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OS Christmas Support thread & timetable
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Inspired by this wonderful thread I hit Bullring in Birmingham with a vengance on Saturday. I hit the Next Sale at 5pm, granted all the clothes had literally flown off the shelves by that point, but there was still loads of jewelry/gift sets and nik naks left, also spied a few bargains in Debenhams and TK Maxx, armed with my list and the max spend per person, I have managed to do 85% of my Christmas Present Shopping in one hit, the rest I'll get off Hawkins Bazaar and the book people in the next couple of months. I've just totted up my savings and I have saved a whopping £142 by shopping in the sales. (I have 20 people to buy for not including hubby - and we have no kids- budget £250, so far spent £136.15)
What has pleased me most though is that my husband is now telling his friends and family what we've done, as he's really proud that we've 'saved' so much money. Dripfeeding him moneysaving ideas seems to be working hee hee hee
BTW I paid for this from my Christmas Savings account, set up in January, when I first read Martin's book
FruityPay all debts by Xmas 12 # 072 £1201.79/£15,105.68:eek:
2012 Frugal Living Challenge
Sealed Pot Challenge 5 #17110 -
GreenTips wrote:Would love to know what the name of the book is please'....a book on making your own cosmetics and beauty products from natural ingredients..'
Hello there, sorry, I've been away a few days...the full title is:
The Ultimate Natural Beauty Book: 100 Gorgeous Beauty Products to Make Easily at Home by Josephine Fairley
I really like the book, it's very readable. I haven't tried making anything from it yet, but I WILL!!!!!!!!!!! I found a copy in a very good cheap bookshop, for £5, after I got mine. I have also seen it in Ottakars, which is when I decided I wanted it.
May be time to revive some natural beauty threads then, though I've not looked for / at them, yet...0 -
Rage_in_Eden wrote:Well that's just tough for them. they're banks and that's what they do
I am NOT HAPPY :eek: that I can't pay in my shrapnel (1s, 2s, 5s and 20s) at the post office for my co-op isa - OH sugegsted i move ISAs but (a) can't be bothered and (b) co-op is ethical. wonder if i could start a savings account with somebody else and put it in there :think: hmm, off to the outside world forums to see what are the best rates........
I know, it's tricky. When I worked in a Building Society, we were only allowed to accept three bags of change oer day per customer, paid into an account...blimey!! I can't believe you can't pay your shrapnel into you ISA at the Post Office! That's bonkers! It's MONEY!!!!! Weird people.0 -
Loadsabob wrote:The Ultimate Natural Beauty Book: 100 Gorgeous Beauty Products to Make Easily at Home by Josephine Fairley
Can you do me a favour and find a recent thread that has something to do with make up or body care and add the book title (with ISBN if possible) into that thread so it gets indexed when I catch you all up? Please?It'll get lost in this Christmas thread otherwise.
Hi, I'm a Board Guide on the Old Style and the Consumer Rights boards which means I'm a volunteer to help the boards run smoothly and can move and merge posts there. Board guides are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an inappropriate or illegal post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. It is not part of my role to deal with reportable posts. Any views are mine and are not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.DTFAC: Y.T.D = £5.20 Apr £0.50
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Will do, Squeaky0
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Loadsabob wrote:I know, it's tricky. When I worked in a Building Society, we were only allowed to accept three bags of change oer day per customer, paid into an account...blimey!! I can't believe you can't pay your shrapnel into you ISA at the Post Office! That's bonkers! It's MONEY!!!!! Weird people.
Three bags a day per customer I can understand but really - I'm going to have to go to the library to calm down!!!!!
Not christmas related technically but I have bought a new winter coat - off e-bay - good nick, wool, black/charcoal grey with fake fur trim (subtle not huge leopard print) and it's cost me £28. I have anice camel one I bought and a windsmoor but I'm not wearing those for work as we have to put our coats in the boiler room and any workmen we have lean stuff against them - i got dirt on my coat and wood varnish last year - needless to say I had to get these out myself as work went all deaf when i pointed out it was their fault........But I'm going to say this once, and once only, Gene. Stay out of Camberwick Green0 -
jw1096 wrote:
A lot of the gifts will be mostly home made, im getting good at knitting scarfs and loads of the girls want one, and then ill buy a few bits and bobs if it needs padding out a bit. Dad is easy - A CD is usually the way to go, and some cigars if I can afford it! The only difficult one to get is for the boyf, he doesnt really have any ideas what he wants, but is a bit fussy, so DVD's or PC games he mentions get mentally filed for purchase later!
I think my favourite project though, whilst not strictly for xmas itself, is my big hand sewn double quilt im making, Its for Winter, but im looking forward to watching xmas movies on the sofa with boyf and kitty wrapped up in a lovely blanket, which will also be a a much needed spare for guests etc.
I really want to watch xmas movies now!! I always get this twinge when I watch freinds or something on TV, and its a xmas episode, all warm and gooey inside!!
Jo xx
Jo - I love the sound of your quilt project! I really must start one, I'd love that. And the knitting...so far I can ONLY do scarves, but am hoping to expand my repertoire!
I want Christmas movies on, too! I'm really looking forward to being able to enjoy all that this year (though I did well last year, too), with having Christmas all sorted out long before!0 -
Trow wrote:As they are getting your money in January for December, *they* are getting the interest.
You would be better off setting up a regular savings account and Direct debiting out the money every month - that way you would get the interest rather than lose it.
But if you would end up using the money on something else, then fair play to you, not criticising your choice as you know your circumstances better than anyone - just saying that there might be a better way.
Whatever works for you though
Try your local credit union as ours has a voucher scheme where for every £95 you pay into the voucher account you get £100 in vouchers! :T good bit of interest there as they are not a for profit organisation. They bulk buy the vouchers and pass on the saving. :j I have a loan that I am paying off or I would join it.(rather pay the loan off asap).
HTHThe best bargains are priceless!!!!!!!!!! :T :T :T0 -
sarahe wrote:Has anyone any ideas for 'family presents'.?
My sister has 5 children aged 2- 8 years old and it costs a fortune each time for presents that they don't really want or need.
So if anyone has any ideas of 'family presents' I'd be interested.
I did like the B&Q climbing frame but that's sold out.
We have thought about tickets to theme parks etc.
But I'd love ideas - we thought maybe adopting an animal in a zoo or something. Last year my parents bought us all 'chickens' from the Oxfam site - that was a good idea.
Thanks
How about a family ticket for a pantomime?Often the small local theatres have a panto in January and offer great deals and if you enquire now you might just get a discount! :T HTH
The best bargains are priceless!!!!!!!!!! :T :T :T0 -
Loadsabob wrote:Jo - I love the sound of your quilt project! I really must start one, I'd love that. And the knitting...so far I can ONLY do scarves, but am hoping to expand my repertoire!
I want Christmas movies on, too! I'm really looking forward to being able to enjoy all that this year (though I did well last year, too), with having Christmas all sorted out long before!
Im really enjoying it, I must admit! I find I can do it in front of the TV without missing whats going on, but Im not doing a really professional style quilt with complex designs, its more of loads of panels all in the same design (a star) but in different colours, red in the centre, working outward to blue around the edges.
My knitting is only scarves, cushion covers, and anything else that doesnt require anything more complex than a four sided shape!! I want to learn to knit properly, where I could actually make a baby cardigan or something, but im quite enjoying making cushion covers actually! I have one made already, and its actually really soft and lovely, much nicer than some £40 silk cushion cover - as im not scared to 'use' it as a proper cushion, wheras I wouldnt want anyone touching a posh one!
As for xmas movies, I cant wait!! As ive been a student for the last couple of years, ive had the priviledge of being able to watch xmas movies as much as I want, as work hasnt got in the way of a proper xmas tv fest!
This year, Ill download all the movies I might miss, so I can watch them anyway when I want, but I actually might go and download some xmas things now, I feel like watching xmas TV! Im such a kid, at 25, I still view xmas like a 5yr old does!!
Jo xx#KiamaHouse0
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