Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

mrs-moneypenny

Angela it does sound like you have rather a lot on your plate. Dont be forced into making decisions you arent happy with, you have already realised that the house share wont work so dont be swayed.
sounds like a difficult job sorting through all your mils things with some bittersweet moments - must be lovely but daunting to go through someones things like that and discovering some lovely treasures like those embroidery pieces.
dont worry about making a mess with your lists and planning - i can understand you being reluctant to spoil your dairy iary so how about starting a draft copy in a standard cheap book and then transfering once you are happy with the layout.

mum2one

Angela - It sounds like you did the right thing over the house, as you said it was an idea you were looking for at summer, so I would politely say that things got out of hand, but if you were to consider the house idea then your let him know.

Glad stomach ache has gone, sounds like stress is adding to it, espically sorting out m-in-law house, is there anyone that can help you. I know when mum had to do nans house I was only about 8 yrs old, she was left to do it despite having two brothers.

Hope you dont think I'm being cheeky, - but any clothes you send into the home, list them also if you can put name tags into, just that mum use to work in a care home and washing would get done together, it wasn't too bad when it was the regular staff, but when someone covered or anything went to the industrial washing machine it was a lit like pass the parcel.

Sounds like you had a lot on your plate regarding xmas/birthday planning - maybe have a think about what worked or chuck caution to the wind and start a new method, what works for one person may not suit another.

One thought - grab a dairy maybe go for one that has a day to the page - and then list all the birthdays on the day and then you can list the presents as and when, and say for Xmas turn the diary upside down start backwards from Dec and put one person per page (use a different colour ink - so you can tell xmas from bday.

Grab a notebook with peoples names per page and keep that with you than transfer to a spreadsheet when you get home.

-for me although I was super organised with all the presents the cards just went a mess, (thou being poorly,stressed, miss Hoodie being poorly) I ended up losing a month, then I asked mum for help, and bless her not her fault she got in a muddle with the cards so I ended up having to do them myself and check the list. This yr I plan to be more organsied with cards - do the list in summer- then break cards into sections and go from there.

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Mrs M - that stocking is gorgeous the work that has gone into it, its impressive.

gettingtherequickly - a big welcome, love the photo of little un, bet she got spolit at Xmas xx

Lina T - a big hi, and welcome, thank you for the link - have to have a peep there do brillaintly for Bday tags (thank you).

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If anyone needs any Christmas cards - Clintons have there xmas cards 3 for £1 including ones that were £6... might have a peep thou got most of the cards from card factory

Boots sale - it looks like it will be 15th Jan - should be 75% off.

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We have Miss Hoodie off school - she was sick again this morning, and shes in bed, - shes go back to GP on wednesday - hope shes better tomorrow.

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Good news my Argos order came this morning, - now have camera for mum and dads anniversary, and some heart memo boards for presents - a few more to be ticked off xxx

susan42

Angela - know its not easy but do whats right for you. BuG*** the rest. If your not happy with the decision then it`ll grate on your nerves. And it no good if your feeling ill. Hope you get better soon

mum2one - hope miss hoodies feeling ok, theres not anything troubling her at school is there?

moneypenny, I love the stocking, its fab, mine is a lot simpler, but i cant sew, or i could say i can sew but am rubbish at it

linaT - i agree with you about the gift cards, i used to do the same with vista until they changed the system, every little helps

gettingtherequickly - wb, wondered where you was, but everyone busy with the celebrations

I ventured out 1st time today for a few days and Im glad to be back this weather is awful...

mum2one

Ah checked Argos order and no camera.... no invoice/delievery notes so have to ring up and find out whats going on.

Susan - Schools fine, she loves it, it started when when she got the card from his lordship at Christmas - more emotional blackmail, - but theres nothing we can do. So whether that triggered the virus with being low no idea. Just trying to pump fluids into her xx

Anglea

Hi all

Thanks for the support. Today I went out to meet friends,(including mutual friend of potential lodger who wanted a recap as he wanted feedback why I changed my mind) think it was mainly to get away from the house and worrying. I had a slight upset with a man that was there and always interferes with my friendship with the texter, then I went elsewhere and met some new more admirers lol and the evening went very strange indeed!!! I went home via the kebab shop then as I was about 3/4 way home the lights went out not good as I was walking alone. In between conversations when I was out I was writing a list of 'to do's for my draft diary (thanks Mrs M for that idea).

That's a good idea about the business cards Lina, never thought of that before.

Thanks for the advice about the care home Mum2one and organising the diaries, I'll attempt to sort it all out tomorrow. After all this help you can tell me off at the end of the year if I'm disorganised lol

mum2one

Anglea wrote: »

Hi all

Thanks for the support. Today I went out to meet friends,(including mutual friend of potential lodger who wanted a recap as he wanted feedback why I changed my mind) think it was mainly to get away from the house and worrying.

Thats good you got out of the house and at least talking things through with friend of potential lodger, then you've explained again, and hopefully (for you) this will be the last that your hear about it.


I had a slight upset with a man that was there and always interferes with my friendship with the texter,
[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"](Do you want me to come and belly flop him!! soon shut him up... )[/COLOR]

then I went elsewhere and met some new more admirers lol and the evening went very strange indeed!!! I went home via the kebab shop then as I was about 3/4 way home the lights went out not good as I was walking alone.

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Glad you got home safe, wasn't there anyone going your way[/COLOR]


In between conversations when I was out I was writing a list of 'to do's for my draft diary (thanks Mrs M for that idea).
[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Sounds like a good idea[/COLOR]

That's a good idea about the business cards Lina, never thought of that before.

Thanks for the advice about the care home Mum2one and organising the diaries, I'll attempt to sort it all out tomorrow. After all this help you can tell me off at the end of the year if I'm disorganised lol

Glad you don't mind me being mother hen, it sounds daft but its things they dont tell you, and if your sending in nice clothes you don't want them growing legs.

Just take one step at a time, remember baby steps - before the walk (that way if it goes wrong you only have a little to undo, and when it goes good, looks like a lot has been achieved!!

I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof, - just waiting for my dotcom parcel then I finally sort out the presents - not worth starting now then readjusting...

Miss Hoodie poorly again this morning - no school, keeping her off tomorrow, shes a bit brighter, but at least this I can get her back to being hydrated. xx

Lina_T

Can I join you on your hot tin roof please mum2one?

Put an offer in on a house yesterday and am waiting for the estate agent to get back to me, hopefully this morning. They couldn't get in touch with the vendors all yesterday to let them know. I'm going stir crazy with the waiting.

mrs-moneypenny

morning all,
hope postie comes with your parcel and missHoodie starts feeling better soon mum2one
Lina, hope you hear about the offer being accepted today so you can get down off the roof and things start getting moving.

hope all are well, cold here but thankfully no rain yet

Lina_T

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

Lina, hope you hear about the offer being accepted today so you can get down off the roof and things start getting moving.

Thanks mrs-moneypenny. I'll update if I hear anything.

If it goes through it means I'm going to have to work very very hard at this challenge if I want a Christmas at all this year. I've started collecting my nectar adpoints/clubcard vouchers/Co-op members card points for Christmas food & alcohol and I've signed up to the Sun+ deal that sends you a £20 Primark voucher - going straight on presents when it arrives.

Feeling motivated

SugarSpun

Hello

Congratulations Elysia, I hope Miss Hoodie gets better soon and I think you made the right call Anglea. Is that all the news? I am still in a bit of a headwreck so can't remember. DH is still in hospital, he went into ICU on the 21st and only came out yesterday. DD is still waiting patiently for Family Christmas although we had a small Christmas on the actual day.

My birthday/Christmas shopping is nearly done. Two to buy and three to make and we're all set. Total cost is €321.28, which seems a lot but €120 of it is DH's Valentines/anniversary gift. Aside from those two, all birthdays and all Christmases will come in under €250 and I've not started my claw-that-cash-back mission.