~*~ Thrifty Gifty Moneysaving Thread for Christmas and all Occasions 2012 ~*~

Charlie23

My DS was 2 in september, we gave potty training a little go a couple of months ago and it didn't go well, am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo dreading it now, think i may wait until easter or summer! My dd was brilliant and done within a couple of days, then asking to do it at night and was dry first night onwards. my ds is nothing like his sister :-(

I'm trying to figure out m*x*m*l*s how do you get all the points? on the videos where does it say how much the points are?
I'm doing S*agb*cks but don't seem to be getting many (730 at the mo)
Haven't done any reviews yet, am kind of dreading that one!
Thanks

elysia2003

Well done on your win Claros. I have my fingers crossed for you.

The postcode lottery has been claimed, so I'm guessing it's not one of us

Michelle - Toluny - when you post your own opinion or reply to someone else's, it has to be over 80 words. I'll join you in that challenge if I may - I'm way behind you though - 18,000, but if I've got to the end of the month, I should do it.

Tiba - if you can find me on Doyoo/Chow - I'd add you. I'm missing so many new friends on them. If anyone can find me, I'll add you all.

Charlie - you're doing fabulously. I usually get one redeem a month on SB's so you're doing really well. Do all the videos on Maxi, but the ones you've done will say you've already rated it so don't do those.

NickyBo_2

cha97michelle wrote: »

Claire I'll join you on a looney push. I have 51000 points. My last redeem there was April last year. How long do points last on it? And what was the criteria for posting on other peoples opinions for points. I remember you got 100 points, but was it for 100 words? So long since I tried there, but I don't want to waste the points I have.

For the opinions, I'm pretty sure you get 100 points for an opinion of 80+ words. It's best to write on someone's page to say you've answered their opinion or poll as they will then return the favour. If you get 21 replies to one of your opinions then you get bonus points. I think it's a 1000 points for 21 opinions, then more each time you get to 31, 41 etc. It's a good way to rack up extra points and it worked well last year when we compiled a list of usernames and answered each others opinions.

ETA - I'll join in with the Loony challenge too I'm at 31,000 so still quite a way to go.

boat_girl

ooh, I need to join loony, does anyone want to refer me? (got one now, thanks Aspella)

Hope you are feeling ok today Nicky x

Grannyknits

Oh no, think I've messed up my application to join MyS UK. Turns out I used to belong to L*ghtsp but couldn't remember my details. I registered again and had an email to say I had been accepted (yesterday). Today I went to log in and it said something like 'inactive account'.... Sent an email on contact form so fingers crossed Do you think they will let me re-join? I think it must be 2-3 years at least since I did any surveys. Long before the name change anyway.

On the plus side I have been video watching on Max*M*les and now have 1,4oo+ points but am now at a standstill. Have rated all videos! Is there likely to be any new additions? Have the email box ticked but don't seem to have received any yet. How often do they come?

Sorry to be such a moaner and for all the questions, I was on a high earlier in the week reading all through this thread. Think I need to go back and read them again!!
Should have realised that this wasn't going to be all plain sailing!

emmad5689

Evening all, could I ask a big favour, I have joined my sister to super*oints, she is just starting out at money making and isn't convinced it is worth it so doesn't want to come and join us just yet, if any of you would mind joining her as a friend (and me) on their super*oints as I believe the more she sees the site improving the more likely she is to progress to further sites, she only does VO and Ips at the moment. My name is emma cooper and she is jennifer dunning.

rufusdog52

Hi Granny - with MM you sometimes get a couple of emails a day and then you might not get one for a few days. They also send you surveys now and then which add on points if you complete them. With the videos its best to keep checking every day or every other day, sometimes they will add on just one and others you get loads. Sometimes there are no new ones for days.

rufusdog52

Evening all

I have had a few surveys this afternoon, I havent had much time really as been decorating yet again this morning (dining room) and then we went up the town this afternoon.

joe_purdy

Good evening everyone

Thanks for the tip elysia on putting subtitles on my reviews, i agree that it makes them look so much better. Ive made £4.01 on ciao now which isnt much but i only joined a week ago so im really happy and its all less money to find for christmas :j Can anyone tell me how much you have to make to be able to withdraw and is it via cheque? I know with dooyoo its 50,000points, Im on 6000 but again only started a week ago so suppose combined its £10, yay!

Hopefully by tonight i will have made about £8/9 on each so a start on the £50 this month. Ive just written a review for dooyoo on how to be organised at christmas so if its ok i though if might be on here at it might have some tips that can help some people and spur you on, i will post it in a seperate post as its quite long

Going to try and get a review finished before big brother starts tonight, im a reality tv addict :rotfl:

joe_purdy

I’m a huge fan of Christmas; just love everything about it, since getting a paper round at the age of 13 I’ve always bought gifts for all my family and friends and decorated my bedroom like a Santa’s grotto with lots of tinsel and pretty decorations (I’ve just turned 20 and this hasn’t changed although I’d like to think the gifts I buy now are more appreciated from when i used to get £9 a week for delivering the local paper, although Christmas is by no was just about the presents). I also like to be organised at Christmas, especially the last few years since going into full time employment you think you have plenty of time left to get sorted then all of a sudden it’s the big day, certainly in the last 2-3 weeks in the run up to Christmas I tend to end up working 7 days a week as the store is so busy and I like to make the most of the overtime, always helps!
Below I will try and offer some of my own tips and advice on how to not only be organized at Christmas but have the best time possible.
January is one of the best times to prepare for Christmas the following year for several reasons but one of the main one being it’s the January sales where many retailers slash the prices of gifts by between 50-70% and as long as the item is not going to go out of date e.g. chocolate or sweets then why not pick up items you can give as gifts the following year not only will this give you a great head start on the following year but can also save you a nice fortune. Many sales now start on Boxing Day in store although I noticed that alot of on-line retailers started their sales Christmas Eve this year. One thing that I would advise though is getting a notepad to write down all the gifts you have bought because chances are a few months down the line you may forget and don’t want to end up double buying a product!
January is also a great time to get all you Christmas cards, wrapping paper and accessories for the following year, I’ve done this for many years as the way I see it is your only going to have to pay full price when Christmas does come around so why not get it cheaper, wrapping paper and cards are never going to go off, I’ve probably got enough wrapping paper to last me the next few Christmas’s although I always find myself end up buying more.
If like my family you receive lots of Christmas cards, another option other than recycling them is to use them as tags, you could just cut them into a square shape although I like to get some of the fancy edged scissors as I think it has a lovely effect, then you have all you tags for next year and they have not cost you a penny!
As soon as one Christmas is over, come January 1st I always start saving for the following Christmas, some people may think it’s a bit crazy as it’s only just finished by why not? It saves on a big dent in your bank come December. The last few years each time I’ve got paid I’ve but a set amount of money into a savings account then withdraw September/October time although if I buy bits during the year in the sales I deduct the money from the account.
Another way of making some extra money for Christmas is ebaying! Why not sell on any unwanted Christmas presents or have a raid round the house to see what is no longer needs, If I see something that hasn’t been worn in my wardrobe for several months and I know I will no longer wear then that can go on. Most supermarkets offer saving stamps too, you simply put £1 in the machine and get a token, buy a couple every week and you would have over £100 come Christmas, this could be used to get Christmas food shopping, if redeeming through December you can normally also get a small extra bonus.
You can also start buying any extra treats for Christmas early as most shops start to get them in end of august, items with long dates such as tins of chocolate also we tend to just get little bits like condiments, gravy granules and stuffing – just don’t be tempted to eat them, they may only be a few pound each but it’s a few pound less to find during December, then if you buy a few bits each week in December you only have fresh items to buy like the turkey, which actually most supermarkets half price on Christmas eve but it’s a chance you have to be willing to take.
Also another very valuable tip I have found is get your Christmas cards wrote during November then as soon as it hits the start of December you can get them sent out, this is one less thing to worry about, if you sending cards abroad check with the last Christmas posting dates with the post office as for some very far places the last day is early December although if you are just sending within the uk then the last posting day for first class is usually around 21st and second is a few days early although I tend to just send all my post second in December and it gets there just as fast!
If you’re going to be short of cash this Christmas then why not try making some gifts yourself, there always more appreciated too, have a good at making some fudge or shortbread then get some cello wrapping to wrap it up in, then add a bow and some curling ribbon and you have a gorgeous handmade present, its shows that you have put alot of thought into it too.
I still have an advent calendar now although mine is one where you add little gifts yourself if you are getting chocolate ones then make sure you get them early as come December 1st all the nice ones are all sold out and it’s just the cheap ones left with the chocolate that tastes not very nice.
One of my favourite parts of the build up to Christmas is the wrapping although I tend to do this all in one go about a week before Christmas otherwise you could forget what you’ve bought and items could get damaged and incase your going to have to return an item because you’ve changed your mind your going to have to unwrap it, also if you have small children who will be getting electrical items for Christmas don’t forget to test them prior to the big day otherwise be prepared for some very upset little people!
Then come Christmas eve you can be thankful you’re not one of the headless chickens running around last minute you can put your feet up, stick some nice new pyjamas on and put a good Christmas DVD on, always the Grinch for me, such a good Christmas film which you can pick up for about £3 including delivery from HMV and most importantly have a nice time, enjoying the company of family!