Preparing for xmas 2015

amber03

I know you don't want to hear it but in just over four months it will xmas.:o, and as Martin says its on the same day every year. So I thought I would start a thread to help with any advise or tips to make it as painless or frugal as possible. I cannot understand how people leave everything to the last minute or don't prepare throughout the year.


I know a lot of people who start as soon as the previous xmas is over, I get bits and bobs but start preparing properly as soon as I have been on my holidays (which I have returned from).


So from now on when I go food shopping I buy two or three food items and put them away for xmas. Start with tinned items and nearer xmas get biscuits, cakes, dairy etc. Also went through my freezer and cupboards so see what I have that I can earmark for xmas. Will keep my eye open for any joints of meat that are reduced that will do for xmas. When the turkeys appear I will get one and put it away so its another item ticked off my list.


Decided i'm not going overboard on decorating the house this year with xmas decorations, just going to have a xmas tree and a couple of decorations mainly in the living room, keep it simple is my new motto.


Will keep my eyes open for any bargin gifts ( hate to give gifts that I know will just be wasted).


Have decided to have all my xmas preparations done by the 15/12/15, so I can relax and enjoy it instead of running around like a headless chicken. I work in the retail industry and at xmas the last place I want to spend any of my free time is going shopping.


Sorry if this thread is similar to any other thread to do with xmas please move it if it is.


Feel free to leave any tips on xmas or anything that you have bought for xmas. What frugal or should I say money saving ideas do you have for xmas.

cakeforbrains

Great ideas. I really like the idea of buying a couple of bits on each grocery shop.

Two of our sons have birthdays in November, so it's always an expensive time of year, but you've got me thinking about how to be more organised this year.

MrsPepperpot

I too hate buying gifts that I don't think are useful or wanted!

Also I think that it is a very good idea to start to buy one or two things a week now.

From next month I shall be taking over the shopping so will be trying to do this.

Popped to H0bbeycraft yesterday and they had some stuff out already for Xmas, and I thought 'what?' but considering I am not going to have as much money as last year I re considered and thought actually yes now is the time.

I think now is the time to make the list and start to buy, then it is not such a shock, as you say Christmas is not a surprise!

x

happydays89

I have 90 per cent of it done already,I buy cards and wrapping in February when it's cheap,Aldi reduced all cards and wrapping paper to 5p each so stocked up for a number years.We have crackers that cost £10 for 6 reduced to £1.20.
My husband is losing his job in November so we are being very frugal this year,I helped a friend de clutter her home and in return she gave me well over £200 worth of new Yankee candles,I am going to make up hampers with the candles and some body shop bits i need to use up.
I have an Asda Christmas saver card and have been adding to it each time I shop and then in November they add a £6 bonus,so that will cover any last minute gifts and food.

Islandmaid

I,ve started too :xmastree:

Several small prezzies bought, mainly books etc
I,ve saved £500 in my very own 'Christmas club' savings account
I have listed my homemade gifts ready to make - mostly sweets, so nearer the time, but have stock piled jars, boxes etc to display things in.

Kids are all teens now, so mainly want cold hard cash, but I do them a hamper each with socks, pants, sweets, a more expensive item each such as a 'label' t-shirt etc as well as 'fillers' like batteries, moisturiser, deodorant, hair gel etc - I buy these bits when I see them on offer through the year.

Food gifts so far will be (all HM)
Fudge
Truffles
Lemon truffles
Nougat
Chilli jelly
Strawberry jam (made in season)
Sugared nuts
Piccalilli
Limoncello
Cheese truckles (bought)
Seed crackers

My Pinterest Christmas page is filling up fast

Linda32

I also start to buy presents after we return from our holiday. We have a birthday in Oct, Nov, Dec and Jan which might as well be Christmas. So you buy those people a present then have to start again.

We don't buy much in the way of extra food with only being the two of us. So I don't have to bother to much with that side of things. Lucky, I know.

Susan1962

I try to buy bits and pieces throughout the year. January is the best time for gift sets if you can get to the Boots 70/75% off sale which I usually manage. (Coincidentally that also covers birthdays, mindings - stocking stuffers - and my own toiletries.)

The credit union has a Christmas savings account which I started last year and it's very useful. Just pay in a regular amount, taken off before I get the chance to notice it and paid out in November so really very handy.

mirry

This year I've been determined to be more organised & cut back further. I prepared a spread sheet
I purchased cards/wrap/crackers in the jan sales.
I have all the Xmas presents sorted from sales/second hand.

Now I've started collecting drinks when half price
:beer:

Also I've cut down on the amount of Xmas cards I'm sending by post this year, stamps are too expensive:(

amber03

I have also cut down on sending xmas cards but still post about twelve cards, usually leave this job till the last minute so end up buying first class stamps as I panic that they wont reach the person and they will think I am an awful person . So going to buy a couple of stamps a week so wont miss the money.


Don't have to worry about an xmas cake as my friend's hubby makes me one every year. I am the only one in the family that eats it so my friend said they will make me a small one as a present. Did win an alchol hamper the other week. I don't drink red wine so have put the three bottles of red wine that was in it to one side for pressies.


Thanks for the replies I have so far got, some of you put me to shame, keep up the good work.xx

MrsSave

I've bought around 70% of gifts already. For the other 30% I'm pretty sure what I'm getting for people. Food wise I have been putting money into the Tesco clubcard Christmas saver each month, so now have over £100 there, which should be plenty as we're not home for dinner. I also save my clubcard points so will be able to boost them for the majority of the gifts left to buy.

Before using the Tesco clubcard in this way I used to buy one extra thing a week from September onwards. You don't notice it, but it really helps come December.

chrissy59

start throughout the year buying things as i see them , give a teenagers in family money with a small gift to open.also got 2 new grandbabies due next month so another two for christmas.