This has been a very quiet week as all the snow has meant I have stayed home every day ! The one expense was paying for taxi to get MasterShoestring home from school one day when I tried to get the car out of the drive and did not manage !
A big win was that I got all the letters and parcels posted before the snow arrived and used the stamps I had got free from the Royal Mail survey, so it didn't cost me a penny ! I always make sure that the gifts are no larger than 'small parcel' size if they have to be posted and check the airmail charges online, so I know exactly how much needs to go on the envelope. I've already made a list of 'easy to post' presents for next year so I can keep an eye out for those things in the sales or plan to make them.
We made salsa, tortillas, waffles, pancakes and shepherd's pie from scratch and did a lot of playing in the snow, which cost nothing !
Once the post was being delivered again I got a letter to say that because we have built up such a large credit with the new electricity and gas supplier they are going to reduce the monthly direct debit by a third ! This is such a large reduction that I'm pretty sure it is a mistake, but I have been submitting my readings online so maybe not ! Anyway, it will be useful extra money this month to buy s few tasty treats for Christmas !
We ate the very last of the vegetables from the polytunnel and they really are the very last as MeShoestring has pulled out all the plants now ! I've checked through all the seeds we've got and we only need to buy a few for the Spring. With our free subscription to Kitchen Garden magazine it might even turn out to be none !
Staying at home such a lot means that I had plenty of time to sort out the stocking stuffers and the present cupboard. I've made a list of things to watch out for in the sales but actually we have enough Christmas supplies for next year, apart from needing a new oasis ring for the wreath, so I'll keep my eye out for one of those. I've also made a list of all the birthdays next year and will only need to get MasterShoestring a present as I already have enough for everyone else ! I also went through the crafting supplies and started to sort out whether I could make some gifts for Christmas 2018 as my aim for next year is to spend as little as possible on gifts and use up what we have !
I hope that you have all had a great week !
Enforced staying in certainly stops spending! Staying warm has been the priority this week.
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly has, we have burned a lot of wood !
DeleteI would love to see your ideas for easy to post presents, as I send to a cousin in New York and the price of the postage often takes off the gloss of the present. helen s.
ReplyDeleteI would love to know what light gifts you might look for, too. I’m in the US. I sent a package to daughter in Fl. And it was almost 35.00! I told my husband that everyone gets a gift card next year. (But, I really don’t want to do that.)
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I made a list just for myself, but here are a few ideas ! I agree, the postage does often take the gloss off the gift !
ReplyDeleteCD, Table runner or cloth, napkins, oven gloves, photobook, paperback book, jewellery, scarf, hat, mittens, DVD, small game, small chocolates or sweets packed flat e.g.) in a bar, straw decorations, pillowcases, cushion cover, calendar, sachets of tea, cover or hot chocolate, A4poster or sign. Anything really which will fit in an A4 envelope !
I hope this helps and maybe I'll do a post about this next year, thanks for the idea !