money saving christmas tips

ashmit

Like Nickynoo. We also did the 'spending limit' option. Have to say it was actually much more fun trying to find something suitable. Because we set the limit quite low too (£5 - but it was quite a few years ago!) it meant there were lots of jokey presents - never likely to be used, but gave a good laugh on the day.
Unfortunately my kids are are the wrong age to appreciate this kind of thing!! ::)

Never had the guts to actually try this, but I've heard of one family where they put loads of random amounts into a bowl (£7.53, £12.81 etc) and people's names into another bowl and you have to buy the person you choose a present for exactly the amount you choose. Doesn't matter if you buy one thing and make it up with say a mars bar and three 1p sweets (if you still get those these days!), it has to add up to exactly that amount.

I should get my family to try that this year

Freddie_Snowbits

Nana used to buy everyone a diary and a pen for xmas. The older you got, the bigger the dairy.

That way, everyone gets the same!

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

ashmit

Oooh, I just remembered one I heard elsewhere!

Get a pretty box (can use an empty chocolate box if it's fairly plain*, or maybe even recycle one of those pressie bags from WH Smiths or somewhere) and some nice paper. Write out various phrases - can be inspirational quotes, or compliments about the recipient. Chop up the phrases onto separate bits of paper and put in the container. The recipient can then look at one a day (make their day start off that bit nicer), or when they're having a bad day get them all out and read them. Works especially well if recipients are sometimes prone to depression or have particularly stressful lives.

I've not explained this very well, but it's cheap (although quite time consuming) and would make someone's year.

*you could even put the phrases in a separate bag and give them the chocolates too, to put in the box afterwards

16011996

Nana used to buy everyone a diary and a pen for xmas. The older you got, the bigger the dairy.

That way, everyone gets the same!

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

odd that, every year i buy my grandparents a calendar, and as they are getting older its getting bigger due to failing eyesight.

as an aside, i bought 3 2005 calendars in a pound shop last weekend, not for the calendar, but cos my daughter loves animals, and i intend to make her a scrap book with all the pictures in.

rushnowt

OH i do that as well 160 also last year bought a load in the sale a few pence each with big cute pics on teddies, puppies, kittens etc, with the intention of cutting them out and framing them to make lovely cheap pictures for kids bedrooms. .......................................now where did i put the b1oody things lol :-[

sheenagh_2

good recipe required please.....not the left-over, manky festering cake crumbs one....the one with the fresh cream-type one

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.

Allexie

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.

thanks sheenagh..that sounds simple enough for me to have a go ;D :P

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.

sounds lovely, will have to give these a try with the kids.

rushnowt

Sounds delicious, however something tells me my kids wouldnt get their hands on em if I made them ::) ;D

16011996

Sounds delicious, however something tells me my kids wouldnt get their hands on em if I made them  :o  ::)  ;D

mmm you maybe hacve a point there.