Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

mum2one

Expensive day today, none of it on Christmas!! The car had its MOT and service, - nice price £359. I've got £300 budgeted for it, not to bad.... needed new brake discs so know it be super safe.

Then tonight, needed to nip out, few groceries, Miss Hoodie wanted to come with me, so off to Asda we started... went to brake at the top of the road, (got dads car), and there was no brakes... no cars about and was going slow, managed to get the car turned around and back hom safe...

Tomorrow ring the AA, got homestart, get them to tow me to the garage, and then I can come home in my car....

Started my mass tidy up, done my bedroom and started putting some presents ready for Christmas, half tidyed the landing - thou when I get the next burst to do it dont know

off to pick a wheelchair up tomorrow, for grandad hoodie, - got it on loan from Red Cross, got for 8 weeks, help here as we can him to the car, and then Miss Hoodie has offered to wheelchair him down to the corner shop at weekend for the papers, bless her heart, she is a little treasure (90% of the time angel, 10% devil in disguise).

We had the chat about what do you want for Christmas, - shes having an iphone for her bday... (its gone 3 ways, mum, me and Miss Hoodie has paid towards it), she said if the lucky dip from the lottery wins a fortune, can i have mac book pro - as I can sync it with the phone..... Nanny Hoodie said we're look into it... Then I told her the price, never seen my mother shut up so quick.... next idea .....
surprise me.........

the best bit - when I went into my Amazon account - in my "wish list", suddendly appearing was ipad air, ipad min and 6 other tablets.... so need I guess whats going to be under the tree... xx

mum2one

Hope everyone ok, not to bad here, had a really good weekend away with Miss Hoodie, the weather was gorgeous, our hotel was lovely, thou Miss Hoodie was a bit disappointed that it wasn't an all inclusive Tunisia break!!!

Bar Miss Hoodie fell out of bed, and has hurt her knee, arm and shoulder, heard this thump, next thing she is between the 2 beds.....

We got there Fri afternoon, popped to the shops for a wonder, Sat we went to the sea life centre, Sunday went via a market, bargain, earlier in yr, brought some nightwear, pd £6 pjs, £4 nightie, this tie as he was clearing out I got 3 prs pjs, 2 nighties for £15.

Grandad Hoodie doing ok, he has some colour in his cheeks, got this week off from his hospital appointments so thats a positive, xxx

mrs-moneypenny

popping in to wish everyone well
its starting to get busy and feel festive now - just read on google today is the 1st day of autumn

mum2one

Its that time for Santas Challenge, its just nder 100 days to Christmas, and by the date 3 months to go, so back to business.

Christmas Card Action
Most of the shops now have their Christmas card ranges in, some retailers have last years stock at a vastly reduced rates, markets may be even better;). So hunt down the special cards, hubby, boyfriend, son, daughter etc.

Making Cards
If your making cards how many do you need to do / is the stash supply going to be able to keep you going?

Birthdays
This may sond mad, but dont let any birthdays slip while the Christmas planning takes over, - have a look if you have any birthdays till end of Dec, and see how your going with those.

Flu Jabs
This is the season of the flu... tissues to the ready, add a mix of paracetamol, and the chicken soup....
Going by my local docs surgery, our Flu jabs are available from end of sept, some surgeries do a drop in clinic.... but it may be a long wait, so if you need to see the nurse - maybe worth killing 2 birds with one stone;).

This year there also offering a shingles jab, whether it will be a 2 in 1, or 2 jabs, don't know, along with flu jabs - there is a pneumonia jab, (think lasts 10 yrs).

If you are not eligable and you do want a jab, most chemists offer them, an average price seems to be £8.

Money, money, money
That magic thing that makes the world go round, - again nearly 100 days to xmas, -the idea being have a last minute push, whether that is cash back, surveys, clicks, reviews, ebay, car boot, craft fayres, - some cashback may not be ready for this year, but would make a good start for 2015...

Ebay - there is the 20 free items per month, after that starts at 12p, aim to put 20 items on before the next challenge.

Even if it is £10 or £100 you aim for, its some extra spends for Christmas.

Miss Hoodies corner
[COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]Just casually drop this into the proceedings..... this month you may need your rubber gloves... its tidy the freezer time, this way it is one less job before Christmas, and youcan also see if there are any goodies ready for Christmas. [/COLOR]

Christmas Cake
Its that time to get the fruit soaking and the recipies ready, whethers its the traditional Christmas cake or something new and different, - the earlier you can shop for the dried fruit, your get a better choice of range rather than the premium range.

Generally it is alcohol used to soak the fruit, - if you do want a non-alcohol version, the fruit can be soaked in strong tea, about 400ml - if you want a lighter or exotic flavour use a fruit tea bag, - lemon and ginger or cranberry, or soak in orange juice.

To Do list[/COLOR
This is a nice to do list, - pick 4 things for yourself, whether that is a long soak in the bath, half an hr reading a book, going for a walk, choose 4 things, and aim to do 1 a week.

Medicine
prescriptions - self review

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This may sound mad, - but method in the madness,... I'm guessing that your mediciation runs out at different times, - it may be worth grabbing a coffee, pen, notebook and go through the mediciation you have got, list when your liable to run out, (allow 7 days in stock - to allow for ordering and preparation), it may seem like a long job but it soon bring dividends back.


Mediciations - part 2
I'm working on the thought that there is someone else in the house that you may help manage their mediciation - may be worth doing the self review on theres.

Keep a copy
Don't panic not suggesting carrying a copy of your prescription - instead do a copy on a spreadsheet, print, and carry a copy with you in wallet / purse, also put a copy somewhere safe such as kitchen cupboard

First aid kit
Even if it is stored in a lunch box, look at putting a few items ready in case there needed.
Paracetamol
ibuofen
Plasters
Sickness and runs tablets
scissors
alcohol wipes
sticky squares (use them for burns - buy them in Boots single packet)
micropause tape
cough sweets
rehydration sachets

Last but not least - Where am I??/
[COLOR="rgb(0, 191, 255)"]The weather is getting colder on us, soo be time for the central heating to cut in, change the quilts for the winter ones, and the kettle on standby for the hot water bottles.

These are just a few thoughts
Fuse box
Torch
stop !!!!
batteries for the remote control...
phone chargers
insurance papers


As always use this as a pick and mix, xx

mrs-moneypenny

thank you for the challenges, ill have a proper look later must miss hoodie must have been peeking in my kitchen and seen the build up of ice forming in my freezer.

the cake is made and has had its first top up of brandy

my 4 things
im going to finish the baby blanket im knitting for a friends 1st grandchild- i need to speed up as its already overdue!
plan to finish the book im reading.
ill do at least 30mins stitching each day for a week on my celtic lady.
i will phone at least 7 friends/rellys ive not spoken to recently during the month.

hope all are well.

mils next appt to discuss the scan is monday - hopefully good news

youth_leader

Can I ask where people post thrifty ideas please? Thank you.

mrs-moneypenny

welcome youthleader, you can post them in here or if you spot a thread you think they are more appropriate in pop them there.

we are christmas and celebration based but tend to have chat about all sorts and none of us bite

mum2one

I had some brilliant news today, - thouht at first it was junk mail - no - it was from cpp, as I use to have card protection with them, they were done for misselling, - i had claim form from April, but didnt fill it in to 2 days before the deadline, wasn't really expecting anything.....

Got £275.00 ....... so so pleased....... xx

mrs-moneypenny

brilliant news mum2one

sarahj1986

Xmas is in full swing now for me

Nieces and nephew sorted. Got them toys in various sales then clothes from Primark.

Boyfriend got him a DVD and I know what else I'm buying him

I've got tons of toiletry gift sets and Yankee candles all sale items to give away should I need to bulk out gifts.

Boots now have the Xmas gifts in stock. I'll do my "boots run" on points event day £12 worth of points per £50 spend in store. Xmas guide due out next week.

Vouchers/money. I get money and/or vouchers from various earning sites to help me along the way. My employers also do discounted vouchers, for example I can get a Boots voucher £50 but only pay £45 for it, pretty good and I'll look to do this for shops I know I'm buying from.

Very well planned considering