Lets get started for Christmas 2011

meanmarie

I'm in....made most of the grandchildren's presents (5 DGC) this year and bought their books via Paypal with money paid in by Quidco....might try to expand that in 2011. Have enough cards and some stamps asI only send cards to people I don't see or talk to very often

I always have a budget for Christmas but often don't count the wool and other bits I buy through the year so not sure whether I stick to it or not....will be doing a whole new budget during the week so will make sure I record everything this year!

Marie

chaosweddings

Can i join in please, this year was a complete shambles, normally im really organised but we went on holiday to florida oct/november and really put me out.

i have already ordered my love to shop vouchers from park , i do these every year for the psat 6 years and its nice to know that on november the 1st my vouchers turn up all paid for.

im also planning on putting at least £1 a day away

Meadows

I am sorted with Christmas gifts for next year, I have picked up items in the Boots and Asos sale. So I have gifts for three birthdays and gifts for eight people for Christmas 2011. I always put £20 away each month for food drink etc, I have wrapping paper and Christmas cards so pretty sorted and saved a good few £'s along the way.

Wendy5704

misskaty wrote: »

So

Chrsitmas 2010 has gone and now its time to start preparing for 2011, this can be a place where we can share ideas so there is no stess at that special time.

So lets get you ideas in !!

Great minds think alike. I was going to start one this morning but hit the sales instead :rotfl:

Anyway after quite a productive day i have managed to get some gifts for next year from the Boots sale. It was manic and people were not very helpful. Think i will miss the 75% sale this year. I have got some lovely gifts and this year I am going to try and be more money neutral. I get far too carried away with buying for people. Amazon also have some great deals on perfumes at the minute as some kind posters have put on the Grabbit board.

I save £15 a week with my mum which started from end of November 2010 and will continue to November 2011, I will also put £5 a week on Asda till I get £100 for daft bits like dvds etc and I am saving my vouchers from Toluna, Valued Opinions and My survey to use next Christmas.

I am going to try and make more hampers next year too as the ones I made for my niece and friend went down well. I got a brand new me to you smelly set from a car boot sale which was new but the box was bashed for a quid and put in a whicker basket and it looked great. Gonna try be a bit more savvy this year. May try my hand at soap/bath salt making too but the ingrediants were expensive in hobbeycraft today.

[Deleted User]

I have had the Skipton BS Christmas account for the last couple of years - I try to put £10 away each week and then draw it out in November. There isn't a great amount of interest paid on it but i know the money is safe - i don't trust the savings clubs etc. I have also been saving the supermarket stamps but as we aren't in the UK for Christmas this year I don't think we will bother with that this year. I do alot of cross-stitching so hope to make a few more cards/gifts this year. Thats the plan anyway......

Pixie_Fairydust

Hi to all you lovely ladies :rudolf:

I am an avid follower but haven't contributed much, so will try to this year.

I did a few crafty bits this year, 2 teddy's from £1and, I knitted them a scarf and a bag each, my kids thought they were great, so really pleased.

Made a cinema hamper for my DS's b'day on 24th Dec, he liked that too.

Plan for Christmas 2011 - try to save £2 each day for the kids (£1 each) have seen some money boxes in QD for 99p, they are made of tin and you have to use a tin opener to open them once full.

Try to have everything bought by beginning of Nov, hate the last minute rushing and panic buying.

Happy New Year to you all :beer:

esmf73

Morning all - read this yesterday but wasn't really in the right frame of mind to think ahead!! Before I hit the local sales (Tesco, Peacocks and £stretcher!) this morning I need to see what I already have in the loft. I know that I bought some lovely baskets (for hampers) from B&Q - pack of 3 for £3 - so I got 2! Then as I want to do a home made Christmas next year I have already been onto the Lakeland website and ordered some things in the sale. Plan is to give some jam / chutney and some biscuits to everyone - and the children will make sweets.

Want to make sock monkeys for the children - plan is to give each child a christmas mug filled with chocolates and a sock monkey as a gift. Will make 8 and will then have some spare which I could put liqueur chocs in for adults. Have to see what I manage to pick up in the sales. Already have christmas cards and wrapping paper bought in the sales. Planning to make some christmas decorations with the wrapping paper and we'll see how I go!

Kitchenbunny

Count me in. I love that feeling of being prepared for Christmas, and as I like preparing for it I enjoy preparing throughout the year Already on my list for next year are:

* Collecting all the old Christmas Cards I've received and turning them into gift tags. I've still got some spangly thread that was free on the front of a Cross Stitch magazine so that will help there.
* I was given some silicone chocolate bar and heart-shapes moulds so I shall have a bit of practice and then have a go at making homemade choccies for gifting. That one I'd need to do in December to make sure they don't go off, but I can practice.
* Keeping back the gift bags used to transport presents in for next year. I think we've got enough that each person can have their own bag full of pressies now.
* Ditto any leftover wrapping paper. We've still got loads of cards, although I'll buy a top up box for next year in the sales. While we don't need wrapping paper if I see a bargain, I'll have it.
* Putting £1 away every day for covering the costs.
* If I see a present in the sales or the course of the year, I'll put it into my present cupboard.
* Start a spreadsheet to keep track of it all - how much I've spent per month, what I've made, which gifts are for which person, etc. And then plot a schedule in my calendar of what I need to do when!
* On a similar note to the above point, to make a list of food ideas that I can make ahead and freeze, so I don't have to go into the supermarkets at all (if possible except for fresh) next Christmas. Best way to reduce stress is to avoid it!
* Make a couple of Christmas decorations. I want to cross stitch a couple of baubles so there is something new on the tree.

All this is what I plan to do. Whether it happens or not, who knows, but I'm going to give it a go. I'm in!

KB xx

nickynoo08

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?

I've saved with them for years and they've always been fine, never had any problems with them. I did one year decide not to get vouchers and put the money in a seperate savings account and it didnt work for us. We kept dipping into it and using it for shopping and bills so got vouchers/gift cards from them ever since. Everyones different so see what works best for you.

So xmas 2011......

I've managed to collect a fair few gift bags that can be reused
Still got plenty of cards left (got in sale last yr)
Have a few gifts leftover (again bought last yrs sale)

Need to get a couple of rolls of paper
Going to get a few gifts in the sale with leftover vouchers from this yr
Want to get familys cards bought in sale
collecting my tesco stamps and nectar pts for food shopping, choccs and alcohol
Paying £40 into park each month
Saving my vouchers from surveys etc...(these will be used on birthdays first then the rest on xmas or maybe a meal out for me n OH)
Need to make my list and allocate amounts (tick off once bought so i dont double buy again doh!)
Make as many h/m gifts and decs as i can this yr

That'll do me for now.

Jacey53

Could I please join in?

My aim is to have a home-made Christmas next year. I would like to knit socks, hats and scarves for everyone, plus pyjamas if I get time. I have a stash of yarn and a fabric stash so will probably not have to spend much at all.
I would also like to make up some items for charity boxes. The sock monkeys sound great.
Then later in the year I will make my Christmas cake and pudding and mince pies, and some home-made sweeet treats to add to the stockings.

Now all I have to do is keep on track and not leave it until too late:o:D