Santas challenge 2017

Happy_Kitties

Chanie it was one of those just by chance moments with the matchmakers but when u find something u would have at Christmas a lot cheaper they have just got to be snapped up:).

It's a shame about one of the aunts as I think they make great children's presents.....for teachers aswell (DD only used to get something for her class teacher in primary and for her favourites in secondary)

DD and I went to M&S yesterday as I had read that the shortbread was on offer. Didnt end up getting the shortbread but didn't realise they had their chocolates on offer-came away with a few boxes:D

My DMs birthday is the end of next month. She has declared to everyone that she is fed up of biscuits, PJs and everything else but isn't giving any clues as to what she does want:(! We found a small box of her favourite chocs so we got her those. Also got one box to finish a Christmas present and one as a thank you. DD got a couple of boxes for presents:j.

Finished wrapping some presents last night ready to go off to DM today for relatives. Will be a good feeling to mark them off in my Christmas book today and has freed up some space.
Also managed to tidy up my Christmas paper last night. Noticed that if I had an open roll the cats were slashing it :eek:so these are now being put elsewhere..

I will also be on the look out for small wine boxes to put away ready for sending off presents at the beginning of December. Going to start now as it has become very hit or miss as to whether u can get them round here these days

crazy-cat-lady_2

Sorted the present cupboard and the wardrobe where I keep presents for my little one. Basically anything that won’t go out of fashion and I can put away. I always get Sylvanian families when they’re cheap. She’s got a load for birthday and Christmas next year. so that’s all sorted. Pulled a few bits out that will do for Christmas so I’ll get those wrapped later. Grandparents have been asking what she wants to I’ve been clearing the amazon wish list 😆

The works have 25% off when you spend £10 or more. So ordered a book on making slime, putty and squishiest for my niece who is obsessed with them, plus a few other bits.

Getting here slowly.

Happy_Kitties

Shoebox number 3 completed........only took forever.

Have done some more wrapping while wrapping some birthday presents for October.

Managed to pick up a couple of wine boxes.....just happened to be in at the right time before they were snaffled. Also picked up a couple of smaller boxes so hopefully beginning of December I can get the presents sent before the post office gets really busy as queues, the cold and wet weather is definitely not me.

chanie

DD needed some new trainers for PE, whilst buying them, I got two shoe boxes that were going spare. This means I have the 4 boxes I committed to filling. I have filled the boxes with the items I already have and it was helpful to see how the boxes were progressing, so I could work out what I needed.

Me and OH were talking about what to get the children for Christmas. We have decided to get DS a couple of games for his Playststion 4 and DD one of those giant heads so she can so its hair. Neither item is a big ticket item and it feels nice to be able to sort the children out early and cheaply.

chanie

Present juggling

Do you ever juggle presents - not literally, but in terms of swapping buying something for someone and giving it to someone else?

I was in TK Maxx and they had some lipsticks for £5, which I know sell for £20+. I decided to get one for Dsis as it was a good price. I had already bought Dsis presents for Xmas, so I stated to think about what I should give this year and what to give next year (wanted to give the lipstick this year, before it spoilt). Then, I decided to stick with giving Dsis the original gifts and give the lipstick to a relative who I know would really like it.

I also had to raid my present stash to give a present to a friend for her birthday, so I will need to replace the gift. I cleared out my gift box ages ago, donating unwanted gifts to the school fete, so I dont have anything spare at the moment. I want to get a couple of generic gifts to keep as emergency gifts, but Im not sure what to get. Does anyone have any ideas.

crazy-cat-lady_2

Generic gifts, I usually get candles and smellies. There’s a mill near here that sell Yankee candles for £5 for medium jars (usually about £16 now I think..been a while since I paid full price) and the large inspiration jars for £3. So I always have a few in. I keep an eye on FB bargain groups for any smelly sets going cheap. Boots had a champneys deal a while back where any 3 large products were £5. Should be £9 per product. So I paid £10 and got 6. So can either do a split of 3x2 or 2x3. Either way it’s a few general emergency gifts. Things for men I find more tricky. But it’s normally women I need them for.

Happy_Kitties

Chanie yes to present juggling. Have just done it recently funny enough. Had a present for the (cousins kids)older sister but moved it to the younger. Both teenagers are into their make up and the gift I had was perfect for both so could have gone to either but then came across a compact make up set that suited the older sister better just bec of the product and age so I've had a switch about. I now actually think the original present is better suited to the younger sister.

I've also had a present clear out and donated to 2 charities for raffle/tombolas over the summer. With a couple of things I had noticed that I had duplicated birthday and Christmas in product type and then a couple of presents I bought for DN are now not really suitable for her situation.

But I have kept some toys back as we buy for a lot of younger members of the family, Body Shop items (one I am really happy I did as DD has asked for it for a friend) as an emergency and a couple of men's set's. Have also kept a couple of make up sets as they will definitely get used.

It's hard bec we all put a lot of thought into presents, an emergency will always tend to crop up but ideally i needed a clear out/tidy up of my present box as I had items that had been sitting in the present box for a couple of years that really weren't doing anything and thought if they hadn't been used now then I couldn't see them being used at all. I opened a couple of them and broke them down for the shoeboxes aswell.

Hoping to pick up a shoebox tomorrow and fill over the weekend.....and not eat the sweets from It!

chanie

Thanks for your suggestions.


Toiletries is an obvious answer, but a lot of the people I know aren't really into toiletries sets, so would probably be a wasted gift. I will continue thinking, but if anyone has any other ideas, keep them coming....

Happy_Kitties

I'm with CcL always have candle in as spares (have popped a fat face one away for Dsis in law birthday next year but if I need to use before then I have it in) scarves-picked up a couple of really nice ones cheap, should have been £16 but got them in a sale for £3 each. Wish I had bought more , only bought 2 but such a nice generic design they would have been suitable for so many people birthdays and Christmas

If not candles, the reed sets. I was given one at Christmas which went to a charity auction:(. It was really nice, personal as it had paw prints and sayings about cats on it, unfortunately I cannot stand the smell of vanilla, really makes me sick. I was gutted I had to part with it as it was really lovely plus the cats would have trashed it but it was a really lovely thought.

Jams, chutney, preserves, flavoured teas, coffee sets. I always keep a chutney/ jam in, very handy as a present. Will keep thinking Chanie

Managed to wrap another present last night which I was pleased about but as we go into Oct and have the birthday presents to send I am going to really have to dig deep for the other bits. Have still completely lost one present but did find 2 that were wrapped but I had wondered where they had gone. As space is being made, presents have been placed in better places where they won't disappear again.

crazy-cat-lady_2

Another one that’s cheap to do and quite right for now is adult colouring. Poundland have some books that are actually on amazon for £6-8 or so. And the works have some lovely colouring pencil sets in tins for £2 that look like they should be more. So for £3 you can put together a little something that looks fairly decent.

Also the online poundshol a while back had a lot of different Yankee votive holders and tart burners. £1 each as well as the tarts and votives. I got 2 tart burners and some tarts and wrapped them in patterned cellophane with a big bow and the votive holders I put a votive in each, matching scents, and two other ones with them spare, all in a little gift box with tissue paper. So again, only about £4/5 but looks like a nice little gift.