Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

TravellingAbuela

For the second year running I won't be making a Christmas cake - thanks to the bargain food stall on Northallerton market! Various sizes of M & S "seconds" rich fruit cakes on offer again. I got an oblong one for £2.50. It's not worth buying the ingredients and making my own, as they are delicious cakes, packed with fruit.

bossymoo

Ah my MIL gets the ex M&S ones from a market stall too, usually just the box is dented or a little of the icing is marked etc.

I'm not a fan of Xmas cake / pud etc but she always gets me one for if we have guests. My dad likes it with a slice of cheddar cheese!

whitesatin

We do a family Secret Sant for the adults - there are nine of us. We have been doing it for years and it works well. We can't actually get together on Christmas Day itself but always soon afterwards so it is something to look forward to.

We usually have a £75 limit but have upped that to £100 this year. Sounds a lot but still better than buying 8 presents each of a lesser value. Can get something substantial. I have already sent round the email to get started on wish lists where everyone puts their own things they would like. Still works out as a surprise as you don't know which of the items will be chosen.

I sent it early this year so that we can all bargain hunt, e.g. use Groupon or something, as long as the dates to be used by are after Christmas.

I would love to buy individual presents but I know this is more sensible for us as a family.

emiai

double_mummy wrote: »

i still dont get how people are willing to go into so much debt for xmas its absolutely mad!

My mum always got into debt at Christmas, being a single mum she relied heavily on catalogues and doorstep loans. Always living a year paying off the previous one, not preparing a penny for the following year. She felt deeply obliged to buy for a huge amount of extended family and friends year after year and after 20+ years of doing this, it really has taken its toll on her current lifestyle.

I don't want to live like that, because under her influence I did it one year and it raised the cost of Christmas three fold if not more!!

Now I save all year, enter competitions and keep my eyes out every week for items that I can maybe pop away to give away as presents. (In personalised hamper fun bundles.)

I have had family scoff a little bit (Or at least it felt like that) when I have given them gifts, and they have asked me if I won it or if It was discounted - as if its not as good as if I had bought it at full price. Its a bit of a slap in the face because I am under no obligation to give them a gift, I did it because I wanted to.

For me, every penny I can save means I can give my children more - so my 25p rolls of wrapping paper I picked up gathering dust since January means I don't have to find cash for that in December. same as the recycled gift bags, tags and bows I kept from the recycling of last years hauls.

My friend had £150 for her boys last year, and spent that entirely buying toys sourced locally in the newspaper. They both had a bike each for £20!! :eek: In great condition, bags of clothes, lego, cars with a garage - plus mixed boardgames - all in great condition.

I praised her completely, and her children were so greatful. Keep up your great work, regardless of what others say - I feel a sense of wellbeing and satisfaction teaching my children the true value of time and money.

Rachyk

Was at Mr T yesterday but the Robertson mince meat was back up to £1.39 plenty of time for another offer elsewhere before Christmas though so I will keep my eye out! Going to make some sweet sleighs this year, found them on Pinterest so have added them to my ideas board! Need 4 finger kitkats for the sleigh base and they're on 4 for £1 at sainsbos so got a packet, I'll probably go back and get a couple more when I've decided how many I'm making. Really want to try making my own stockings this year, saw a sewing machine on eBay nearby but missed out on it as I thought perhaps I'm being too adventurous, will look out for another nearby cheapie and pluck up the courage to make the jump!

PositiveBalance

First up. you guys are NUTTERS! Wonderful nutters, but this thread started in May! :rotfl:

emiai wrote: »

I don't want to live like that, because under her influence I did it one year and it raised the cost of Christmas three fold if not more!!

I have had family scoff a little bit (Or at least it felt like that) when I have given them gifts, and they have asked me if I won it or if It was discounted - as if its not as good as if I had bought it at full price. Its a bit of a slap in the face because I am under no obligation to give them a gift, I did it because I wanted to.

For me, every penny I can save means I can give my children more - so my 25p rolls of wrapping paper I picked up gathering dust since January means I don't have to find cash for that in December. same as the recycled gift bags, tags and bows I kept from the recycling of last years hauls.

I totally understand your thinking and I think for people to say things like that is disgraceful! :mad: (Perhaps keep your clever, frugal ways to yourself from now on in, though, eh?!

I'm not going to start doing anything yet as I am moving house shortly, but I hope to start doing bits soon after that. This Christmas will be a weird one as I am due to go see my mum who has just moved to another country, so I won't be at home for a lot of it, so food things will be kept to a minimum (I will buy a big box of chocolates soonish to have in as I've seen some good bargains for £5 and I really want to make home-made mincemeat this year as I hear that it is scrummy.) I'm also not sure how many I will have to buy for as there are potentially several more than usual guests and people who I will be seeing when I go and see mum. I need to think about this carefully...

I look forward to seeing what else you make me think of doing for Christmas that I might otherwise not have done (or done more expensively)! :T

whitesatin

When I was little, a very long time ago, my mum would get into debt buying us toys for Christmas. Probably still paying for the stuff the following Christmas. Obviously we children had no idea and only knew that later. I save a bit each month for Christmas as I won't get into debt for anything these days. When I was a single mum, I did but I learned my lesson.

mum2one

Christmas cakes are all baked, last batch just gone into the oven xx

ditsykitchen

Is there a thread or something on here where I can find a bunch of hamper ideas? We really need to save some money this year! Also, suggestions for somewhere cheap (preferably online, as I don't have a car) to buy baskets for the gifts? Thanks guys

mum2one

ditsykitchen wrote: »

Is there a thread or something on here where I can find a bunch of hamper ideas? We really need to save some money this year! Also, suggestions for somewhere cheap (preferably online, as I don't have a car) to buy baskets for the gifts? Thanks guys

Dont know if these are any help, popped them on a few pages ago

Links -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63085710#Comment_63085710

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63085773#Comment_63085773

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63085808#Comment_63085808

As for baskets, I look at charity shops, car boots, half the time I never use baskets, you can use shoe boxes, boxes from supermarket, (Morrisons usually have some at end of till, if its a foodie one use a tray,

The best thing I ever came across is cello wrap, you can get from ebay, or amazon - sometimes before xmas Aldi or Lidl have rolls for 99p.

xx