Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2013,

sarahj1986

hi guys,

just popping in again. Its now end of June and I will start some half decent xmas shopping from now. All the summer sales are due and I like to buy things in that. Ive seen places booking up for xmas meals, not much longer to go the kids break up for the summer holidays in about 4/5 weeks time!

EchoDelta

Hi all,

Sorry for being awol for so long! Been visiting my sister.

Haven't achieved anything else for Christmas bar finding some trainers for dh on eBay, not bought though, got a few days to go so price will hopefully not fly.

People are sounding wonderfully productive!

Hope that everyone is keeping well.

mum2one

Dont know if it is any good for anyone, just had an email from dotcomgiftshop - added further items to the sale and reduced some prices.

Had a lazy day, watched My Sisters keeper on DVD had film about 12mths - I cried buckets, got the book but I haven't read that yet.

Weather been mixed, - table top 2mor - know make £10 as one of the organisers is buying my old sat nav from me. just hope its not deep pockets and shock hands bridgage! xx

mum2one

Its 6 months by the day to Christmas so now its time for the favourite time of the month Santas Challenge.

Birthdays
Hopefully we are well on the way to being sorted with birthday presents and no sudden surprises jump out at us!! So double check how the birthday is going.

Do you have a special one coming up - need some planning and extra expense!!

Christmas Food - Shopping List
The best way to do the shopping list - but don't spend a penny just yet!!

Break the list down to categories
Few examples -
Christmas Cake - Ingredients needed
Freezer - What would you need extra for Christmas and new Year
Alcohol - Wine, Spirits, mixers,
Soft Drinks - pop them on the list
Mince Pies - Am I cooking my own or buying in???
Christmas Dinner -
Freezer Fillers - Home made meals

There is just a few examples, the easy side is you can decide your own list.

Doesn't matter at this point if the list takes up 5 spread sheets or a notebook, because we're going to refer to this from now on as our base list. It is going to do 2 jobs,

1st - Do we really need that?? Be better to decide over the next couple of months, because otherwise we'll see it and chuck it in the basket.

2nd - Budget - As we narrow down the list we can then budget the extra costs and either buy some saving stamps, put some money in a jar, or buy and put away.

=Tackle One Section=
Christmas Cake - if your making your own, I use the Value fruit, as it does the same job as the posh branded ones but if I leave the buying of this till say September when everyone starts making their cakes - I'm left with the expensive bags (we make about 6 cakes - we give some away to friends as an early xmas prezzie) - buy now and keep the items away from your main store supplies.

=Know its early - but think about where are we, or are we going to have a house full??
have the conversation in the house 1st, as others may think we are a bit mad, so maybe out of the house Sept time!!

=Summer Sales=
Shops are starting their summer sales, work on the same principle as if it was an Xmas sale
1 - do I really need it??
2. - Will it do its job??

Address Book
Now is the time to check the address book, have I got every ones addresses up to date, and also try to judge how many stamps your need, or can you get away with putting one families in an envelope and get them to distribute it.

The Present Chat[/COLOR]
I know we all work hard at trying to balance the books, get the nicest presents, but have a lot at your list, if there some people you normally buy for that have / due a baby b4 xmas - maybe suggest that as they'd had / having the baby, - just going to get the baby (maybe do a token present for them if you want to) but I bet a penny to a pound they would be wanting to have the conversation about reducing costs but don't want to offend people.

=Storage Cupboard=
Do you have a area that you can use for Christmas storage - don't forget a notepad so when you put items away (even if it is in 10 different places) or youve allocated a gift for someone - the list - saves the pull out everything.

Miss Hoodie's Corner

Now where we would be without this lovely little section!!!
Miss Hoodie is being kitchen today
, -
As it is suppose to be summer!!! time for some descaling - from the shower head, the kettle, (can use white vinegar make sure you rinse well) quick tips

Taps - soak a couple of cotton wool balls in white vinegar - put on bottom of tap and just around the flow bit, tie on with an elastiv band

Shower head - pop some white vinegar in measuring jug, - rest shower head in

kettle - add white vinegar - covers elements - boil up leave for about 2 hours - rinse out - boil 2 lots of water to get rid of vinegar

- Don't forget the washing machine - we do once a week - deep clean (its free) - put the washing machine on the longest programme, highest temperature, no clothes (unless you want your knickers to go to Sindy doll size!!) and run as normal - no detergent - as the heat of the water acts like a degreaser, steamer - when finished just give the drum and the rubber seal of the door a wipe down - (kitchen roll - cloth just wipe away any exces dirt)

-microwave- add lemon juice to half a bowl of water - microwave couple of mins to boiling and steam - wipe out, steam clean, the lemon freshen up

The cooker
I can't think of any easy ways (sorry!!)

----

Hopefully they won't take to long - we're on the home straight to Christmas now and we're doing brilliantly xxx

mum2one

Good news - text from Argos the washing machine is coming tomorrow - our delievery slot 7am - 10am..... knowing our luck we're be the 7am call

The cooker due tomorrow as well!!

Touch wood no more expensive equipment break before xmas! or for a good while!!

Give u all a laugh, Miss hoodie wants to go camping......she wants a tent.... she can want, this is coming from the girl who says she won't stay in a hotel unless its 4 star all inclusive!!

mrs-moneypenny

LOL how about a compromise a summer camp in the back garden.
i notice you are excused from miss hoodies challenges as new appliances dont need cleaning, enjoy using them.

hope everyone is well and no their way to being organised.

thank you as ever for the santas challenges.
im already on miss hoodies list the wm is running through a cleaning cycle and the oven has a coating of cleaner on its innards and the shelves are in a bag of cleaner in the bath - im hoping that i'll have time to clean everything off before work.
i picked up the picture for DD3s 21st from the framers last weekend and i have managed to frame tinkerbell myself. got to get a cake made but shes away for the actual day of her birthday so need to check if she wants cake before or after.
neighbours wedding anni this week got the card will get them flowers.
our wedding anni next month is sorted as DD1 got us a weekendd away last christmas she booked it for july so we are away near the dates of my birthday and our wedding anni (which fall within days of each other)
i told her as it cant have been cheap she is in credit for mine and her dads birthdays annis mothers and fathers days now till next christmas!!!

will go through the list later and see what else i need to do.
i have started another xcross stitch which im hoping to give my step mum for her birthday in august if i get it done.

rufusdog52

Hope you get all your bits Mum2one, will be nice when they are all there.

Will check out the tasks for the month later on when I have a bit more time ( may be lunch time). So busy at the moment, been up since just after 4.30, been sewing since 5.30 lol. Just came down for breakfast and a chat to my dad on the computer. Have bought a long ballgown from a charity shop to wear to my YD's 18th as she is having Hollywood theme. OH is wearing his tux. The dress was size 24 so miles too big now I am down to a 16 but have taken in the side seams this morning so hopefully will fit when I try it on tonight. Had a big bag full of repairs to do too from ED and the kids, done all that too this morning. Need to go back up and finish off 5 cushions that are ready to sew up and put the zips in then I can start on something else. Going to have a go at manicure sets in a little fabric purse thingy. Got the idea in my head how to do it (sort of like a wallet). Have bought 5 sets yesterday from Savers for £1 each and have some more coming from Amazon (same price), hoping to sell them on at £4 each once done.

Managed to get lots of bits for the party yesterday. ordered some black icing from Amazon as she wants a clapperboard cake. Also ordered a wooden clapperboard to use in photos. Bought a large baking tin that is rectangular shaped to bake the cake in, wont be doing it till a few days before (21st july). Also got an icing set to do the writing on the top. Got large table cloths in Wilkinson cheap and some plates. Dad has been saving those plastic bowls you get the large size trifles in from supermarkets. I rang him yesterday to see if we can borrow some for the party and he said he has about two dozen of them lol so wont have to buy any. Bought some lovely gold coloured paper plates in 99p shop to use for the buffet to put things on. Got balloons from Card Factory, and banners and ordered her a lovely sash from Ebay to wear. Getting just as excited as she is I think.

mrs-moneypenny

will remember your DDs birthday, its the same day as our wedding anniversary.
the party sounds fab, i hope it all goes to plan

mum2one

Good news - the washing machine came - had a text at 6am to say there be with us about 7am, they were - fitted and already being used.

Bad News - the cooker came at 9.55am, left at 10am, - didn't get over the threshold - the fitters couldn't fit it as apparently you can't have a plug fitting within 65cm of the cooker - weve got 2 sets of plugs....... so now got to get electrician sorted - leave it to Sept then have fun and games! The old cooker is use able but a pain in the rear........

rufusdog52

Oh well at least you got something done xx