Christmas 2007 savings club

orchid-96

Just found this thread - great Idea, I need to sort myself out as I always end up overspending last minute at Christmas time and really need to budget this year (las year managed to save £500 towards chrimbo but still went way over budget)

Anyway just wanted to say on the basket idea, last year I did this sort of thing for my Sister (and a small one as a table present for my Mum) anyway I used a nice box (free from a purchase from La Senza - check them out, they do great offers on knickers) anyway I went to shops like bodycare etc. and picked up loads of nice bits for next to nothing the budget for my sister was only £15 but for that I got (see if I can remember) socks, paddle hairbrush, 2 x small sanctuary bits, body massager thingy, hairband (for when you put on a facemask etc.) oh facemask, mini body spray, mini hairspray, tweezers, pair of black opaque tights (nice ones), little address book and notepad, hair treatment, chocs, lipgloss, those gel things you put in your stilletos for going out, body puff, pair of earings, hair bobbles, foot cream, and more that I can't remember) the only thing is that it got quite addictive picking up little girly bargains - that's why I did one for my mum that I called 'night in box' but stuff around a pamper evening...

Anyway bit of a long post, but thought I would just put on some ideas - my sis was really chuffed with everything...think I might do one for my friend this time...

I will get round to organising myself later and post on here where I am with everything, but I would appreciate any tips on pigsback - I have joined but can't seem to get to grips with it

Thanks

looneyleo

Hi Guy's - thought I'd join you and let you know how Christmas is progressing for me!

£300.00 in savings account - £50.00 pm will have £600 by Dec:j
£40.00 Boots vouchers from Pigsback - should get up to £60.00 be Dec.
Boots points: got about £9 on it at the moment as have used some, but should get up to about £20 for December.

I let my children spend £5.00 per person for Grandparent/Aunts/ Uncles etc. Have got the gift bags (really nice fabrix embroidered ones for £1.00 each from Boots - reduced from £5.00 each and full of sweets, so took sweets out and didn't count the £1.00 in the budget!) Have got some snap shut photo key rings for 60p each, candles 40p, cracker shaped soap 40p, christmas socks £1.00, mens handkerchiefs 50p each. Will also get the kids to make some gingerbread shapes to add in.

That's it for now but not bad for July!

MrsTinks

Wow everyone - well done so far! Looks like loads of us are on track for a christmas with no credit card debts by the end of it!

looneyleo

Ohh...also forgot hubby has £100.00 on his Asda Christmas card! Really chuffed he took responsibility for it this year!

sammy_kaye18

hi AllWell here I am just checking in.So far we have gotten.................Pigsback - £6 - keep forgetting to do it! , Money in savings tin - £10.54 in change, ,Boots 9p (brought a few household bits the other day) ,Tesco £5 so far (due a £6.50 one at least in next lot!). , Cash in bank £170 I am thinking that this year i will be happy to have saved about £400 - £450 for christmas. That will be a good christmas plus the hampers seem to be working out cheaper than buying a single gift for each person and with alot of the items coming from the supermarket it looks liek i might use the vouchers im getting form tescos to do those vouchers. Also found out today that Woolworths do a savings card for christmas too so ive picked one of them up - I have 7 children in the family (excluding my son and step son) to buy for so if i start saving a bit now each month on there that will be the kids taken care of.

sharon59

looneyleo wrote: »

Hi Guy's - thought I'd join you and let you know how Christmas is progressing for me!

£300.00 in savings account - £50.00 pm will have £600 by Dec:j
£40.00 Boots vouchers from Pigsback - should get up to £60.00 be Dec.
Boots points: got about £9 on it at the moment as have used some, but should get up to about £20 for December.

I let my children spend £5.00 per person for Grandparent/Aunts/ Uncles etc. Have got the gift bags (really nice fabrix embroidered ones for £1.00 each from Boots - reduced from £5.00 each and full of sweets, so took sweets out and didn't count the £1.00 in the budget!) Have got some snap shut photo key rings for 60p each, candles 40p, cracker shaped soap 40p, christmas socks £1.00, mens handkerchiefs 50p each. Will also get the kids to make some gingerbread shapes to add in.

That's it for now but not bad for July!

look on the grabbit thread-BOOTS-and your points will be more than £9 in a jiffy l promise you!!!!!all last year l saved my Boots points and got DHaftershave £25-this year so far have 2 x digital cameras plus too much toiletries to mention and still got £100 IN POINTS!!!!all xmas pressies sorted-all due to the Boots thread.you will not be disappointed!!!

asp746

i've never been too extravagant at christmas. I tend to treat kids throughout the yr so at christmas there's not too much to pay out for at once. I also only use my spare cash from my December salary which amounts to about £700 which is plenty for food and pressies. Don't believe in saving all yr for one retail blow-out - i'd rather save for a family holiday and i couldn't do both.

Lillibet_2

asp746 wrote: »

i've never been too extravagant at christmas. I tend to treat kids throughout the yr so at christmas there's not too much to pay out for at once. I also only use my spare cash from my December salary which amounts to about £700 which is plenty for food and pressies. Don't believe in saving all yr for one retail blow-out - i'd rather save for a family holiday and i couldn't do both.

Crikey!:eek: Wish I had a spare £700 in ANY months salary, I could do both Xmas & a family holiday on that! £700 for Xmas is quite a lot more than most people on here are aiming for with careful budgeting, good for you if you can afford it but, in keepign with the spirit of MSE, please be careful not to belittle other peoples aims;)

Haven't updated for ages but I have still been saving & making/scouring for Xmas pressies. Have updated my sig, think I am fairly on track. Want to start looking into digital photo frames for Mum & dad, I like to do my research early & look out for a good deal!

Happy savings everyone;)

JAMIEDODGER

so far towards xmas 2007 i have:

a vtech smile with dora game for dd
an ipod shuffle for ds2
a dvd player for ds1
a barbeque tool set for my dad
a magic trick set for my nephew

(all bought at very low prices:))

i also have saved £120 towards xmas in my ING account (will increase by £30 per week from now on)

change jar challenge towards xmas food £47.25

£2 coin savings towards prezzies £64.00

and tesco points £13.44

im really happy with this so far!

icecubequeen

Well I pretty much have the kids pressies sorted for xmas, all their stocking fillers and other pressies, just need to get their main pressies. DS1 = Hamster and cage and DS2 Lunar Jim bike.

I have loads of diff presents, for family (aunties, uncles, cousins etc) and friends, most of it stuff I brought in the january sale from boots, so lots of gift sets I got cheap :j

So the only people I need to buy for are: My OH, Mum and Grandad

OH I have already got a FCUK gift set and personal organiser, only other thing he wants is some star wars lego (big kid :rolleyes:)


I currently have saved for xmas:

£90 Amazon vouchers
£60 woolworths vouchers
£30 Argos Vouchers
£20 Boots Vouchers
£10 Arcadia Voucher
£36 Tesco vouchers
£10 M&S voucher

I also have a penny jar which must have a least £40 in it, which will go towards the xmas food shop.