money saving christmas tips

sheenagh_2

Got Hawkin's bazarre magazine, excellent cheap stocking fillers, thanks for the tip. There are also good things for childrens party bags - Bargain! ;D ;D ;D

16011996

Sorry it has taken a week to get back to you I only get on here on Saturday mornings.  My recipe is simple

100g plain chocolate - I use 70% cocoa stuff
275g icing sugar
100g unsalted butter
Rum (2+ tbsp)
cocoa powder to finish.

Melt chocolate then beat the whole lot together roll in to balls and dip in the cocoa and put in fridge to set. Yum Yum.

did thes this week, yummy scrummy.

Yoga_Girl

Received the Hakin's Bazaar catalogue ( I don't remember clicking on the link for it but thats the trouble with this site - I can never remember what I've sent off for!)

Its got a great selection of gifts, and also a great selection of stocking fillers for under £1.

https://www.hawkin.com


modified cus I just realised I mis-spelt the web address!

catznine

I too sent off for a Hawkins catalogue and then found out we had one of their shops in town!! ooops!

I'm going to practice the choc truffle recipe this week, how long do they keep for? Don't know why I'm asking cos chocolate never lasts very long in this house!!

Best advice I was ever given to save money at Christmas is to get it all done by end of November if you possibly can, then no need for panic buying! Best Christmas this family ever had was the year I went into hospital for major op 24th November, everything was bought, wrapped and labeled - food frozen etc before that date. Apart from sore tummy! had a lovely relaxed Christmas with my family.

Galtizz

Best advice I was ever given to save money at Christmas is to get it all done by end of November if you possibly can,  then no need for panic buying!

and no stress because the shops are much quiter before Dec 1. I live buy this rule too Catzine. I have to take my Dad Christmas shopping too and I've even got him trained to go before Dec

The other tip I can give which is more stress saving than money saving is, if you usually buy all of your perishables on Christmas eve at the supermarket with everybody else change and go either 23rd or 24th at about 2 - 4 AM. There is hardly anyone about and those that are have usually broken into the Xmas booze so they are in a good mood. I've been doing this for the last couple of years and it's great.

If you are a regular at your greengrocers ask if they will make up an order for you. I used to work in one and we took orders, you handed your list in a week before Xmas and the orders were made up about 4am Christmas Eve morning from the fresh stock that had just come in then you go in and just queue to collect your box full of veg and pay without the last minute 'aaagghh, what do you mean you've run out of sprouts' ;D

catznine

Great idea Galtizz, I will set my alarm for that on the 23rd. If you are very brave and perhaps have all the stuff you need anyway so are not too stressed, it is sometimes worth braving the supermarkets late on Christmas Eve about an hour before closing - they often have the most amazing reductions on perishables,. One year I bought home carrier bags of bread at 1p a loaf, which i distributed around my friends and family. Also two years ago we bought lovely fruit baskets, normally retailing at £10 for £1 so they made some last minute extra pressies!

16011996

i did the during the night shop last xmas on the 22nd or 23rd, it was fabulous, straight through the till and everyting. highly recommend it.

16011996

Me too. I shopped at 4:00am for the last couple of Christmases. It really is worth the effort. The shelves are stacked sky high ready for the onslaught later in the day. So, instead of fighting the hoards you can be doing other things (sadly that meant a day at work for me  :'()

yes but i bet you got bread which i couldn't get for love nor money xmas eve the years before.

jaybee

He he ;D ;D And a freezer full of the stuff ::)

16011996

He he  ;D ;D And a freezer full of the stuff  ::)

exactly, cos i could get it i got loads and froze it, was still eating itin january. ;D