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

rufusdog52

Hi Kelda, nice to see you back xx

Mary, good luck with the scooter, sounds like it would be just what you need xx

Had email from Super Drug to say my order has been shipped and everything seems to be included on the email. Also checked Paypal and my Lloyds order has gone to paid now instead of pending so hopefully will get those two parcels in the week.

susan42

Hi kelda - wb, well done on catching up

Mary - I love the scooters, I have one for when I get a bit worn out and me back collapses in a heap...lol. They`re great fun and very useful

Rufus - well done on your parcel, I must admit I love the post man coming. He dont bring bills as its all Direct debit. He always brings niceys. Oh and baliffs and solicitors letter for the people who lived here before. How do people get all this credit at this address when we been here over 2 years , dont these companies check the electorial register. Cant belive how much they owe. just over 60K I`d be worried to death

Whens MUM2one back, hope she having the time of her life. And everythings going smoothly for her

mary-op

Hello all :j
susan -Good to know someone else who's got one. I keep looking at it and its all a bit scary........I've never been able to drive due to my epilepsy so anything with a motor is daunting to say the least. OH was having second thoughts about it and wondering if I'd use it enough as its just a lightweight one -think he's worrying about me being in charge of a vehicle..........lol I'll try it out before I buy it as its second hand and the chap selling it said he'll walk into town with me then I can check where the dips in the pavement are for crossing the road and if I break down he can fetch his van and get me home.........can't call the rac can I.............lol

Foster daughter came round and we viewed the garden in its sorry state..........wild life area is lovely but the rest...........well, words fail me. I put surplus plant pots, all sizes onto freecycle but no-one seems to want them and they're too good to throw out...........might have to if it comes to it.
Still some rubbish to clear up sometime this week, fence to put up, raised beds to make, plants to shift.........seems so much to do. Still, it'll be worth it I keep telling myself...............lol:)

Hope you're all ok and enjoying the sunshine:)

NickyBo_2

Mary - My DH's Gran has one of those scooters as she has really bad arthritis and can barely walk. The scooter has given her a new life, it's brilliant! She was really nervous at first but she went on a few practice runs with it, with my DH and his brother at either side of her like bodyguards! Now she says it has given her back her freedom as she can nip to the shops instead of relying on other people all the time.

In other news, I have finally managed to place my Vista order. I had been trying all weekend and everytime I went through checkout it either changed some of the free things to full price, or it wouldn't let me pay through Paypal. I kept fiddling with it and finally it all worked at about 11pm last night :T. I got my Dad an excellent mug. He collects Arsenal mugs so I used a picture of him on a visit to the Emirates stadium and put it on the photo mugs, I hope it prints well as my Dad will LOVE it so much! I also got a few little gifts (pen, bag etc) for some of the kiddies on Postpals. If you don't know what that is you can check it out here - www.postpals.co.uk
I can't believe I didn't think of getting Vista freebies for the Postpals kids before!


Hope you all have a lovely day

rufusdog52

Morning everyone

I made a tote bag yesterday out of the Cath Kidston fabric I had left over, its for my Son's GF fro Christmas to go with the CK set I have ordered for her. That will be her sorted so another one off the list.

Off out today, dont think I will be buying anything unless I see a bargain.

gail127

Hi everyone thank you for the warm welcome. im not sure where to start or which thread so i thought id just list where im up to for xmas. I guess i need quite a bit for xmas ive started doing surveys and im on about 8 - 10 sites but dont seem to be getting anything from them . some say my profile is only 25% complete but cant find away to do more. still made about 8.00 between diff sites in a few days.
i had a rake around the house the other day and found an old coppers jar i'd forgotten with nearly £50 in it so i was very please what a start.im growing lots of veg in pots on the patio this year so that should save me a few pounds.Things like sweetcorn, salad potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins and courguettes carrots beetroot and so on son loves this and he eats like a horse at harvest time. (speaking of growing maryop if you need rid of pots i'll give you postage if you wanna post them to me in in fife always looking for pots)
Going to get stuff together for ebay but im a childminder who works tons during the school holidays so i havent had a chance yet. i notice on the thread somewhere that you guys were starting off with surveys etc for us beginners but could i ask what else you guys do, going on holiday soon and really like to make some more cash before then really skint just now.
Anyhoo, crafty things, im going to make warm crochet throws for my mum and mum in law and preserve hampers with all homemade preserves and things from the garden( hopefully) for my son and baby on the way im hoping to make a fleece throws with personalised characters on them but i havent got round to starting anything yet between having a hard time at only 4 months pregnant and working so much feeling a bit swamped.going to get sorted soon. The issue i have is adults i buy for see home made things as 'cute' when theyre for someone else but theyre faces say different when they recieve them. made huge homemade sweetie hamper for each house hold as an extra last year and more of it went in the bin so i was told. do any of you have this issue i want them to realise how much time and love i pour into these things but the see it as a cheap way out.
sorry to moan but so frustrating with baby number 2 on the way and husband on v low wage, my wage tops his up and then im expected to save for all gifts etc as well as days out and treats all year. cant do it all.wow sorry caught me up in a rant there lol i apologise hope ive posted this correctly if its not on the right thread i am sorry i get confused between them lol hope youve all had a good start to the week.

mary-op

Hello all :j

Nicky -think I need the equivalent of a session of driving lessons before I'd be let loose with the scooter. Lot of the problem is just me really. I've not been out since before christmas without someone virtually holding my hand so the thought of driving off on a scooter on my own is such a scary prospect :eek: I have to do it I know and it would be bliss to be independant again.

gail - oh if only I could post some of them to you but quite a few are breakable and quite big(ish)
I can use some down the driveway.....neighbour wants some her side as well and I might keep some of the plants in their pots and get gardening chap to build a wooden plank bed around them so they look as if they''re not in pots if you know what I mean.(sorry )
If you really want to save a bit on christmas pressies last year I tried, where I could, to 'recycle' some stuff I'd been given but would never use.......smellies etc. plus a few books that I'd read but were good enough to give away, freebies from the Freebie board -get enough samples of beauty stuff, put them in a gravy tub or pringle tube, cover with pretty paper and stick a label on saying ''pamper pot''.............think everyone had one last year............lol I cleared a few drawers out as well and it's surprising the stuff I found and forgot I had, never used and wondered why I bought it. Charity shops were good for bargains as well....full of 'unwanted' pressies. Good luck with it.


Gardening chaps been busy today........painted the bottom of the garage wall that faces the wild life part of the garden then started digging holes for the picket fence...........hit some bricks and discovered a little brick path done in a herringbone pattern. It's so nice.........I love it so he's going to continue it on to the paved part of the wild life bit with some old bricks we've got kicking about.
He tried staining the fence but just my luck, the stains so old its too watery to use so thats a ''tomorrow job''
I've started knitting a hat for sons girlfriend to go with the wrist warmers and scarf I've made her for christmas............must use up this navy wool OH got me.................lol:rotfl:

Hope everyones well and enjoying the burst of sunshine:)

rufusdog52

Morning all, we have some nice sunshine here this morning and it actually feels warm out. Yesteday looked nice but was chilly especially in the shade. Going to my Dad's today as he has not been well for last week so wont be spending anything.

Bought something yesterday though, we went in Tesco and they had a bottle of Champagne which was half price, only had one bottle left, said it would normally be £30 so I got it for £15. That's for my Bros and SIL's 40th wedding anniversary in November.

Had the delivery come from Lloyds and very pleased with it. Ony ordered two items, the Cath Kidston manicure set for Son's GF which is lovely and a Impulse set for daughter. It was to go in her basket for her birthday but the set it bigger than I expected, there are two items in a nice makeup sort of bag so think I will leave it as a separate present and just fill up her basket with the make up (its only a small basket, was the smallest out of a set of three). Also they sent a free gift which was a pot of face cleanser which is a nice size pot, not really a small sample so that will go in the basket as well.

Going to update my list for the year in a bit now as havent put it on for ages.

rufusdog52

This is my list for rest of year, black I havent started, green I have started or know what I want to get, red I have finished.

May -
Son Birthday - Tshirts
June -
Fathers day - need to get a card
Brother's 60th - Cushion
July -
Youngest Daughter's Birthday - Makeup in basket, Note book & Pen, Toy Wolf, £5 Boots vouchers
August -
OH's Birthday - Have the Amazon vouchers to buy his present but will wait till nearer in case it needs to be returned
Granddaughter - Handmade clothes, dressing up skirt, book
September -
Dad's birthday - Quilt, making it
November -
Eldest Daughter's Birthday - Makeup box
Eldest Grandson's Birthday -
Bro & SIL's 40th Anni - Champagne

Christmas -
OH - dvds will save vouchers for these
Dad -
Son - Sat Nav will save vouchers for this
Son's GF - Handmade bag and manicure set
Youngest Daugther - Money
Eldest Daughter - Hamper, have towels and some toiletries for it and the basket
Eldest Grandson - Baseball cap and t-shirt, need to get some other bits
2nd Grandson - Baseball cap and t-shirt, need to get some other bits
3rd Grandson - Baseball cap, need to get some other bits
Granddaughter - Printed bag, sewing set, need to get some other bits
Niece 1 - Notebook, pen, keyring, printed bag and quilt to make
Niece 2 - Notebook, pen, keyring, printed bag and quilt
Niece 3 - Notebook, pen, keyring, printed bag and quilt
Niece 4 - Notebook, pen, keyring, printed bag and quilt
Sister 1 - Quilt
Sister 2 - Quilt
Bro & SIL - Joint hamper with craft stuff - for him mini easel with canvas, sketch book, sketching set, stickers for back of paintings, t-shirt saying artist of the family. For her - needle case, pin cushion, scissors case, notebook, pen
ExMil - Two lots of headed notepaper with matching envelopes
6 Great nephews and nieces - Each has mug with name on to be filled with sweets. Girls have printed bags, boys have t-shirts
Friend - Notebook, pen and printed bag
Two Godson's - Mug with name on to be filled with sweets
Goddaughter -

So far I have spent £223.99 on the presents or stuff to make them out of, If bought full price would have been £546.08 and so far all of the £223.99 has been covered by money made on the sister thread so money neutral.:T

mary-op

Hello all :j

rufus - my word you are organised:T Wish I could be..............birthdays roll round and I get in a state of panic and have to forage around for something. Grandsons birthday is in June and haven't a clue what to get a 4yr old..............and MIL's birthdays due around the same time. Stuck on her as well. She;s not a great person for home made things...well seems so with the re-actions I've had apart from the ''elevenses box I did her with tea, coffee, puzzle books, jams and biscuits.........so I'm racking my brain.

Lovely day here.........gardening chap got the picket fence all stained and put up..........tomorrow he's extending the brick path he 'discovered' yesterday. It's making the job longer and he hoped to be sorting out plants tomorrow but I'd like to have the little path done. He'll still get time to move a few plants where I'd like them to go before he starts making raised beds -think that'll be next week now but if the plants are moved around I'll feel I'm getting my garden back,:)

OH been at the hospital to see consultant Appt was 10 this morning and he was still there at 3pm waiting to be brought home so he got the driver to drop him at the pub for a well earned couple of pints. So, still don't know what the consultant said till he gets back except he has to go back May 4th

Hope everyones well