Santas challenge 2017

mum2one

A free Xmas prezzie arrived in the post, Spider-Man dvd - freebie from sky x

Happy_Kitties

Stalking M@rrisons when I get cat litter for my cocktail baubles. Still out of stock-these are the final 2 presents I need. I will get them!!!!

chanie

happykitties I’m interested in those cocktail baubles since you mentioned them.

I should have another couple of presents sorted by the end of the week. I’ve been pestering OH for a couple of weeks now to ask his family what they’d like and he finally started to ask them.

I know there’s the thing about taking time to choose a gift from the heart blah blah, but I’d much rather get someone a present they want, rather than me choosing something that ends up not being used or ending up in the charity shop/bin. I do find it difficult to choose for OHs side of the family as they have such different tastes to me.

I know this is going to sound awful, but they bought DD some clothes for her birthday and I exchanged some of them as I didn’t like the items. Sometimes, it’s nice to get something that you wouldn’t have chosen yourself, but these items I just didn’t like.

Happy_Kitties

chanie I'm the same, i always like to get a present that someone wants, that's what I really love about present shopping-when I have found something that a family member will really want but have been money saving in the process. I've picked up some cracking items this year like frozen dressing up costumes that I got from Arg@s earlier in the year for £2.50, they went down a storm as presents.

The cocktail baubles are ready made cocktails, 3 baubles in a pack-2 packs for £8 in morris@ns, I still cant get them for love nor money, they are very popular and sold out when I go in. I got some last year they went down really well!! Hopefully if it is anything like last year they will have better stock levels nearer Christmas but its very frustrating, i only need the 2 packs and im finished

chanie

happy kitties you’ve done really well with you bargains. I made good savings a few years ago, but it’s hader when people ask for specific items. Plus, the children of the family are asking for money and you can’t really get that cheaper.

Although I enjoy the bargain hunting, what is equally as important is being able to spread to cost, so that I can have a stress free December.

My best bargains so far;
Wrapping paper - £1.50 down to 50p
Xmas cards - £4.50 down to 43p
Travel card holder - £30 down to £18

chanie

I bought some cheap books today for the children. I’m debating whether to hold them back until Xmas or give them now. Just as iv typed this, I’m now thinking to give them at half term which is in a few weeks time, as the time off may encourage them to read more.

I’m off to town tomorrow. This is going to be my first opportunity for ages where I get to browse without rushing. I’ve ordered a couple of click and collect items but I want to have a look for some Xmas and birthday presents.

A couple of the items I need to pick up tomorrow is for my new niece or nephew who is due in a couple of weeks. I’ve bought my sister some pjs and a satchel Changing bag and I’ve added some 3am baby essentials like teething gel and vapo rub , which are normally overlooked but invaluable at 3am when you have a baby that won’t settle. I’ll buy some bits for the baby once he/she arrives, but I want to give the stuff to my sister this weekend, so she has it ready.

chanie

My trip to town was successful and I managed to buy the presents I wanted to. SIL asked for a dressing gown and I bought one from Debenhams as they had 20% off. I also bought DN the shopping voucher they asked for.

That now leaves 6 to buy for. Of the 6, two are getting cash. 1 is due to be born in a few weeks. 1 has told us what they want, but we need to confirm some specifics. The other two need to confirm what they want.

We still need to buy for the children and for each other. We normally do stockings for each other to keep costs down. We know what we are getting DS. I know what I’d like to get DD, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to get it, as it’s selling out fast.

I did a quick Xmas craft today. We collected a handful of beach glass whilst on holiday but didn’t know what to do with it. I bought an empty clear bauble and filled it with the glass, so it’s now a cheap Xmas decoration.

I’m now thinking about elf action this Xmas. DD keeps referring to their tricks last year as she thought it was really funny. I think we’ll limit it to weekends though as we don’t have much time during the week.

mum2one

Pleased today as part 2 of miss hoodies present came 3 pandora charms (3 4 2) she’s decided to keep her bracelet as personal charms as she brought it with some money dad had left her, we’ve added libra for her star sign, elephant - she rode an elephant in via, birthday cake, she’s got angel, dog etc

Xmas planning... once Oct starts need to start getting sorted, had a tidy up of the dining room sure wool has been multiplying under the table, found some stuff put under there 9 dove sets - got from a amazon glitch ...

Food shopping... bread sauce and box of biscuits arrived in 2ngts shop, and bottle of peach schnapps... mr s has been missing me so they sent me money off vouchers for 4 weeks (£42) so we said get some alcohol for Xmas.
Free items - going throu there was free offers, box 40 tea bags, wet sauce mix and packet curry, we’ve put them by as miss hoodies school collects for food bank at Xmas, said anything extra we can put in all helps out.

Bargain shoes
My mum goes throu shoes like water, she’s got lymphoma- her feet are all over the place and she needs 5e super wide fit, We normally pay £70 for 1 pr of shoes if we’re lucky last 1 mth. Thought look on eBay as lots of shops have outlets, found the same pr for £17.99 postage free�� so mums brought one pr, ordered a spare for Xmas.

Fountain pen
I have this weird thing that I only like to use fountain pens, managed to get a pack of 50 ink cartridges for 50p keep me going...

Xx

Happy_Kitties

So chuffed I got my Christmas vouchers yesterday-M&S and love 2 shop:T
I tend to keep the love 2 shop until after Christmas for the sales but the M&S ones are a personal treat. Don't often have a splurge in the food hall as I can't afford it, but they have boxes of biscuits around this time for half price so tend to get a few of them towards birthday presents I have straight after Christmas and are handy to have if we need any thank you presents.
Going to go next weekend when my DD is home from uni for a splurge so that she can take a few bits back with her-a particular favourite is their buttermilk pancakes:)

Still no sign of the Morris@ns cocktail baubles:(

mum2one with your mum's feet being all over the place and extra wide have the doctors or hospital not suggested having shoes from orthotics? Would save you a fortune and are specially made. I always have my shoe made by orthotics as my foot swells so much and I have no feeling so sore prevention is a necessity.

chanie

Happy_Kitties wrote: »

Still no sign of the Morris@ns cocktail baubles:(

How frustrating, particularly when you are so close to finishing. Hopefully, they’ll get some more in before Xmas.

I have my own Christmas frustrations:

1) the gift that we want to get DD, which I mentioned up thread, happens to be the number 1 toy of Xmas 2017. DD hasn’t asked for it, but I think she’ll really like it. It’s just a shame that we may not be able to get it for her. I think the frustration stems from the fact that people buy these toys/gig tickets and flog them on eBay for higher prices. Part of me thinks it’s fair game if someone takes the time and effort to queue up to get popular items to sell, but it’s frustrating for genuine folk.

2) OH has asked his siblings what they want for Xmas. One has said they want a case for their tablet, but doesn’t know the type of tablet they have. For example, they have said they want a case for their iPad, but doesn’t know if it’s an iPad, pro, mini etc. Or whether it’s an older or newer version. I’ve told OH that if they don’t tell me soon, I’ll just give them a voucher and they can sort it out themselves.
The other sibling has asked for Pjs, but hasn’t said what size they are. I’m tempted to take a guess and buy some M & S pjs with a gift receipt, so they can be exchanged.