The 2008 Money Neutral Gift Challenge

kbl

Have updated my sig to try to keep track of everything I spend v what I take in. What do you all think? Have I left anything out?

jo_b_2

Has everybody on here spotted this appropriate freebie:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=630265
It's a free personalised greetings card so would be good for this thread! :j

My totals are adding up nicely. I'm getting a few points steadily through inpoints (which is new to me) so I should get enough for a free card from there quite soon too! :cool:

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Hi kbl, sig is looking fab!!!! Still gotta do mine, lol! Do you get boots advantage points where you are, and do ya ebay at all! Just wandering as they are in my list. x

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Oooh, i just realised spare change saving pot arent exactly mney nuetral are they, duh me :doh:

but if you all dont mind im gonna keep mine in as if i dont use em the change will get spent on nonsense and i never miss the change that i put in so suppose in some roundabout way it is kinda money nuetral to me :think: as my savings that i put away in an account i often do miss, lol:rolleyes: .

(Ps..By the way im just using this one coz it makes me giggle, lol, :grouphug: hover over it with your mouse pointer and you'll see why, hehe im such a big kid!:D )

Luna69

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi there Pariskate...

I will have to have a look at that .... mind a lot of things are so much cheaper here than in the Uk, so im not sure if the points i can earn are worth more than the extra i would spend? -if that makes sense :rotfl: ....
Im heading back to the Uk on Monday for xmaz/new year.. and am bringing things like nescafe back to last the year - as here a 200g jar works out at roughly £4.50 - £5 a jar -so what im planning on doing is "buying" things from myself - so when i need a jar of coffee i will put 6euros it would cost me into a savings tin :T

I have made a start on my 3rd pressie for next xmas :j .....

Luna69... i would love to learn to crochet - think i will have to look for a pattern and give it a go ... i can knit..though x stitch is my main hobby -but not something that is particularly quick to do :rolleyes: .... but i will be making jewellery, and im also planning on getting some candles and basic clear tee light holders and thread beads onto wire and then wrap them around,

Im going to be keeping a book with what i have made and who it is for, plus how much each thing is costing me.. I don't know about everyone else -but when i see a bargain or get something quite cheaply -i seem to end up buying more of them and spending more in the long run :mad: , so that is my mission for 2008 - to see something for say 2 euros and NOT to buy half a dozen of them :wall:

I used to do a lot of X stitch, still have a lot of unopened kits, not done any in a few years now. I've also done latch hook rugs,still got a few rows to do on a monsters inc one I started for my son when he was about 7 or 8... he's 11 now :eek: :rotfl: and I have a winnie the pooh one I haven't started yet, so may do that for my daughter for next Christmas, it was for her anyway.
Plus Felt applique, managed a christmas stocking for my son about 5 years ago, and one for my daughter that I finished 2 years ago.. just need one for my youngest, there is one part done, so might try to finish that one.
A friend of mine did have a knitting pattern for a teddy bear made with that eyelash type of wool, so might have to see if I can get that off her and make some teddies for birthdays or next Christmas too.
This is all if I can fit it in!
May give candles a go, I have a kit I've had for quite a few years, did make some in the beginning which turned out okay, but never really carried it on. Love scented ones so may look into those.. and bath stuff too... can we have 50 hours a day please?

jamtart6

i would love to make home made gifts, but I dont know anyone who would apprecitate it!

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

ah, are you sure - i thought my mates and family were all into material things of a high mony value, thats was until i made a hamper for a mates birthday and people saw it and kept saying how amazing and thoughtful it was and that if someone made something so thoughtfully for them they would love it so much - so i have, lol, wont they be pleasantly surprised - and if you think carefully about what the person really likes and is into it can be a massive massive hit - and they dont actually cost that much. Im sure you have people that would really be happy from such a nice gesture. Give it a try! x

kbl

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote: »

Hi kbl, sig is looking fab!!!! Still gotta do mine, lol! Do you get boots advantage points where you are, and do ya ebay at all! Just wandering as they are in my list. x

Have tried ebaying in the past, not at all successfully, will give it another go this year for a while anyway. Looking at all the other lovely sigs, mine is so boring looking, must have another go after I finish my homework.

Aye, I can do Boots, but haven't started yet, my line of reasoning was that if I got a boots card, I would have to go to Derry to use it and end up spending more in the long run cos I couldn't stay out of all the other lovely shops:p Unfortunately, my line of reasoning isn't that logical, because instead of spending money in those shops, I bought a lot of stuff off catalogues, which I'm still paying for plus interest on my interest:eek: Not the brainiest critter am I? So my plan for 2008 is to go to Derry once a month, use Boots and the pound shops religiously, recycle the catalogues and GOTTA make sure I leave credit cards at home and only take a small amount of cash. No willpower, so just gotta promise myself I can stick to chocolate if I leave the major spending and catalogues alone :rotfl: What do ya think, is that all too much of a tall order?

Angelraesunshine

gonna update my signature later but so far i have got ready for 2008

£24 in pigs back
£18.75 in consumer pulse
£98 in quidco
&
£3 boots

cool its all starting to add up.

mumoftwo

Can I join in please? Our Mortgage is coming to its fixed rate end in Feb, already read all the advice on this site, so not sure if are able to get a good deal or if our monthly outgoings will be going up..
I have joined Pigsback since last year, but compaired to others I have only managed to get 2 £10 vouchers.

So far, I have made a list of people I have to buy for in 2008 - birthdays, Easter and Christmas. I have a few books on sale at Greenmetropolis and have requested a Paypal account and will try my hand at selling some stuff,

Only thing is I am a bit scared after reading about people hacking into others accounts and bad things happening with customers etc.

So, how do you all keep track of the Neutral money? Put in your account or in a jar, or in a diary or something?(with points and such like)
And if you need to buy a present do you just deduct that from your total? If that makes sense

Well I will do my best!!!