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

Anglea

Hi all

Sugarspun - I recall from ages ago you mentioning Crabbies and I set out to try some at the pub but all they had was ginger beer - non alcoholic so still haven't tried any.

Mum2one - thank very much for the latest challenge.

Changes for this year -

I found last December exceptionally stressful, more than ever - I had a sort of mini breakdown from things happening in my personal life, worrying about dad who'd spent most of the summer onwards in and out of hospital and getting really behind with Christmas prep to the point I told mum I may have to cancel Christmas day - as it happened all worked out ok but I don't want to get into that state again.

So want to get more done in advance and really look into time management on a daily basis and cut down on the timewasting activities.

Today ex is supposed to be bringing over lots of large boxes of stuff belonging to DS1 who is going abroad to stay for a while and heaven knows where they will go. Ds is yet another big cause of worry with his health. I think ex was going to try and talk him out of it but he's already booked tickets etc.

I've still got problems in my personal life (that involvment since early last year).

I saw the doctor last week that referred me to therapy about this person (and other issues) and thinks if I cut ties with them that I may end up with a similar one which seems to be my pattern, but the therapy centre still hasn't been in touch with me, backlog.

I've also been seeing another doctor about other problems including the mystery allergies (I must be channelling mum2one and Miss Hoodie) got to have a scan later this month in connection to this.

Freezer - I've still got upteen slices of ham since after Christmas cheap bargains Mr T shop - I am not joking I had a whole drawer of them. I may clean the fridge instead of the freezer as that part looks ok.

Cards - yes this needs to be organised better as often end up with special occasions cards that are used for shopping lists as they don't seem to be suitable for anyone as bought part of an offer so only one card looks right - it misleads me into thinking I've covered all occasions until I need one and realise I have to buy something else.

Money saving tip - don't go into pound shops unless you are very organised - I've lost count the times I go in for one item and come out with over £25 of stuff only to discover I've bought things I already have yet they didn't have what I wanted.

So then I go into another shop to get the specific item and end up spending more in there.

One week I spent over £60 doing this. Whereas if I'd gone to Iceland in the first place it would have probably cost me about £15 in total.

Anglea

February list

This week - to send off

fill in form - add extra time for prep
article - finish writing

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DS2's room ready

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Anniversary card
Dad card
DS2 birthday cash
Think ahead to making/buying L's present for June
Spend time on Santa challenge - special occasion cards, me time, fridge clean, surveys

Finances
look for ex's birth certificate

January2015

Hi all

Christmas & Birthday planning
I have a notebook that is my bible and goes everywhere with me. I have a page for each person on my Christmas/birthday list and note what I've bought/paid for it.
I immediately wrap presents before stashing them away. Saves me so much time, especially at Christmas. I write the recipients name on the gift tag (and discretely on the present as well in case tag comes off). I also write a number, e.g. 1, 2, 3 etc - depending on how many presents I'm buying for a particular person). Then against the item details in my notebook I write that number and circle it in red. That way I can always go back and look up in my notebook what any present is, even though it's already wrapped. Hope this makes sense.

Cards
I have a stash of cheapy cards that I bought 10 for £1 at Card Factory. However, I do make my own cards throughout the year when time permits.

Christmas - what would I change
Honestly - nothing. I purchased presents throughout the year and only paid full price for Snow Glow Elsa (but did manage to get this in the shops at RRP and not at extortionate eBay price:T).
Christmas food shopping - I didn't buy anything until boxing day (we were not home for Xmas day and had Xmas dinner with family so didn't need to buy before boxing day anyway). I got all my Christmas meats, sweets, puds etc. in the boxing day sale for £44:T:T

Miss Hoodies Corner
I organised the freezer middle of last week, and cleaned my oven in the middle of the night a couple of nights ago (sleepless night so decided to get something good out of it;))

Cashback sites
I already use Quidco but probably not religiously enough I need to investigate the other cashback sites and see what pays the most on each shopping occasion.

Survey sites
I tried, in the past, I really can't face those sites:o

Me, me, me
I desparately need a haircut and colour. I can get my sister to do the colour for me, but must make the effort to visit the hairdresser. My fringe no longer exists and is now down past my nose:eek:
Money saving / shopping tips
I wish I had some....but I've come to the right place to learn:rotfl:

mum2one

mum2one wrote: »

Santas Challenge January[/COLOR]


Christmas and Birthday planning
[SIZE="2"A good chunk of Bday and Xmas prezzies were brought from Boots 75% sale all listed on spreadsheet, need to get them in one place...[/SIZE]

Cards

Got a good selection of Xmas cards, plain bday cards, need to check other cards family ones and sympathy.

Christmas - What would I change[/COLOR]

Less pressure on myself, it was a difficult xmas, that was the circumstances, and I put undue pressure o myself that xmas would be perfect, - life doesn't work like that.
Cook less mince pies and cakes.... I go a bit ott..... i estimate made about 400 mince pies....

The main thing - I would check that electrical items word, as I brought DD a new tablet, didn't work, despite being returned, still waiting for replacement...




Miss Hoodies Corner.../SIZE]
That time of the month that brings out the cleaning cloth....
This time the freezer...

Thats going to be my half term treat!!! Need a sort out....

cash Back/COLOR]
The 2 sites I use are Quidco and Topcashback, never had any probs with either site, I've had £70 for changing my neighbours gas and elec, def worth comparing.

my plan is to cash out on the 1st of each month (as long as above £1)

Clear cookies.....

Survey Sites
I'm going to have a bash at swagbucks as my newbie site


It may be worth having a notebook / spreadsheet so you know when you've requested/ recieved a cashback amount.

Spreadshhet set up...

I find that if I set myself a target, then I'm enclined to make an effort on sites, currently its £400 for ipad for Miss Hoodies bday, - every £1 earned is £1 less to find.


Summer clothes
This may sound mad, but I always found that when Miss Hoodie was younger, her clothes that she grew out of, esp summer items, shorts, swimwear, etc, went for more money on ebay in Feb/mar than in summer, - as families go away at Easter, so will buy them as shops don't always have the wide range in.


[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"] Miss Hoodie grown out of the kids size clothes, - it was a good run. Do have some stuff to sort through.

Me, Me, Me
would say love to paint my toe nails, but I dont have any.....
long soak in the bath - dont have a bath!!!

joking apart - have a chill out evening, face mask, and a couple of carry on films.... bliss

Is there a better price
My next haggle is Sky, want a better deal on sports (i've only kept them for dad...)..


Is there a money saving tip that you could pass on?
nappy sacks make a good poopy bag for those walkies....


Is there a shopping tip that you could pass on, or something you've seen on tv and gone wow thats a fab idea?

for me, if a man shops they need a list!!



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As always think of the challenges as a pick and mix, a little bit random at
time, but hopefully some fun along the way xxxx

Thats where I am up to so far.... do the freezer half term, as want to run it down a bit more.

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My figures... (exclude, me, Miss Hoodie and parents from this bit)

Birthday
7 people - Budget £120
5 completed
£31 spent
rrp £101

Mothers Day
Spent - £25 - rrp £82

Fathers Day
spent £13 - rrp £46

Xmas
32 presents - budget £365

so far - done 27 presents
£142.40 spent
£428 rrp

.......................
A fun week this week...

hospital 2mor for chemo run and review of his blood tests,
Tues - parents evening.....(could be fun!!)
xx

Anglea

Hello everyone, how are you managing with the weather?

I've enjoyed reading the latest challenge updates, January you are super organised with the numbered tags and wrapping at the time of purchase.

Mum2one, 400 mince pies :eek:

Hope things go well for Grandad Hoodie tomorrow and you also get results at the parents evening later this week.

Katiehound

I'm thinking about the parent's evening...do you have any paper work from the hospital visit because that is maybe where I would start. (After , of course, listening to all the academic stuff!) The school has an obligation of care- in loco parentis- so an accident in the line queueing for lunch is really a no-go. And if they aren't supposed to be in a queue for lunch who was enforcing that particular rule????

If anyone shops at Superdrug be aware that their own products are buy one get second half price, plus 50 points extra if you spend £5 or more (their products)for beauty card holders. A canny way to do that is to split into £5+ purchases and keep getting the extra 50 points rather than do one bigger shop! I really like their body butter... so stocked up. I also noticed they had reduced (I assume Christmas) gift sets but nothing grabbed me! There was some perfume at half price and some BOGOF Nivea products.

Have decided to go for 8 shoe boxes this year so sorted out what I already had over the weekend- 3 shopping bags full. Made myself do a list! It means I have about half the items. Bought some cute (noisy) wooden crocodile clackers in Wilco today-@ 75% off, so 50 pence each- some child and parent in Romania, Ukraine. etc will love them (or not!!!) Only 3 there so I had them all.

Bargain in a charity shop. Brand new Tu 100% cotton T shirt @£1.49. Slightly snug but it will fit me after the 5:2 diet. Started with a fast day on Sat, boy was I glad when evening came to see the chick peas meal!! Next hungry day is tomorrow!
Congratulations to everyone who has lost weight- it's hard hard work
We are forecast snow from 5pm pretty much all evening.......this is my dog training evening but we shall have to miss that as it is on twisty single track road in places with a ditch on one or both sides- bad weather conditions make it very dangerous so it will be a stay at home time!
Hope you are all faring better........

mrs-moneypenny

Hope parents evening goes ok mum2one and you get answers.
Katie hadn't realised snow was still about, I thought it was just staying cold this month (you've given me something to hope for - sorry I'm a child when it comes to snow)

Sorted the few birthday cards just need to right step mum to get ideas for my dads pressie.
Not decided what to do re valentines yet, either go out for meal or stay in for one. Think the boys will be away DS1 has offered to treat DS2 to a concert that they'll have to stay overnight at so seems silly going out if we have the house to ourselves.
Still knitting I need to get another 7 squares done.

Hope all are well.

Katiehound

Yes snow... about 2 inches of the stuff! BBC online weather forecast is pretty accurate. There is also a weather warning for the next 2 days...er..... not that nice!

mum2one

Good news ....hospital visit - all ok apparently his blood is holding his own, so no need for any extras this time round, and the weight still increasing he's put on 4lb in 4 weeks.

Parents evening - absolutely brilliant reports, just a bit of she goes in a trance usually every few weeks - ties in with the chemo run, achieving grades and excelling on some, thou she won't be the science teachers fav pupil, cue open ground....
Science teacher - so miss hoodie what do u like best about science

Miss h - nothing don't like science

Him - but we've done x,y,z and thus and that and we're going to do this and that....

Miss h - ok but still doesn't change anything

Him - absolutely gob smacked - but I've taught yr 7 science for 7 hrs and not 1 student has ever said that

Miss h - you did ask sir, at least I was honest

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But yesterday - miss hoodie comes home in heck of a state its kicked off at school - the friend - had a major melt down, lurched full blast at miss hoodie, called her a f... Woof woof, about 6 times, it took 2 teachers to move this girl, the one teacher said you should be in "the unit" - but no they don't move her!

Queue 2ngt - happen to catch the deputy head and the welfare teacher, - told them in no uncertain terms
- the food tech teacher telling kids they don't each fruit and veg there die of bowel cancer.
-that dinner system - black eye- blame on miss hoodie
- yesterday's incident

That if it doesn't get sorted I will bypass the school system- inform the papers and I will contact the mp
Contact every relevant authority regarding non compliance of accident reporting
That I want a meeting nxt week for them to tell me what's been done....

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Must worked - as we were leaving..
dep head - can I have quick chat....

Accident - wasn't put in book but he was sent an email - will rectify the situ- (we're see)
There planning a meeting with the dinner team to review safety etc and make sure that the q is managed better (only time will tell)

As for the other girl - they've arranged a full meeting between the staff involved and why policies and procedures weren't followed -
There having a "welfare meeting" with miss hoodie and the girl to say stay apart, lay ground rules and then there follow all procedures re this girl. There separating miss hoodie and the girl in classes - with a view to moving the girl into a different class.
Had a personal apology from the cookery teacher - �� - apparently there's kids that don't eat fruit and veg - told her that whilst I appriciate the apology - she shouldn't scare monger the kids.

We're know more tomorrow, what really annoys me and even when I was school gov that the head is Lord and master, as the head and govs are the be all and end all of school regulations - there isnt really a port of call, again it's whether parents will actually complain as a lot of it esp at primary school level is all done on playground.

It's playing it be ear xxxx

mrs-moneypenny

Sounds like ofsted need to pay them a visit. I do hope things get sort for miss hoodies sake.