xmas 2006 - what have you learnt? what will be different next year?

culpepper

Im going to save up my piggy vouchers too.
Make some meals to freeze for the holiday week so it isn't all rushing about in the kitchen
Make the gingerbeer ealier as I didn't give it long enough to mature.
We didnt give cards this year and we are sticking to that in future.

regularsaver1

to not be ill so I can actually taste the food next year

MrsTinks

Buy less wine :rotfl: seriously! I have wine enough to last me QUITE some time Which isn't a bad thing I guess, but hey - still something learnt
Save more, save up vouchers (thinking of doing a voucher 50/50 split... so half go to the christmas savings pile and half into a running birthday fund thingy but all using vouchers from surveys, pigsback etc

Dazzieboo

For the second year running ( second year on my own with the kids) I have spent far too much on food and drink, and a lot of the food will now either be frozen or wasted. So unless my personal situation changes, I have decided that next Christmas Day, I will have a meal out in a local restaurant. If I had done that this year, it would have cost me £80. £40 for me and £20 for each of the children, that would have been for a 4 course meal, with wine and a token present. I spent far more than that, I know there will be no left overs to worry about, but it does mean I can have more room in my fridge and not worry about not enough room in either the oven or fridge.

bluenose1

This year I cooked two smaller turkeys rather than one large one. (this was because Tesco cocked up and sent me a turkey half the weight I requested.)
Anyway the breast meat was a lot less dry than normal as it did not need cooking for as long as a big turkey. Decided will do that every year.
Plus we all like the leg so less arguing.


Also I did a meal planner list as I always forget to do something important or take somthing out the freezer. It really helped and I felt it was the most organised /nicest tasting Christmas dinner yet.

Rachie_B

I too didnt get round to sending cards as soon as id liked ,a few were given on boxing day lol

so next yr i am determined to get them written AND sent early

buy less food next year! went a bit mad on the buffet food in iceland / farmfoods lol

be more organised generally - eg collecting bottles etc through the year for HM flavoured vodkas etc

buying more bits n pieces throughout the year,did quite well this year buying things in the summer sales etc and keeping them for xmas stocking fillers etc

saving all money made from mystery shopping ,surveys,pigsback ,other cashback sites ,ebay sales etc for xmas instead of spending it lol

same for nectar and tesco points

kathyd_2

I hope this isn't a silly question, but could someone please tell me what is 'pigsback?'

jaffacakes_2

kathyd wrote:

I hope this isn't a silly question, but could someone please tell me what is 'pigsback?'

See here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=330684

kathyd_2

jaffacakes wrote:

See here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=330684

Aah! Thanks for that jaffacakes.

halloweenqueen_2

Shop late! I saw sets in Tesco for £15 that were reduced to £5 in the last week before xmas, BHS reduced their stuff more the closer it got to xmas. I managed to come in under budget for quite a few family and friends leaving it as late as possible.