New, New Thirfty Gifty for Christmas and All Ocassions 2011..Santas Challenge...

rufusdog52

Afternoon everyone, Just had to share this pic of my GDD Kayleigh age 6 with her first attempt at sewing. She started doing it just after Christmas and finished it today to give to her mum for mother's day.

http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv179/madknittingwoman/100_0970.jpg

I have had a lovely day so far, spent morning with youngest daughter watching Corpse Bride, then eldest daughter came round with the kids. Haven't heard from son yet but that don't surprise me, he is terrible at remembering things like Mother's Day and birthdays. Hope everyone else has had a nice day, Rufus xx

candie_gill

Hi Everyone, followed this thread last year and really need some advice on how to organise the ideas i have picked up.

Basically i have earnt money on dooyoo (£40) and picked up lots of toys, gifts, giftwrap, tags and decorations for xmas in the sales. My question is how do you all keep organised and ontop of what you have bought? Mine so far is in a cupboard and has served me well on mothers day and birthdays throughout the year so far. But i would really like to keep track of what im spending and whats for who, so im not just buying for the sake of it.

Im really prepared for Christmas this year, got all my cards, wrap and more decorations in the sales and have most my sons xmas presents from grabbits and bargains i have spotted elsewhere. I would ideally like to have everyone elses presents sorted by June, so i can focus on saving for the next five months there after for our xmas food (£200 ish) aswell as any little luxuries i enjoy like Festive candles etc. Any tips on how to get the most for my money? I am trying to keep my eyes pealed but since January i havent seen much out there at all, im hope after mothers day i can pick up some cheap 'mum' items for MIL and my Mum as lil stocking fillers. Other then that i have no idea where to shop hmmm

Many thanks for listening to my rant x x

mum2one

esmer wrote: »

Happy Mothers day ladies........... my ex actually got me a card and chocolates from Natasha. was not expecting that! My mum normally sorts that out for me will put the chocs away til after lent. hope you all have a good day

Bet that was a lovely surprise, (and a miracle (in the nicest of ways). hope u had a good day xx

mum2one

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Morning all, laughed at legs like carpet haha.

I managed to do a bit of sewing yesterday after all although think I over did it and leg was sore again after. Still I now have a skirt and top set for GDD's birthday (pic on blog) and have got a pair of shorts ready, just need to sew up the top to go with them for another set, then I am going to make another shorts and top set.

Off to the crem in a bit to take some flowers for my Mum. then youngest daughter is coming home (spent night at her friends). Not sure whether I will hear from other two, they are terrible when it comes to Mothers day or birthdays, but we will see. If not I can always get a bit more sewing done as OH off to see his Mum.

You take care with your leg, - we missed the crem visit with being away , but cheated slightly as we took some up the day of the meal, which was grandads bday - covered all the family.

Good news we now have veet, got me bargain price from Homa Bargains - thats on 2mors exiciting events - took dd to the local market this morning - half way round the heavens opened, got soaked through to the skin, all I could think was - me legs haven't been done - there that bad - thought Bailey was malting (it wasn't!!). Don't know if anyone has seen the advert on tv for the magic hair remover - rub away with a disc - they have this woman who looks like she hasn't seen a razor for a yr!! looks like not far behind ) - but being mse - wore trs - make sure get me moneys worth!! xx

mum2one

candie_gill wrote: »

Hi Everyone, followed this thread last year and really need some advice on how to organise the ideas i have picked up.

Basically i have earnt money on dooyoo (£40) and picked up lots of toys, gifts, giftwrap, tags and decorations for xmas in the sales. My question is how do you all keep organised and ontop of what you have bought? Mine so far is in a cupboard and has served me well on mothers day and birthdays throughout the year so far. But i would really like to keep track of what im spending and whats for who, so im not just buying for the sake of it.

Im really prepared for Christmas this year, got all my cards, wrap and more decorations in the sales and have most my sons xmas presents from grabbits and bargains i have spotted elsewhere. I would ideally like to have everyone elses presents sorted by June, so i can focus on saving for the next five months there after for our xmas food (£200 ish) aswell as any little luxuries i enjoy like Festive candles etc. Any tips on how to get the most for my money? I am trying to keep my eyes pealed but since January i havent seen much out there at all, im hope after mothers day i can pick up some cheap 'mum' items for MIL and my Mum as lil stocking fillers. Other then that i have no idea where to shop hmmm

Many thanks for listening to my rant x x

Hi welcome to the thread - not normally so mad about me legs!!

What I normally do is a basic spreadsheet, one for birthdays,
colums - date, name, ideal budget, actual spent, saved, (sounds mad but) also write down what bag put it in, Mr A, Mr T (makes it easier to find)

xmas
same principal, keep names together if theres more than one in the family to buy for,

I also have a little pocket book, each person has their own page - same info from spreadsheet, but great for when your out and spot a bargain, that way your not doubling up.

Storage - currently use shed - xmas box bottom, bdays etc handy to get to, thou throughtout the yr we have a few sort outs.

You've hit the nail on the head, mothers items and fathers also go in after the days bargain prices.

I think over the last yr, the shops have had less items in, not been as brilliant items in sale.

Thou if I have 5 mins, go on Argos site - home page, scroll down to bottom middle, says catalogue clearance (yellow and black writing) click throu and you can get to your local store - whereas they may have 2,000 item in clearance, but your store has 200 then your onl searching throu those 200, I generally find that 90% of the stock is in.

Going be how the shops were last yr, about Oct onwards a lot of places did 3 4 2, and also don't forget Lloyds chemist - they do some good items, and their sales good value.

Sounds like your going great guns already xx

candie_gill

mum2one wrote: »

Hi welcome to the thread - not normally so mad about me legs!!

What I normally do is a basic spreadsheet, one for birthdays,
colums - date, name, ideal budget, actual spent, saved, (sounds mad but) also write down what bag put it in, Mr A, Mr T (makes it easier to find)

xmas
same principal, keep names together if theres more than one in the family to buy for,

I also have a little pocket book, each person has their own page - same info from spreadsheet, but great for when your out and spot a bargain, that way your not doubling up.

Storage - currently use shed - xmas box bottom, bdays etc handy to get to, thou throughtout the yr we have a few sort outs.

You've hit the nail on the head, mothers items and fathers also go in after the days bargain prices.

I think over the last yr, the shops have had less items in, not been as brilliant items in sale.

Thou if I have 5 mins, go on Argos site - home page, scroll down to bottom middle, says catalogue clearance (yellow and black writing) click throu and you can get to your local store - whereas they may have 2,000 item in clearance, but your store has 200 then your onl searching throu those 200, I generally find that 90% of the stock is in.

Going be how the shops were last yr, about Oct onwards a lot of places did 3 4 2, and also don't forget Lloyds chemist - they do some good items, and their sales good value.

Sounds like your going great guns already xx

Thankyou for those ideas, they sound fab. Personally i dont work well with spreadsheets at all but i do have a jotter with all different sections and tabs for each- so i could use that to plan and organise in using the same principles.

We have a massive walk in cupboard at the bottom of our landing area upstairs, it has book cases all around too so i store all the presents i find in there. Im thinking of transferring some to the loft though as have so many, including a bike for my little ones main xmas present!

I will write a list of everyone i have to buy for birthdays, xmas and all occasions and assign gifts i have to those people and take the book so when im out i know which people i should buy for.


I have so far for my son for xmas:

• Thomas the tank engine bike
• Thomas wooden desk and stool
• four different disney movies
• mr potato head
• vtech laptop
• peppa pig jigsaw
• peppa pig kitchen set
• ben and hollys little kingdom domino set
• various things for xmas eve hamper

for his birthday in june i have:
peppa pig band set
peppa pig birthday cake set
waybaloo slippers
waybaloo garden patio set
thomas playdough set
t shirt
till set
handy manny dvd
set of three plush balls

Wow written down i can see i have accomplished so much already, i love been organised!

Just to add, asda have the xmas festive candles in reduced from £3 to £1.25, i need to pop in and stock up as i usually get four for december!:beer:

rufusdog52

candie_gill wrote: »

Thankyou for those ideas, they sound fab. Personally i dont work well with spreadsheets at all but i do have a jotter with all different sections and tabs for each- so i could use that to plan and organise in using the same principles.

We have a massive walk in cupboard at the bottom of our landing area upstairs, it has book cases all around too so i store all the presents i find in there. Im thinking of transferring some to the loft though as have so many, including a bike for my little ones main xmas present!

I will write a list of everyone i have to buy for birthdays, xmas and all occasions and assign gifts i have to those people and take the book so when im out i know which people i should buy for.


I have so far for my son for xmas:

• Thomas the tank engine bike
• Thomas wooden desk and stool
• four different disney movies
• mr potato head
• vtech laptop
• peppa pig jigsaw
• peppa pig kitchen set
• ben and hollys little kingdom domino set
• various things for xmas eve hamper

for his birthday in june i have:
peppa pig band set
peppa pig birthday cake set
waybaloo slippers
waybaloo garden patio set
thomas playdough set
t shirt
till set
handy manny dvd
set of three plush balls

Wow written down i can see i have accomplished so much already, i love been organised!

Just to add, asda have the xmas festive candles in reduced from £3 to £1.25, i need to pop in and stock up as i usually get four for december!:beer:

Welcome to the thread xx I agree it looks really good when you write it down. What some of us do is type it out like you have but put a list of who else you have to buy for and then change the colour of the ones you have finished to say red and then the ones you have started doing to green or whatever then the ones you need to think about leave black, then you can see how you are doing. Then at the end of the month just click on edit for the post you have it all typed in and copy it out and then paste it into the new post and change around what ever needs changing. Its great when you see all the names start to go the same colour showing you are really organised.

Note book good idea also like Mum2one said xx

rufusdog52

Morning all

I have made a shorts and top set now for GDD, put a pic on my blog if anyone wants a look. Got another pair of shorts made up and the top to go with them cut out ready to sew up. That will be her finished I think, three little outfits.

I an make a start on my Dad's quilt then, going to get the rest of the fabric tomorrow evening at the do at the fabric shop. Will have to chase the family up to get them to send me their little greetings for me to embroider. His birthday is September so plenty of time.

I have all birthdays sorted up to then except youngest daugther's birthday and I expect she will want money so hopefully OH will sort that. I am doing her a basket so will look round the market later and see if the make up stall is there, might be able to grab a few little bits. She has used their make up before so I know its ok. I also have £5 worth of Boots vouchers which I will put in the basket so she can spend them herself.

Then next birthday I need to think about will be oldest grandson which is not until end of November. He will probs have some clothes from Sports Direct or similar as he is very sporty and loves clothes. Will be in secondary school by then :eek: so too old for toys.

mary-op

Hello all :j

candie_gill -you are organised............I'm nowhere near organised at all this year apart from cards for birthdays and christmas all being done.
Health probs have stopped me going to the shops and I've lost the motivation to make much apart from a bit of knitting I'm doing for sons girlfriend.
Neighbour keeps giving me boxes to cover and fill with something or other for either christmas or birthdays but no idea what -did a lot of 'pamper tubs' last year and don't feel I can repeat that. Oh well, something will come to mind.........normally does

Called doctor out this morning for OH -he came, surprise surprise !! Now OH is booked in for xray at different hospital to the last one who didn't bother to xray his back at all. Trouble is, it's not till Wednesday then it'll be a week before the results come through which is a bit daft. If the A & E dept had done it when he was there at least he's know what he's done. GP also gave him two more lots of painkillers (more expense) and the hospital have just sent a bill for the tablets they gave him when he went there 10 days ago...........he didn't ask for them and they didn't work so I've filed letter you can guess where !:mad:

On the plus side I'm getting on with the scarf I'm knitting for sons girlfriend and chappie has started painting the garage wall so least something is being done...............:)

Hope you're all ok:)

SugarSpun

Argh.

My BIL has decided that since we won't give him our personal ID details so he can perform identity fraud on us (really, asking us for it all was v stupid :mad:) he's going to refuse to speak to us ever again. He's also said that SIL (DH's sister, as opposed to BIL's wife) is on his side. Which is fine really - but I've already bought both of their kids' birthday and Christmas gifts so if they won't accept them I've wasted €100ish, most of it in real cash *hmph*

In other news, my DH has dentist, cardiologist, MRI and neurologist all this week and has apologised because his body is falling to bits and I appear to have married a pig in a poke. I do love him though so it's not all bad. And tomorrow is the day my former landlord goes to court claiming that he doesn't owe me my €2k deposit back although he doesn't have a leg to stand on. I'm hoping we'll win, but if we don't get our costs covered it won't make any difference to our finances because I'll have to pay it all directly to my lawyer

Stressful week, but my 30 day challenge has been keeping me fairly positive.

Oh, and I meant to say, if you open an account at Artscow.com there's a massive list of free stuff you can customise with your own photos. I just ordered:

10 badges
6 porcelain Christmas ornaments
1 camera case
2 glasses cloths

Shipping from the US was $32, so under £20. Not the best prices but pretty good all the same and I think comparable with Vistaprint