Christmas is coming................ ...............and my purse isn't fat (Economising At Christmas)

Member Name: shaz_mum_of_2

Product:	Economising At Christmas
Date:	16/09/07 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Saving money

Disadvantages: None

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but It's 14 weeks on tuesday till christmas!


What will you do!!!


Food wise won't be too bad this year as its my sisters turn to cook lunch on the day(we alternate so i only cook once every 3 years) although i will take wine and a cheeseboard.Other wise i would be squirelling away stuff in my cupboards and freezer from september onwards.

I will never buy a whole turkey again! ALDI do a turkey crown stuffed with apricot abd cranberry stuffing its 2kg of pure meat(plenty for 8-10) and yummy best part is its less than a tenner!

Otherwise we dont go mad, afterall the shops hardly close any more and by boxing day were all sick of eating i mostly buy what i buy each week with a few extras like:

Nuts in shells
Whole ham
Fancy pickles
Posh cheeses
large tins sweets
boxes of wine gums/licorice allsorts
Extra alcohol(i like cocktails so stock up on various bottles when on offer)

I also bake cakes,cookies & mince pies etc


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Presents

Just buy my kids (6 & 16) my nephew and my Nanna ,my sister, hubby and parents have all agreed not to buy presents for each other its just silly buying for the sake of it we would much rather save our money and spend time together instead.

Another idea ive heard of is all the family get together put names in a hat and instead of buying lots of people a little present you buy one decent present for the person whose name you picked

I try to buy most of my presents in the supermarket or in poundland or home bargains that way you don't spend a lot all in one go.I've known people who go to Toys R Us on christmas eve and spend £1000


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Decorations

I hve lots of decorations all reusable some of which i have had for 17yrs. Sometimes i buy something new in the boxing day sales but i have also made lots of them including:

pine cones on a wire
bundles cinammon sticks tied with ribbon
ginger tree biscuits
dried orange slices
Ribbon Bows

With the cinnamon and ginger decorations people often say my house smells of christmas!


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Cards and giftwrap

Again i try to buy in the sale but sometimes misplace it

I got my xmas bag out yesterday and seem to have enough cards but will need to buy paper probably home bargains or wilkinson or card warehouse (8 bottle bags for £1)

At our house christmas is about SPENDING TIME together not about breaking the bank to impress the kids friends.


What will you be doing???

Summary: spend time not money people appreciate it more