The Great Hunt: It's June, so what have you bought for Christmas?

katyboo123

kdalwayskint wrote: »

I said that I was going to start early this year and haven't done anything so far!

Planning on making some bits to keep costs down.

Missed out on the January sales as we were skint as other half was out of work before Christmas.

Thanks for this reminder!

I will too be making some bits including:

A food hamper for some foodie friends (including sweet chilli dip, fudge, jam/chutney from what I make in Autumn, a small Xmas cake, then buy some cheeses and wrap in nice cloth, etc)
Crocheted Face Scrubbies (a jar full for each of my girlfriends) http://dabblesandbabbles.com/reusable-crochet-face-scrubbies/
Some scented body powder http://www.crunchybetty.com/homemade-beauty-gift-idea-luxurious-body-dusting-powder and puffs http://www.ehow.com/how_8788381_make-powder-puff.html for my girlfriends
(will probably put some face scrubbies, body powder, puff and maybe make one of the Lush copycat scrubs from Pinterest in a basket for each of them, then add in personalised bits and pieces)
Bib and burpcloth set, blanket, hooded towel, cot quilt and taggie for my brand new niece/nephew

I am also going to start my Xmas cakes early, as I give these as gifts and always start wayyy too late!

Christmas is second only to Halloween for me in terms of favourite time of the year, so I am excited!!!!!! EEEEEK!!!

katyboo123

gloriouslyhappy wrote: »

I've bought presents for most of my friends, we have an agreement that we buy small things only, and as many of them collect things like unusual xmas ornaments, I was able to get really expensive ones in the January sales which are tucked aside ready for this year, along with boxes of xmas cards (29p), gift tags (10p) and xmas crackers - got those ridiculously expensive ones usually £20 for 8!!! for a mere £2.69.

Also got some of those mini booze-and-chocs gift packs at a quarter of original cost, nothing over £4, and always choose the non-xmas themed ones so I can give as gifts during the year.

And the big bargain, I got two £15 xmas fruit cakes for £1.75 - you can't buy the ingredients for that price! I turned them upside down so as not to disturb the pretty icing, skewered them, gave them a healthy dollop of brandy, then sealed the bottom with a sheet of ready-roll fondant icing, also on sale, and wrapped them up tightly in grease-proof paper then foil before putting them in the back of the cupboard. We had one last week for an engagement party and it was absolutely delicious, I just carefully removed the xmas bauble icing ornaments and replaced it with two red roses from the garden and a home-made fondant icing heart with their names on it. Looked great, and I've still got the other one ready for this xmas.

Can you do the brandy feeding trick if they have a best before date pre-Xmas 2014? I ask because I've seen cakes in the sales and thought, I would like to buy them, but have been a bit nervous in case they go off. I know with a homemade cake I have kept them for years, feeding them with alcohol and they have always been delicious, but didn't know if it was the same with shop bought - you are so right, you can't make your own for that price and tbh, it's the time for me - it takes an age to DIY when you have 10 to make :rotfl:

katyboo123

beckylouhancock wrote: »

I bought it all in the January sales,

X2 cooking books = £2 - RRP £25
X1 packet of River Island Socks = £5 - RRP £10
X1 pair of primark boxers = £3 - RRP £6
X1 Laura Ashley Gift Set = £5 - RRP £20
X1 Ted Baker Gift Set = £8 - RRP £8
X1 Ted Baker Gift Set = £10 - RRP £20
X12 Lush Bath Bombs = £10 - RRP £30
X1 Speaker Amp = £1.37 - RRP £8
X1 Lush gift set = £3.30 - RRP £7
X1 Baylis & Harding Set = £5 - RRP £15

Plus all gift tags, 8 rolls of wrapping paper for £1 and gift bags all bought!

January Sales - Love them!

So every year when everyone moans of being broke - I'm not!

I save £20 a month up for Xmas then its all paid - a year in advance and there's no issues!

Perfect!

We save too - £10 a week each in a Credit Union and we get £1000 back at Xmas. This year though, as we're getting married in May 2015, we're also buying throughout the year and using our Christmas Club savings to pay for something for the wedding - and we're significantly cutting back on each other. The things is like someone said on here, when you have a lot of other things on (we have new niece/nephew coming this year, a 40th, a wedding and our own wedding shortly after!) sometimes you need to cut back somewhere don't you?!

I love your idea of buying in the January sales, so I might allocate £200 of the £1000 to hitting the sales for Xmas pressies for Xmas 2015 :beer:

Thats_me

I have started knitting christmas jumpers for 5 grandchildren. Thats as far as I've got!

Gavin83

You lot are organised. I generally start my Christmas shopping late November!

greenval

Just bought some of the 'gardeners' products' , hand scrub, hand cream etc from Crabtree a Evelyn at £5 instead of £16!

Former_MSE_Andrea

Found 20p packets of Birds brandy sauce in Tesco just a week or so ago that'll still be in date at Christmas. Happy bunny stocked up on four

gloriouslyhappy

katyboo123 wrote: »

Can you do the brandy feeding trick if they have a best before date pre-Xmas 2014? I ask because I've seen cakes in the sales and thought, I would like to buy them, but have been a bit nervous in case they go off. I know with a homemade cake I have kept them for years, feeding them with alcohol and they have always been delicious, but didn't know if it was the same with shop bought - you are so right, you can't make your own for that price and tbh, it's the time for me - it takes an age to DIY when you have 10 to make :rotfl:

Yes, you can you do the brandy feeding trick if the cakes are xmas 2013 and still sealed - unseal them, feed the brandy then re-seal tightly, using wax paper on the cake then foil over that then place in a cake tin with a tight-fitting lid. Alternatively, leave them factory-sealed until about a week before you need them and brandy up then, re-sealing the cake until the day you need them, or the day before if you want to re-decorate.

Hope this helps - enjoy!

onlyroz

I've ordered Bo and Yana robots for my kids - due to arrive in October:

https://www.play-i.com/

Uniscots97

A local shop (franchise grocery store) is stocking JP Chenet cava in sparkling white packaging for £4.99. I've bought a few for Christmas. I also managed to get glitter wine bags for 50p for 3 (reduced) in Poundworld.