Preparing for xmas 2015

Islandmaid

cyantist wrote: »

Ooooh what's in the chilli jelly?
Do you have a recipe cos I might try and make some for presents at Christmas but I can't find a recipe online I like

I use Nigella's recipe - it's never failed me and everyone loves it, friends now ask me for it - lazy gits

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chilli-jam-2692

pipkin71

Christmas is my favourite time of year and we always make it a grand occasion. Last Christmas was very different though. I was seriously ill and had spent weeks in hospital, coming out the week before Christmas day.

We had no tree up, no decorations, but I had sorted presents with the help of my mum and friend. One thing it showed me was that none of the tinsel and sparkle mattered. We were together and still had a lovely day even though I couldn't do much. It was being together that mattered.

This year I plan on having a special Christmas but perhaps without the excesses of previous years.

Presents - I will still probably overspend but will buy what I know people want. I have started buying gifts for my girls. They will mainly have cash but I still like to buy surprise gifts.

My girls will be having a Christmas party so I am saving with Tesco in order for them to buy their stash of booze. They can all drink copious amounts so better to save over a few months.

My mum gives me vouchers to buy food, usually around £300. It will be different this year as I am very limited on what I can eat and meats, cakes, chocolates, cheeses, breads are all off the list for me but will have to buy for others who are here. Don't think we will have so much though. At least that will cover the shopping for afterwards as well.

Didn't manage to send any Christmas cards last year so still have those and plenty of wrapping paper.

We didn't do new pyjamas for the first time last year so I have already bought this year's I am also looking at Christmas movies which I will force everyone to watch with me

bargainhunterss

datlex wrote: »

I think that shops have a lot to answer for in saying things worth £50 or more are just "stocking fillers".

Completely agree!

amber03

Went to the shops today to see if I could get any bargins for xmas but made the mistake of taking DS who I am sure got an grade A* in tutting and sighing everytime I stopped. So my next piece of advise is leave the kids behind and go shopping by yourself. Will go back when school is back.x

kathrynha

I've been doing the £1 a day for Christmas 2015 challenge on here, and put in extra in too, so will have about £500 to spend.
Also got 4 morrisons match and more £5 vouchers so far which I am saving for the big Christmas shops.

Bought schleor for Christmas already as Morrisons have it for £1 a bottle at the moment, and it's never on offer near Christmas.

I make my own cards, and I bought the stuff for making them in the January sales last week, along with handmade cracker kits. I will start making them in the next few weeks.

Our tree is a fake one, and any new decorations will be homemade, and the replacement fairy lights for the ones that died last year were bought in the January Sales.

Once daughter is back at school I will start to buy a few presents a week to spread the cost over 4 pay checks, and if I don't need it, I won't use my savings fund, and it will be transferred to my long term savings.

Tinkers7

I really like the idea of saving a £1 a day and alongside saving all my £2 coins will make a big help. Thanks for the idea.

cyantist

I'm keeping a note of whatever I make through the year on surveys, mystery shopping, and selling stuff on ebay etc. I'll then try to limit my Christmas spend to that much.

debtfreeoneday

I'm in full Christmas mode by July / August with about 90% of present shopping done, I'm dreadful for going a bit OTT at Christmas, but this year we are trying really hard to cut back. Some relatives we've agreed we are not buying for and they are happy to do the same. Older kids are having pennies and the younger ones are only having one main present and a few smaller ones. With their birthdays so close to Christmas, it's hard as you buy for birthdays, Christmas and the big man himself, so it's three lots of gifts!

Looking forward to a lot of quality family time without all the madness.

mirry

today's efforts, did a sainsbobs online shop using the £18 off a £60 spend for first time users. And managed to buy some Xmas bits to put away....mincemeat for the mince pies, pickled onions,cranberry sauce, sainsbobs chocolates (will have to check the dates) they are the ones like matchmakers but 30g more & reduced to £1 atm. Also got some sainsbobs boxes of fudge, yummy:D.

Next plan is to look out for the bottles of shloer on £1 offer. I've decided I don't need to buy the large quality street tins because I always get some from work, last year I had 4 ��

kathrynha

mirry wrote: »

Next plan is to look out for the bottles of shloer on £1 offer. I've decided I don't need to buy the large quality street tins because I always get some from work, last year I had 4 ��

Morrisons, includes the new light versions.
Not sure when the offer ends