OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

greenlogo

that sounds lovely - thank you .

I can see why people might have had....issues...with it if they're not used to dried fruit though

pavlovs_dog

another thing that has just come to mind....

notice how at christmas, whenever you need a birthday/anniversary/congrats etc etc card, decent ones are impossible to find because of all the christmas tack.

in december, i have my nan's 70th on the 11th, my nephews 1st birthday on the 14th, uncles on the 16th, FILs on the 17th, christmas, then best friends bday on the 29th :eek: :eek:

if you will be needing cards for any special occasion in the run up to christmas, arrange them early to avoid the undue hassle and stress that goes with it!

kscour

Just wanted to say thanks for making me think about buying/creating in advance again. I've been put off lately and reading this I wondered why - eventually I realised it's down to one of my friends, in some sort of deranged panic every January she grabs everything with a half price or less sticker wraps it and then in November agonises over who to give it to. Worst thing is she buys for alot of kids and they change alot in a year and quite often look very bemused on Christmas Day! This thread is more about preperation and so far I have prepared...
Mum & Mum in laws presents - looking through sale on-line and there they were, found myself thinking it's a long time till Xmas etc. and then realised that it doesn't matter how long it is I've budgeted for them and they'll love them and it's a chance to get a much nicer present for my money than I'll get in Nov/Dec.
Stocking fillers for kids - dangerous territory but stuck to the very unusual that they'll love.
And in a moment of extreme constraint tucked away the time team DVD set for my time team addicted daughter - if we have a very rainy/bored day before now & Xmas I may drag it out otherwise it waits for Xmas. My weak spot is my girls so this is a big step for me but I think it'll be far nicer for Xmas than to have it now & not watch it because shes out playing all the time.
So thanks to every one whose posted and helped me see the error of my ways - I'm looking forward to a shop-free November & December!!

ellas9602

Hello I’m new but I’ve been lurking for a while.

I would really like to thank all you MSE’s too for making me think about this. With four children (9 , 11, 14 & 24) and two grandchildren as well as huge familes either side, Christmas always costs me a fortune. Last year I spent £1000+ and Im determined not to do the same this year. Christmas has always cost me well into the new year and I’ve ended up in such a mess at times that I incur bank cahregs and credit card charges due to overspend or late payment!!!!! :mad:

…so following all of the lovely inspiration I went to boots yesterday and bought 4 lovely presents for £30! I recived £15 worth of vouchers so went back today and bouight another two presents for free! Also got Santa suit for baby grandson in mothercare for £3 (reduced from £12):T
I also picked up some lovely stocking fillers in wilkos for pennies and I have had to clear a space in my wardrobe, which is now my Christmas cupboard!:T

I have arranged with a printer friend of mine to print me 3 12-page photo calendars for mum, MIL and oldest daughter.

And I bought a lovely plant pot for 50p cos I saw someone had mentioned this would make a nice present which would flower in spring but I’m afraid I’m not green fingered and I’m not sure which bulbs would flower indoors and last through winter. Any idea??

Anyway, I’m really chuffed and for the first time EVER I think I’m going to enjoy Christmas as it should be enjoyed. Many Thanks

squeaky

I know hyacinths are often used as christmas pots and I did a google so you can find out more and perhaps even source some bulbs...

..to see the page ---> Click Here

Jinx

For the adults in my family, I tend to make up 'me time packs' .....

I buy glittery bags from the pound shop along with tissue paper and fill them for either a male or female. So bottle of wine in each (on offer from Tesco or Asda pre xmas), Thorntons chocs when on offer. (3 for 2 etc or from the outlet shop near work) I also put in a book (buy the packs of 5 from Banana books either chick lit or murder mysteries and split) and then chuck in some stuff like face packs, hair conditioners etc from AVON as I'm a rep and get some great deals. For the blokes they get little gadgets or puzzles that I buy when I see a bargain.

I like to encourage the fact Xmas is a HOLIDAY and we should all relax and just spent the time as a family

I make the bags for the adults as my daughter is now a teenager and I have NO clue what shes getting for xmas!!!!! All suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Jinx

scuzz

I always buy the foiled wrapping paper as this is the easiest to save year on year. I get these in the pound shop

Crimbo cards I get from the pound shop and get the biggest bumper pack I can - usually about 60 for £1.

Got loads of gift tags ready from last year's crimbo cards - both mine and friends who gave me their's to chop up.

Last year I used lots of the coupons that came with the Original Source free bottles (my family all got them too kinda!) and made up a gift set for my sis with a pretty box that I'd had a prezzie given to me in. I've still got some of the coupons so may do for prezzies this year - especially if Tesco do another load of BOGOFs on them!

Also, making sweets is a good prezzie. I make rum truffles. Just need

2oz chocolate
2oz ground almonds
2oz icing sugar
2oz butter
cherries
rum

Soak the cherries in rum overnight. Melt choccie and butter with a bit of the cherry rum, add the icing sugar and almonds, stir to form a paste. Roll into balls, add half a cherry and voila, truffles! YUM!

Pooky

Well I've been putting off reading this thread --- but no - it's not that scarey - most of the things I've already put into practice over the last few years.

I've always got a present box on the go - currently housing about 15 items of reduced "funky friends" items - lip glosses - nail varnishes etc all girly bits and bobs for little one's parties. I picked up some cactus growing kits reduced to 99p in woolies a few weeks ago for my niece and nephews and have got a couple of catalouge freebies on their way to bulk out their pressies.

When my mum was round last week she went through a new catalgue that had been delivered, she noticed the free gifts looked rather handy so told me that if I ordered something she'd gladly take the freebies as her xmas pressis this year!

I've started a ing account and my xmas pot is nearly at £100. The wrapping papers in the loft with the cards and tags (cards brought in january with a voucher sent by some long lost aunt). I've got about £30 in woolies vouchers that have been given as pressies this year that I'm saving towards nearer the time. I try and buy something each week from september onwards to go in a xmas food box - pickles, choccies, nuts etc and then the only thing I pay out for the week before is the fruit and veg and what ever meat we decide upon....gonna go for a goose this year......well so DH says..

I don't really have a great deal of people to buy for - I made a deal with friends that we don't buy for each other or each others kids as they always get far too much anyway and the rule of thumb in the family is no pressies if you're over 16.

Last year I made heatable wheat bags with lavender in them - cost me £19 inc delivery for a huge sack of wheat and lavender, supposedly enough to make 10 bags........I've made 18 of various sizes now and still have enough for a few more. I printed out some instructions for heating them, laminated them and tied them on with some pretty ribbons- made some nice covers from scraps from my fabric box - they went down a treat. Will use what's left to make some more up and stick them in the pressie box or donate to the xmas fair at school.

jaybee

Lidl's have got some good things for stockinh fillers this week - shaped PostIt style notes and gel pens etc. Quite bulky so help to fill a stocking up!

squeaky

Which reminds me that my local co-op are selling edible notebooks and things