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My SOA :(
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No I wanted to echo others thoughts about the presents budget, and also that sound advice was being given, actually to encourage you believe it or not, but it clearly didn't!:(
So, other than just wanting to be plain rude, there really is no reason for you to have posted on this thread then?OrkneyStar wrote: »The presents budget is ridiculous, no matter how you try to 'justify' it, the bottom line is money/things never make us truly happy for any length of time. Cut that and you have solved more than just financial problems.
As for the rest, well sound advice has been given already really. Hope this is your light-bulb moment for real and all the best staying in the black and out of the red for the future!
I wasn't rude in any way, I simply said one part of your budget was ridiculous and questioned just why you felt so tied to spending to make happiness.
Anyway, if you read the post, I wished you all the best and hoped this was your light bulb moment (how is that rude?).
*sigh*Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
Encouragement always works better than judgement.0 -
I think I needed to read this thread! Last Christmas I spent far too much on stocking fillers (mum, DH, DS1, DS1's g/f, DD, DD's b/f, DS2!!!) and while I don't want not to give them stockings (I adore watching all the silly presents get opened, and some are very silly!) I decided I need to go for fewer items and better quality. I love the chocolate box idea - do you mind if I pinch it?
I don't buy the toiletries sets, I found a particular scent that each of them liked and bought something small - like a shower gel - in that scent.
I think it's time I had a wander round and did some serious planing as it's been the last minute ideas that cost so much.
BTW - yes that's a lot of people to buy for - but mum was in hospital and I couldn't be with her so I asked the staff to give her the stocking so she would feel someone was thinking of her. My kids' partners also got presents to make them feel part of the family - I just need to be more careful what I buy! Oh, and I do buy socks - TK Max ski socks for the ski-ers, cartoon socks for the boys.:)
Have tried to PM you Miggy but your inbo is fulled up! July NSD Challenge: 2/16
Aiming for 4 in a row
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them- Caron de Beaumarchais
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Wow, I'm totally gobsmacked, all these changes in just what a couple of days that is brilliant going. xxxx rip dad... we had our ups and downs but we’re always be family xx0
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Wow, loads of great suggestions on here and what a lot of progress made.
In terms of presents, I just have a couple of thoughts. I love christmas and celebrating birthdays and like giving and receiving things. I also am more of the line that it makes me incredibly happy watching my daughter opening a big pile of presents
So firstly, I am with you there LOL.
I don't think it has to be an all or nothing thing. I have changed my habits over the last year and think I am now getting the best of both worlds.
What I do (and there are a couple of great threads on this type of approach, um search thrifty gifty on the forum) is this:
1) Get a dedicated notebook / spreadsheet or whatever you prefer and write a list of everybody you want to buy for.
2) Spend lots of time listening carefully to things people say and keep notes on what people like / need so what you get them is more likely to go down a storm
3) Shop steadily all across the year using the internet (websites like this / HUKD etc to spot glitches / absolute best prices on things.
4) Always go through cash back sites like Quidco etc wherever possible, it does add up.
5) I used to think if I got a great deal (like I got a £40 item for £15) then I should buy more. :eek: try not too LOL. Also don't get carried away; think quality and thought, not quantity.
6) Keep an eye out for fabulous wrapping paper and ribbons etc at bargain basement prices. I love it when Paperchase sell stuff off! Stockpile it and make you presents look simply fabulous. .... I think there is something special about a well thought out present that has been wrapped with lots of love :T
By this point, you should be spending a lot less but giving just as much. Now the next part, where does the present money come from?
1) My lovely little girl gets a lot of stuff really :rotfl:. However, her interests change as do ours. Whenever an item is no longer used / outgrown etc in our house it gets sold on ebay or donated. The money can then go towards new things that we do want / presents etc. Ironically because I try so hard to buy things at a great price there are quite a few times that I have sold things for more than what I paid secondhand I appreciate with teenagers their things once given belong to them but with their old things you could ask them what they want to part with and then they could save the money / buy other things through the year.
2) I personally don't do this but lots of people also do online surveys, clicks and stuff to get vouchers
Finally, an incentive helps. Now we are on the straight and narrow I put the extra money into a holiday fund. Maybe, you could plan something fun to do with some of the money you save as well as paying off debts like a trip to Alton Towers :T
Sorry, if stating the obvious I just know what a difference it has made to us. Umm, and it has helped me declutter the house and I haven't sold anything that has been missed yet LOL.
Take care x0 -
Wow, I'm totally gobsmacked, all these changes in just what a couple of days that is brilliant going. xx
Thank You, couldn't have done it without some fantastic advice and support! So, Thank YOU xdragonlily wrote: »Wow, loads of great suggestions on here and what a lot of progress made.
In terms of presents, I just have a couple of thoughts. I love christmas and celebrating birthdays and like giving and receiving things. I also am more of the line that it makes me incredibly happy watching my daughter opening a big pile of presents So firstly, I am with you there LOL.
Is it wrong to be so relieved to see you say that? LOL!
5) I used to think if I got a great deal (like I got a £40 item for £15) then I should buy more. :eek: try not too LOL. I never ever ever do that...... :whistle:. LOL
6) Keep an eye out for fabulous wrapping paper and ribbons etc at bargain basement prices. I love it when Paperchase sell stuff off! Stockpile it and make you presents look simply fabulous. .... I think there is something special about a well thought out present that has been wrapped with lots of love :T I'm quite crafty (the arty kind of crafty not the shifty eyes kind LOL) so that really, really appeals to me!
Finally, an incentive helps. Now we are on the straight and narrow I put the extra money into a holiday fund. Maybe, you could plan something fun to do with some of the money you save as well as paying off debts like a trip to Alton Towers :T A ho...ho...hol..holi... I just can't say it... A Holiday? For me? :eek: LOL
Sorry, if stating the obvious I just know what a difference it has made to us. Umm, and it has helped me declutter the house and I haven't sold anything that has been missed yet LOL.
Not atating the obvious at all, you have given me some great ideas, support and a lovely little nod that I am not the only one in this world who has been over indulgent. I adore christmas, really really love it, so shopping for gifts throughout the year and really researching everthing I buy will make one of the things I love about it last a lot longer! The other thing I love is making Reindeer Poo cakes but that's another story for another thread! lol
Take care xJuly NSD Challenge: 2/16
Aiming for 4 in a row
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them- Caron de Beaumarchais
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Not so sure about the thrifty gifty thread. Not read it all but it seems to be a lot of people buying and recycling generic gifts- just because they were a bargain. They need to break the cycle. Rather than recycling an unwanted gift (which they probably got in return for an unwanted gift they gave someone else) they need to break the cycle of cr&& gift giving.
The grab bit is always full of people buying stuff for generic children on amazon and putting it away for Christmas. It may be cheap but if it's going to end up in a charity shop , at a tom bola or recycled it is a waste of money.
Spend less, really think about each person as an individual. Get something small but relevant which will be used. Dragonlily has the right idea.June challenge £100 a day £3161.63 plus £350 vouchers plus £108.37 food/shopping saving
July challenge £50 a day. £ 1682.50/1550
October challenge £100 a day. £385/£31000 -
I'm currently looking for songs that contain a connection to my FIL's name, birthplace, birth year, favourite colour etc that I intend to load onto my old iPod (I don't use it anymore) as a gift for his birtday... the name connection is an easy one, I just have to find the theme tune to Dallas as that is his name- how cool huh? lol He loves music and is sentimental, he loved it when my SIL got him the paper from the day he was born and has it framed on the wall. It shouldn't cost me much through iTunes and I'm having great fun looking for all these facts and things, I'm going to make hima lovely card explaining why I chose each song, I'm going to include things like the number 0ne from the week he married my MIL (RIP mum, I still love you x) and such!July NSD Challenge: 2/16
Aiming for 4 in a row
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them- Caron de Beaumarchais
0 -
I'm currently looking for songs that contain a connection to my FIL's name, birthplace, birth year, favourite colour etc that I intend to load onto my old iPod (I don't use it anymore) as a gift for his birtday... the name connection is an easy one, I just have to find the theme tune to Dallas as that is his name- how cool huh? lol He loves music and is sentimental, he loved it when my SIL got him the paper from the day he was born and has it framed on the wall. It shouldn't cost me much through iTunes and I'm having great fun looking for all these facts and things, I'm going to make hima lovely card explaining why I chose each song, I'm going to include things like the number 0ne from the week he married my MIL (RIP mum, I still love you x) and such!
Great idea!
I bet you will have so much fun (and maybe shed a few tears in memory too!) doing that!Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
Encouragement always works better than judgement.0
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