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

rufusdog52

Good to see the gravy pots coming out again Mary xx

I have sorted Dad's present, I just made him up an IOU voucher, printed it out and it looks nice. Was talking to my sister and she is going to make me a card wallet to put it in.

fedupandskint

Hello everyone. I've been reading the thread for the last few weeks and not posting as not much to say. Christmas preps have been on hold for a few weeks apart from the apple chutney making and buying a large box of Black Magic this week for £5 from Mr T for mum for Christmas

Firstly, best wishes to everyone who is having a pretty tough time - there are quite a few of us at the moment

I collected 2 large bags of clean jars from a freecycler this week to use up for the chutney, jam and pickle making which was pretty good as I've been short of jars for a while.

Plans are
Tomorrow - christmas chutney making
Next week - red cabbage making
Week after Christmas cake making

And a some point damson jam and pickle making alongside some pears maybe?

Then all jam, chutney and pickles are done and dusted and ready to go for presents and sales

Next week is the apple vodka finishing off and then the sloe gin can go in the cupboard for a couple of months to mature now the sugar has dissolved.

oh yes and a rather complicated dissertation proposal to finish off and submit (crawling towards the finish line there!)

cdsmiler

Afternoon all!

Sorry - LONG POST ALERT!

djstar80 wrote: »

Not done much in terms of xmas over the last few days as I have had a lot of family problems and I feel so stressed out. It's horrible Anyway, moan over!

Hey djstar. Hope everything's ok, and your drama production is going well.

mary - blimey, I don't think I could cope with all that mess from the building! Bet the result has been worth it though!
Glad your recent boffin is better!

mum2one - oooooo any news from your male photographer friend?!?!

rufus - I have a lovely Christmas list of things I'd like!! lol Must be odd without OH there - make the most of the peace!

Sugarspun - congrats on being in your new house! OMG with your OH though! Lets hope that now they've identified what it is, it can be managed! Worst thing is not knowing!

AIJA - No budget as such. I see what it is I want to get, and go as cheap as I can! As long as whoever it is gets what they want (or what I think they'd like!), it doesn't matter how much I've spent (or not as the case may be!). A lot of our family do lists, so I have to wait for those mostly - I just use the year to build up vouchers to buy those gifts. The ones I get the most from are Valued Opinions, and GFK Daily TV.

susan - good to have you back out of hospital!!! Glad it all went ok? I only just saw your post about the DVD!! Thank you so much, but just bought one! (See below!). I shall pass it on! I'm thinking of doing a Film Night In hamper for the childminders - I could put it in there!

Angela - wouldn't it be fab if we all did live near each other?! If nothing else, I reckon we'd have the prettiest looking Christmas decorations!!

Funeral - went as well as they can! All good though, and people liked my cupcakes. lol
Craft Fair for charity - not too bad - was quite quiet but I sold all 10 of my Bah Humbugs, only 1 reindeer food (Bah! Will sell the others in work in the lead up to Crimbo), a few handbag charms, the odd bracelet and some sets of earrings! So it was interesting!

Ordered a sledge (for about £7.50 ish) from Argos, ready for DD in the snow. Ideal style that she should be pretty secure sat on while we pull her through the snow (on the flat!!). But when they brought it out it was a different design (they do that sometimes don't they in Argos...), so asked for money back instead as it wasn't suitable. Anyone got any suggestions on a cheap but sturdy sledge for a 2 year old??

Trying not to panic about Xmas. OH does his side of the family, I do mine (that's pretty much how it works). We do lists, but only my Mum has suggested anything she wants!! Argh! lol <breathe...>

Not made any chutneys or jams this year - next year is crafty year.... Saying that, still got a felt advent calendar wall hanging to make for DD!

Got plenty of cards I think - will grab them from the top of the shelves this week me thinks, look at the Christmas card list, and double check I have enough.

Xmas Eve hamper on it's way to being sorted - know what I'm doing there. SOOOOOO pleased - anyone remember I was looking for Nativity DVD (Martin Freeman) a few months ago?? Well it's back on Amazon, for £4.99! Used a £5 voucher - free!! Xmas eve hamper! yeay! Stocking for DD is planned mostly - but need to coordinate with MIL...we're down there this year and she's started doing a stocking for DD too. :undecided Kind of defeats the Father Christmas thing, but there we go.....

Hope you're all good!!

Clare x

mary-op

Hello all :j
Clare - it's been a bit of hassle (to say the least) with builders in and out -2 weeks bathroom, then kitchen...........kitchen not done yet........next job is pantry being knocked out then decorating/tiling/flooring etc.................lol Still, after whats been a sort of ''negative'' year in many ways its good to have some ''positive'' on the go whatever mess it takes. And its meant a cheap (if not free) christmas in the way of pressies......half the stuff from kitchen and bathroom can be passed on......storage jars filled with little shortbreads/choccies, xmas t-towels (2),herb jars, decorative chopping boards etc.
So all in all its worth it.
Gravy tubs counted -only got 3:( Still, thats enough for a few wrist warmers to go in and turn them into winter warmer tubs with hot chocolate sachets or soup or dried chillis.

My 'christmas in a box' for both sons is sorted.....could do with padding out a bit but blessed if I'm sewing any more felt !!!
Looking at the pine dresser this morning -all the shelves have got to be cleared of 'stuff' so it can be moved for builders.............now there's a lot more christmas pressies :T So with any luck I get a proper 'de-clutter' and free christmas :T

sugarspun - how is your OH and whats wrong with him ? I know what its like not knowing things -in fact still a lot I don't know about OH's state at the minute except that as far as his back goes theres nothing they can do-just physio and 'keep taking the tablets'. Its the stomach issue thats more of a problem.
Least nhs are bit more on the ball at the minute....phone call about physio this morning but it was at the hospital -he spends enough time there and it seems daft when we've got one in town. So, quick phone to gp should sort that out hopefully.

Hope you're all ok:)

rufusdog52

Afternoon everyone

I had an eventful day yesterday, got locked out of my house, the mortice lock had broken, son thought he was going to have to call one of his police friends round to bash the door in but then managed to get it open some how so today I have had to get a new lock for it. I couldnt reach down far enough to see what I was doing so YD came out and took over and did a great job, all works nicely and I will feel safe going out again.

My son took me to see my Dad yesterday and as the weather was nice he decided to take us out for a drive, went to Whitstable which isnt far from my Dads, and sat and had some chips and a hot drink.

Posted the cushion off this morning that I sold over the weekend. I have a customer for a table runner which I have finished too but they are going to pay next week (hopefully, friends so I dont mind waiting a bit).

Tomorrow my Bro and Sil are taking me out to another town near by to have a look round the shops. I am hoping I can get another couple of bits and pieces for OH and for the grandchildren while I am there. Must remember to get my M&S vouchers down and put them in my purse.

fedupandskint

I made 12 jars of Christmas Chutney today which was easy

Now have half a red cabbage salting away ready to pickle - this should fill quite a few jars and will come in pretty cheap.

Chutney total cost = £9.35
Cost per jar 78p
Sale cost between £1.50 - £2 per jar depending on size of jar

Red Cabbage cost 70p, used half 35p vinegar cost 26p x 2 plus spices at 50p estimated cost
Total £2 lets round it up to this and see how many jars it makes

mum2one

A flying hi, as my dongle doesn't work, just claiming free 15mins net... will catch up properly at the weekend, hope everyone ok,

Santsa challenge coming up! xx

mum2one

Santas Challenge – October
As were approaching Halloween as well, its almost as thou Christmas is around the corner, so this month, it may look like a long list, but as usual treat it as a pick and mix, also Miss Hoodie hasn’t been let loose, so no cleaning. Just a month of organising and planning.


Posting Dates
6th Dec – Australia and New Zealand
10th Dec – Usa and Canada
13th – Europe
15th – UK Standard Parcels
18th – 2nd Class Delievery
21st – 1st Class Delievery

Vouchers / Incoming
I know some ladies do surveys, cashbacks etc, if there are any vouchers, and your on payout request asap, as a lot of people will be wanting to cash out for Christmas, and some surveys aren’t know for being quick payments, so maybe set yourself a cut off date and use them towards next years shopping

Online Ordering
Again, check the delievery terms and conditions of sites as each will vary, and without sounding daft if it says estimated delievery that could be “how long is a piece of string”, not trying to put anyone off, but don’t want anyone missing out on important present.

Christmas Cards
Spread the writing of them even if it is 5 per day, soon fly through them.
1st class stamps – 46p (currently 5% off at Superdrug at the mo)
2nd Class stamps – 36p
Check the postal size, as if it goes into packets can start becoming expensive

Shopping
Do a shopping list of items that you need for xmas, and see if you can spread them through the shopping lists, but ask yourself do I really need it!!
Online shopping – keep an eye out for when the Christmas slots are released, and reserve your slot asap, even if its a pint of milk in your basket, keeps your slot
Check special offers, currently Argos change on a Wed, Boots and M+S on a Friday
Stocking fillers, - grab them when they see them, with the credit crunch it will be items like this that fly off the shelves
Spare presents – try and have a couple of spares in stock, whether its a box of chocs, or a toiletry set, but make it something you like, just incase you don’t use it, and like it yourself.
Check stores returns policy, some will offer extended periods of return, also check if stores offer a gift receipt, that way if the person has to return it there get the full price you paid and not the new sale price.
Batteries
Without sounding daft, but are you buying presents that need batteries, and do you need any for cameras, camcorders, remote controls...

Mediciations etc
Check your prescriptions and spread and reorders out through now and start of Dec, most people will leave prescritions to the last week, so get in before
Check the times that your dentist / doctors /nhs walk in / chemist is closed over Christmas, and if you know your due a follow up appointment / blood test book in sooner rather than later
First Aid Box – (or as mine an old make up bag!), stock a few simple things plasters, paracetamol, what ever you think you may need.

The Where am I???
This may sound mad, but make arrangements to when your delievering presents or people are coming to you, even if you pop it on the calendar, so that someone else in the house knows where you are and when
The Christmas chat – are you home, how many, have I get extra guests, have the chat sooner than later as some family may just think its unwritten rule thats its you there coming to

Christmas Cakes
Still not too late to bake your own cake

Christmas Puddings
Theres plenty of offers at the moment, so were spolit for choice. xx

cdsmiler

Rufus - what a drama! Glad it's sorted now!

Thanks for the challenge mum2one - not quite as scary as I thought it would be!! Going to get my christmas cards down this week I hope, if not, next week, and think I might write my card list this afternoon. Then I can work out how much of which postage!

We're going everywhere else for most of Christmas (as usual) but I need to find out if there's any little things I can contribute (normally do sausages wrapped in bacon for my parents), plus we normally do a fancy meal for New Years eve - just need to find out how many people will be there.

Clare x

fedupandskint

Thanks for the challenge mum2one, glad it looks nice and manageable for November!

Well, I made 3 large jars of pickled red cabbage which can go into the christmas hampers. Then made some coffee and walnut fudge from the fudge pack I bought last year and some chocolate cherry buns for a birthday present. Nice to use up storecupboard ingredients to do this especially as the chocolate was only just in date I'd had it so long! Glad to use it up in something nice. Buns will be going into a cupcake box also bought ages ago and the fudge is wrapped up in greaseproof paper tied with a ribbon.

All while I await the arrival of the present which hasn't arrived yet!