Old style Preparations for Christmas 2010!!

Barneysmom

They're old enough now to buy gizmos and gadgets out of their own money.
Just buy what you can and tell them to be grateful for what they get.

Barneysmom

I've got a big box upstairs with 17 items from Millets, including 13 fleeces.
The order was thanks to someone on MSE giving an order code which I'm grateful for.
Also got £35 in Morrisons stamps, I'm only going up to £49 to get the fre £1 as that's enough for me and hubby.

parsonswife8

juliethemuse wrote: »

i have got approx £100 in my penny jar, and i think hampers are a great idea, only thing is , i have kids, age 23, 21, 18 and 17, they always give me a huge list of expensive requests, like ipads, iphones, designer clothes and jewellery, i mean , do they think i'm a millionairess? i always start getting worried near xmas, which is ridiculous what does everyone else do about this? this isnt what christmas is all about surely

You are quite right, it isn't what Christmas is all about. Please don't stress and get them what you can afford.

lauren_1

Off to the woods to scavenge large fallen branch (needs to have lots of little branches coming off)
I dont like/can't be bothered with traditional christmas trees and prefer a large branch that the kids have decorated with spray paints and glitter.

Putting together gift baskets for the menfolk (eucryl powder and toothpaste, some deodorant, shower gel, small bottle of whiskey, razor and blades etc etc) most of the items will be on BOGOF or in a sale.

Got my mum a hatbox off freecycle and thats getting filled with some fancy pinnies, russian dolls (if i can find any at a carboot, she collects these) slippers, perfume, liquor chocolates and some smellies) I have a 3 tier teacake plate too (50p car boot, will send that from the kids)

The kids get pj's, slippers and a chocolate box and not sure what else to get them

Lindy_-_Loo

We get our high street gift vouchers next month, have saved £300 since november last year for them. Also have 30 for amazon (ds games and dvds for the boys). Last year we went over board and spent alot of money we didnt have and put alot on credit cards. This year what weve saved is what we have. Bought some items from car boot already and exchanged vouchers at tesco last week and got £50 of toys.

Going to do hampers for my neices (we have22 neices and nephews I think!), but only buying for the under 18's, theres hardly any now thankfully and my 2 neices who are 20 and 23, we c them weekly and the boys love them.

First christmas without my Dad so my mum is coming to us for lunch with sis and her girls as they always went to mum and dads.

Wish we'd bought xmas cards and paper in the sales but we simply didnt have the cash.

I love christmas and last year I learnt a big lesson - spending more than you can afford doesnt make any difference, the boys didnt bother with the big presents like I thought, were just going to get what we can afford.

gailey_2

I started in august 2008 and really took pressure off.
2009 disater we said we would save but didnet and ended up a struggle did few hm biscuits and chutneys,

This year all so different I hope.

Still not managed to save food stamps.

But we are buying some reduced stuff and keeping aside.
worried chest freezer might fill up too much.

I doing homemade mostly this year so making hampers for everyone.

brought one large wicker basket last week 1quid think that one be dads.

However not enough jars have written huge list of everyone to buy for and will need to purchase some jars and spend 100 poudn on jars, sugar, labels other stuff.
Sounds bad but 120jars less than a quid a jar.
Reason is my super foraging this year.

8tubs of cherries in freezer so planning

cherry conserve
cherry brandy
cherry vodka.

Got tonnes of plums maybe 20bags in freezer by time im finished to make
plum jam
maybe some plums in a summer chutney
Got tomatoes growing in garden for chutney
lots free apples about too.

Did delias xmas chutney last year was quite a it so doing same this year but god food site has tonnes of chutney recipies.

Doing blackberry jams.

Dident picke nough stawberries to make jam but might rummage reduced section see if I can collect enough to make few jars.

Brough 1toy for eldest at carboot sale.
intending to make 2blankets for daughters, never made before but wil try.

making xmas cards this year and getting some printed also with xmasy pic of my girls on.

Wrapping paper brown parcel paper looks fab with red and white checked ribbon so go plain and go to town on ribbons and bows.
One year i brought candycanes from whittards 3 for 2 and attached to outside of presents.

Will continue to scour sales, ebay and carboots for possible stuff.

Last yera did operation xmas child and did shoes box want to do 10 this year as idea of giving presnts to poor child in need of help much nicer than spending tonnes on people more fortunate.

Last year did 2 and got cousin to do some.
brought a soap, flannet, kids toothbrush, toothpaste, small toy and coloring set, sweets was was lovley.

I want to do other themed sets to.
For those doing pamper get toilitries when on bog off.

want to do stuff for us to to keep dec food bill down so attempting on making and freezing

luxury gravy
stuffing hopefully with chesnuts if can find any
homemade pate for hubby as its the xmas range he wastes his money on.
Might bulk buy crackers now and buy different type of cheses from lidls or aldis as much cheaper than cheseboard set.
Mince pies can be made early and frozen or get yourself headstart I made mince meat and froze it.

Want to attempt xmas cake for 1st time this year.
Master shortbread and gingerbread men.

Need to get myself in gear as time flies but so skint until september as uniform, school shoes and preparing for winter.

lambanana

I started knitting my MiL's gift yesterday and bought her and FiL a bottle of wine on offer today. I have loads of wrapping paper and cards left over from last year and all the decorations we could ever need so am all set on that front.

Other than that...erm I get paid 5 more times before then and am hoping to put away each time so I'm OK. I do already have an idea of who is getting what and how much I'm spending.

Lynn11

I opened up a regular saver last october for this christmas and will need to book a few days off work to go shopping end oct/Nov time. Bought all gift tags, cards, wrapping paper in the sales in january. Have bought a few items in the ELC sale for stocking filler as we are planning on buying a bike for her - so anything that we can buy half price is a bonus.

Lastly collecting the nectar points so that I can use these and hopefully will have enough reward points on the credit card to get vouchers which we could use for presents.

seabright

My family and I have decided to set a limit of £15 per person for pressies (not including small children or between partners) and I am quite looking forward to the challenge.

It's not my turn to "do" Christmas this year, so less expense on that front too.

esmf73

Just a thought for those who have young children. On rainy days this summer hols, get the children to do potato prints on plain paper. Mine did them in January. Paint and a bit of PVA mixed with glitter, potato cut into the shape of a star - lots of different colours - and you end up with loads of wrapping paper (cos they love doing it), half the amount of potatoes you thought you had and a kitchen COVERED in tiny spots of paint where its splashed. Don't get me started on where the glitter ends up!

BUT it is a cheap easy way to keep the kids entertained on a wet day - AND to get something useful out of them! Have got most of the gifts sorted (thanks to charity shops and spotting bargains) but will get back to it when we've finished moving.

Movers in tomorrow xx