Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2013,

mum2one

Santa's Challenge February

As always please treat this as a pickand mix.

Mothers Day-
The next event on us is Mothers Day - so if yourcrafting a card, making a present,you've still got time or if you're buying apresent you've got time to have alook around.

(Tight-wad tip to save a label - if you are using apiece ofwrapping paper with a design and you have some left over, cut aroundthe designand use this as a tag - saves paying 50p for a matching tag!!)

Easter-
Although technically Easter comesunder March's Santa'sChallenge, with Good Friday being 29th March - we may aswell use this time toget organised.

I'm sure it won't be long beforethe supermarkets have their price wars over the Easter Eggs,from memory lastyear, Asda had the best deals - but this is an open market.
Grab your lists (and budgets) - andsee what you need,generally if you're looking for smaller eggs or novelty sweetgifts, placeslike Poundland, Home Bargains etc tend to have the better deals.

Just a final thought - if youve gotlittle'uns at school or nieces and nephews - they may be asked to do a"something for Easter" our school has a habit of giving a weeksnotice!! - so be prepared!!)

£2 Challenge - prize Time
We know we work hard one wayor another, and it is time forour treat time, so £2 seemed a thrifty amount,but then again we are thethrifty ladies and gentleman. So whether its £2 spenton a top from the charityshop, or some material to craft with, or something tomake, the worlds youroyster, if it costs less than £2 fab, not a pennyover.....

Please let us know what you'vegot as there be a little prize from Miss Hoodie (be an iou till after Easterhols - be a nice surprise)

Music and the Wardrobes
Ok this may sound totally madespecially with the weatherbeing what it is, but use this as a time to get themusic on full blast andraid those wardrobes. If you haven't wore it for thelast 12 months, then are youreally going to wear it again!!

Is there anything that needsreplacing - some shops stillhave Winter items, and seen some bargain footwearfor £5 out and about.
If you don't want it, see if youcan eBay it - eBay aregenerally doing free listing weekends every couple ofweeks, they usually sendout the email on a Sat morning, - so as you go throughthe items, photo them,measure them, so there up and running ready to go.

Charity Shops
Charitiesall do a good job, and I know there always lookingfor donations, so if we couldall find at least one thing to drop off thatwould be brilliant and I'm surevery much appreciated.

Miss Hoodies Corner (help!!)
Hopefully after last month we allhave nice clean andorganised freezers, - as last month was a big cleaningchallenge Miss Hoodiehas decided to go easy this month (phew)

The fridge - Time for a sort out,defrost the icebox and shesays don't forget the seals on the fridges...(there's no hiding from MissHoodie!!) hopefully there won't be anything lurkingthat shouldn't be.

If anyone uses baking powder asdeodoriser for the fridge -works a treat - once its lumpy its past its use. Youcan also use some sterlising tablets or fluid (dissolve as per instructions forbabies bottles - give the fridge a wipe down damp cloth soaked in the liquid -lot cheaper than the posh cleaners)

Advance warning - she's startingthinking about next monthchallenge!!

Katiehound

I've already bought the treats!
Two weeks ago went into a charity shop which was having a massive turn out- 3 garments for £5. So I came away with 3 smart tops- I think one was new. On Friday picked up another bargain, different charity shop- a very nice blouse- £1.25. Oh dear, I've spent more than the alloted £2.
I also turned out 2 tops & a dress (2 still had their prices on!- not very thrifty) but a charity shop where I do Gift Aid was pleased.

This one mightl make you laugh- pulled 2 pairs of boots out of a bin where I was about to dump my "doggy bag!" The boots will either go in the shoe bin for Africa, or the rag bag for Hospice shop- either way they won't go to landfil but will earn some cash!

We have 10 charity shops in our town!!

mum2one

Katiehound wrote: »

I've already bought the treats!
Two weeks ago went into a charity shop which was having a massive turn out- 3 garments for £5. So I came away with 3 smart tops- I think one was new. On Friday picked up another bargain, different charity shop- a very nice blouse- £1.25. Oh dear, I've spent more than the alloted £2.
I also turned out 2 tops & a dress (2 still had their prices on!- not very thrifty) but a charity shop where I do Gift Aid was pleased.

This one mightl make you laugh- pulled 2 pairs of boots out of a bin where I was about to dump my "doggy bag!" The boots will either go in the shoe bin for Africa, or the rag bag for Hospice shop- either way they won't go to landfil but will earn some cash!

We have 10 charity shops in our town!!

Wow theres some bargains and a half term, I find being a plus size lady its really hit and miss whether I can find anything to fit, always like a wonder.

Love the Boots - someone be pleased with them xx

mum2one

Santa'sChallenge February - My plans

MothersDay-

From me - Got mum - shes having Dove Set (75% sale Boots) mini TY beaniebear (50p instead £5.95 Argos sale), (cheapie one) - shes had tickets for HairyBikers (good news - she hasn't developed a crush on either of them!!) and TheSoliders DVD (£1.90 from amazon!!)

Miss Hoodie

Me - 3 presents (don't know what they are!! ) ticket for Soliders (halfprice and grandad hoodie pd for!!) ty beanie bear (ditto), Santuary Spa set(75% off Boots)

Nanny Hoodie - soliders ticket (as above) MP3 player (cheapie off Amazon)

Nanny Pat (really Great Aunty - but when Miss hoodie was born they took therole of 2nd grandparents on) - Box of Cookies (Boots 75% sale) box of posh teabags

Grand total £56 - isn't bad for everything we got!! rrp £145

Easter-

Although technicallyEaster comes under March's Santa'sChallenge, with Good Friday being 29th March-

Mum, me, dad = £10 limit for 3 of us

Miss Hoodie - 2 eggs plus £10

Friends - 2 boys - Doctor Who eggs - Home bargains £1 each

Were going to take some Easter goodies away - £10 max - 4 people

School - were recycling last years entry - Easter Garden Scence - she came2nd last yr - got to find where we put it!!

£2 Challenge -prize Time

Noidea yet, going for a treat for me!

Music and theWardrobes

Got to tidy out Miss Hoodies clothes - hoping that as got summer stuff inthe sale last yr she will be pretty much kitted out, guessing shes going toneed new swimwear. Good excuse to have her Olly Murs CD on!

CharityShops

Our town has about 12 charity shops all around, - last weekend donated big bagfull to a gentleman he does car boots/table top sales - he's the only collectorin the county. sure there be some more things to go, we try to spread out thedonations.

MissHoodies Corner (help!!)

Ok I have toconfess - we didn't round to the freezer - dads job!! and with half term - hesdoing it next week.

Fridge be doneat weekend, - need to buy some more B.O.S.

Advance warning - she'sstarting thinking about next monthchallenge!! - She won't even tell me. I onlyfind out on the day of the challenge!!

---

We have been thrify and decorated some bud vases tonight - £1.99 pack of 6(home bargains) - out the market we go to they do 5 wooden roses for £1, -there going up for presents, - need to get cello bags sorted, got about a dozendifferent sets of cello rolls. She loves doing them.

Her next task shes doing a mug for her teacher for when she leaves hisclass. xx

Katiehound

I forgot to say that my clothes were a real bargain because I am also a plus size and usually there is very little to be had! Ususally what there is in stock is not to my taste.
The boots are worn inside... but someone will be pleased with them , if only to take apart and remake or upcycle. Went out with 2 dogs- came back with 2 carrier bags (oh, & still two dogs)

Today off for a trip to Ireland so won't be looking on here for a couple of weeks. Will however be haunting the local Penney's (Primark) and Dealz (Poundland.) Last year got some wonderful coffee table books RRP £25 for £1.25!They made impressive presents- and I didn't cut the price out!!
With one of my friends I have a £5 challenge- you are allowed to buy from anywhere (shop, car boot, charity shop, regift) and see how much you can buy for that amount. Since we are both bargain hunters we enjoy doing it.
Last Christmas I did a similar thing for 19 year old friends daughter. She had to guess what I had spent- I understand the whole family joined in the game. It helps that she is size 8/10! Spent £6, value well over £30. best buy were polo jumpers from Penney's (Primark) had been E12 for E1.

Enjoy those challenges!!

mrs-moneypenny

morning all

Santa's Challenge February

Mothers Day-
The next event on us is Mothers Day - so if yourcrafting a card, making a present,you've still got time or if you're buying apresent you've got time to have alook around.
Have already delivered step mums and my mums cards flowers and pressies over the last 2 weekends
got mils card and pressie just need the flowers (morrys or aldi)
god mothers cards are now sorted just need posting.

Easter-
Although technically Easter comesunder March's Santa'sChallenge, with Good Friday being 29th March - we may aswell use this time toget organised.

tend to go for a bar of choc instead of an egg as weight for value seems better an we usually get ours a small gift like a DVD or something as well.
mine are all past primary school age now so dont tend to do an easter thing at school

£2 Challenge - prize Time
We know we work hard one wayor another, and it is time forour treat time, so £2 seemed a thrifty amount,but then again we are thethrifty ladies and gentleman. So whether its £2 spenton a top from the charityshop, or some material to craft with, or something tomake, the worlds youroyster, if it costs less than £2 fab, not a pennyover.....

will get my thinking cap on for this one

Music and the Wardrobes
Ok this may sound totally madespecially with the weatherbeing what it is, but use this as a time to get themusic on full blast andraid those wardrobes. If you haven't wore it for thelast 12 months, then are youreally going to wear it again!!

Charity Shops
Charitiesall do a good job, and I know there always lookingfor donations, so if we couldall find at least one thing to drop off thatwould be brilliant and I'm surevery much appreciated.

i dont 'do' ebay but have been trying to cull and clear sending lots of stuff to the charity shop ive got another box started upstairs and will make it my goal to have it filled ready to drop off next weekend

Miss Hoodies Corner (help!!)
Hopefully after last month we allhave nice clean andorganised freezers, - as last month was a big cleaningchallenge Miss Hoodiehas decided to go easy this month (phew)

did the freezer and its looking much better for it, thnk you Misshoodie:T

The fridge - Time for a sort out,defrost the icebox and shesays don't forget the seals on the fridges...(there's no hiding from MissHoodie!!) hopefully there won't be anything lurkingthat shouldn't be.

will do the fridge at some point this week it needs a good wash out and wipe down.

Advance warning - she's startingthinking about next monthchallenge!!




march has 4 birthdays that are just cards
a goddaughter birthday - cash as shes saving up to go travelling again
a DD birthday but main pressie is sorted for that and ive seen a book on amazon she'll also like

SugarSpun

Mothers Day-

I am making something. Need to first check the spreadsheet to see what it is and then get on it! But first Wednesday is our anniversary and I need to make DH's gift.

Easter-
We don't Easter generally, but I am sure kindergarten will spring something on us.

£2 Challenge - prize Time

I might buy myself a pastry on Friday.

Music and the Wardrobes

Clothing is all sorted through but not on ebay yet. I was going to wait a while to see if the sales pick up any.

Charity Shops

I have a bag of stuff for the local charity drop box. I keep forgetting to bring it along though.

Miss Hoodies Corner (help!!)

The fridge - Time for a sort out,defrost the icebox and shesays don't forget the seals on the fridges...(there's no hiding from MissHoodie!!)

We're actually waiting for someone to come and declare our fridge rubbish and have the company who fitted it replace it. So I feel I can be exempt

Thanks mrs and miss Hoodie

Kitchenbunny

Afternoon! Good to see another challenge. Here goes:

Mothers Day-

For Mothers' Day we usually get cards and treat to a nice meal. Due to illness this may not happen as normal this year, and a few other things that run the risk of getting in the way, I'm going to have a go at making some fabric flowers, using the bag ties from sandwich bags, some glue, and some lovely fabric I found in a charity shop.

Easter - we won't be doing anything special for Easter, although I may have a go at making some Hot Cross Buns.


£2 Challenge - prize Time
I'm looking forward to this one. I love spend limit challenges that test the ingeniuty. Watch this space!

Music and the Wardrobes
This is going to be happening anyway, as we need to thin out our stuff a bit. Hopefully we can make a profit from some of it, but otherwise someone else will benefit from it, and that's good enough for me.

Did sell my old chest freezer the other day though for £25. I wasn't using it and it was stood empty and not switched on. Far better that someone else can make the best of it.

Charity Shops
I love charity shops and have only this week taken in 2 big bags of books (cook books and fiction bought, read, but unlikely to read or use again). There'll also be the contents of the big wardrobe clear out which will likely make their way to either Mind or British Heart Foundation.

Miss Hoodies Corner (help!!)
Ah, I love a good fridge cleanout! I've just done mine today, and will give it another go over next week. There's not much in it so that was the best time to get stuck in and cleaning it. There's a possibility that this too will be sold, so it's going to need a top to toe clean, but I shall wait until I can switch it off so I can do it properly.

Wow, lots going on. I'm in the middle of a great big sort out anyway, so this has fallen quite nicely in with things. It'll be nice to give progress updates somewhere as I was getting bored of just writing in my to-do list!

Nectar points are going up, and I remembered I've got some Boots points left over from Christmas (about a fiver's worth). I may put those towards some nice smellies to go with the homemade silk flowers.

Have a lovely evening, everyone.

KB Xx

Anglea

Challenge

Although I did clean the fridge last week there is a weird smell so I'll do it again with bicarb.

Mother's Day - usually leave it until few days before nowadays as I no longer make cards, but will try and get something in advance

Easter - thanks for the reminder

Wardrobes - I should probably throw out 90% but know I won't

£2 challenge - I rarely buy anything nowadays so will think about that.

Peppapig

My first time joining in the challenge woo hoo!

Mothers Day-

Having a nightmare because my Mum is really hard to buy for. She doesn't smoke or drink (not that I'm complaining about either of those lol); she hasn't got any hobbies (has been through most of them at one time or another - jig saws, dolls houses, knitting, cross stitch, tapestry, etc etc) but is now not interested in any of them; doesn't enjoy reading any more; rarely plays music; hasn't got a dvd player (and doesn't want one - too technical); lives in a lovely flat but it's very small and she doesn't want any knick-knacks to display; already has lots of piccies of great grandchildren. I'd got her back interested in dolls houses and miniatures last year but after a big flurry she's off them again now. Oh, and she's watching her fat intake so choccies are out too so all I can think of is flower.......Help!!!

Easter-

Going to keep an eye on the shops and try to buy eggs at cheapest time. I bought two lovely mugs last month in the local garden centre (little mugs for children with lovely old fashioned scenes on) so am planning on filling them with the little mini eggs and then wrapping in cellophane with a ribbon for the two littlies.

£2 Challenge - prize Time

Lovely idea - can't wait to get out and find something!


Music and the Wardrobes

Must admit - beat you to this and did it last month. Took three bags to the charity shop and made about £50 selling three tops and a handbag on ebay.

Charity Shops

Will be getting some more boxes down from the loft this month so bound to have some goodies for the charity shop very soon.

Miss Hoodies Corner (help!!)

Not looking forward to this bit quite so much (sorry Miss Hoodie ) but I'll get spring cleaning mania as soon as we get some sun so if we get a bit of good weather this month it shouldn't be too much of a problem!