Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

rufusdog52

Bunbun well done on the blood results, I managed to get my cholesterol down from 5.5 to 5 through heathy eating and saved having to have medication. Been pigging a bit last couple of days what with worry etc, plus I was back at Dad's and he didn't have anything in that I would eat apart from stodge, he gets his meals brought in and they are all meat based anyway so I was munching on toast and biscuits with a bit of fish and chips. Not healthy lol. I am back home this morning so will be having my salads again.


Anglea, it is best to get all the bills into your own name. I hadn't bothered changing my bills when I split from exH and regretted it one day when the electric people sent to say I had overpaid and they were sending a cheque for over £100. It came in his name so I couldn't pay it in my account and they wouldn't change it as they had no proof it was me paying the bill.


I have to repair my granddaughter's coat today, got a new zip for it so will do that this afternoon. Cant do much else as everything is upstairs and OH back on nights yet again. I need to get a fire sorted too for my sewing room and given my one to my dad for his bedroom.

mum2one

I got a nice surprise tonight - haveing a nosey on the net and searched out timberland, and the scarf I go from facebook seller (new with tags) I paid £7 for it, - it was originally £32 in store... so one very good saving...

off to bed,... got gas man coming in the morning to service the boiler... what joys... xx

DundeeDoll

Thanks for the challenge. Bit bhind as have been away for work for 2.5 weeks (!) very interesting trip (singapore, kuala lumpur and sri lanka) and in addition to trip pressies remembered to get mum's and dd2's pressies. Not away again till may (poland). It was a great trip but i'm glad to be home.
Thought i'd share what i'm doing for my three children (all now young adults) for advent. My mum did it for me xmas 2013. 24 cracker-wrapped presents made from toilet roll innards, left over xmas paper and labels. Gifts (and this is why i'm starting it now) included sample toiletries, sweeties and packs of seed. Obvs with 72 to fill the more freebies i can collect or gifts i can make the better. Any suggestions gratefully received :-)

rufusdog52

Sounds like you need to get some good freebies going there DundeeDoll, fab trip by the way xx


I still haven't started on anything. I need to get going before long but with one thing and another I just haven't had a chance.

Anglea

Hi everyone

That sounds like your have an unusual job Dundee Doll so your family will be getting some interesting presents.

I like the Advent cracker idea, are you having male and female themes (dependent on your children) or general? Apart from having all different items you could put in items that are connected in some way so that by cracker 24 everything necessary to do something would have been collected. What I mean by this is that I read somewhere - maybe on this thread - that someone was putting jigsaw pieces into each advent pocket. Maybe a jigsaw isn't right for adults but it's the idea I wanted to illustrate.

Mum2one, that scarf was a really good bargain, well done.

I considered meeting texter yesterday but he cancelled and I went to see parents instead, they were both ill with some kind of virus so told me to go home.

Today I am probably meeting the friend from Saturday night, hoping that will go ok as she wants to talk about something important, but there is the likelihood it could all go pear shaped like at the weekend. Trouble is around here if I go out anywhere with the intention of meeting someone, everyone else that knows me goes to sit at my table, which is ok if they are people I want to talk to, but difficult if they are not.

Rufus, I can see why you regretted not taking your ex's name off that bill. I was told I'd get a confirmation email within 24 hours about the phone, not received. I also decided to call ex to ask him about a certain matter re the phone deal as I was worrying. Sod's law, his social phone was switched off last night so I'm going to text his work phone today to make sure he gets the message I want to talk. I'll be seeing him on Sunday but this is driving me nuts and want to get it sorted asap.

Are you still getting on ok with your trolley? Did you repair the coat?

DundeeDoll

angela will tailor to dd1 (23/4 as has bday half way through advent), dd2 (22) and ds (19). I like the jigsaw idea and had thought of a nativity scene. perhaps i need to find a knitivity mum did it for me cos my marriage broke down last year and also it was my first advent with an empty nest. it was lovely to open a new cracker each day

springdreams

DundeeDoll, as you are travelling often, perhaps some freebie hotel toiletries could be used in the crackers. And also maybe some small souvenier type items from the places you have been to?

mum2one

Good news boiler serviced this morning and all ok...

Miss Hoodies blooed test results come back, shes not allergis to latex, nuts, shell fish - we had a rough idea as they didn't show up in the liquid on arm tests - so on one way good another were back at square one...

Now knotting lilac shawl number 3.... as put them in with Christmas presents, so that help save the budget a bit (and they look nice). Just chopping away now a Christmas...

At least tomorrow paid for and we get a 2 course meal and tea, coffee and snacks during the night - thinking taking £10 -(get drink with the meal) but take a bar of choc and bottle of pop with me. xx

DundeeDoll

Not sure springdreams took on a new role october and this was partly due to that. Trip of a lifetime! But yes, did think after bother should have collected more freebies for crackers :-) that would be shampoo, body lotion, sewing kit...
mum2one good to know she's not allergic to those but yes annoying not to have an answer. Thinking of you both.
Happy chinese new year to you all. Have decided that means i can make the resolutions i never got round to 1st jan :-)

DundeeDoll

Update on advent crackers - l!dl have set of socks with days of the week for £4.99 so have bought a set for ds :-) have set budget at £12 per 24 so a little above the 50p per day but he'll love them