to say to you all - Now listen, it's October...

[MsOnatopp]

so if you haven't already, start saving for Christmas.

Last year we had many people very upset on here in the weeks before because they had no money. It was horrible to read and I am sure, a horrible situation to be in :(

Even if you are very very skint, start putting aside something every week NOW. Even if it's just a pound. Anything.

That is all! :)

[CailinDana]

Good advice Ms.

[McPhee]

I've been ebaying and collecting it all in my paypal for Dd Christmas presents

[bunnywhack]

already bought three presents am buying one a week with the bigger shops from child benefit that is if I can't get the christmas job i have applied for

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Now you see the sense of the Christmas thread and all the preparation and buying ahead.

(I but stocking gifts from now because they are the most difficult to buy - something useful and attractive but not tat, for

[PersonalClown]

I haven't got it technically saved yet but I've budgeted for it in my diary.
I write down everything that goes in and out each month so I know exactly what goes where.

[aldiwhore]

Thanks for the head's up. I will still not be starting to think about the c word until december. But I will keep saving.

And dont mention it again.

Harvest, Halloween, and Bonfire Night before that!

[Mayisout]

Suspect that there isn't a pound a week available to put away.

And a pound a week is a grand total of 11 quid which wouldn't buy a f**g turkey.

So you will probably get flamed OP and deserve it.

[41notTrendy]

Good advice. Has given me the reminder I need to get my stuff on eBay.

[Mintyy]

Yabu.

[brightermornings]

I have a sneaky amazon wish list. If dc's mention or see anything or I think of anything it goes on.
I may not buy it but I have lots of things to choose from.

[Catsdontcare]

I don't think the op deserves to be flamed. There are always so many threads at Xmas. It's a good time to eBay/car boot to earn some extra cash. Also a good time to point out that you don't need all the turkey and chocolate and excessive foodstuffs. Food shopping for Xmas day doesn't need to be expensive.

[MsOnatopp]

Sorry aldi :o

Clown That's what I am doing, but I just can't care to see someone upset like last year.

[lljkk]

Martin Lewis (MSE) has been saying same thing for a few months now.

[MsOnatopp]

mayisout Some people said they couldn't get their kids ANYTHING last year. They were given good advice to go to the pound shop which they did. As someone who is pretty skink myself I thought it a good idea to start now (actually I started in July) and I am saving what I can. There will be no turkey in this house because I can't afford it, but I am gonna have the best Christmas I can. I wish last year I had started saving sooner.

Flame away.

[Catsdontcare]

Turkey is shit anyway

[MsOnatopp]

Bare not care...

[NervousAt20]

I've started buying bits already

[MammaTJisWearingGold]

I have been buying bits and bobs because I know I am useless at saving, from e-bay and from the local buying and selling pages on FB. I have also dug out my old laptop, all that is wrong is the charger and battery. I have ordered a new charger for under a tenner and have found a battery for £12, so it will be as good as new. I will either wrap it up as a joint present or get another for £134 reconditioned and give them one each, I will see how the money goes.

[fuzzpig]

Absolutely. Although as I don't like Xmas shopping (crowd phobic) or panicking about late deliveries, I prefer to actually start buying early to spread that out as well, and prices sometimes go up nearer Xmas especially on toys!

That £2 tip is brilliant - read it on here last year and started it on 1st Jan, on 31st May we had £110 which we used to buy Amazon vouchers (so we didn't have to choose gifts then, but knew we had money put aside which couldn't just be frittered away. We are opening again on 31st October :)

[SofaKing]

Thank you for the reminder but I got flamed for doing a Christmas thread last week, so I will save quietly :-)

[BehindLockNumberNine]

We are completely skint this year. I started putting little bits and pieces aside for the dc (and any other dc in the family) around 3 months ago. I shop carefully taking advantage of any offers I see. (a huge thank you to the person who told on here about the £5 off any eBay purchase last week, I bought dd one of the Schleich horse models off her wishlist for only P&P costs)

A friend has just give me a series of books that her dd has outgrown, some look untouched, will wrap them and put them under the tree.

It is dd's birthday in December too, she wants a basic camera and luckily we have around £40 in Nectar points so may be able to get something in Argos without having to spend any money.

Ds wants a PS3 game. We have pre-ordered it and are putting a little bit aside each week until it is released (november time)

Luckily we have never turned Christmas into a big gift-affair for the dc. They always get a decent gift of around £50 for their birthday and they know that Christmas is when they get little bits and pieces (chocolate, stationery items, toiletries, new pyjamas, an item of clothing, a book or two, a board game or console game)
In fact we all love Christmas because we cook a nice meal, snuggle up watching tv together, take the dog for long walk before coming home and playing boardgames together. Dh and I have never had lots of money so we have made this the focus of Christmas ever since the dc were little and luckily they enjoy it still

[NervousAt20]

fuzz think I might pinch your idea of buying vouchers as soon as the money's saved otherwise half the time something comes up and you know you've got that Christmas money you shouldn't touch but do! Thanks

[fuzzpig]

:)

[BehindLockNumberNine]

I like the £2 per week idea, will have to scrimp in other areas but it is worth it - will start that in January. May do it in two hits - save for 6 months to give us some summer holiday spending money (should be able to save around £50) and then another 6 months to put towards Christmas.

[MsOnatopp]

Perfect Behind!

We have had people be very good to us too. Last year we got a tip off about a small plastic tree in a charity shop a couple of days before (was lame but really lifted my spirit!) and relatives donated a few decorations. Mum and dad always have us for the day so we get dinner with them and they will only take my helping out as payment (it's only me and DS so it would be very lonely on our own!)

I have and will be saving practically all of my spare money from July onwards so I can get everyone their gifts and actually get a tree this year (first time!!) :o