Preparing for Christmas 2011

sammy_kaye18

nat21luv wrote: »

And how much will you have to spend on your step son?!

Treat them all the same I say, so you can imagine how livid I was to hear that my SS mum had demanded half the money for a school trip in August(!!) costing £400! My partner has told her that's what maintenance is for(its increased by 1/3 in the last 3 months as my partner now works in London) and she wasnt satisfied, said she cant afford it. I said we'd pay half but only if SS understood that that would be his xmas pressent from us. She said we were pathetic! Only last week my son had the chance to go on a trip costing £190 but I couldnt afford it so he didnt go. I did ask him if he'd like to go but again, that would be his xmas present....he opted for the presents instead! Ahhh split families ay?!! :rotfl:

I tend to shop for SS for the same budget as my son but it comes from OH money - can near enough safely say that it has been me who has provided my children'+
+3s birthdays and christmas presents with possibly one gift a year from him. He has never contributed financially to our two childrens gifts etc.

My bfs ex always seems to demand more maintenance come christmas too or tells us shes buying - for example last year - she informed us she was buying the xbox and we were to buy the kinect - so think I will set a £200 budget for the boys each and once its gone, its gone.

Claire_Bear

I've managed to get another few bits sorted, bought a Wolverine hoodie for OH in the Sports Direct sale for £8. Also bought him a boxed copy of Zelda Ocarina of Time as it's his favourite game ever, spent £25 but then took it back for a refund as I found I can get the super special gold edition for about the same price on eBay so going to do that instead. Decided that his main present is going to be a Nintendo 64 and some games for it, as well as the Zelda one.Also going to get him a retro Newcastle shirt off eBay, that will be him just about sorted I think apart from small stocking fillers.

Found this for my dad http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MELTING-CLOCK-DALI-INSPIRED-MANTLEPIECE-FIREPLACE-SHELF-/260791387354?pt=UK_Clocks&hash=item3cb860c4da#ht_1164wt_906 which I think he'll like for his office/poker room. Will also get him the usual golf balls/tees and that's him sorted too

Picked up a couple of sour gummy rats for 10p each to put into OH's son's sweetie hamper that he gets every year, every time I'm in Home Bargains or B&M they seem to have something in so been checking the dates and slowly getting them too. He likes the toxic waste and really sour things so keeping an eye out.

Also decided to make some bunting for OHs sister's new baby to put in his bedroom. Will try and get some fabric samples sent out so should be pretty cheap to make, then will get him a little token gift as well.

soccermom

Does anyone mind if I join in with the xmas thread, never too early I say.

I don't have that many to buy for I don't think but I have teenage boys 16 and 17 and a 22 year old all with expensive taste.

There's also my brothers family with 6 children I was looking to buy something as a big joint gift which is where i'm struggling for ideas.

That's when I found this thread

It will get me motivated to get out there and get on with it I say it every year but always end up rushing round the week before christmas.

murie

Hello- can I join in too? I love Christmas (already got a fair bit planned and small gifts brought etc). Looking forward to tring some homemade fudge (even tho I dont like it! Hubby LOVES the stuff!), and some Toffee vodka dor my sis (may have to make some for me too for quality control purposes of course!!! Lol!)

jakesbakescakes

OMG just discovered this thread and i totally love it! Glad I'm not the only advent-nut out there!!! I am also tackling the home-made hampers idea this year and whilst waiting for our plum tree to ripen (in preparation for jam making) I have been knitting five, 25cm high crazy turkey table centrepieces (alan dart knitting pattern) for my inlaws, both sets of sisters-in-law, Great aunty and one for the school raffle. Only trouble is they are so cute and funky everyone else wants one too!!!! I really love the idea of home-made fudge, and maybe some trendy heart lavender sachets for scenting drawers....

LV_Sue

I'd never heard of the crazy turkey pattern so I googled it. It's fantastic but look what came up! £7.95 for a pattern removed from a magazine! :eek: At least the P&P is free
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALAN-DART-XMAS-TURKEY-HAT-SOFT-TOY-KNITTING-PATTERN-/200603561193?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D190530185772%252B190530185772%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D1107913455438420568&_qi=RTM637058

jakesbakescakes

The turkey pattern is fab isn't it???? i agree patterns on auction sites outrageously priced... but if you haven't already discovered it, join ravelry.com - online knitting community with millions of patterns for free

pinkmami

I got 2 gifts yesterday in Wilkinsons. Peppe Pig jigsaw & Disney Cars activity packs. I have also bought 2 personalised bracelets for my girls off Ebay for less than £3 each.

I'm not buying any big presents for them. DS is only 3 so still young to demand things! Girls have a bike each, & a Nintendo DSi, Wii is already here & they have a TV in their room (sharing) so a sackfull of stuff like notebooks (they love story writing), pens, Wii games, clothes & stuff.

I can keep the majority of the High Street Vouchers I have for myself!!!!!!

murie

In B&M bargains today I brought a small (about 7" high) cellowrapped bubble gum machine with a pack of small multicoloured bubble gums wrapped inside for 89p> They had blue,green and red (if I remember rightly). Might be good for a retro sweetie hamper (adults or over 3 yrs old cus they gums are about size of a 1p). There was no sell by date on as far as I could see.

youngmummy

have ordered 2 presents for LO in the last week. so its all good. just got to get him a farm set now and a toy tractor then hes sorted and getting him a bike for his bbirthday in january and a junior trampooline, have found my xmas tree, but will have to get new tree and room decorations as most have got broken, . hope everyone is well take care