Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

sefilby

Since moving out of the family nest and being the head of my own little family; I've tried to be more organised. I have DS aged 3 (will be 4 by xmas) DD aged 1 (will be 2 by xmas) and DH 25 acts 8! They all love christmas, I do too, really but it have separation issues when it comes to money. Christmas' as a child were always stress (money and health related) so I swore my kidlets would have better!

So in my crusade Christmas 2012 prep started in October, this year I started in April thanks to cashback sites and accured (various) store card points. After having my eyes opened to the MSE tricks and tips.

I saved up the old christmas card to turn into name labels and picked up loads of wrapping paper in the sales, so all in all a good start.

PoppyGirl

Hello all, and thank you so much to the OP for posting all those links. I'm quite new to the site so will enjoy going through all those ideas.

I have a Christmas notebook which is pretty much in operation all year!

I have a box with gifts stashed away already, some that I bought BEFORE Christmas 2012 when I was buying gifts for that year. They were in the sale and a great bargain, the children who the are for would have been too young for them last year! So sorted for this year!

Apart from them the only other 'person' who is complete is the dog. Treats and Christmas dog toys which were in the sale this March. The treats have a long enough date on them, and the toys are exactly the same ones that will be back at full price this year! I only need to buy her a stocking to put them in now!

I have a massive stash of wrapping paper, and I make my own cards so always have plenty ribbon etc. to with them as well as obviously the cards themselves.

I have a few parties coming up that I think I'm going to make some of my own flavoured booze, chutneys etc. for to give them a trial before I make the Christmas ones!

Look forward to planning and hearing all your ideas!

AJGray

I bought 3 Christmas presents today because of a mix up with appointments I had to go to so that's 3 things to cross off my list which i'm pleased about.

I have some of the things I ordered here to start making my own christmas decorations over the moon at that but can anyone tell me where to buy wire clothes hangers they seem to be like hens teeth to get hold of

sillyinthepast

I have started planning already :j. I have been making a few cards a month so I will have enough to give. I have started a few projects to give as gifts and I have a gift basket with bits in - I won a body shop gift set in a raffle etc.

I don't buy anything for my children until September as I have their birthdays first. My goal this year is to get everyone else's done by then.

MrsChristmas

I've ticked off on my list one items needed for 10yr DD's Christmas Eve stocking this afternoon.. .. 'National Lampoons Christmas Vacation' on DVD. £1.84 free P+P
Would like to find something similar,along the nostalgic lines, for 7yr DD2 but apart from Home Alone (which we already have) I haven't thought of much else. I suppose I could dust it off the shelf & slip it in?
Will be having a practice run at the microwave fudge recipe tomorrow as I'm having a coffee with friends Friday & they all have a sweet tooth. If it works out Ok, I'll make some tied up with ribbon in cellophane cones for decorations & small presents.
Would also like to try out making a sock monkey over the half term.

alja

Great thread! I've been reading through it all over the last 24 hours and it's inspired me to make a start on getting my christmas bits organised.

I'm pretty sure I have enough cards and paper to cover this christmas, but I think I'll take a look later to check what's really there

I don't have many people to buy for but I do get my parents quite a few things, so I'm hoping to start grabbing a couple of things for them in the sale throughout the year to spread the cost and to avoid buying all the expensive hiked up priced items near christmas!!

Really enjoying reading through everyone's plans

**Edit: Checked my christmas wrap and card stash and I'm pretty sure I have enough for this year which is good!

Mojoworking

I appreciate zippychick doing all the links on the first page - but I am interested in peoples hints and tips that are old style x

fuddle

For DD's this year they will be getting craft items

Ball of wool/crochet hook
Cross stitch
Fabric pens/t-shirt (beginning 'making own clothes')
Stitch your own teddy/pillows
Children's baking books
Baking sets (put together by me, not commercial)
Clay

I am hoping that all these thing will whet their appetite for learning more skills with the hope of being OS minded as they're older.

No cards this year and wracking my brains how to wrap gifts without commercial gift wrap.

Molly41

How about potato printing or some sort of hand printing on brown paper that you can buy from post office? Tied with ribbon.

Or old music scores of christmas music photocopied for smaller presents.

AJGray

Been to Aldi tonight they had in some espresso sets 4 little cups and saucers dropped from £4.99 to £1.49 so I got a set for me and a set to put away for my mam and dad and I got 2 mugs down to 78p from £2 for snowman soup