Christmas

[lovesitx]

Wow everyone seems super organised, i'm more of a wait till december kinda girl!
Maybe i should start early this year.

[destresserai]

Been trying to think of some past pressies I have given that are relatively cheap, individual but still looks good!

Thinking along the lines of the "experience" days which are so expensive, last year I made a gift voucher for my sister which was for a Backstage Tour of the National Theatre as she loves the theatre. You can b*y the tours direct for about £6 each and I added a small picnic. She absolutely loved it!

This year I am changing the idea slightly for a friend and doing a trip to Jane Austen's House with afternoon tea.

[Ms Thrifty]

I often give (or ask for) magazine subscriptions, which can be very cheap if you search online for the best deal. One thing I really like about these is that the present lasts all year and there's such a wide choice that you are likely to find something suited to the individual - though you have to be careful that s/he doesn't already subscribe. I have, in the past, b*ght OH a subscription to "Mojo" and that brings the bonus of a free compilation CD each month. Also, when I've had a subscription myself or b*ght one for my sister, we have, of course, passed the magazines to each other to read, though our tastes aren't that compatible.

[destresserai]

A good one for children is an idea I usually use at Easter!

b*y a pretty mug (you can get these relatively cheap in the pound shops etc), fill with chocolates (quality street etc as they are individually wrapped and coloured), cover with a wrapping (you could save from any flowers you have b*ght or been given) and add a bright ribbon.

[butterfly]

I hate the christmas card thing........I tried not to do it last year...but still had to get mam & dad cards and brother & sister in law card just to keep them happy : (

I love Christmas dont get me wrong but I just dont get cards at all......What is the point. Also When i receive them i feel obliged to send one back, there's always someone you've forgotten, never know where to put them blah blah blah.

Gonna try and not do them this year again............no doubt i will be emotionally blackmailed into it! lol

Last year i sent a lot of free online cards instead exept for my mum who doesn't have an email account.

i saw some wonderful tree decorations today in a shop it was a little snowglobe with a plac underneath with names on or they had special teacher, Mum, sister etc they were only £2.99. I thought they would be ideal presents to give to a teacher or friends presented with a little box and maybe some sweets that way they will always have something to remember you by each year when they are putting up their tree. they had a website on the top which i can't remeber i'll post the link next time i visit the shop.

[Lynnepod]

I never send christmas cards get writers cramp ,and no one reall y reads them anyway so i just grab a couple of big tins of sweets (co-op are doing them 2 for £8 at mo) and put them in staff room at work with a message from me, so much cheaper.

[andrews]

I never send christmas cards get writers cramp ,and no one reall y reads them anyway so i just grab a couple of big tins of sweets (co-op are doing them 2 for £8 at mo) and put them in staff room at work with a message from me, so much cheaper.

Oh what a good idea, Lynnepod! For several years I've suggested that we don't send each other Christmas cards at work - I'm not mean - it's just the endless writing of the things - and I've put forward the idea that we put the money we would have spent on cards towards a charity. Sadly, this idea has fallen on deaf ears.

[bevvy]

For anyone wanting to visit Harrods Christmas Grotto, online booking opens at midnight tonight.

http://www.harrods.com/grotto/

[anakin]

Oh my goodness, do you have to give your teachers presents nowadays?! A card maybe but a present?

I always go to get my cards at those random Christmas bargain shops that open in October / November that do packs of 20 cards for 99p. Last year I got some in Debenhams for a similar price when they had a sale of some kind on - they were really nice. Wonder where I put the spares... Personally wouldn't bother getting specifically addressed mum / brother / sister cards... such a waste of money - they're often £3 each!!! Plus mum gets annoyed if I b*y a card... "Don't waste the money on a card, spend it on yourself!" I do love my mum

[AYBG]

I often just copy out a WrongCard to be "original". :)