Christmas is coming! 2007 - merged thread

amandathepanda1

LOL - glad to know I'm not the only one who has already started Xmas shopping:rotfl:!!!

I'm totally fed up with the queues at shops in the run up to Christmas .... last year I swore to myself that I would start shopping early, and that I'd try and do more online shopping?

MoneySavingExpert has pointed me in the right direction this past week in terms of new shops, especially ones with discounts. Where do you guys go online for Xmas gifts?

For what it's worth, here are the places I've bought from so far:

Powerboating gift / "experience" at http://www.gifts.co.uk/powerboating-is-fun_128.html. Got this for my brother.

Toys and games for kids at http://www.fantasticals.co.uk/. Obvious ... for the kiddies

Personalised photo calendars at http://www.top-gifts.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=3. Got some lovely customised calendars. Discount code DISC10 gives you 10% off there.

Novelty games / gifts (some good adult ones) at http://www.drinkstuff.com/. The site http://www.discount-voucher.co.uk/promotion/Drinkstuff.php# has discount codes (including 25% off) for this shop. The code for 25% off is STAFFdisc.

Perhaps we should start a thread where we just list the best shops we've found? Any takers ?

toontastic

amandathepanda1 wrote: »

LOL - glad to know I'm not the only one who has already started Xmas shopping:rotfl:!!!

I'm totally fed up with the queues at shops in the run up to Christmas .... last year I swore to myself that I would start shopping early, and that I'd try and do more online shopping?

MoneySavingExpert has pointed me in the right direction this past week in terms of new shops, especially ones with discounts. Where do you guys go online for Xmas gifts?

For what it's worth, here are the places I've bought from so far:

Powerboating gift / "experience" at http://www.gifts.co.uk/powerboating-is-fun_128.html. Got this for my brother.

Toys and games for kids at http://www.fantasticals.co.uk/. Obvious ... for the kiddies

Personalised photo calendars at http://www.top-gifts.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=3. Got some lovely customised calendars. Discount code DISC10 gives you 10% off there.

Novelty games / gifts (some good adult ones) at http://www.drinkstuff.com/. The site http://www.discount-voucher.co.uk/promotion/Drinkstuff.php# has discount codes (including 25% off) for this shop. The code for 25% off is STAFFdisc.

Perhaps we should start a thread where we just list the best shops we've found? Any takers ?

Oooohhh I like the powerboat one I might be able to go halfs with my g/f to get my sisters hubby that one.

toontastic

Hang on I'm confused, the link you posted said speed boating £49 but when you follow the link it's £159 ??

amandathepanda1

toontastic wrote: »

Hang on I'm confused, the link you posted said speed boating £49 but when you follow the link it's £159 ??

yeah it is £159. Where does it say £49?

amandathepanda1

Have I been conned ????!?

No .... I couldn't find a powerboat experience any cheaper really .... so it can't be £49.

dollydaydream07

this thread is fantastic, i have been buying a couple of bits and bobs for people for the last month or so and im glad ive been doing it.
i have also decided to do hampers for some people but need a few ideas for them
friends DD, she is almost 3 and will be starting nursery school at easter next year so i thought i would do a kinda starting school hamper for her - so far all i have is some learn to boxes that are colours and spelling(£1 each £shop) but what else can i put in it?
friend, im doing a pamper hamper for her, so far ive got her a perfume gift set(recycled xmas pressie from last yr) im gonna get her a pair of pyjamas and some slippers, waiting on my avon order to come with a gift set for her(reduced in sale), thinking i might get her a couple of hair dyes that she uses so it will save her a bit of money and also thinking i might get her a voucher for a massage from the beauty salon and im gonna pop in a hot choc gift set(made myslef tho) - any other ideas for her??

we have a few of DD's pressies already and we know all the other pressies we are getting her and for each other we have decided that we are not buying pressies but having £100 each to spend in sales - realised last year this was the way to go - 2 weeks before xmas spent £75 on clothes for DH and then after xmas all clothes went in sale and only cost £40 for all of it!!!!

need to buy my parents pressies - no idea what to get them whenever we ask thme they never know so i think i might just get them vouchers each, my niece no idea for her either, she will be 17 months at xmas, sis1 no idea again maybe vouchers and sis2 and her OH maybe something for the house
then theres my grand parents they are quite easy as they are happy with a tub of maltesers and a little bit more like a small bottle of alcohol

my parents, sis2 and my friend are all getting a calender that im gonna make, using photos of DD with each of them so i can save a bit of money there

was also thinking of making some homemade jam, shortbread and some fudge but havent got a clue where to start on those or how long they will last, anyone have any ideas or can point me in the right direction id be gratefull

thanks
adele

rosieben

dolly, you might find some recipes here -
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=4098606#post4098606

Jam you could make now, fudge I would leave till a week beforehand? biscuits as late as possible (though I would have a practice run any time now to make sure I was pleased with results). Someone with experience may come along with more helpful time frames

As for pamper hamper suggestions for your friend, how about manicure stuff with some orange sticks, nail polish, remover pads an dhand cream? A face pack?

amandathepanda1

Forgot to mention .... the link:

Personalised photo calendars at http://www.top-gifts.co.uk/index.asp...CT&productid=3. Got some lovely customised calendars. Discount code DISC10 gives you 10% off there.

I found out about the discount when I got my order confirmation email from them when I ordered some personalised photo calendars for my mum (pics of my kiddies etc) ... it mentions it in the email ... an extra incentive to reorder I suppose.

The other links and discounts I got off HotUk or something ... some similar site to Money Saving Expert it was.

Dolly - I remember going out picking blackberries with my Dad when I was a kid ...... we'd bring them home and my mum and dad would slave over making blackberry pies, blackberry wine .... all sorts !!!:D Those were the days eh !?!???!

kethry

furrypig wrote: »

BUT..... this is my first ever Christmas at home (was meant to be last year but Dad was poorly so we visited there as usual!). Anyway I will need much more advice on being organised with shopping and cooking and cleaning and working and kids and cooking and washing and eating and shopping and chopping and husband and visitors and cooking etc etc etc!

So please will you guys help out in that area??? As I have never in my life spent a single Christmas in the house where I was living at that time so it's all new!! But I think it will be ok as it's just a roast dinner right??? I always make the Chistmas pud each year as we get together for a big trad stirring of the pudding with silver coins so that won't be new.

since no one really answered this (i wonder if a seperate christmas food thread would be worth opening) i thought i'd tell you some of what i do:

what i would do first of all is to get Delia's "Christmas" book. Its well worth paying for - both in terms of the recipes and the countdown, even if you don't follow that exact countdown its enough to give you a basis from which to work. Its also great for getting one in the mood - i always feel christmassy after reading her book!

What i would also say is that there are three vital things when it comes to christmas:

1) Preparation! Use every tip you can - from peeling the veg the night before (and keeping in cold water to prevent them drying out) to doing the xmas cake/pud as early as possible (and don't forget where you've put them!) through to making your own mince pies (and mincemeat - delia's mincemeat recipe is gorgeous and very very easy to make) and freezing them in the tins so they're ready to just pop into the oven if you have unexpected guests.

2) Timing!! work out scrupulously how long you need to cook the bird, the veg, the trimmings. work out what pan they're going in. Check you can get everything in the oven about a week before christmas - do a dry run with the various pots and pans, without actually putting food in them i mean, in order to check you've got enough/they fit. Its amazing how many times i plan a gravy and a sauce and a custard and cream and then realise after planning for a couple of weeks on that basis that i only have 2 jugs to put it all in. Oops.

3) Notes!! I have a small A5 size clip file, and i write all the recipes i use out in there, the cooking order of all the things i cook, what pans i cook them in, what dishes i serve them in, and on the day in question i stick them all over the cupboard doors. I have a countdown of where i should be. So say, 11.10, xmas morning: making the stuffing up ready to go into a tin to go in the oven. (oh and keep these notes for the following year, don't chuck em out. You'll be glad of them next christmas - and i would write down on them, what worked and what didn't!).

All this means that by the time the pudding has been served, i have been living like a clockwatching military dictator for the previous month (and am so so tired), but by god, with the preparation it means that the fridge is groaning, and there is so much leftover food (cold meats etc.) in the fridge that OH and i can graze for 2, sometimes 3 days after xmas day from the fridge and i can have a complete break from cooking, which is worth it.

If you can keep a handle on timing and preparation, then you should - barring complete disasters - be okay. In this way you can increase your confidence and repertoire of christmas "stuff" and be one of those women who shine at christmas in a real homebody, perfect housewife kinda way!! This year will be my third proper christmas in my own home, assuming i'm still here (as opposed to visiting relatives) and it does get easier every year. I would also - since this is your first christmas at home - give some thought as to traditions that you want to start. you don't say if you have children or not but there are some lovely ideas out there that may not fit with what you or your OH's families used to do for christmas, but may fit in with yours. For example: nigella has a lovely recipe for christmas breakfast muffins which is just enough to take the edge of hunger, but not so much that you're still stuffed by the time lunchtime rolls around, and they can be made the night before and just popped in the oven when you get up. Some people like to buy expensive christmas baubles for the tree - something you choose with your OH, one each year, so that over time you build up a lovely collection.

Hope all that helps!!

keth
xx

rosieben

Excellent answer keth, sorry furrypig didn’t see your post.

I think preparation is more than half the battle and its good that you’re thinking way ahead.

Last year I used the Flylady holiday cruising missions which start I think in October and that helped with cleaning and preparing the house. In her Christmas Control Journal she mentions the traditions too its a really nice thing to do with your kids. http://www.flylady.net/images/HCJ2003.pdf
Not everyone likes the flylady system but these two items are useful on their own.

My food plan this year is -

Write complete menus for every day of the holiday (or as long as I want to cater for). Include breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. These won’t be precise of course, but just thinking about the meals you might cook is a good way of writing your shopping lists.

Write shopping lists for all those meals plus extras - cakes and chutneys etc. Decide what can be bought early – I shall start Christmas food shopping in September - and divide shopping list into months. This is roughly how I will do mine

September/October – stock up on usual store cupboard items - preserves, chutneys, sauces, tins, packets, jars, baking items, tea, coffee – check dates are good till after Christmas of course.

Don't forget to buy foil, cling film, bags, kitchen and toilet rolls, bin liners and bags, washing up liquid etc.

I also bought my turkey crown in October last year and it was much cheaper. You may want to start buying bottles of wine, beer, spirits in October if you plan to do a lot of partying!

November – Biscuits, crackers and snacky things (check dates!), any items that can be bought and frozen (subject to space) - frozen veg, ice cream, fruit, desserts; I usually freeze extra sausages, bacon and bread; ‘mop up’ any shopping from Sept/Oct lists; finish buying beer, wine, spirits.

December – you should only have to buy the short shelf-life things - cheeses, meats, cooked meats, fresh bread, fruit and vegetables,

This works for me as I’m on a low income and it helps me spread the spend. I cater for myself and one rellie for christmas and boxing day, and for 6 of us on a couple of other days. I don’t buy alcohol, everyone brings what they want to drink and will often also bring desserts and/or fancy stuff. How you plan will depend on your storage and freezer space of course.

HTH. Its really a case of finding a system that works for you