What would you do differently Xmas 2008?

shellsuit

savvy wrote: »

LOL shell, I've got ALL this years birthdays cards sorted already

I got the Lakeland birthday book in the sale (although you could easily make one, I was just being posh!) and bought all the cards at Asda with sons discount card, and now they are all filed under each month ready to be sent off, FINALLY organised!! :j :j

OMG why haven't I ever EVER thought of doing that before

I always moan come December when I have to buy birthday cards, but there are hardly any in the shops because they are full of Christmas Cards....DOH!!

I'm gonna make a list and vouch to get a couple of cards every month, then come December, I'll already have them all!

I must be as thick as pig shoite to have never thought of that....THANK YOU! :rotfl: :rotfl:

chocolatechipcookies

I need to spend less on my husband. We have decided to get each other little cheap things this year, but we will give each other money to have a nice shop in the boxing day sales.

Buy a turkey crown rather than a whole turkey. Ours fell apart and looked like road kill. It tasted nice, though. Also, instead of one person doing all of the cooking, I am going to suggest each couple make a dish to bring. That way we all put something towards the dinner and it's not all on one or two people.

Amanda65

Definitely spend less on presents and spread the Christmas shopping out over the year. Also buy far less food. I received our CC bill today which had all our spending from December on it and it is horrendous :eek: .

Having said that though I am also going to have more people to lunch as normally I cook for up to 13 but this year was just 7 of us and I felt quite lost round the table and as though some of "Christmas" was missing.

mrs-moneypenny

i've already written in my diary that i MUST plant the hyachinth bulbs in september for christmas presents, i forgot all about them and ended up planting them in november, they are only just peeking through now so i couldnt use them as pressies.

will start buying hamper bits for my mums present in october so i just need to get an extra item a week.

i will make a christmas cake this year, faffed about over which recipie to use and ended up not making one.

I wont buy any tins of sweets, weve ended up with tons of sweets and chocs left.

PrincessPinky_2

We got lots of chocolates and biscuits this year, so as above, will not buy as much food, as we are still eating mince pies!!!! He He

lilac_lady

I'd drink more, especially when cooking Christmas dinner for 8.

qwiksave

Speak to my in-laws early! Every year they insist on getting great big items to try and give a 'wow' factor to their grandchildren (my kids), who don't really appreciate what they're doing... They don't spend loads, but get bargains on their travels - when my oldest was four they got this enormous s/h train set - y'know the type that elderly men spend years collecting landscapes, etc. My youngest was two so you can imagine how long that lasted! This last year they got one of those great big trampolines for the garden - nice, you might think - but they didn't think to check with us whether (a)it will fit in our garden and (b)whether we want it to take over our garden! Trouble is, my OH won't say anything to his parents (thinking I should) and I don't think its my position! Sorry, rant over....

jamtart6

1. I will get as organised as I was this year - as I was sick and bedridden from the 21st and busy in work for the 2 weeks before that. So glad I wrapped in November.

2. cut down with my OH (or do a large gift for bday and xmas again) neither of us need bits and bobs I'd rather put all my money together and get one decent thing (xbox360 last year) for birthday and Christmas

sparrer

Now I'm a pensioner :eek: I'll make some drastic changes, and do other things just the same as always -

This year all my pressies will come from charity shops..I've already bought a couple of brand new items and saved over £15 on what I'd have paid in the shops.

I'll do Christmas at home. For a change I went to other people in 07 and missed doing the traditional family thing - so did my family, which was nice to hear. It also cost me a small fortune in petrol and I came back with the flu :sad:

I'll car boot more often, including the garish flashing lights, bought from a charity shop, which my DD said reminded her of a fun-fair! I'll use coupons, not forget them in the back of my purse, for a Christmas store so I won't have a last minute food bill.

I'll spend more time on 'clicky sites', making sure I get the best price for anything I need. I'll even be brave and look at doing my shopping on line.

I will Never be tempted to have a credit or store card or loan to pay for Christmas again. If I can't afford it I'll save for it, buy it second hand, or go without. My bank account is just in the black and I'm lovin' it!

I wonder if I'll manage to keep it all up for the next 11 months

Smickan

Keep track of what I buy/pay. Yes I did have it all bought/wrapped before Christmas but I don't have a clue what I spent - I only know it was a lot!