Santas challenge 2017

Happy_Kitties

chanie we definately cross posted!

I'm with you with Black Friday. I'm so glad that u got a tv for DS. I've been looking for a coat that is practical for Prague-it will be an early Christmas present. The budget I was given, couldn't find anything at all but in the Black Friday sales I found a lovely Regatt# jacket that when i checked it out not only was it something that would suit me perfectly but did have savings on it. I think if you are after something definite, do the research then there are definite bargains to be had with Black Friday although I couldn't bear to go to the shops with it.

I'm sure the Christmas pud will be lovely.

2nd parcel was posted today and some Christmas cards dropped off at my mum's. I think DM is getting a little upset at the lack of thought within the family this year, that DB is taking advantage. It is causing some issues.

Brilliant savings and I'm the same, if I have to spend I want as much as possible for my money, and will make savings wherever possible to maximise this.

I hope everyone's Christmas preparations are going well, i never totally stuck to my target of being completed within mid November, but the end of November is looking good!

chanie

Well done on the coat savings. I’m sure it will be lovely and toasty for Prague. Totally agree about doing research before the sales. I also bought a backpack on Black Friday. It was something I’ve been eyeing up for a few months and I’m delighted it was half price.

I think your goal of getting everything done by the beginning of December is a good one. Mid-nov doesn’t feel quite right to me! At least you can have a relaxing December knowing it’s all done.

Happy_Kitties

Nearly all my cards posted and all of my parcels were posted except DD now wants me to pop something in in the post from her spare present stash for a friend at uni who has been upset, so with another friend they're planning a few cheer me up presents. Will do this on Monday with the last of my cards:j

I'm impatient as I now have to wait for DD to finish uni before the tree can go up-not until the 15th:rudolf: I can't get to the bits, DD offered to get them out ready for me to put the tree up today but I said I refuse to put it up without her........even if she does get bored in the middle and I'm left to finish decorating it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: At least I can get on with tidying up the living room, there has been bits everywhere with the decorating:(
chanie I would have been well chuffed with the backpack and the savings:T. Thats the sort of thing I would do, I would have been eyeing it up aswell to keep an eye on the price:)!!

Made the most of the sparks offer £10 off coats and jackets at m#s. DD didn't want anything so I bought myself a nice fleece to go under my jacket for Prague for only £5:j. DD will pick it up along with other half price goodies I've bought for next year-Christmas and birthdays:o

I cannot believe it is December, November went in a flash.

I hope everyone's preparations are coming along well. Can't believe 2 weeks on Sunday i go to Prague-DD is already talking gingerbread and baubles!!:xmastree:

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chanie

Prague must be wonderful at this time of year. What a great way to get in the mood for Christmas.

Happy kitties i know you are looking forward to putting up your tree, we never put ours up until the second week of December. It stems back from my parents not putting up the tree until after my sisters birthday. We bought our tree today. They are in Costco for £40,which is the cheapest we’ve seen where we live. Last year, OH kept putting off going to Costco and then they sold out, so he ended up paying more. I’m pleased he learnt his lesson.
Whilst in Costco, we picked up a set of Roald Dahl books for under £20. SIL asked us to pick them up for DS for Xmas, so OH distracted him whilst i put them in my fold up bag to hide them. Whilst we were in the queue, dS found the books and knew they were for him. So, we’ve been practising his ‘surprised’ face for when he opens them at Christmas.

chanie

I haven’t started wrapping yet, but I’ve sorted through the unwrapped presents to decide how I’m going to wrap them. I normally just use wrapping paper with the occasional gift bag. I have some boxes I received with online shopping which can be reused for Xmas gifts.

Happy_Kitties

I have to admit to being very impatient for putting the tree up, I can't wait, said to DD I don't care how tired she is next friday the things are coming out and the tree will go up:)! We travel to Prague 2 days later so if we don't do it then we won't have a tree at all:(.

I was multi tasking today, wrapping selection boxes for a club I belong to and speaking to DD, but have eaten a selection box:eek:........i will never be thin:rotfl::rotfl:.

chanieThe Roald Dahl books, had a similar situation when DD was a toddler with bestie hiding a big cuddly toy she had been after. Fortunately DD never spotted this big yellow thing that my mum still has today.
Even though DS found the books it will still be really exciting for him to know he is getting them:) and the 'surprised face' made me smile I think we've all had to do one of those during our lifetimes, I know I have several times.
Prague is very cold but amazing. We booked last year to get into the festive spirit and going with bestie this year I am even more excited. Just finishing last minute bits off I have to do as I'm away this weekend aswell.
Seemed to be forever posting bits to DD, said I refuse to post anymore. It didn't help that Specs#vers sent her contact lenses home instead of to the uni so I sent them on after sending the parcel with the present she wanted out of her stash. Was able to pop a Christmas card in for her-one from me and one from her cat:)
Just a few cards to hand out now:)

crazy-cat-lady_2

Hi everyone.
I've been missing forever. Missed doing challenges and reading everyone's prep and bargains. I've been having a few health problems and been seeing the cardiologist. Few more tests, but all finally seems to be ok. Not felt overly christmassy with worry and all that hanging over my head.

Now i can relax a little, the decorations are up, cards written and presents wrapped and i can hopefully get more in the spirit of things. All the early sales buying and putting away has really come in handy. Even had spree presents which i've donated, a few to a raffle for my sister's friend. Diagnosed with breast cancer, she's only 30 and has 2 small kids. They're having a raffle to raise money and help her have an easier Christmas hopefully. Also some to a few different kid's charities. So, at least nothing has gone to waste and everything will find a good home. I'd like to do a few more charity bits as i do try to every Christmas, got to get a look out.

I have at least managed to get my little girl out to some Christmas events. We went to see Santa arrive on his sleigh at a garden centre and she saw the reindeer, the local rotary club sleigh was round the streets last night, we went on the Santa train last week and she got a lovely toy from the big man and was laughing at the elves. That was a sweet day. We went to the Christmas markets in Manchester the other day on the way to hospital too.

Got to go back and have a big catch up now. Hope everyone is ok and well on the way to being ready for the big day.

chanie

Tip The Christmas bank holidays can affect bin collections, so don’t forget to have a clear out before Christmas so that your bins aren’t overflowing. Despite recycling as much as we can, I find that Christmas and the children’s birthdays means our bins are often full.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been having a clear out in advance of Christmas. This has included getting rid of broken toys, out grown clothes and out of date food.

chanie

The tree is up and I've slowly started to wrap presents. I wanted to try and 'tart up' my wrapping this year and I'm pleased with what I have done so far:

gift boxes - I have a couple of decent boxes from online shopping/posh shops which I am re-purposing for gifts. I've wrapped them in ribbon, so they look nice.


brown parcel paper - IKEA provide this for breakables, which you can use to wrap after you've done your shopping. I always wrap my items to limit creasing the paper, so that I can reuse it for gift wrapping. I may tie them with string (those are a few of my favourite things..... as the song goes).


gift tags - I normally don't bother with these, but my Mum bought some posh crackers a few years ago and they had a nice embellishment on it, which I've turned into free gift tags.

crazy-cat-lady_2

Looking at the sales lists. Formulating a plan 😂
It’s all too tempting to get this because they’re cheap, ether I need them or not.
Got to be good this year and not buy a million gift sets I don’t need in the sales just for the sake of it. I’m going to get warm clothes in a size a year older for my daughter and paper and crackers as usual. Boots is always my first call online but last year it was a disaster and closed half way through. Me and everyone else lost all the basket full of shopping and it had half sold it when it opened again. Still did ok, but I did have a log of nice woodwick and yankees that got lost. I got some toys in the sales already when I’ve seen really good offers. Ones that will come in in a year or two. Things that won’t age or go out of crazes.

I got some nice hot flavoured teas and hot chocolates from whittards in the sales last year too that are good til next year. So dig those out now. Nice way to save money later. So I have to have a think of other items that will last like that. Chocolate is no use. It won’t see Christmas, never mind going away.
Chutneys maybe? Any ideas?

Something strangely comforting and nice about getting a start for next year early on.