The 2008 Xmas Savings Thread

Inkedkitten

Wow some great ideas, thanks everyone! Here's a couple of mine

I bought these off ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-CRACKER-BOXES-WEDDING-FAVOURS-GIFT-CHRISTMAS-BOXES_W0QQitemZ120315421816QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m120315421816&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65 %3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I plan to make truffles, wrap them in xmas tissue paper and put them inside. Then write the person's name on them with glitter glue to jazz them up a bit! So all in all thats about £10-15 spend on the boxes, tissue paper/decoration, ingredients and you've got 10 pressies!

www.photobox.co.uk are doing 2for1 on a few things or 25% off, great site to make people diarys, collages, bags, cushions etc and if you get them now you'll get them for cheaper! I'm making my mum a photo diary for xmas, which will be £8.99, and i'll get another free, so not bad if you ask me! Sorry if these have been put here before!

*Louise*

^^Thanks for pointing out those cracker boxes Inkedkitten, I am ordering some - they will be useful for putting my small gifts in for people.

A jewellery box (for example) will look much better presented in one of those than just wrapped in paper

Inkedkitten

Most welcome, I got the metallic red ones, hopefully will be nice, just adds an extra xmas touch!

she_grinch

Inkedkitten wrote: »

Wow some great ideas, thanks everyone! Here's a couple of mine

I bought these off ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-CRACKER-BOXES-WEDDING-FAVOURS-GIFT-CHRISTMAS-BOXES_W0QQitemZ120315421816QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m120315421816&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65 %3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Sorry if this sounds daft but not having bought anything from ebay before I am slightly confused.....:o Does the £1.79 price mean for 1 cracker or for 10? I love the idea of making place names for my christmas table with these.

shelovestobuystuff

Just got an e-mail from woolworths,3 for 2 on now on all toys,ends this Sunday though.They usually have the 3 for 2 on much longer that that dont they?

Inkedkitten

she_grinch wrote: »

Inkedkitten wrote: »

Wow some great ideas, thanks everyone! Here's a couple of mine

I bought these off ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-CRACKER-BOXES-WEDDING-FAVOURS-GIFT-CHRISTMAS-BOXES_W0QQitemZ120315421816QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m120315421816&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65 %3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Sorry if this sounds daft but not having bought anything from ebay before I am slightly confused.....:o Does the £1.79 price mean for 1 cracker or for 10? I love the idea of making place names for my christmas table with these.

That's the price for 10 crackers

sugaJen

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

Just got an e-mail from woolworths,3 for 2 on now on all toys,ends this Sunday though.They usually have the 3 for 2 on much longer that that dont they?

Yes they do but this one is just a special they are doing (probly one off) as its on ALL toys. Pretty sure there normal 3 for 2 is just on stickered items like boots.

earthmother

Well, my period of 'saving' officially ended yesterday with the arrival of my vouchers from Park - now I can start spending

I've already, admittedly, got most of the extended family, teachers etc sorted through various deals and bargains, but there are a few small bits still to get (got my Boots 3for2 list done already - just waiting for a christmas shopping night for the points), I've got to get my three to do their christmas lists in a couple of weeks time so I know what Santa needs to get, and there's obviously some food to buy, so that's where my vouchers come into it - shouldn't need to spend any more cash at all :j

Triggles

I've now got a total of £40 worth of Amazon vouchers put aside for Christmas! And still plenty of time to get more! So we're quite pleased with that!

DH's work gives a higher discount from now til mid-January, so we'll be stocking up on nonperishables and looking at the 3 for 2 Christmas gifts and items we can put in a hamper for family or friends. And of course, the ingredients are now cheaper with the discount for Christmas cakes, so I need to get moving on that as well.

We also decided this morning to switch from store-bought bread to homemade bread starting next week and are going to put aside the money we save to put towards Christmas 2009. Yay! Every little bit helps!

muggins_here

Anyone currently spending £5 or more in a single transaction at Boots gets given a £5 No7/Ruby & Millie voucher. I got one after paying for my flu jab and today I decided to use it for a bit of early christmas shopping. This is what I bought:

£10 No7 eyeshadow trio: £5 + voucher

got a new voucher for spending £5

Another £10 No7 eyeshadow trio: £5 + voucher

got a new voucher for spending £5

£11 No7 Bronzing Pearls: £6 + voucher

got a new voucher for spending over £5

£7 No7 For Men Facial Scrub: £2 + voucher

Total value: £38
Total with vouchers: £18

The offer is on until early November- good thing as this tactic wouldn't be practical if you had to queue up numerous times during the christmas rush. I'd recommend doing this if, like me, you have lots of female relatives who like expensive make-up, and a few metrosexual male relatives. As a bonus I got a few Advantage Card points and (fingers crossed) won't get flu...