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

foxy219

Good evening everyone, gosh 12 pages in and its the 28th December!!!
I am Lisa, mum to DS 6 and DD 3. Both characters in their own way. I have been married for 8 years, work part time so that I can spend quality time with the kids. I discovered MSE in 2009 and couldn't be without it and this thread. I feel so at home here, although it is a Christmas thread everyone is so supportive and lovely of everything that happens, and I never worry about offloading as there are always lovely comments that make me feel better.

I was on the Next VIP sale on 22nd December, spending my £100 in 100 days, some of it arrived today and is going back, the rest I am really pleased with. Bought all my Christmas cards and wrapping paper for 2011 and have my brother and his girlfriends birthday presents bought already, the Christmas eve pj's for DD and a few other bits already. My £2 jar last year bought my ticket for Take That and is already in operation for the hotel and travel costs. I have decided rather than £100 in 100 days I am going for the £300 in 300 days and see where it takes me!
I was money neutral in 2010 due to some lucky wins and good ebay sales, and hopefully will be the same in 2011.
Thank you my fellow MSE'rs for all the support, I couldn't do it with out you
Happy New Year
PS Thank you to my Secret Santa, I got the ear rings and haven't taken them out since!

gemini12

Esmer Thank you for the lakeland code link I now have the few bits I wanted on order. It only came to £7 odd so would not be worth paying postage.

Anglea The box at the bottom of the page says I may not post attachments though I havent tried I must admit.

esmer

I would speak to ADMIN Gemini12, you should be able to after your first 20posts I think it is. Not sure why you cant.

DD is in bed, and she is sleeping, not bright red and not been crying, so I see that as she is on the mend. So I have tidied her toys, cleaned all the laminate flooring, did all my ironing and even sewed on some buttons that had came off some of my shirts. I feel happy going to bed tonight and knowing the house is clean, all washing and ironing has been done and FINGERS crossed wee one sleeps all night. I have her window open, will close it when I go to bed.

Im hoping to go shopping tomorrow to The Fort just outside Glasgow, I love shopping there, the shops are outdoors, so I don't feel all cramped, and claustrophobic. I want to get a nice dressing gown from DPs they are less than half price and when I seen them in the store they were gorgeous. Get my friend a new purse as promised a nice lunch and see what else I can get.

I think I will sleep tonight, as I think I have had 10hrs in 3 days.

foxy219

Hugs to you Esmer, I hope you have a better night sleep and both you and DD feel better tomorrow

Winter_Jasmine

Anglea wrote: »

Hi all

Saffstar that was an amazing bargain if they're normally £70.

Thanks - I'm pretty pleased :j

The next nearest (according to the Mega Shop Bot) is £73.99 at Play - just hope it's not a misprice!

elysia2003

Well done on your bargains Saffstar and Foxy - I do love a bargain!

Sleep well Esmer.

Fedup - I would just go for the Halfords one - Your brother will know the value, and will be amazed with how much (or how little ) you spent, and on the plus side, it'll be one less thing to worry about - finding bits here and there.

mum2one

kiwichick wrote: »

Morning All,

My ex is coming to pick up the kids soon as he's having them for a couple of days. I'm planning on hitting the shops! Cant believe that I'm heading out with the aim of picking up xmas pressies 2 days after xmas - it seems utterly mad!!! MUM2ONE's post made think I could pick up a couple of bits like that and split them up for various gift baskets next year. Wrapping and tags on the list also, though not cards as I ordered loads of the kids ones through school and then thanks to the swine flu I never got any written so have plenty ready for next year.

Will post later and let you know if I've managed to pick up any bargains.

Have a good day all,
Al x

To be honest it can save a gd few pennies and pounds splitting things up, the other top tip, get some cello wrap, the seller I use on ebay is nickchicks he's briliant, the best part if you did a order and ur postage was £10, he does a miximum of £4.95. get cello, and ribbon from him.

Hope your feeling better after the swinr flu, You take care, xx

mum2one

Karmacat wrote: »

Hi there.

I'll be subscribing to this, and popping on throughout 2011 - just managed to get debt free in 2010, and now that the immediate struggle is off, I'm re-focussing what I do on mse, and make sure I have more fun! Doing it as cheaply as possible, and preserving quality, also seemed like a good idea, so I'll be taking part - not anticipating I'll set the creative world on fire, but I'm game for a go

Congratulations on the debt free front, thats absolutely brilliant. xx

mum2one

Georgiegirl2012 wrote: »

If anybody is thinking of putting together a stationery hamper for anybody next year stamps are still reduced in Superdrug until next week and Lidl have stationery on offer as from today

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/offerdate.htm?offerdate=16512

Some of it is ideal for cardmakers or arty folks

If I can get my backside out of bed, I might have to go for a wander - in my case, the envelopes for when I'm made redundant (which is 99% certain sometime in the next 12 months) and have to send lots of applications out.

Also, was talking to my sister yesterday, who is very "crafty" and what she does for Christmas is make 20 cards of 10 different designs and her hubby sells them in the school he works at. I know that's not to work for everybody, but I thought that if I could do a similar thing, by making a batch of the same cards, once a month until October, then find somewhere to sell them during November.

Don't know if you have a local weekly freebie paper, but our end, all the schools use the same paper - and come Nov time they have craft fairs - ideally if you can share with your sister, or have a mix and match range be worth it. I did one in Nov, billed as a Craft fair, but was £20 for the table. Also would suggets ringing the local schools and ask for your number to be passed to their PTA (there the ones who do the arrangeing for fetes etc), some schools advertise tables, others are done word of mouth.
At Miss Hoodies school, their christmas fayre, was more a table top sale, but I took some jewellery and some of my car boot stuff, 0 you've got a captive audience, lot cheaper than £20 for the other school.

Also Oct time try a couple of car boots - people start Christmas - ask around some friends might want to buy some xx

Georgiegirl2012

mum2one wrote: »

Don't know if you have a local weekly freebie paper, but our end, all the schools use the same paper - and come Nov time they have craft fairs - ideally if you can share with your sister, or have a mix and match range be worth it. I did one in Nov, billed as a Craft fair, but was £20 for the table. Also would suggets ringing the local schools and ask for your number to be passed to their PTA (there the ones who do the arrangeing for fetes etc), some schools advertise tables, others are done word of mouth.
At Miss Hoodies school, their christmas fayre, was more a table top sale, but I took some jewellery and some of my car boot stuff, 0 you've got a captive audience, lot cheaper than £20 for the other school.

Also Oct time try a couple of car boots - people start Christmas - ask around some friends might want to buy some xx

Thanks muchly - I live next door to a school and have a couple of contacts. I also audit the accounts for the local playgroup so can ask them too. And there is also a church just up the road which usually has at least one "fayre" during the year.

And my pal, for whom I've just made the engagement card, might be up for a learner doing her wedding invites/thank you cards if it means she gets them at a bargain price.:T

Me and her are both in work tomorrow, so I'd best get to sleep so I can put on my best persuasive face.

Regards
Quite excited, and very sleepy, of Cwmbran