The 2008 Money Neutral Gift Challenge

jamtart6

Its quite difficult to buy some presents early. I get some of the generic smelly sets, they are always handy. But the main focus for me this year is going to be focusing on getting vouchers for places that I know I will spend money in for example :

a) Toluna Surveys - to get HMV vouchers (spent about £75 online with them this xmas)
b) TNS surveys - to get Nectar Points (to convert to Argos vouchers)
c) Tesco Points - I want to get 2 magazine subscriptions for next xmas
d) Pigsback

I need somewhere that does M+S vouchers too!


This is all so I dont have to spend real money when I come to buy my gifts next year - start early!!!

I have £20.66 in Quidco as of today as well!!

sophiesmum_2

I've just signed up for january's make £10 a day challenge on the dfw board.
Hopefully this will get me motivated to sell some stuff and get a start on my pressie buying funds.:D

I'm also collecting vouchers but mostly through pigsback. Going for Boots vouchers to get stuff for hampers etc, and pizza hut vouchers to give my brothers family for a night out present.

Anything from quidco will also be chucked in the pot.Today I need to go through te sites and see what I have accumulated then put in my sig.
Need new breakdown insurance too so will check on quidco for that while I am there:D

jamtart6

I'm going to have a go at the live on £4000 in a year challenge too, I have no idea how much I spend in a year (I dont think a lot as I live at home) but I do spend frivolously and need to start thinking about how much I really spend frivolously as I want to buy a house soon!

ehallett

Well I am starting work on my fiance's valentines pressie. He was really impressed with the hamper that I made his parents for Christmas (only cost me £20 and it was packed full of lovely stuff from Tesco - I already had the hamper though) so I am going to make him one of these.

I have advertised on Freecycle to see if anyone has one to give away as this will save me a lot of money. If not then I have got a basket that I could use but would prefer a hamper.

I got a £28 cheque through yesterday which I was going to spend on some smelly sets but I think I will use this for stuff to go in the hamper.

I'm going to fill it with some cakes or mini donuts (home made), some sweets that he likes, some smellies (will get these cheap in Boots), a couple of bottles of red square (little ones), some valentines socks and maybe a voucher of some sort if I can get one from a survey site before then. Only want to spend around £14 if I can and then I can use the rest of that £28 for a mother's day hamper .

Emily x

hayley11

I'm very happy today as me and the OH have been paid £170 between us from Quidco, so i'm going to buy some presents for next xmas in the sales then put the rest away. So I think this is a very good start :T

jamtart6

Oh gutted....just remembered I bought my OH a large present for xmas and half was for his birthday next year. So I now have to eBay at least £240 worth of stuff before I even start thinking about anyone else's presents! On the up side I will only be buying him a token gift for his bday

sophiesmum_2

Well i checked my accounts and its not looking too bad. OH and i have accounts for pigsback but I nab all the vouchers:D .
Made £20 on quidco today when I bought green flag cover for £46.50.
Got books to list on amazon tonight too. I don't do e-bay it scares the hell out of me:eek: :eek: .
Just off to the freebies board benbenandme says there is a freebie for aussie conditioner - that will go nicely in one of my hampers:D

Good luck everyone.

mum2one

Ive just done a tightwad guide (not posh - just a few money saving tips and self help guide for quidco, mutual points and greasy palm +suggestions for survey sites)

If anyone wants a copy please pm with your email address-oncesent will delete your email address from my address book. x

gingababe

Ok well I have started my 2008 challenge, I listed on the 10p listing day & I have just sold two at buy it now prices yipppeeee .
Just a small question to jamtart shall I clear out my christmass challenge spreadsheet & use that ??? or is there a new one???

Many thanks for everyones help & Happy new year to all money savers.

Oldteabag_2

HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Can I join in please? Fairly new here,and I'm not sure what I'm going to do to raise money yet,but I've got a few ideas.
I'll try and get things organised in my little mind before I commit myself.
All the best,oldbag x:D