Christmas planning and saving ideas?

I'm gonna just go right ahead and bump this :) I'm all excited for Christmas.

I am currently brainstorming ideas for gifts from stockpile stuff, I like to make "Stuff you wouldn't buy for yourself" baskets. I think I'll be gifting some of those no-touch hand soap things this year! I'm pretty excited because my couponing has really taken off, I had barely anything at Christmas one year ago!

Has anybody seen amazing deals on cellophane anywhere? I can find ribbon and bows and stuff at any thrift store, and usually bags, but never cellophane :(

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Originally Posted by Chantel

I'm gonna just go right ahead and bump this :) I'm all excited for Christmas.

I am currently brainstorming ideas for gifts from stockpile stuff, I like to make "Stuff you wouldn't buy for yourself" baskets. I think I'll be gifting some of those no-touch hand soap things this year! I'm pretty excited because my couponing has really taken off, I had barely anything at Christmas one year ago!

Has anybody seen amazing deals on cellophane anywhere? I can find ribbon and bows and stuff at any thrift store, and usually bags, but never cellophane :(

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Ask at the floral department of your favorite big grocery store. They may give you a few each time you go in. Or strike up a relationship with a local flower shop. Don't ask, don't get.

I asked about the large black plastic containers at the RCSS floral. These hold the cut flowers, with water in the bottom. She told me they recycle them, so I could take them. When I asked how many, she said, take the stack. I ran quick, got a cart and took 20. Free planters - sturdy, look good, and have been great in my garden. Good for indoor bathroom waste container. Maybe need to decorate them...

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Originally Posted by Chantel

I'm gonna just go right ahead and bump this :) I'm all excited for Christmas.

I am currently brainstorming ideas for gifts from stockpile stuff, I like to make "Stuff you wouldn't buy for yourself" baskets. I think I'll be gifting some of those no-touch hand soap things this year! I'm pretty excited because my couponing has really taken off, I had barely anything at Christmas one year ago!

Has anybody seen amazing deals on cellophane anywhere? I can find ribbon and bows and stuff at any thrift store, and usually bags, but never cellophane :(

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michaels sells small rolls of celophane for 4.99 and theres always a 40% off or 50% off one regular priced item coupons.
Also dollarama sells cellophane for $1 but theres like not much on the roll at all LOL

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Originally Posted by tidytaurus

I traded handmade crafts last year with others who made crafts as well and had a wonderful variety of items. This year I have not been so crafty but there are craft sales starting already and I am looking forward to checking them out. Sometimes just going inspires me and definately kicks in the Christmas is coming feeling.

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This is what we have done in my family too and we have invited friends to join us too! We had a craft night and one of us agreed to hold it at our place each year. We then came up with ideas of what to make for each person who partipated
We made oranaments one year. Picked up the balls at Micheals on sale! Then as my family was kinda crafty to begin with we all brought our craft stuff over and used it to decorate the balls or went and bought extra things to decorate them. We also put a toonie in the kitty each every week so we could buy more stuff when we ran out.
Then one year we did stockings, we decorated those and filled them up with all sorts of goodies (darn that one was before I found SC:shock:)
Then another year we picked names and kept them secret then had to make something homemade for that person. I made some great homemade loofa soaps that my grandma loved! And I got a beautiful crocheted xmas tree skirt from my aunt! :-)
Now that I know about SC its all so much better.

I am making my brothers gift baskets. This is what I have so far for them

-Vim
-snuggle
-gillette pit stick
-gillette body wash
-Dove for men body wash
-bar soaps
-purex
-cascade
-finish
-toothpaste
-some sort of smellies

for us it is different...we go away every year to Mexico--our families, well..we are not the closest.
Our grown son will either house sit for us or be travelling too...he will get a great present, either a travel voucher or a garmin map unit (for hiking, not road travel) as that is his passion.
i will stock up on sunscreen and hit the summer clearance racks for clothes...and i don't need much!!
we save all year for this...it is our birthday, anniversary and christmas present all in one and it gives us the best memories ever!!
My Dad will get tons of baking--he does not need "things" but loves treats for the freezer. Hubby's parents will get a gift card for groceries--they do not need stuff either..
and I get to miss all the crazy holiday madness!!! woohoo!!!

I save up the AirMiles. If the GC or item I want isn't available through AMs, I just redeem for a Sobey's GC, and then take the cash in my budget that I would have used for groceries to buy the item I want. It's just a simple switch.

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Originally Posted by itchy54

for us it is different...we go away every year to Mexico--our families, well..we are not the closest.
Our grown son will either house sit for us or be travelling too...he will get a great present, either a travel voucher or a garmin map unit (for hiking, not road travel) as that is his passion.
i will stock up on sunscreen and hit the summer clearance racks for clothes...and i don't need much!!
we save all year for this...it is our birthday, anniversary and christmas present all in one and it gives us the best memories ever!!
My Dad will get tons of baking--he does not need "things" but loves treats for the freezer. Hubby's parents will get a gift card for groceries--they do not need stuff either..
and I get to miss all the crazy holiday madness!!! woohoo!!!

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We go away during the Christmas holidays too, except we go to Hawaii. Smartest thing we ever did when we decided to go that first year. My only problem is that I have to drag three teenagers with us. They would just as soon stay home and play videogames...go figure.

Much as I like the holiday season, to me it's all women's work. I had to do all the gift buying, baking, decorating...you get the picture. Now I buy something for my MIL and SIL and grocery store gift cards for my family.

I saw somewhere on this site instructions on how to make your own Christmas Crackers. I am going to give this a try this year and use some of the P &G Samples inside them. Kind of a silly thing to put in but at least they are more useful than the little plastic toys you get in the store bought crackers.

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Originally Posted by dreamcatcher1962

I saw somewhere on this site instructions on how to make your own Christmas Crackers. I am going to give this a try this year and use some of the P &G Samples inside them. Kind of a silly thing to put in but at least they are more useful than the little plastic toys you get in the store bought crackers.

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That sounds interesting. Let us know how it works out.

I have been making jams , jellies, pickles and chili sauce for weeks which I give away as gifts. I know who likes what so there is no waste. They even give me back my jars! Lol. I also love to shop at craft shows and our Humane Society fundraiser for nice homemade gifts like woolly mitts. I will also make about a dozen pairs of slippers while I watch TV so add a couple of gift cards and some toys for the Grandkids and you have my list. I got away from the craziness and try to concentrate on good food and good times with my family. A lot less stress and I love to cook and bake so it is great for me. Have fun cause if it is not fun why bother.

My best suggestions are to:
1) Shop all year! Get a locked closet and hide gifts when you find them on sale! Buy winter clothes in February and summer in end of August/September.
2) Start saving those swagbucks, superpoints, SDM points and paid survey money now for next year! I started last year in December saving all my rewards from all these for this christmas! So far I have saved $75 in amazon.ca gift certificates, $150 from paid surveys, $200 redemption at SDM, and $40 prepaid AMEX! I'm paying nothing for Christmas!!!!!

I cut all my Christmas cards from the year, into tags for the next year. :) This way I can make them neat with different edge'd scissors from the Dollar store (but straight edges are fine as well), and they are unique & all different sizes to tag next years gifts. :) Saves a few bucks!

bump!

Here's what I do for pretty and unique Christmas cards/tags. I have a nice collection of vintage/antique christmas postcards (you can usually find these at antique malls, flea markets or ebay) and I scan them, and then print them out onto ivory cardstock. I cut them out and embellish wih glitter etc. and voila! pretty, vintage cards :)

They also look great tucked into the Christmas tree, or grouped on a mantle.