Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

mum2one

hope everyone ok, sorry running behind, (blame the builders...) so Santas challenge be a day late.

Fingers crossed we get somewhere tomorrow we've got a surveyor coming out, and the managing director of the builders to see if we can come to a satisfactory solution xx

DundeeDoll

Wow mum2one you do have exciting holidays!
The pork scratchings angie - the musical betty blue eyes is based on a private function hence the pig reference. Mind you mum's fave line in the whole thing was 'pig no pig' so a better alternative would be to get a match box, put a barrier half way across, a small pig one side and 'no pig' written on the other.
Found out today i'm going to a work meeting 9am sunday in ... Malta! Leaving saturday afternoon, coming back monday. Since my promotion this is country #6. Hopefully if i get to go to malta again i'll know a bit in advance and be able to tag some holiday on. Perhaps somewhere there's some holiday romance for me

mum2one

DundeeDoll wrote: »

Wow mum2one you do have exciting holidays!
The pork scratchings angie - the musical betty blue eyes is based on a private function hence the pig reference. Mind you mum's fave line in the whole thing was 'pig no pig' so a better alternative would be to get a match box, put a barrier half way across, a small pig one side and 'no pig' written on the other.
Found out today i'm going to a work meeting 9am sunday in ... Malta! Leaving saturday afternoon, coming back monday. Since my promotion this is country #6. Hopefully if i get to go to malta again i'll know a bit in advance and be able to tag some holiday on. Perhaps somewhere there's some holiday romance for me

I would say Tunisia... basically holiday romance 100% available!!;);)

rufusdog52

Nice place for a work meeting Dundeedoll xx

Katiehound, thanks a lot for the tipoff about wilkos, I am going up our one this morning to see if they have anything I can put by for the grand kids.

Mum2one, hope the building work doesnt go on too long xx

I have been so busy lately, been decorating my kitchen. Painted the tiles, and the cupboard doors and put new wallpaper up. Looks completely different room. Just finished yesterday so now got a bit of time to myself again for a bit.

YD seems to have managed to get most of the baby stuff together already. Cant believe how well they have done. Think they only need to get nappies and milk now. Everything is going along fine, seen the midwife and she is now 16 weeks. She has been to connexions for help moving and they suggested she starts an ou course as she is a very clever girl, just doesnt put her brain into the right gear at times.

I havent really made anything sewing wise, just been doing the odd repair job for the grandkids. Everytime I go round there, there is something they give me to bring home to mend lol. I have practically given up on the idea of selling my stuff, just doesnt seem to be the market for it these days and I was wasting a lot of money on stalls and listings and not selling anything. Means I will have a lot of stock that I can use for presents for family this year haha.

Hope everyone is well, I havent been able to keep up with the posts for a long time due to being so busy and also not getting the notifications meaning I forget to check (brain like a sieve).

susan42

Hi Rufus - glad your decorating going well. I too have etsy shop and I`ve had 5 sales which is 5 more than before. Even 3 to America. I now try to list the 20 items on ebay a month for a bit extra. And list when they have their 100 free items if I can. Going to try a bootsale next month. We`ll see

Mum2one - you behave with these romances

Dundeedoll - like the idea of the themed hampers. Do you tell your recipient what the clues are or do they have to guess

Katiehound - thanks for the heads up for wilkos. I walked past one the other day and told OH i didn't want to go in, I needed a wilkins*ns...didn't realize they changed their name

Angela - you should go for it re business, nothing to lose and good luck with the romance

Im not upto much the pain I have is a slipped disc in my neck. So led down most of the time as my head is too heavy for body! how weird

mum2one

Firstly apologies for the delay - I dont think there has been a day that I haven't phoned/been phoned by insurers, contractors etc...

Santas Challenge June

Here we are, hard to believe that we are half way through the year, and getting closer to the special day

Birthday Cards ad Presents

We're aiming to the 2nd part of the year, we've had the "mainstream cards", so have a look at your list see how the cards are, what do I need and the same with presents, - hopefully there be no additional surprises

Warm weather - selling
Nows the warm weather.... have a look at seeing whether you fancy doing a carboot sale, table top sale, listing on Ebay (new system 20 free listing - any amount) and hopefully there be a nice surprise or 2.

Christmas Element

Start your Christmas card list, - find which way is best for you, post/family/street/deliever etc and from here see whether you need any special cards (so you can get them early rather than last minute)

Presents
Another nice comfy element, check your list, see how many people you still need to get for, and work the budget, with the hope that we can not have to spend the full budget;)

Survey Sites/Reviews
I know theres a variety of review sites, cashback sites, reviews, but look at how many your signed up to, give them a spring clean, do you fin your always never meet the profile, or youve spread yourself too thin and see what works for you. Once you've found that set your a challenge of going online more often, maybe another review or check cashback sites for the free offers, eg checking car ins, recieiving a sim card, every little helps.

Summer Sales
Shops are starting to do the summer sales, - it may be worth looking for presents, whether you need something summery - remember it is not a bargain unless your going to get the use out of it.

Swop a skill
Theres things that we are good at yet others are no go areas, see if you do a skill swop with a friend, whether its running up a pair of curtains, or giving someone a recipie.

Miss Hoodies corner
Slips in quietly.... but with Miss Hoodie theres going to be a cleaning challenge...

This time its the freezer - this way your getting rid of the excess ice, a tidy up, sort out and also making more economical on running the freezer.

WASHING MACHINE
A tip to help keep the washing machine drum and pipes clean is run the machine empty on longest setting and highest temperature, - usually 90C th steam helps the sterile process, and also helps shift any grease in the pipes.

Share Your Tip
What money saving tip do you find you couldn't live without, share the secret.

Thank you to everyone xxxx

mum2one

apologies for the delay re Aprils cookery challenge... had a brain like a sieve.

1st Prize - Susan - for her quorn meal
2nd Prize - Angela - for her choice of pasties - very creative the marg with the sultanas.

(This is the cheeky part, Angela would you mind sending me a pm with your address so I can send the prize to you, promise you, u wont get a stalker). xx

mum2one

We're slowly getting sorted, after a nightmare return, we had the boss of the firm, a local surveyor came as well, - he was disguisted with the state of the kitchen (from the mess left by painters), - so we've agreed to give the company one last chance to rectify the error - the company are sending the painting supervisor and the boss be checking it at the end of the day. So fingers crossed.

Exicted we've booked or holiday for next yr - wont say guess the destination - as sure it be Tunisia rolling off the tougue. Dads paid half the depoist (had refund of the policy excess), and next yr mum giving us £600... so a lot less for me to find.

Had Miss Hoodies school fayre yesterday, we were meant to be on the playground, but it chucked it down.... mum did my stall (£22), and I was doing palm reading and angel card reading did it for the school, that was £20 raised for them, I did free for the teachers, Dds teacher, he made me laugh he said I'll read urs, Ok... he says your get very good news soon.... guessing it will be Miss hoodies report.

Miss Hoodie has her 1st day trial tomorrow at secondary school, where has the time gone?? Thou not happy with the uniform request... nearly £200 if I do it all with logos... although you can swop a couple of bits around.

xxxxxx

mum2one

mum2one wrote: »

Santas Challenge June

Here we are, hard to believe that we are half way through the year, and getting closer to the special day

Birthday Cards ad Presents

We're aiming to the 2nd part of the year, we've had the "mainstream cards", so have a look at your list see how the cards are, what do I need and the same with presents, - hopefully there be no additional surprises

-Sorted with cards, as 2nd half yr have parents and Miss Hoodies bday, - all general presents sorted, mum and dad are having joint present - garden swing - thou think Miss Hoodie will be claiming that, all got left is Miss Hoodie - think shes having a kindle paperwhite - unless she changes her mind!

Warm weather - selling
Nows the warm weather.... have a look at seeing whether you fancy doing a carboot sale, table top sale, listing on Ebay (new system 20 free listing - any amount) and hopefully there be a nice surprise or 2.

S[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]tarted with table top today, made £13, better than nought, bag of 12 items ready for ebay - go on Thurs for 10 days - hopefully there go. Still got to declutter.[/COLOR]

Christmas Element

Start your Christmas card list, - find which way is best for you, post/family/street/deliever etc and from here see whether you need any special cards (so you can get them early rather than last minute)

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Thats this weeks job, family, street, walkies round, pos[/COLOR]t

Presents
Another nice comfy element, check your list, see how many people you still need to get for, and work the budget, with the hope that we can not have to spend the full budget;)

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Presents Birthdays all in, Xmas 56 sets of presents got 49 done, so far spent £242 (lot sales - used vouchers) then family to do,
[/COLOR]
Survey Sites/Reviews
I know theres a variety of review sites, cashback sites, reviews, but look at how many your signed up to, give them a spring clean, do you fin your always never meet the profile, or youve spread yourself too thin and see what works for you. Once you've found that set your a challenge of going online more often, maybe another review or check cashback sites for the free offers, eg checking car ins, recieiving a sim card, every little helps.

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Set myself target for next 4 weeks to check in every 2 days and go through free offers..

[/COLOR]Summer Sales
Shops are starting to do the summer sales, - it may be worth looking for presents, whether you need something summery - remember it is not a bargain unless your going to get the use out of it.

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Trying to be good!![/COLOR]

Swop a skill
Theres things that we are good at yet others are no go areas, see if you do a skill swop with a friend, whether its running up a pair of curtains, or giving someone a recipie.
[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]
I've got a friend who is altering a dress for me, so in exchange knitting matinee coat in exchange. Works out well for me as last time I went to a dressmakers and it cost me £20 to a dress took in.[/COLOR]

Miss Hoodies corner
Slips in quietly.... but with Miss Hoodie theres going to be a cleaning challenge...

This time its the freezer - this way your getting rid of the excess ice, a tidy up, sort out and also making more economical on running the freezer.

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Father - your department[/COLOR]

WASHING MACHINE
A tip to help keep the washing machine drum and pipes clean is run the machine empty on longest setting and highest temperature, - usually 90C th steam helps the sterile process, and also helps shift any grease in the pipes.

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]On now as I type[/COLOR]

Share Your Tip
What money saving tip do you find you couldn't live without, share the secret.

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]If your going to Wales make sure you take your own bags as its 5p a bag...[/COLOR]

.
Thank you to everyone xxxx

Theres a quick update from me, better than i thought I was doing with presents xx

susan42

Thanks for the challenges mum2one

From memory

I try to put 20 items on eBay a month. Got a bit carried away over weekend, got over 100 for sale. Need final push to pay some bills

I started on my christmas cards , have about 50 done at present

I hate defrosting freezer , but this will give me a reason to do it. Or perhaps I can borrow grandad hoodie

Presents - I'm collecting slowly but have decided to give money as the main presents this year. They love going to sales. So just getting bits and bats

I've booked a table at a boot sale end of July so we'll see must admit it's my pet hate. Don't like people swarming around the car.

I have to pull my finger out as I want christmas to me free and perhaps if I can keep it up , it'll pay for something else

My moneysavings tip
I was in a fat club. But prices are escalating all the time . Think it was over £6 last time I went. So roped in a few friend. We go for coffee instead. Which we used to do after fat club anyway.
We also all put the fees into a pot every week.

£5 in a pot soon mounts up . Think we have £150 each in

If you put weight on your fined a pound. If you any of you goes on hols you all get a free week. So no costly charges from those weeks.

And best of all , it's the longest I stayed on a diet and have lost a stone :-)

Not money saving I don't suppose

Another thing I do is send for all the freebies on the freebie board. And anywhere else I can find them. Collect them all up and at christmas use them as the fillings for advent calendars.
I could go on forever but this post is getting a bit long

Hi everyone, hope your all busy. I won't do a list of names as I don't want to leave anyone out . (Sue waves to all) x