Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

floss2

Chris25 wrote: »

???? what's this? do you flavour the brandy with spices?

I put mixed dried fruit, long strips of lemon & orange zest, cinnamon stick, cloves and brown sugar into a Kilner jar, topped it up with brandy (Asda s/p) and shook it every day until the sugar dissolved.

Filter through a coffee filter & voila!

whitesatin

Milki wrote: »

Hello all. Not quite a newbie as i have been a member for a long time but i mostly lurk and read lots of helpful info that you have all posted
I am currently obsessed with this and another thread in here about getting ready for xmas, and am getting just a little bit excited I have just in the last week, started to buy a few bits and pieces to try and spread the cost this year.
whitesatin what app is it you have got, as i could really do with this rather than writing it down and scribbling all over it, and trying to hide it from someone peeking

It's a free one, called Xmas Organizer created by Simon Meurer. I can't remember how I found it, but if you google it you will probably find it. There is also an up graded version that you can pay for but I find the free one is fine. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll try to work out where I got it from.:)

TudorRose

This week I got 12 jars of mincemeat (in date until August 2014) from my local Tesco for 20p a jar. Used a jar yesterday to make a mincemeat cake & it was really nice stuff.

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Just back from holiday, and am now in 'Xmas mode'.

I told the kids after last christmas that that would be the last 'kiddie' type christmas - they are 15,17 and 20 now. They would have forgotten by this year,but i,m sticking to my guns....

I am also cutting out alot of rellies, just buying for immediate family and one neice who is still young.

My budget is £500 this year for all prezzies and food/drink, I have saved about £250 so far this year on my pound-a-day

Bought a bottle of booze from d-free for DS1 (20), and did a bargin shop at the works this morning - spent £25 including a 30% discount and free postage, also got £4.50 off via quidco this included prezzy for DS1 (curry cookbook), tiger tank book for OH, calender and diary set for MIL, wrapping paper and tags ( plain brown paper, will decorate with ribbon) and several diaries for the family, and some pretty boxes for hampers - also bought a couple of cookery books for me, just to meet the free postage costs

DD (17) has an expensive addiction to posh make-up brand, so will add a mascara and foundation to a few cheap beauty items to make a hamper for her.

DS2 (15) is an Xbox fiend, so a 'gold membership' and points will be the basis for his hamper

These will be approx £50 each - significantly cheaper than previous years......

Am going back to basics with food too - historically I have bought into 'seige mentality' and bought enough food to feed an army for a year - this year totally different - its a posh roast dinner really isn,t it - will be having beef this year, so between now and then, will keep my eyes open for any bargin joint and stick it in the freezer, last year, about this time I got a rib of beef from the local wholesaler on special offer then reduced to HP, massive 3 rib joint for £20 - lasted for so many meals it was amazing - fingers crossed for something similar.

Sorry to chunter on - I tend to 'think outloud' when I post

Loving this thread by the way x

Milki

whitesatin wrote: »

It's a free one, called Xmas Organizer created by Simon Meurer. I can't remember how I found it, but if you google it you will probably find it. There is also an up graded version that you can pay for but I find the free one is fine. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll try to work out where I got it from.:)

Thanks, that was the only one i could find but wasn't sure if it was any good. Am downloading it now! :T

miss_emmajane

Very pleased to say I got an unused 6.5ft Christmas tree with working lights, baubles (although I'm gifting these to a friend) and stand ... All for £5 at a carboot this morning. We've had it out of the box and I am so, so pleased with it. It's our second Christmas in our own home and now our first big Christmas tree!

scaredy_cat

last year i got my turkey on christmas eve from Wai*rose for under £8 and it's original price was £21. There were quite a few and different sizes - whole turkeys, crowns and stuffed breast roasts. I did wait around for about 1/2 or so and there were a few other people doing it to. Some people took 3 turkey!!!

flyingmamma

Great post ... Am I late starting? Have saved £40 in Nec points so far hoping this will buy in my food for Xmas week ... We hav dinner at my mums ... I always buy the turkey and a nice dessert ... Hav 3 young children and half of last years toys r currently in the attic so this year we going to take it easy! To be honest they easily pleased I think it's the adults who think they hav to spend a fortune. Anyways... My main problem is gift buying for others I buy a friend and her 4 children ... It costs at least £100... And they buy us... Is it awful for me to ask her not to buy us??? I'm on maternity leave so money is tight!

Uniscots97

Islandmaid wrote: »

DD (17) has an expensive addiction to posh make-up brand, so will add a mascara and foundation to a few cheap beauty items to make a hamper for her.

DS2 (15) is an Xbox fiend, so a 'gold membership' and points will be the basis for his hamper

what brand of make-up is it? Poundland do various ranges, I've seen (recently) Dainty Doll, Shisheido, Almay, Revlon, Rimmel and Max Factor

For your DS remember Mr M keep some Xbox games at under £5.

cattysmum

Afternoon all, not visited this thread before and cant for the life of me understand how I have missed it. So Iv subscribed and hopefully will now be a regular visitor. I started my xmas shopping the other week with a body shop order that I got oober doober cheap thanks to the grabbit thread, so my xmas box has now got something in it. I have just got back from holidays and now when I am out and about I will have xmas in the back of my mind shopping wise. Cant wait to read about all the brilliant pressie ideas from you all. Hope you dont mind me joining in asnd hopefully I will be able to contribute as well.