Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

DundeeDoll

susan42 i'm not sure how to link to other threads but it's page 5 of low cost christmas presents and the whole post is here:

mum2one wrote: »

I don't know if its any help. but can you knit or can you get someone to knit it for you, its a mini christmas stocking, I'm doing a wack as DD is sharing my stall at our school fair and were putting a mini choc bar in them.

The pattern -
Oddments of Double Knitting wool and pair of no 8 / 4mm needles

Cast on 20 stst
Rows 1 to 4 - k2 p2 to end, - gives a double rib
Rows 5 to 16 Stocking Stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl)
Next - Knit 12 sts
Next - turn Purl 4 sts
next - turn knit 6 sts
next - turn purl 8 sts
next - turn knit 10 sts
next - turn purl 12 sts
next - turn knit 14sts
next - turn purl 16sts
next - turn - knit to end
(on reverse side)
Stocking Stitch 7 rows (begin with purl row)
Next Knit 2 tog to end of row (10 sts)
Next Purl 2 tog (5 sts)

break yarn, thread through the 5 sts and sew up the seam. Your having a mini stocking

To make a chain at top of stocking, pop the needle through and make a stitch do a small chain 1stitch, knit a small chain cast off, sew on the stocking for loop. xx

mum2one

7roland8 - thank you, I'm a soppy sod, and the saving was brilliant, which if more than most companies would do.

Dundee Doll - Your an absolute star, thank you, goad you've found them fun to do, we put mini choc bars in ours and use them for tree decorations thou by when the tree goes down, the chocs have disappeared by then!

Susan - Hope your feeling better, bad enough being poorly, but with a house full hope you feel better soon, bug hugs from me and Miss Hoodie.

Bambisbelle - Massive congratulations and can't wait to hear about Miss bambi sounds like shes going to be the best dressed baby, but thats the best way to do it. The thing is doesn't matter whether there money neutral, sounds like you have some beautiful items, and if you do any surveys etc get vouchers, you can always pay yourself back, or put them ready for the next batch.

Sounds like you have everything ready, but don't know if it is any help, the next Argos sale is based on nursery items.

----
Must say had a very lazy morning, we've got Miss Hoodie with upset tum now, bless her, so set up all the gadgets, shouldn't laugh but got mum and dad a new DVD player, its so tiny comapred to the bulky old video/dvd unit. Set up the Tassimo, Nanny Hoodie made her 1st drink...

Miss Hoodie acquired a new TV in the sales - she had a 16in before upgraded her to a 19in he difference is amazing.

xxx

bunbun2

I ventured out to the sales today at one of the retail parks and came back with nothing:( It feels odd having bought nothing for 2014. I am pinning my hopes on the boots 75% sale. I was surprised at how little Christmas stock there was left in asda and sainsburys.

mum2one

Bunbun - we popped to retail park last night, Argos as we had some to collect, and went into £1world - picked up christmas stuff all 50p then Asda on way home and got some wrapping paper for 50p, but I found the sales hit and miss, even my friend who gets kitted out with clothes for the year said it was disappointing.

I hope Boots do 75% sale, but I doubt our store would have anything really left, yeaterday they had less stock than the 75% day...

Bunbun - sorry to be nosey - noticed the sig for school trip, wha yr is DS in, Miss Hoodie starts secondary in Sept, - dreading prices of trips. Got 1 trip this yr fri-mom at Adventure place, so be save for that next! xx

tibawo

Have just set up my new tv that got in tesco sale. We have been using the 19" one until I was sure was Xmas was sorted! It feels like we are at the cinema!

I fell off the band wagon with clicks etc this year but am getting myself sorted. I have promised dd1 she can have the points from scanning shopping in lieu of some spending money. This is due to her new kindle. I am then going to use the said spending money to put on an asda top up card as I get a discount from work. Am also going to put at least 5 on a love to shop card on a similar scheme. This worked well for me this year.

I still have stashes of cards and paper so am going use them up next year first!

Think I'm going to do a sealed pot challenge as well.

Whilst off work am also going to put things on eBay.

bunbun2

mum2one wrote: »

Bunbun - we popped to retail park last night, Argos as we had some to collect, and went into £1world - picked up christmas stuff all 50p then Asda on way home and got some wrapping paper for 50p, but I found the sales hit and miss, even my friend who gets kitted out with clothes for the year said it was disappointing.

I hope Boots do 75% sale, but I doubt our store would have anything really left, yeaterday they had less stock than the 75% day...

Bunbun - sorry to be nosey - noticed the sig for school trip, wha yr is DS in, Miss Hoodie starts secondary in Sept, - dreading prices of trips. Got 1 trip this yr fri-mom at Adventure place, so be save for that next! xx

I haven't been in boots so may be disappointed there too.

ds2 is in year 8. my sig is a bit out of date and the trip was in October. I must change it as ds1 has a history trip in July to the battlefields in France/Belgium which will be £550:eek: I am so pleased they don't want to go on the ski trip as that is over £1000. ds2 has a couple of friends who are going on all the trips. regardless of cost I think it does them good to make choices.

Bambisbelle

mum2one wrote: »

Bambisbelle - Massive congratulations and can't wait to hear about Miss bambi sounds like shes going to be the best dressed baby, but thats the best way to do it. The thing is doesn't matter whether there money neutral, sounds like you have some beautiful items, and if you do any surveys etc get vouchers, you can always pay yourself back, or put them ready for the next batch.

Sounds like you have everything ready, but don't know if it is any help, the next Argos sale is based on nursery items.

----
Must say had a very lazy morning, we've got Miss Hoodie with upset tum now, bless her, so set up all the gadgets, shouldn't laugh but got mum and dad a new DVD player, its so tiny comapred to the bulky old video/dvd unit. Set up the Tassimo, Nanny Hoodie made her 1st drink...

Miss Hoodie acquired a new TV in the sales - she had a 16in before upgraded her to a 19in he difference is amazing.

xxx

Thank you mum l will certainly look into doing more surveys I used to do them a couple of years ago but as per usual I've forgotten all my passwords and have way too many email accounts to search through Iol
Off to the start of the thread to open new accounts for the surveys and points So its more acceptable when I make a splurge when Miss Bambi arrives :rotfl:
Luckily for me I spent most of the year traipsing and trawling through all the sales and baby events so everything (aside from the pram) was bought at a discounted price than original RRP's.

Thank you for the Argos Baby Event info, will definitely be helpful to one of my friends as she still has lots to buy. l am beginning to wonder if I should become a personal shopper l love it and I try to be as MSE and bargain hunter as possible.

Right l better get my present book sorted and also get the present box in order, maybe I'll do that tomorrow

Hope Miss Hoodie gets well soon

B xx

7roland8

I tend to do all shopping online so miss out on loads of stuff instore.

However have got a £3 Adidas shopper and a £6 Union Jack fleece blanket from Kay & Co to put away for son.

mum2one

Miss Hoodie back to normal - gone shopping with grandad hoodie.

We've had a clear out, sold my first set of items on facebook sellers.
Miss Hoodies old tv - £20
dvd/video unit £15
5 x jumpers of Miss Hoodies - £15 (awaiting collection) - normally clothes go straight to her friends...
BT Vision box - £5

Now off to list some more of Miss Hoodies clothes - she has a habit of living in same couple of prs of leggings and tshirts - any money all helps out.

Def worth a gamble xx

All christmas cards were cut into tags last night, with the dog we can't put them up, kept the tree up.

Hope everyone ok xx

bunbun2

bambisbelle congratulations:j

mum2one glad to hear miss hoodie is feeling better. well done on your sales

I went back to sainsburys today and found a couple of shelves of sale items I hadn't seen the other day. I got some hello kitty bits for my cousin's dd (either birthday or Christmas), a few selection boxes and a tin of choc chip cookies ( the tin is very cute!).