp

mum2one

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2160839=

Thats the Christmas thread - that I run, basically the treads for everyone, I just put the challenges on 24th each month - were called Sanats Challenge

Theres a lot of pages - but also some good ideas, and were all money saving, theres all levels of crafting making presents from me - Blue Peter (very basic) to one lady who does quilts,

The above two very long posts (sorry), they were from the 2009 thread, been going through and picking the best as a couple of friends have asked me to do them a xmas guide, etc -

By putting them on the thread, just copy and paste what you need.

but def come and say hello and join the thread, we don't bite!! xx

nowpanicking

Hi mummytogirls

Don't worry about gatecrashing my thread!! You're right, some great tips from mum2one - I'm hoping to drastically cut down my Christmas bill this year by following some of the suggestions... hope you manage to do the same