All Purpose Rant Away Thread - 3.2.1 GO!

All my cheap gifts for the grandparents are costing me a fortune. I got a photoshoot of my kids done, figured I could go and 3.00 frames from the dollar store for them. Nope I have one picture going the opposite way than the rest and can't find a frame set up that way so I have to mat them myself. Now it's going to cost me about 30 bucks per set of grandparents(there's 5 sets) on top of the cost of the pictures.
I've been collecting plain white mugs from the thrift stores so the kids could decorate mugs with sharpies. The oil based Shapies ended up costing me 16 bucks after a 40% off coupon.
I redeemed pampers points to make them calenders, every year I've been able to use all the codes at once and only pay shipping once. The wording on the code was changed this year, so I had to order each calender seperatly and paying almost 10 bucks in shipping for each one.

What if I told you valentines cards are available already for those who like that sort of thing

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Originally Posted by dededi

Can't believe they are showing Christmas movie on Showcase already, far too early.:yikes:

Glad your parents are Ok Wolfie.

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Is it necessary that you get them "gifts" though, how about just cooking a meal for them?

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Originally Posted by Lyssia510

All my cheap gifts for the grandparents are costing me a fortune. I got a photoshoot of my kids done, figured I could go and 3.00 frames from the dollar store for them. Nope I have one picture going the opposite way than the rest and can't find a frame set up that way so I have to mat them myself. Now it's going to cost me about 30 bucks per set of grandparents(there's 5 sets) on top of the cost of the pictures.
I've been collecting plain white mugs from the thrift stores so the kids could decorate mugs with sharpies. The oil based Shapies ended up costing me 16 bucks after a 40% off coupon.
I redeemed pampers points to make them calenders, every year I've been able to use all the codes at once and only pay shipping once. The wording on the code was changed this year, so I had to order each calender seperatly and paying almost 10 bucks in shipping for each one.

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Miss Manners advised to use a cool tone and reply "thank you for your interest in my personal life." Then change the conversational topic.
Yes food is more of an issue during gatherings. This is why guests need to have some conversational topics to include other guests, not have them dreaming of waltzing and singing their way out of the host's residence just then.

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Originally Posted by beachdown

Is it necessary that you get them "gifts" though, how about just cooking a meal for them?

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Could be a geography/logistics issue to get everyone together. But if they are all within 1hour's drive, just maybe a meal or nibbles and beverages during an open house would suit.

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Originally Posted by beachdown

Is it necessary that you get them "gifts" though, how about just cooking a meal for them?

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We usually do a meal too. We see most of the grandparents a lot, and they buy presents for us and the kids(and buy the kids stuff through out the year just because)so I'm not comfortable with just doing a meal.
I'm just sticker shocked I guess. I've done calenders, pictures and some sort of keepsake the kids make every year and the cost for all of it has been under 25.00/per set of grandparents.

It happened again -.-
The same person - speaking about clothes. I actually said I was a medium just to potentially avoid issues but no I get ' are you seriously a medium? '

Realized I can't be snarky on demand. Sigh.

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Originally Posted by Candini

It happened again -.-
The same person - speaking about clothes. I actually said I was a medium just to potentially avoid issues but no I get ' are you seriously a medium? '

Realized I can't be snarky on demand. Sigh.

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"Yes in kids clothing, aren't you jealous?"

I can teach you how to be snarky :lol:

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Originally Posted by Lyssia510

"Yes in kids clothing, aren't you jealous?"

I can teach you how to be snarky :lol:

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Ha Ha Ha,you rock! I used to wear size 11 girls jeans,lol.I'm 5 ft.and light framed,and was about 30 pounds lighter back then.Could have used that line on a few people.Perfectly snarcastic!

Haha oh Lyssia.
Perhaps she is jealous I don't know. Its just caught me off guard she'll be talking and being chipper then says something offensive

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Originally Posted by Lyssia510

All my cheap gifts for the grandparents are costing me a fortune. I got a photoshoot of my kids done, figured I could go and 3.00 frames from the dollar store for them. Nope I have one picture going the opposite way than the rest and can't find a frame set up that way so I have to mat them myself. Now it's going to cost me about 30 bucks per set of grandparents(there's 5 sets) on top of the cost of the pictures.
I've been collecting plain white mugs from the thrift stores so the kids could decorate mugs with sharpies. The oil based Shapies ended up costing me 16 bucks after a 40% off coupon.
I redeemed pampers points to make them calenders, every year I've been able to use all the codes at once and only pay shipping once. The wording on the code was changed this year, so I had to order each calender seperatly and paying almost 10 bucks in shipping for each one.

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Instead of tabletop frames you can buy Dollar Store frames and link them with ribbon to hang on the wall, or buy the hinges separately and install them yourself. It's easy to do.
http://www.houzz.com/promo/14056486?m_refid=PLA_HZ_14056486&device=c&nw=g&gcl id=CMyD_9LnpMkCFQiVfgodfp4EGA

Speaking of photos I'm waiting for DDs school pictures I ordered November 8th, paid shipping to have them here before this past Friday and ive received no photos or conformation email.

Once they arrive I still need to scan and print photos at Walmart (yeah I'm cheap. Whatever they wanted $50 for packages. I'm good with 10 cent prints)

AND I still need it in time to mail to Australia and Poland -.-

Until then I'm lounging in front of my tree and listening to Xmas music on the TV. How enlightening

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Originally Posted by Ciel

Miss Manners advised to use a cool tone and reply "thank you for your interest in my personal life." Then change the conversational topic.
Yes food is more of an issue during gatherings. This is why guests need to have some conversational topics to include other guests, not have them dreaming of waltzing and singing their way out of the host's residence just then.

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That's what I do...

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Originally Posted by Candini

Speaking of photos I'm waiting for DDs school pictures I ordered November 8th, paid shipping to have them here before this past Friday and ive received no photos or conformation email.

Once they arrive I still need to scan and print photos at Walmart (yeah I'm cheap. Whatever they wanted $50 for packages. I'm good with 10 cent prints)

AND I still need it in time to mail to Australia and Poland -.-

Until then I'm lounging in front of my tree and listening to Xmas music on the TV. How enlightening

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HA! Lucky you for being able to order pictures! The website is still down for the company that our school uses! Has been for almost two months now and they can't give me a date for when it'll be fixed :frown: I finally gave up checking.

I hear you but at what expense though if someone is saying "buying stuff for everyone is costing them a lot of money"? When I was married, my ex felt the need to buy everyone in her family along with their kids stuff from our joint account. If it was her own money I won't have cared.

I don't have that problem anymore now...Thank God

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Originally Posted by Lyssia510

We usually do a meal too. We see most of the grandparents a lot, and they buy presents for us and the kids(and buy the kids stuff through out the year just because)so I'm not comfortable with just doing a meal.
I'm just sticker shocked I guess. I've done calenders, pictures and some sort of keepsake the kids make every year and the cost for all of it has been under 25.00/per set of grandparents.

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