Does it take the magic away?????

orchid-96

I started buying stuff in August this year, but my problem with this was that I kept getting bits and bobs for people with a sort of general feel and ended up spending probably more that I should have in the end....and also don't have any spare room/loft space so it all ends up in the corner of my bedroom!!

I got mainly gifts for family and friends and stocking fillers, also as my girls are only 21 months got there stuff early (as they don't have any preferences etc yet) and I got a good discount on them...

I think this year I will put away some money each month and get 1 or 2 gifts for people instead of lots of bits and pieces...

If I had a spare room/space though I would defintely copy the idea of a spreadsheet and get stuff as I go along and wrap it....I think the magic of Christmas can be more appreciated too if you are not totally frazzled by all the shopping/wrapping etc...

mary43

I've already started and if I'm not careful I'll get in such a muddle. I'm trying to have a clear out............not yet got to the spare room and thats where I'm going to put stuff as I get it. Going out tomorrow for a few more bits I saw in the sale at woollies, OH was beside himself this year as we both forgot crackers and now they're going cheap I'll grab some, plus cut price wrapping paper...........then I'll have to call a halt till I make some space............lol

I find doing a bit of 'pressie' shopping helps lift the anti climax that normally follows Christmas..............well for me anyway:j

mary43

OH often says this Margaret but what else are we to do with it ? Our council give us wheelie bins..........black for general household, grey for card/paper/cans/plastic and green for garden stuff. We dont have a lot of choice really and if we cart it all off to the tip it ends up in the same place.
If there was less wrapping on things we bought it would helpand we try not to waste any food where possible.................three cats are quite happy to sample the leftovers of a pork chop and the birds seem to eat a lot of leftovers but there always seems to be some stuff that doesn't fit into the recycling bin category.
Our recycling bin was emptied yesterday after a weeks break and as soon as it was I had stuff to put in it there wasn't room for before.
Tomorrow is normal wheelie bin day and we've not a lot in ours so OH is thinking of putting some stuff in that should be recycled just to get rid of it and top up the bin.Trouble is, if we do that we're liable to get in trouble for putting the wrong stuff in the wrong bin.

ELLA

Well Ive been out this morning and bought a load of mens pure silk ties at £2 each and Im ready to wrap them up. Ive already done most of the in-laws and put them in the loft. My main aim is to try and buy everything from the grab it board or hot uk deals.

I dont need to worry too much about my daughter as she loves everything she gets at the moment only being 4! Ive ordered her a load of bits from the amazon sale.

Im going to take ppls advise and have more fun and relax in dec!

mary43

I'm trying to work at having a 'recycled christmas -and birthdays' ....we dont have many shops in our little town apart from woolworths and supermarkets but we do have four charity shops, some better than others. So far I've bought stuff from there towards making either gift boxes or baskets..........they have some lovely stuff in, a lot of it unwanted presents so they're unopened and what would normally be £5.99 can be £1.
It's fun shopping as well never knowing quite what you'll find.:j

SharkyGeorge

ELLA wrote: »

Well Ive been out this morning and bought a load of mens pure silk ties at £2 each

Ooh, where from??

ELLA

There were loads of them in my local burtons and they were great colours too! Not your normal sickly colours that are normally left in a sale.

Ive recycled lots of bits too for the in-laws that I just wouldnt use, why not they will never know he he!

BigMummaF

I'm with Mary on the charity shopping...the few bits we got from there as gifts were some of the best received:D

So if anyone wabts me.....look in the charity shops first:laugh:

Happy Shopping!

ELLA

I have so many gifts that have been bought for me over the years that I have never used.

Ive checked that all are in date (if needed) also checked that everthing is in one piece and then Ive wrapped them up for someone who could do with it far more than myself!

Ive also bought lots of birthday presents this year which have already been wrapped up and cards written from the sales including the paper which was a bargain from next!

My daughter has just turned 4 (dec 20th) and im guessing she will start to be invited to lots more childrens party's now she is older and summer is on its way, I wonder if its worth getting a few sale items for the childrens party's.

I do like being very organised!!!

BigMummaF

A friend used to collect all the vouchers & coupons to send off for any freebies. Then she would put them in a 'gift' cupboard, so when the children were invited to a party, or someone had a birthday at work...you get the idea...she only had to look in the cupboard! The most it cost was the stamps & envelopes to send off for it in the first place!

If there was an offer on eg packet soups, she would buy them regardless of whether they used them, & likewise have something for the children to take into school for Harvest Festival or Bring & Buy.