The 2008 Xmas Savings Thread

Hubbers

This site has loads of bangles for under a fiver in their sale http://www.banglebangle.co.uk/.

hayleythedaisy

Hello,

Just thought I would share a couple of ideas with you...

Ikea do lovely plants and are 10% of the price they would be in a garden centre. Get a plant, a pot and some nice ribbon for a present for £2 to £30 depending on your choice of plant.

Also, you can do mini hampers - I did a tea and bicuits one. Go to a cheap home store or tesco and get a teapot and two mugs, and a wicker basket. Buy whichever biscuits and different teas that are on offer and fill the basket. (Poundland and equivalents are quite good for that) Great for presents for couples or families. Depending on where you shop and how much you get can be done for £7 to £30.

Candles - Ikea do great candles. Buying a couple of church candles and a pretty and unusual charity shop dinner plate makes a nice gift.

For your other half/mother/father you could make vouchers.... other half ones can be wash the car, put the bin out, ironing, cooking dinner (insert your own rude things), for parents it could be a dinner or tea at the garden centre etc.

Young children - so long as not spoilt, think £5 is brilliant. If you get a cheap purse or money box and put a nice crisp note in it. (although perhaps only if you're really stuck as christmas is more about the thought.)

Framed photos - if you have children then a nice pic of them for the in laws/ parents. For siblings find an old picture of the family (ones on day trips where they have some shocking green and pink shell suit on are great) and put it in a nice frame. Cost £2 - £20

Make up little breakfast sets... Get an egg cup, bowl, plate and mug in a funky colour as a present for kids... Breakfast is sooo much better when its your own special plate. £2 - £7

(the prices are just as guides... I tend to spend the bottom end of them and get some nice gifts out of it.)

Have a good chirstmas everyone!!!

wiggletina

I just noticed that Christian Aid are doing an advent email this year - offering tips about how to beat the credit-crunch and go 'green' this Christmas. I've just signed up to receive mine here www.christianaid.org.uk/advent - sounds interesting...

limotek

I've been saving all month and still only have a £100...

caslates

Hi,
Could anyone suggest where I should go for Xmas shopping in London? We're here for the weekend and are staying near the Tate Modern, and it would be great to go somewhere where all the shops are under one roof...
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

ebrousse

LucyD wrote: »

Asda have got 2 tins for £7 at the minute - only £3.50 for a tin!
It includes, Roses, Quality Street, Celebrations etc

is the offer still on?

meb1949

Hi the Woodland Trust have an idea at present to pay £5 and donate a planted tree in various sites in UK/Wales etc. Have just "bought" one for part of sons 40th birthday present, got printed Certificatewith his name on so could frame it or not. May be good gift for Xmas too?:j

[Deleted User]

kormachameleon wrote: »

Hi,
I know it's a bit late for this Christmas, but here's a tip for saving in the future.
Every time I get a £2 coin, I put it away for Christmas. Very simple. It's caught on amongst a few of my friends. You don't really miss £2 (obviously if you're hard up that day/week, you don't have to put away the £2). Anyway, I've saved over £500 this year using that method.
KC

Same here, my OH and I do this and we have both saved about the same as you - they really do add up.

Monks_habit

meb1949 wrote: »

Hi the Woodland Trust have an idea at present to pay £5 and donate a planted tree in various sites in UK/Wales etc. Have just "bought" one for part of sons 40th birthday present, got printed Certificatewith his name on so could frame it or not. May be good gift for Xmas too?:j

brillant idea, my sister will love it.

Been on the web site and the single trees are £15, but I still think that value for money.

CharlotteandEden

I just wanted to post about my savings this Christmas. I am so chuffed that I have managed to get an Amazon voucher and have got two books, some crayons and an Iteddy which is two peoples presents sorted. I have got two presents from ipoints which were again free and have sorted got out for another two people. I still have more ipoints to collect and hopefully can get a Marks and Spencers voucher from this whihc means our Christmas will be extremely cheap. It's great as I am a single Mum and thought Christmas was going to be really hard this year, but now I will have more money to use for gas, electric and food and can still give people the presents I want to give them. xxx