Top tips for christmas!

[Blossom]

Thought I would share some of my top tips for making things a bit easier at christmas time.
If you have any ideas or tips feel free to post them and maybe we can all save a few pennies and have a nice relaxing holiday.

1. Make or buy a few 'extra' boxes of fudge or chocolates when your christmas shopping. Wrap them and sign them and leave them under the tree in case you have an unexpected visitor who gives you a gift that you feel compelled to return the favor too.

2. Make as much of the food before the actual day. Roast your meat the day before xmas and store in serving tray covered in gravy in the fridge, on the day you just pull out, reheat in oven and serve. Means more time for socialising and enjoying family and less time cooking.

3. Make sure you buy a couple extra rolls of wrapping paper and tags that are completely different from the rest of your wrapping paper to wrap the presents from Santa. Kids are smarter than when I was a kid I am sure of it.

4. Buy a multi box of mini cereals and juice, plastic spoons, bowls and small pottles of milk and errr, procure some sugar sachets. Put all these in the kids christmas stockings with a couple of small toys from the $2 shop and You get an extra 1hr sleep/cuddle time and they get a healthy breakfast. (our kids love this)

5. Buy cheap christmas crackers and carefully open one end and put in your own trinkets or toys (key rings, earrings, necklaces, $5 note etc). Still cheaper than the flash ones and yet get more decent stuff from them.

6. Got a big awkward present that wont fit under the tree? Hide it somewhere else. Do a treasure hunt with clues leading to the gift. Start it with a plain white envelope under the tree with the recipients name on it. (we are doing this with a trampoline this year)

7. Stop sorting laundry. Do all your laundry on one day. just do a load for each person. Cold wash so nothing runs. Hang it out the same way and you dont have to sort the dry washing. Each load for each person.

8. Buy extra milk and bread and toilet paper. You will run out. Freeze the milk and bread and thaw when needed. Saves the extra trip to the supermarket.


Well thats a few things we do anyway.. what does everyone else to do save money and time at this time of the year.

[Swoop]

Thought I would share some of my top tips...
I haven't received any form of request to perform a "TOP TIP" on this site. You will be hearing from my lawyers, forthwith.:Police:

7. Stop sorting laundry. Do all your laundry on one day. just do a load for each person. Cold wash so nothing runs. Hang it out the same way and you dont have to sort the dry washing. Each load for each person.
TOP TIP. LAUNDRY that requires "sorting" is evil. Racial harmony should begin in the washing machine.

. Buy extra milk and bread and toilet paper. You will run out. Freeze the milk and bread and thaw when needed.
TOP TIP. FREEZING your toilet paper will provide a soothing experience after visiting "Mr India" and experiencing his world famous vindaloo.

[Cajun]

cancling xmas saved lots of money.

not buying nothing for no one.
Not going to be in town. so no on can visit.

[nodrog]

TOP TIP FOR XMAS. stay constantly on the booze from work knock off @ 12pm 23 of december, to at least 5am on the 25th. then sleep through all your annoying kids, visitors, and relatives. a splitting hangover is far less painfull.

[slofox]

Ride your bike to the top of some remote mountain. Find a cave to hole up in for a week. Stay there 'til Christmas has gone away.........

[vifferman]

Superduper Top Tip for Xmas: piss off overseas and leave the Mutant Spawn to fend for themselves.
It's a win-win: they are too far away to piss us off, and if they burn the house down or kill themselves/each other, it's an added bonus.

[Freakshow]

TOP TIP FOR XMAS. stay constantly on the booze from work knock off @ 12pm 23 of december, to at least 5am on the 25th. then sleep through all your annoying kids, visitors, and relatives. a splitting hangover is far less painfull.

Even better knock off work in an hour get on boozer and head away north to the Coro loop and don't go back until the last possible day!!

[Finn]

Come on guys, Christmas is a time for giving. However, I still haven't done any present shopping yet. Can't think of anything I really need.

[Beemer]

Come on guys, Christmas is a time for giving. However, I still haven't done any present shopping yet. Can't think of anything I really need.

I buy myself a present every year, that way I get at least one gift I really want! This year it was a bottle of 1999 vintage Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque champagne - the one with the enamelled flowers on the bottle. Saw it at Countdown for $209 and told the guy the last bottle I bought (admittedly about 20 years ago!) was $88 and joked I'd be back to buy it when it was on special. He laughed and said that wouldn't be likely, but guess what was on a clearance special for $94.99 last week? There is no way I would have paid the full whack for it, but saving $114 wasn't too bad!

Oh, and I would have given Blossom some rep for that post but I have to spread it around first!

[Blossom]

I haven't received any form of request to perform a "TOP TIP" on this site. You will be hearing from my lawyers, forthwith.:Police:

TOP TIP. LAUNDRY that requires "sorting" is evil. Racial harmony should begin in the washing machine.

TOP TIP. FREEZING your toilet paper will provide a soothing experience after visiting "Mr India" and experiencing his world famous vindaloo.

tehehe... +1
but seriously we dont have colours in our laundry just black and white.. errr...ebony and blanc?

[NighthawkNZ]

cancling xmas saved lots of money.

not buying nothing for no one.
Not going to be in town. so no on can visit.

Due to the lack of interest Xmas has been cancelled

[Blossom]

Man you lot are all scroogies..
Tell ya what.. I have a lovely ham in the fridge, just made some gingerbread cookies and some russian fudge, the kids are out in the pool trying to drown themselves and In the fridge beside the steak for dinner is a couple of beers just waiting for the visitors.
Now play nice and you might get an invite. :devil2:

[Fatt Max]

My personal tip for Christmas is always make sure I have a clothes peg for my nose.

You see, Christmas day is the only day of the year when my otherwise straight and narrow Gran lets herself go a wee bit amd has a couple of sherrys.

Unfortunatley she reacts rather bad to those and lets off huge stinky farts that are usually silent.....until about 6pm when she is a bit tiddly and then she dont care.

One liners like "Oi boys, sew a button on this one......pphhhrrrruuuppppp"

[Swoop]

Come on guys, Christmas is a time for giving. However, I still haven't done any present shopping yet. Can't think of anything I really need.

I think that we have all been given a nice present this year...

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Man you lot are all scroogies..
Tell ya what.. I have a lovely ham in the fridge, just made some gingerbread cookies and some russian fudge, the kids are out in the pool trying to drown themselves and In the fridge beside the steak for dinner is a couple of beers just waiting for the visitors.
Now play nice and you might get an invite. :devil2:


Pick us pick us we love gingerbread cookies and russian fudge.. Oh and the beers not that bad either.



My top tip is go to daughters for christmas dinner that way you don't have to do the cooking or washing up.

[portokiwi]

looks like everyone is going to enjoy Christmas in their own way:eek:
Gabby wants a Portuguese lunch so it looks like a huge fish for christmas lunch. I wonder if I can get a hot dog and chips:laugh: yes a whole fish on the table and my huge xmas ham still sitting in the fridge..... NOT I will be having my ham on the bone to myself mmmmmmmmm:drool:

[Blossom]

Pick us pick us we love gingerbread cookies and russian fudge.. Oh and the beers not that bad either.



My top tip is go to daughters for christmas dinner that way you don't have to do the cooking or washing up.

nice tip pete...:whistle:

As for those with Hams that may go to waste? My tip for that is this.
Slice your ham up and make into ham and mustard/cheese/pickle etc sandwiches, wrap each sandwich in gladwrap and freeze. When you are about to go to the beach/family visit/shopping just throw a few into a lunch box for the kids to each instead of mc chucks, saves money and wastage cause we all know how much like making sandwiches before you go to the beach etc. By the time you get there the sammies are defrosted but very fresh.
Another idea is to cube the remaining ham and freeze for the next time you make macaroni and cheese. Just add the ham to the hot macaroni and grill... yummo.

[slofox]

Bah! Humbug!!!

[Blossom]

Bah! Humbug!!!

Does someone need a yuletide hug...:hug:

:yes: :lol:

[Daffyd]

Does someone need a yuletide hug...:hug:

:yes: :lol:

Yes, me! Pick me!

[Blossom]

Yes, me! Pick me!

ok here ya go..:chase: oopf :hug:

Oh wait, your not....omg... santa???:gob:

[MadDuck]

Bah! Humbug!!!

So with you on that. Maybe we could organise a ride for 25th?

[Blossom]

So with you on that. Maybe we could organise a ride for 25th?

For all of you who go for a ride, stay safe.
Personally Christmas day is one of those days of the year I am scared to go out on the road at all. So many stressed hurried people trying to get wherever as fast as they can.

[fire eyes]

awesome thread blossom! I love christmas time .. currently have no tips as such, new country, strange places, will definitely be a quiet one for us here but some awesome tips of yours to put into practice :2thumbsup

[Daffyd]

ok here ya go..:chase: oopf :hug:

Oh wait, your not....omg... santa???:gob:

Shhhh! Don't spread it round!

[Beemer]

You're not the only one Blossom! I made and iced a huge (28cm) fruit cake and I've cut it into pieces, plus made some spicy fruit cookies, and I've given some away to the rural delivery driver (who puts our mail through our cat door if we're out!), the hairdresser, the staff at Paper Plus (who give great service and are really friendly) and the bike shop staff (ditto, mostly for my husband's bikes), and some will also go to the butcher on Tuesday when I pick up my free range ham and free range chookies.

We've got the inlaws here for Christmas Day (if the MIL is well enough following heart surgery earlier this month), plus five Canadians - they are on a firefighters exchange visit with my brother-in-law and his family. We'll be having ham, chicken, salads, new potatoes, etc, followed by pavlova and fruit, and steamed pudding and custard (all desserts home made too). Not to mention copious bottles of good NZ wine and lots of chocolates!

And the cats don't miss out too, plenty of trimmings for them, although they won't like all the people here so we'll have to stick it in the garage for them!

[Laxi]

i find xmas is always a bloody good time to naf off to thar pacific island uve been meaning to visit for ages

[Pussy]

My best tip? Forget the commercialism, and use this time of the year to catch up with and enjoy the company of your friends and family

[Number One]

My TOP Christmas Tip...

EAT DRINK ROOT AND BE MERRY! OK!

EDIT: Had to add ROOT - wasn't quite right without it...

[DUCATI*HARD]

Top tip

Smoke a fat one:woohoo:

[Blossom]

You're not the only one Blossom! I made and iced a huge (28cm) fruit cake and I've cut it into pieces,


Oh you reminded me, another idea if you do baking for gifts (i do too).
Next time you open a large can of smoked fish (fish pie etc) keep the can, clean it well and it makes a great baking tin for a very small christmas cake for say 1 or 2 people. I can make around 6 of these out of 1 good cake batter and I give them to singles and some of our elderly relatives who are not big eaters and the best thing is they fit inside a noodle box really well.

If you get one of those monster cans of fruit over christmas, cut the wee can in half and you have a half size cake tin with whatever height sides you need and you can make 2 cakes out of your cake mix, Not too big and not too small.

Finally use all your tins together for 21'sts or whenever you need a tiered cake and you can make a triple teired cake with 2 good cake mixes (my big tins are 21 and 24 cm rounds)

So anyway.. Tins are normally expensive so I thought I would pass this one on. If you dont buy the big tins of fruit, your local bakery may have one. I think they call them a catering tin, size 5? maybe. Good luck all with your christmas baking..

My TOP Christmas Tip...

EAT DRINK ROOT AND BE MERRY! OK!

EDIT: Had to add ROOT - wasn't quite right without it...

quite right too number One.... :niceone:

[Swoop]

TOP TIP for this week has been added...
See below.:devil2:

[vifferman]

For all of you who go for a ride, stay safe.
Top Tip, young Ms Blossom! :niceone:
'Twas a Christmas Day when I wrote off my first bike. :shit:

Here's another Top Tip:
If you really like Christmas, fly eastwards on Christmas Day, then you can enjoy it twice! We're absconding at 7:30 on Christmas, and arriving Christmas morning in San Francisco, ready to do it all over again. :blink:

[ManDownUnder]

Shopping top tip

Make Christmas day about the kids, and eating/drinking with family. Hold off on adult pressies till the sales start on Boxing day..!

[Swoop]

If you really like Christmas, fly eastwards on Christmas Day, then you can enjoy it twice!
So, you have to do TWICE the amount of X-mas shopping??

Bugger that!

[SARGE]

. Saw it at Countdown for $209 and told the guy the last bottle I bought (admittedly about 20 years ago!) was $88 and joked I'd be back to buy it when it was on special. He laughed and said that wouldn't be likely, but guess what was on a clearance special for $94.99 last week? There is no way I would have paid the full whack for it, but saving $114 wasn't too bad!
!

shoulda told him it was past its use-by date..

[Mrs Busa Pete]

You're not the only one Blossom! I made and iced a huge (28cm) fruit cake and I've cut it into pieces, plus made some spicy fruit cookies, and I've given some away to the rural delivery driver (who puts our mail through our cat door if we're out!), the hairdresser, the staff at Paper Plus (who give great service and are really friendly) and the bike shop staff (ditto, mostly for my husband's bikes), and some will also go to the butcher on Tuesday when I pick up my free range ham and free range chookies.

We've got the inlaws here for Christmas Day (if the MIL is well enough following heart surgery earlier this month), plus five Canadians - they are on a firefighters exchange visit with my brother-in-law and his family. We'll be having ham, chicken, salads, new potatoes, etc, followed by pavlova and fruit, and steamed pudding and custard (all desserts home made too). Not to mention copious bottles of good NZ wine and lots of chocolates!

And the cats don't miss out too, plenty of trimmings for them, although they won't like all the people here so we'll have to stick it in the garage for them!


Dam i want to come to your house. I mean the food sounds great and then you get to add the 5 Canadian firefighters. I think we will need photos

I can remember when i was a kid my mum used to make christmas pud and put money in it.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Top tip

Smoke a fat one:woohoo:


Is that before breakfast :shit: