Xmas Saver 2014: What's your best bargain? Let us know for a Forum Xmas saver badge

Emmala

FZwanab wrote: »

Here you go, I put it on a thread in old style the other day but probably hard to see :


I struggled for years making fudge now I make it easily in my slow cooker! 500g chocolate, 1 tin condensed milk, 1 dtsp vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon butter, cook on low for 2 hours with lid off and stir every 15 minutes. Pour out onto lined tray cool and refrigerate overnight, cut into chunks and enjoy or gift. I make lovely white chocolate fudge and milk chocolate fudge, hope that helps some of you.

Thank you so much for posting this! Can't wait to try it.......shuffles off to raid the cupboard for ingredients! :T

FZwanab

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Yum, thank you! Badge on its way, from MSE Badger of course

Thanks for the badge, very happy (it must be the old girl guide in me)

Emmala

For teacher presents this year I made these, well, the kids helped too, and the teachers loved them!


http://www.jakheath.com/2012/12/make-your-own-chocolate-place.html

IrishRose12

MollyMischief wrote: »

For teacher presents this year I made these, well, the kids helped too, and the teachers loved them!


http://www.jakheath.com/2012/12/make-your-own-chocolate-place.html

I've made those the past 2 years to go along with the children's teacher presents

Emmala

IrishRose12 wrote: »

I've made those the past 2 years to go along with the children's teacher presents

They're great aren't they? I have a feeling we will be doing them again....and again!!:rotfl:

IrishRose12

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Feel free to tweet it to us instead if you can't upload it

https://twitter.com/MSE_Forum/status/549506023204331521

And again, what about those of us who don't have a photo to post?? I have read some great deals on here yet they haven't been given a badge. Yet some others that aren't great deals IMO have been given a badge?

MollyMischief wrote: »

They're great aren't they? I have a feeling we will be doing them again....and again!!:rotfl:

They are brilliant. Kids love them. I also have 3 older pupils who help in my class at Break and Lunchtime so have made them for them also

Emma_N

I doubt I'll get a badge as I don't have any photos of my Christmas savings (the presents have been distributed around my family) but I'll share my Christmas bargains.

As a skint student I had a budget of less than £150 for Christmas 2014. In the end I ended up spending less than £70 (I hope my family don't see this post!). I started my shopping early, and had a strict rule that I was not allowed to pay full price. I think I became more than a little bit obsessed with googling/shopping comparison sites.

I managed to recycle some of my unwanted presents from Christmas and birthdays during 2011/2012. I kept a spreadsheet to ensure that I don't accidently return my unwanted presents to the family member who bought them.

I bought all my Christmas cards in the sales last year so managed to save quite a few ££££££

I managed to pick up a few bargains in the local charity shops. My best find was a brand new Peppa Pig laptop for £5 (should have been £23).

I enter loads of competitions on twitter, and managed to win some expensive running tights (these were given to my sister) a yoga mat (given to mum) and a fancy training log book (this was given to a running friend).

During 2015 I am going to enter as many competitions as I can. My aim is to not have to spend a penny on Christmas presents next year. I will also cash in my roadkill finds (the total is enough to buy a couple of presents) and continue to raise money by selling used tennis balls

:beer:

IrishRose12

Finally found the link of the deal that I bought the sleeping bags from for the Homeless charity. Didn't think to check in the expired section
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5140648

They were originally £20 each and with a 10% discount added on top of the sale price I got them for £2.70. Bought 11 and donated them to the charity. They were gratefully received and I am happy to do my part as it has been freezing here this past week and can't stop thinking about those poor people sleeping outside

Emmala

Trying to work out how to put a photo on here has completey stumped me, so this is the link for the exercise mat I found in the charity shop....

http://www.reebok.co.uk/tri-fold-fitness-mat/Q25431_500.html?ds_e_ad_type=pla

Golden_Anemone

My best Christmas bargain this year was a Grabbit I saw here for Thorntons way back in October. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5092376

They were selling their £8 Christmas items at 5 for £20 - chocolate santas, princesses, snowmen, advent calendars and cupcakes. I bought 15 for family and work colleagues and had each one personalised for free with the recipient's name. This brought the cost to £60 instead of £120.

Then there was an additional discount of 20% because it was Chocolate Week and delivery for £1. This made my total to pay inc delivery was £49.

There was also 24% Quidco which was calculated against the non reduced prices so I was paid £19.05. This made the total nett amount paid £29.95.

So each personalised chocolate item was less than £2 each. :T

Total saving was £91.95 or 76.625% of the price before discount.