Lets get started for Christmas 2011

Rebel_Hedgehog

Will get some bits when Boots reduce everything to 75% off. Already bought some next xmas decorations £78 worth for £19.

sarah*a

I'd like to join too :j

I keep a Xmas diary to keep up with what I have bought/have got left to buy and I can also see what I bought in previous years so I don't duplicate

I change my xmas colour theme on a rotation every year so any cards/wrap etc left over from this year will go back in the cupboard for the next time we use blue 2011 is red/green as we haven't done either of those colours before and then I have the full complement of xmas decs to use and won't have to buy any more :D

So far I have bought
:all wrap, tags and cards for next year
:couple of red decs - still need red/green tinsel, some green baubles and a red or green tree topper
:10 and half out of 18 family xmas gifts
:approx half of DD's gifts - will grab a hair set/smellies/make up tomorrow/weds in sale and then a couple of bits in the summer sales too - she'll also get some topshop vouchers from shopandscan/consumer pulse etc as I daren't even attempt to buy her clothes anymore :rotfl:
:few bits for OH - need to get some Ted Baker smellies and then am at a loss at the moment for ideas :rotfl:

plus 11 and half out of 18 family birthday gifts

Am gonna put at least a fiver away a week - need to buy some superglue tomorrow to glue the lid on my empty pickle onion jar - no terracotta pot for me! (only because I think I would cry when I had to break it )

Really hoping to go to my mum's for xmas this year but will use the 'pickle jar' money to buy food if we don't (and in the sales if we do )

Wendy5704 wrote: »

Hi Esmer - Not sure what the other ladies think but I think this is more about what we are buying too and im not sure how that would fit in with the other thread. See what the others think. Im very easy going and will go with the flow

I agree with Wendy - I think this is more for being organised with bought AND made stuff. I personally like the idea of having a separate thread that isn't soley about homemade gifts as I am not terribly crafty (although I would like to be) and the crafty threads do make me feel somewhat guilty :D

Apologies for spelling - am not quite with it tonight :rotfl:

diddly74

rich_shot2003 wrote: »

we are thinking about joining Park to save for Vouchers for Christmas 2011 but i am a little worried about joining them.

So do people think they are a good idea? how have they been for Christmas 2010?

Hi I have just been reading thru the thread. I too have started organising for Christmas 2011 and birthdays and have a few bits tho I need to organise my ideas for the presents I need to buy rather than buy just anything.

Anyway in answer to Rich-shot2003 I have saved with Park Hampers since I was 9 years old. Now I am 36 going on 37. Mom saved with them before me and obviously that is how I got into it so young. She used to have a hamper and vouchers but I just buy the Love to Shop vouchers - I think I started with summat like 50p a week lol my pocket money was £1. And this year I am doing the same but it will cost me £10 a week instead. I only order for me and the reason I like them is although I am "limited" to where I can spend them i.e. not like cash just anywhere the do go on what they are meant for - presents and food for Christmas - if I had just cash I would a) dip into it thru the year and b) it would end up being spent on other things, a coffee here etc.

I am also trying (and so far succeeding) to do the sealed pot £1 a day challenge, so Christmas 2011 should be stress free for me £500 on vouchers and £300+ in the pot when I do the shopping in Nov. £800+ should do my present and food shop with money over spare for me to treat myself [ahem].

I would also like to add that when I was a kid - the day the Hamper arrived would be one of the most exciting days of my year - there was always a big jar of sweets in there (for me!!!) and it would signal the start of the count down to christmas!!!!! Mom would hide all the chocs and nice stuff in the bottom of her wardrobe ready for the festivities.:T

sazzledazzle

Managed to pick up two rolls of wrapping paper for 50p each and two packs of bows for 33p each at Mr T's so that should be all my paper I need for next year. I got a smart xmas wrapping paper holder this year and so its all protected and packed away already.
also got a cute hot water bottle for mum reduced from £10 to £3 so have stored that away for next year.
Brought a £1 saver stamp so thats £1 towards next years bill already. Feeling so organised and its such a great feeling.

pinkmami

I've always thought Park vouchers have been a good idea. I'm 36:eek: lol and I've been saving since I was 18 when my mum was an agent. I also remember the hampers arriving & they didn't belong to us & I loved seeing them! She had a lot of customers & always enjoyed the rounds of collecting the instalments from the customers & I was usually sent out on her behald in the winter!!

Anyhow - I'm now an agent for Park & love the job.. I only have 5 customers but its good fun. I have my own way of doing things which mean customers start saving in December by monthly installments (not weekly) and I finish early September so I pay out vouchers before the end of Sept - and my customers love that.

I couldn't "do" christmas without Park.

yummy-mummy-amy

managed to pick up 4 bead/ribbon garlands today 50p each. i looked at them when then were £1.75 and decided not worth it, but i was happy at sale price - they are pink/purple which is the olours we're having this year.

rolo-polo1965

A collegue and i from work have opened a joint bank account. We both put in £50 a month by direct debit 2 days after we have been paid.

We bothe ended up with £500 this christmas as we both with drew £100 when we went on a trip to London for a friends 40th birthday.

Both of us have to sign to with drw the money. Its a good way of saving. This is the 3rd year of doing it

pinkmami

I've just spent £1.99 on a notebook in The Works & that will be my Christmas Bible from now on! It will list what I've bought & for whom & my card list. I will use this for years to come.

My husbands says I have slight OCD since using this website!!

LJM

pinkmami wrote: »

I've just spent £1.99 on a notebook in The Works & that will be my Christmas Bible from now on! It will list what I've bought & for whom & my card list. I will use this for years to come.

My husbands says I have slight OCD since using this website!!

i do this i always have a book with who to buy for and i note down things they have commented on through the year so if i see something come up reduced on sale i will grab it and continue looking for the bargains already have a big bag full of cards and wrapping paper in the loft for this xmas and toys ive bought for my new niece who is due next week for xmas

chanie

Pinkmaini - I used a note pad last year and have done it for this year.

I have got the months of birthdays so I know who we've got to buy for.

I'm doing hamper type gifts for everybody and have been buying bits and pieces, so each person has a page and I write down the gifts (and prices) for each person.

I also have a page for present ideas, so if I think of a gift for a particular person, I write it down and will try and find one on offer.

Also have a page for stuff I'm planning on making.