Santa's Challenge 2015 - Xmas, Birthdays, a chat, a bit of everything

caffscho1

Hi everyone! I'm pretty new to the whole world of MSE so I'm sorry if this isn't the right place or I say something wrong.

I have pretty much finished all my Christmas and birthday present shopping for the rest of the year, bar a few that I need to wait to get closer to the time (flowers, food etc).

My favourite things has been TopCashBack, I've earned £101.94 on my purchases plus I haven't had to spend extra on faster delivery. I have also picked up some really good deals on Christmas crafting gear and I'm going to start making my Christmas cards this weekend.

My friends and family are going mad at me for getting it sorted so early on but I know that as it gets closer, I end up spending more because I feel guilty for leaving it till the last minute and I forget what I have bought for certain people (my sister especially).

How do you guys plan for christmas and birthday presents? I have set myself up with a savings account for "Special Events" that I put £50-£100 a month in and use that to cover me for things like concerts as well as birthdays and Christmas

mrs-moneypenny

Welcome caffscho1, and well done you on being so organised. We'll be asking you for tips.

I've got to sort my stash cupboard out as everything is a mess in there and I can't remember who I've got what for.

MoneyMission2015

Hi caffscho


Wow, you are super organised. There was me thinking I've done well to have bought a few things and you've gone and finished yours!! :rotfl:


In the past I have always been very disorganised. I leave everything to the last minute and then end up spending lots of money in November and December, which always ended up with me being skint in January. I've also had a few birthdays where I have bought the present on my way to see the person!!


So this year I have been so much more organised. For a start I have set up a regular amount to save every month. I put away a set amount per month for birthdays, Christmas, other celebrations (fathers day etc) and kids birthday parties. I also have other savings too, but try to keep them all categorised so I know how much I have for each event and don't go overboard thinking I've got more money than I think.


I have also been buying a few things throughout the year, usually when there is a sale on somewhere that I usually buy gifts in.


What I have been doing with the current purchases is made a list of the things I've bought, how much they cost and who I have bought them for. Then if I see something I think somebody would like, I check the list first to see how much (if anything) I have already spent on that person. This will stop me from spending too much on one person and stop me buying any duplicates.


I also use TopCashBack all year round for shopping and for insurance renewals and every so often I 'cash out'. I tend to convert them in to vouchers more often than not, because you get around a 5% bonus for vouchers. So far I've got around £250 in vouchers from cashback, bonus offers on insurance products and surveys. It all helps because on average I spend around £50 per person on my family (mum, dad, sisters) so that covers them. I would have had more but I have spent a few of the Amazon vouchers on a few things lately, but I don't mind that because at least it hasn't come out of my pocket as such.

susan42

Hi everyone, especially the new guys :-)

Great organising everyone

I have purchased a lot of my Christmas presents. Just have the chocolates and treats to get

I've made around 50 Christmas cards so far, need quite a few more.. A lot more lol

I too love top cash back. Just this week got the money back on a insurance policy I took out.. It was a bit of a sweat TBH as the insurance for my daughters house cost £12.52 after cash back . I didn't think I'd get it as it didn't track properly so I'm pleased with that.

I love TCB and since I have installed the toolbar thingy it works even better by reminding me there's cash available

I took paper cutting up a couple of weeks ago. I love it but with my poor hands it's a slow process. Hopefully I'll improve and can give some as presents for Xmas.

Well I'm still decorating the house (supervising) OH is going room to room as you should but as he's getting braver with colours and things, he's not liking the plainer rooms. So we have 3 rooms that have to be gone back over !!!! Completely changed as he's not fussed on the colours / wallpapers. I told him to leave it as we'll change it in the future years but works abut slow this year so I think he's bored.

Anyhow, please everyone keep talking Xmas as I love it and everyone around me thinks I'm crazy

Xxx

mum2one

Sounds some really good xmas planning, touch wood all the presents are done for xmas bar Miss Hoodie, Nanny hoodie and grandad hoodie...

The next biggie is Miss Hoodie bday, shes going to be 13, where does the time go, so shes having a ipad and some beats headphones, (going halves with mum and dad), been saving Amazon vouchers to take the sting out of the tale....

From September need to put some money up towards remaining prezzies, there the most expensive ones....

Food etc we start adding extras in shopping from Sept,

The break was ok in Wales, but nippy with the weather, picked up a tum bug, we had a pizza on Sunday ngt, it was cheap cheese, didnt agree with me. We had Grandad hoodies bday, he was 77, went out to a local pub was nice, plenty of 2p slot machines...

Another vote for topcashback, I also use quidco, as some rates are better, and last Xmas there was a promo that meant an extra £50 for shopping at certain places.

xx

mum2one

Were on the home straight to Christmas 2015, so here is to another challenge... (apologies for the delay)

Essential Paperwork[/COLOR]

I can't take the credit for this idea, another lady came up with it, so have kindly borrowed it.

Hopefully essential documents (birth certs, marriage certs, home ins etc), are all stored safely, ideally in a fireproof box (we're not all that organised) the suggestion is to scan all the documents into the computer, and then copy them onto a USB stick, and store this safely. In the event of an emergency a copy is better than nothing.

Christmas Cards
Don't panic, I'm not suggesting writing them yet.... start your lists, whether its set out by family, post, deliever, work - which ever works best for you, this way you know if you need any special ones, or making them, you can see how many you need and more importantly the amount of stamps needed...

Christmas Cake[/SIZE]
I know it seems early, but have a look at recipies and decide which one you want to do, and pop a shopping list ready for the ingredients, so you can split them through the next month or so shopping trips.
I know from experience last yr, that by end of September, all I could find was the posh dried fruits etc... grab these first...

Summer sales
I feel a fraud saying summer, I hold out hope.... shops are starting planning there summer sales, I know Next had there big event last weekend, there the first to start the chain of reductions off.

Bargain hunt - eg suntan lotion, most lotions (unopened) have a shelf life from 18mths to 3 yrs, so if you are planning a winter escape or even next year, may be worth looking.

[/B]Stock piling[/B]
Another thought for Christmas, plan to stockpile some of the items your use more of, whether it is a packet of stuffing, through to toilet rolls (seems mad, but kids not at school, hubby/etc on a break from work, Christmas visitors) - the loo gets more use, so don't get caught short....

Summer Holidays - Vouchers /Discounts
If your planning a day out, a break, look online to see if you can get a better deal by prebooking, for Miss Hoodie and me, saved over £100 by prebooking an all in one ticket, than paying on the door, looking at day at local zoo, by pre-booking save £6 all helps out

Half yearly security checks
Check the online security on the computer is up to date,has it been run regulary, and check your passwords, if you can try to change as many as you can, same goes for pin numbers on your card

Money Making - Internet
Half way through the year, so time to tackle a new challenge, whether that is trying a new site, or setting yourself a challenge to focus on one site and log in more regulary/answer a survery

Miss Hoodies cleaning corner...
Time to tackle the cooker, give it a deep clean, ....

Me, Me, Me corner
A Treat for us, this months suggestion is grab a film (Christmas if you want;) lock the doors, block the world out, relax, whether its a glass of wine or a cup of tea, relax and the world can wait..:D

A big thank you to everyone, a big hi to the new faces, your among friends, as always treat the list as a pick and miss. xx

Katiehound

Hey, this week I have "arrived" MSE style: 2 tips from me in the weekly newsletter, shame you can only get a badge once!!

I love the deals on magazines thread- on "shop but don't drop", I think. Anyhow bought my first real prezzie last week- Good Housekeeping sub for a friend but did it over the phone as I wanted the sub to be a follow on (ends Oct) Not only was it a good price, just under £20 when usual renewal is £27 but today a box of Bayliss & Harding goodies turned up out of the blue On the T&Cs for offer says gift for 1st x 300 subscribers.. was I really one of them?
Last week I got the gift from Glamour mag- 3 issues for £1- freebie worth £15! Both these offers are still up and running but you need to be quick.

Got a bargain last week. George linen trousers were £3.50 in charity shop but teeny hole and missing button which they hadn't spotted- £1. Shortened, mended hole, sewed on buttons- great. Also got sparkly John Rochas at Debenhams fancy tee shirt- another charity shop- looked a bit tatty with hanging threads from raw edge ruffle- £1. Trimmed the threads- fine now!

28 duvets made in 4 weeks. had enough. Lady from Skeggie phoned yesterday she wants a couple (it's a bit far) as there was a piece in the local paper. ha ha said I had a halo raising all that money ( over £2500)

Sun is just out- get the washing on the line.
Take care all
Heard someone on the radio say they had all their cards written and presents wrapped. No comment!

mum2one

Well done Katiehound with the newsletter.

Hope everyone ok, home safe from Blackpool, but absolutely shattered, we just seemed to cram so much in, glad for a lie in this morning...

As usual the traffic was bad on way home, so we did a detour, but found a costa coffee so stopped there for drink and loo stop.

Next weeks plans, tidying up, baking and hopefully not much spending! xx

mum2one

I've had a spending day, but used mainly vouchers, and have now sorted out Miss Hoodies bday presents, its a joint family one...

Ipad Air2 - Tesco (used clubcard vouchers, - £80 short - dad paid...)
Beats headphones (not the mega expensive ones - £50 reduction for colour choice (pale blue), did want pink or white not paying £160+ and case - Amazon vouchers

Accesories for Ipad - off Bailey (2 cases, tempered screen, back cover) £50 - Amazon..

I even have £75 vouchers left - they have my name on them, saving for Ipad - dont feel quilty that way getting one..

..

Miss Hoodies been to cinema twice, same film different friends, then we're going Friday, off to see friend on Sat. Not much has been achieved this week, but good to have the rest xx

mrs-moneypenny

It's always rather satisfying when you can buy what you want using vouchers and deals. Well done on getting so much for such a small cash outlay