Cutting down this christmas..?!
#1
Cutting down this christmas..?!
I'm wondering how to cut down on my spending this christmas.. Mostly on peeps back home.. last christmas I spent in the region of $250 just on postage for sending gifts back home! I do have a big family.. and am trying to find cheaper alternatives!
Managed to send some gifts back home with OH this week.. so thats 4 people I don't have to worry about!!
I have some English money here that I could send to 2 of my nephews and niece... (but hate doing that!) - but there are 15 other people I need to think about.. That is just immediate family (which is alot less than I would normally buy for)..
Thing that gets my goat a bit too is.. I spend alot of time choosing peoples gifts... wrapping and sending them back home.. Almost all of my family send money and ask me to go and get gifts to wrap.. They each only have to send one parcel..I have to send loads!!!!!!
Any ideas??
Managed to send some gifts back home with OH this week.. so thats 4 people I don't have to worry about!!
I have some English money here that I could send to 2 of my nephews and niece... (but hate doing that!) - but there are 15 other people I need to think about.. That is just immediate family (which is alot less than I would normally buy for)..
Thing that gets my goat a bit too is.. I spend alot of time choosing peoples gifts... wrapping and sending them back home.. Almost all of my family send money and ask me to go and get gifts to wrap.. They each only have to send one parcel..I have to send loads!!!!!!
Any ideas??
#2
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
I'm wondering how to cut down on my spending this christmas.. Mostly on peeps back home.. last christmas I spent in the region of $250 just on postage for sending gifts back home! I do have a big family.. and am trying to find cheaper alternatives!
Managed to send some gifts back home with OH this week.. so thats 4 people I don't have to worry about!!
I have some English money here that I could send to 2 of my nephews and niece... (but hate doing that!) - but there are 15 other people I need to think about.. That is just immediate family (which is alot less than I would normally buy for)..
Thing that gets my goat a bit too is.. I spend alot of time choosing peoples gifts... wrapping and sending them back home.. Almost all of my family send money and ask me to go and get gifts to wrap.. They each only have to send one parcel..I have to send loads!!!!!!
Any ideas??
Managed to send some gifts back home with OH this week.. so thats 4 people I don't have to worry about!!
I have some English money here that I could send to 2 of my nephews and niece... (but hate doing that!) - but there are 15 other people I need to think about.. That is just immediate family (which is alot less than I would normally buy for)..
Thing that gets my goat a bit too is.. I spend alot of time choosing peoples gifts... wrapping and sending them back home.. Almost all of my family send money and ask me to go and get gifts to wrap.. They each only have to send one parcel..I have to send loads!!!!!!
Any ideas??
#5
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,542
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
I try and do themes and keep it relatively inexpensive.
over last few years i have sent portraits done in Walmart photo studio, prints of local area, and gifts from Amazon.co.uk, you can get them gift wrapped and dont have to pay the postage with exchange rate being better it may be a good time.
This year I am looking at sending my family Afternoon Tea at a stately homes from http://www.buyagift.co.uk/Category/I.../Afternoon_tea
The sanctaury have got a 3 for 2 offer I love their stuff
http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/sanctuary-spa.htm
over last few years i have sent portraits done in Walmart photo studio, prints of local area, and gifts from Amazon.co.uk, you can get them gift wrapped and dont have to pay the postage with exchange rate being better it may be a good time.
This year I am looking at sending my family Afternoon Tea at a stately homes from http://www.buyagift.co.uk/Category/I.../Afternoon_tea
The sanctaury have got a 3 for 2 offer I love their stuff
http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/sanctuary-spa.htm
#6
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
I try and do themes and keep it relatively inexpensive.
over last few years i have sent portraits done in Walmart photo studio, prints of local area, and gifts from Amazon.co.uk, you can get them gift wrapped and dont have to pay the postage with exchange rate being better it may be a good time.
This year I am looking at sending my family Afternoon Tea at a stately homes from http://www.buyagift.co.uk/Category/I.../Afternoon_tea
The sanctaury have got a 3 for 2 offer I love their stuff
http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/sanctuary-spa.htm
over last few years i have sent portraits done in Walmart photo studio, prints of local area, and gifts from Amazon.co.uk, you can get them gift wrapped and dont have to pay the postage with exchange rate being better it may be a good time.
This year I am looking at sending my family Afternoon Tea at a stately homes from http://www.buyagift.co.uk/Category/I.../Afternoon_tea
The sanctaury have got a 3 for 2 offer I love their stuff
http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/sanctuary-spa.htm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Midlands - MA - CO-CA
Posts: 2,763
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
I will be cutting down on gifts this year, cost wise and size wise. Luckily we only have a smallish immediate family. My Mum has already said not to bother sending her anything this year (but I will send her something). Sister and family and I came to an arrangement a couple of years ago not to send anything except a card as they were strapped and so were we. Hubby's brother and family send us 0, not even a card, that's exactly what they will receive this year. We don't get on with them all that well anyway. FIL & MIL will get something small and light to mail or maybe a Tesco hamper to help them with Christmas food.
#8
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
I've given up mailing Christmas presents abroad because it can be so expensive. Instead, I plan on ordering stuff online from British based shops/websites for those living in the UK.
My parents gave me my Christmas present in advance earlier this year when I received cash in Dollars when I was visiting the UK.
My parents gave me my Christmas present in advance earlier this year when I received cash in Dollars when I was visiting the UK.
#9
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
I try and do themes and keep it relatively inexpensive.
over last few years i have sent portraits done in Walmart photo studio, prints of local area, and gifts from Amazon.co.uk, you can get them gift wrapped and dont have to pay the postage with exchange rate being better it may be a good time.
This year I am looking at sending my family Afternoon Tea at a stately homes from http://www.buyagift.co.uk/Category/I.../Afternoon_tea
The sanctaury have got a 3 for 2 offer I love their stuff
http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/sanctuary-spa.htm
over last few years i have sent portraits done in Walmart photo studio, prints of local area, and gifts from Amazon.co.uk, you can get them gift wrapped and dont have to pay the postage with exchange rate being better it may be a good time.
This year I am looking at sending my family Afternoon Tea at a stately homes from http://www.buyagift.co.uk/Category/I.../Afternoon_tea
The sanctaury have got a 3 for 2 offer I love their stuff
http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/sanctuary-spa.htm
I will be cutting down on gifts this year, cost wise and size wise. Luckily we only have a smallish immediate family. My Mum has already said not to bother sending her anything this year (but I will send her something). Sister and family and I came to an arrangement a couple of years ago not to send anything except a card as they were strapped and so were we. Hubby's brother and family send us 0, not even a card, that's exactly what they will receive this year. We don't get on with them all that well anyway. FIL & MIL will get something small and light to mail or maybe a Tesco hamper to help them with Christmas food.
Yeah, I think I did the hamper idea last year.. may look into that again..
Also I didn't realise Amazon wrapped etc.. thats a good idea too.. Either way it all costs money.. but hopefully not as much as last year!!
#10
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
i just uploaded a tonne of photos onto snapfish and made a 2009 calendar for the british rellies. It has tonnes of photos of the kids on it - (up to 3 per page) you can chose background, crop the photos etc, put in titles, customise dates in the calender. There is also 20% off at the moment (if you use winter08 code at checkout. I got 5 calendars incl postage for $55 i think a few weeks back with a 35% off coupon.
Can also order mousemats, etc none of which are heavy to send.
Can also order mousemats, etc none of which are heavy to send.
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 215
Re: Cutting down this christmas..?!
I posted everyones presents in one big parcel last year. Stupidly spent hours making them look beautiful,(my favourite part!) only to have customs tear them all open and tape them all up saying inspected. My poor friend who was being santa for me, had to wrap them all up again. I'm not sure how random that is.
My brother just brought over my presents from mum and dad, once again they were unwrapped, and taped up saying inspected. I don't mind though it's goodies from lakeland and the latest Nigella book
My brother just brought over my presents from mum and dad, once again they were unwrapped, and taped up saying inspected. I don't mind though it's goodies from lakeland and the latest Nigella book