❄❄ Let It Snow ❄❄ :: Christmas 2012 Chatter Thread

icemice

msgigglewick wrote: »

All i want for christmas is a lovely story.. must be in my top ten of fav xmas movies..

My xmas bells, santa head shaped bells and gold beads came today.. all i need now is some different coloured green wool then i can get on and make two santa elves.. can't wait! but i've got to make 3 more fireman sam before all that fun lol .

Also picked up a couple of stocking fillers in wilkinsons today for a couple of pounds etc... ben and holly felt pictures, a holly cuddly toy, magic wand bubbles for 45p.

Oh and ordered the elc rosebud cafe which was £20 and i got it for £4.60 with code BC0712 ...that will go with dd4's rosebud cottage i got at silly price last year but she was too little and the wooden farm from argos at silly price too...

I got the wooden chad valley farm from Argos too. Bargain at £7.49, but I had to drive a fair way to get it, so made the most of the trip and bought a few sale price clothes for my son from his favourite shop all towards Christmas. :T

chirpychick

princesskitty29 wrote: »

I meant to mention that I popped into my local Tesco last night and they had mugs saying 'I Love Grandad' or 'I Love Daddy' for 25p. I thought i'd mention it in case you have kids that want to give something to Grandad or Daddy! I don't know if they're in all stores as it's obviously leftovers from Fathers Day but might be worth a look out. x

arrrgh!!! I wish they had these is our Tesco!!!

I'd love these for my Hubby and my Dad! Particularly my Dad though as we found out last September he had a brain tumour then found out I was pregnant in the February (after 4 years 10 months of TTC), he went his for the removal 6 weeks ago yesterday and it didn't go to plan, we weren't sure he would make it through and we don't really know how much longer he will have or if he will have to go through it all again. I have been really struggling to find anything with Grandad on it! He likes coffee so I could make him a snowman soup equivalent .

Perhaps If anyone see's any they would maybe consider posting them to me? Sorry if it's cheeky to ask!!!

on another note I have got my list of people and what i have brought and i would really like opinions on whether i need to get more, i usually buy a lot more but had to cut back but now i feel tight!! so if i show you my list maybe you could be honest with me and let me know if you think I should add a few homemade gifts or pad it out a bit?

Nan & Grandad - shoe ice/snow grippers each £2.99, 2 x grow your own 30p = £6.58

Baby - wrist rattles £2.20, liverpool dummies £3.99, giggle giraffe 50p, activity mat £3.96
Elephant chime toy £0 cube £2.50, sophie the giraffe £7.99, pocket money tin £1, Sooty toy £0,
sweep toy £0 = £22.14

Neice - grow your own sunflower30p, pocket money tin £1, adopt a reindeer £3.32 = £4.62

Neice - grow your own sunflower30p, pocket money tin £1, adopt a reindeer £3.32 = £4.62

Nephew - grow your own venus fly trap 30p, pocket money tin £1, adopt a reindeer £3.32 = £4.62

Dad & Step Mum - photo of New Baby in a frame £5

Brother & Sister in Law - photo of new baby in a frame £5

Nan & Grandad - photo of new baby in a frame £5

Other dad & other step mum - photo of baby in a frame £1

MIL & FIL - bottle of white zinfandel £5, photo of baby in Frame £5 £10 (we also got them a coach trip which was christmas/birthday)

Mum & BF - 2 bicycle mugs £7.90 Tesco finest earl grey teabags £1.29, Bahlsen Milk Choco Leibniz 125G biscuits £1.69 = £10.88

Hubby- Avengers T shirt £7, Avengers DVD £11, 2 x pks workwear socks £12, Nivia shower gel x 2 £2.98, Nivea deodorant x 2 £2.10, Nivea face scrub £3, grow your own 30p £38.38 + potato sticks, crunch, scratch card £42 ish

that's it.
should i get a few other bits or make some homemade stuff? or is it ok?

maria_and_the_imps

i think that is plenty chick, i tend to go really over board at christmas and this year im not going to, for the last 8 years we have done xmas on cards and catalouges ( sorry martin ) and it takes me the rest of the following year to pay them up and then we put xmas on them again and it just stupid so this year a lower budget lower debt in 2013 !!!

chirpychick

maria_and_the_imps wrote: »

i think that is plenty chick, i tend to go really over board at christmas and this year im not going to, for the last 8 years we have done xmas on cards and catalouges ( sorry martin ) and it takes me the rest of the following year to pay them up and then we put xmas on them again and it just stupid so this year a lower budget lower debt in 2013 !!!

This is what we always used to do pre 2011 too, so I completely understand where you are coming from there!!

icemice

chirpychick wrote: »

This is what we always used to do pre 2011 too, so I completely understand where you are coming from there!!

I totally agree - we all tend to spend way too much every year and it really should be about the thought that goes into each gift, not how much you have spent. Don't forget that things such as the baby photos will be treasured forever and the bargains are worth full price even if you didn't spend it such as the reindeer (which we've all had!!) are £20 presents without anything else.

On a different note, but still bargains - just been in Home Bargains (somewhere I have only once been in before) with son's GF and all of the Olympic mascots are HUGELY reduced. Boxed sets of both mascots rrp £34.99 for £3.99, back packs for £2.99 (can't remember rrp but GF thinks over £30), car mascots for 99p, pens, keyrings etc 49p-99p. Also very large london bus Olympic Heroes (chocs) for £1.99 when Tesco are selling the tiny versions for £7!! Happy shopping! Shame these will be no use at Christmas!

my3girls

Totally agree chirpychick - the presents you've got sound fab and worth a lot more than you paid - for your nieces/nephew thats a £25 present for a bargain price - and its the thought that counts anyway! My family love nothing more than getting piccies of my girls too :-)

On a second note everyone, and tell me to butt out if you wish lol, but generally how much do you budget for your children? I'm at quite a loss this year as to what to get my girlies (they will be 10, almost 4 and almost 6) and anything i do see seems too expensive. Also, do you ever share presents for your kids?

J
x

noodles86

my3girls wrote: »

Totally agree chirpychick - the presents you've got sound fab and worth a lot more than you paid - for your nieces/nephew thats a £25 present for a bargain price - and its the thought that counts anyway! My family love nothing more than getting piccies of my girls too :-)

On a second note everyone, and tell me to butt out if you wish lol, but generally how much do you budget for your children? I'm at quite a loss this year as to what to get my girlies (they will be 10, almost 4 and almost 6) and anything i do see seems too expensive. Also, do you ever share presents for your kids?

J
x

I aim for around £100-£150 inc stocking, anything to do with the xmas elf & xmas eve hamper. By share do you mean like buying things (only examples!) a wii console or play equipment? If that is what you mean then yes I will in the future however there will be a six year age gap between my dd and when the latest is born so not sure what they would like to share eventually! Oh just thought I would buy dvds to share?

my3girls

thanks noodles :-)

Yeah was thinking of getting an ipad as a family gift (for me, dh and the girls - will need to put a timer in so there are no arguements lol)

DD3 has asked for a dollhouse, but thats too expensive with an ipad too, so was thinking of sharing it with dd2 but don't think she will be wholly interested iykwim.

Dd3 has completely gone off the toy story idea so im glad i never invested in that!

Other than that i have no ideas what to get! Someone mentioned a cool hat/scarf set with the ears which DD1 will love but can think of nothing else lol.

aargh so unorganized - how is it august already??!

J
x

chickywiggle

my3girls wrote: »

On a second note everyone, and tell me to butt out if you wish lol, but generally how much do you budget for your children? I'm at quite a loss this year as to what to get my girlies (they will be 10, almost 4 and almost 6) and anything i do see seems too expensive. Also, do you ever share presents for your kids?

I try and kid myself I will stick to £50 then £15 stocking. HOWEVER in reality I think it's ended up more like £100 each.

Mine are at an age where they share toys so although I did wrap a joint pressie last year I can wrap the same thing seperatly (if that makes sense). e.g I bought 3 Thomas DVD's today. They will get 1 each in their stockings and the other will prob go to DD1 on his birthday (october).
My oldest is into lego so have got his big pressie already tho not sure which from my stash is for xmas or birthday yet.
DS2 (1yr old) will probably get some schleic (or equivalent) farm animals to go with the farm he got for his birthday but not sure what else to get. DS1 has mentioned some take along thomas bits he wants (they have a huge collection between them) so will may get a couple of them and wrap them up for DS2 (he'll share with DS1 anyway) rather then getting some pointless c**p. He doesn't NEED.


Re: survey vouchers - I always claim at £10 (or in the case of one i haven't used in over a year i just found i had £27 cash in! :T) just incase the survey company closes/ kicks you out (it's been known to happen to people then they can't claim) HOWEVER we all know how many shops are going bust so saving the vouchers may not be a great idea (so i tend to spend them )

Possession

I have spent a lot on my children in the past, but DH was made redundant and until he finds another job the children's presents are kind of on hold. I have no idea what DS will want as he seems to have gone completely off lego and star wars, and DD changes her mind like the wind and has just de-cluttered a few of the things I got for her last Christmas. i'm glad that she's decluttering but it feels like rather a waste of money! So other then stocking fillers, which I've already got, I'm not getting them anything at the moment.
I have however pre-ordered Arthur Christmas, to be paid for with Valued Opinions surveys.