❄❄ Let It Snow ❄❄ :: Christmas 2012 Chatter Thread

Zoe.

Went to Ikea today and they had some xmas food out... but no decorations?? Was a bit disappointed about that, but I'll probably be going again soon anyway :rotfl: Maybe they were getting them out tomorrow, since shops usually get their xmas stuff out in October. They had a swedish festive drink which I really want to try

Damzel_In_Distress

Own_My_Own wrote: »

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/envelopes-packaging-and-mailing/flexocare-strong-wrapping-paper-brown-500mm-x-6mapprox/invt/0238457/

This is what I use :snow_laug

Well done on money saving present buying :xmastree:

This is wonderful thanks , I'll nip in and have a look to see if they have it in store next time I'm near there.

WantToBeSE wrote: »

BBTHREE and Pinkfluffy- i am so glad to hear that others think the same as me. On another xmas related thread, i mentioned i was getting my son an ipod for xmas, and got slated for it I had all the 'what comes next' and insinuations that i dont spend precious time with my kids just because i also buy them presents.

Sorry, rant over!

I admit, I'm also another one who spoils DS at xmas. He gets a lot of presents, and usually around a £300-£400 budget. But this is spread out over the year as i usually start putting things about after April so I don't notice the money, this year has been harder because of the split between me and his father but he is still on track to have his same wonderful xmas. I normally get a lot of toys on glitches and sales over the year so he ends up with toys that are worth much more than I paid for them. This year he wants an xbox with kinect which is being bought between the whole family as I'm in a different financial situatuon now, even though he already has a wii, ps3, ds and an android pad. Some people have made obnoxious comments to me about him having these things as he's only young, but me and his father were able to afford them at the time so I couldnt care less what people think to be honest. Everyone buys what they can afford and has their own idea's of what is right for them, I would never judge them for what they like to do, so if they wish to judge me, then to be quite blunt they can look forward to the view of me metaphorically raising my middle finger!
I've spent less this year but he still has over 35 presents stashed away so far all of which should of cost a hair raising amount in comparison to what I paid for them.
I say - Do what you feel is right for you and your children, and let other people do the same

BBTHREE wrote: »

Yeyyy another local! .

Got to be honest and say that I have never been to Fred Aldous, and I have never been to Abakan, where are they??

Nanamia and I and anyone who can get there and fancies it are planning to meet up at Bents Garden Centre (WA3 5NT).

Date TBC, but it is an open invitation, so why don't you come along, it would be lovely to meet you.

Thinking about it.... How about the peeps on here in the south do something similar?

Xx

Ooooh!! I'm Local too! I live around a 15 minute drive from manchester centre, depending on traffic around 30 mins on the bus. I've always been a lover of the city centre, I used to go 2 or 3 times a week shopping, haven't been since march this year though due to everything that happened between me and ds's dad. I'm so looking forward to going when it's all christmassy!

yummymummy1987_2

Hi, Has anyone seen any double Christmas bedding? My boys have double beds this year (normally get the single sets from NEXT). The only one i can find is the stag one on NEXT but its girly

Thankyou in advance xxx

tab1967

Hi all, Thank you to everyone for all your suggestions about the personalised bauble, I will check them all and let you know which one I decided on.
May have to wait until next months payday now, me and OH have had a very bad year financially due to us both having had to have considerable amount of time off sick from work (he does not get sick pay at all).
I think people should spend what they are comfortable with, we live on a very tight income so only spend about £100 each on our combined 5 kids. If we had more we would spend more but our kids understand they cant have what some have and are quite happy with what they get.

kayandy_2

When my mum was on her own bringing me & my sister up would spend about 100-150 each on us! When she met my stepdad 10 years ago the amount went up to 200-300 each! She was then unable to work due to illness && with having to pay stuff off & not working & having my baby brother it has gone down to 70-100 each but me & my sister no longer live at home & both have bf's they buy for too and we understand as there are more family members etc now & it doesn't bother us at all! I'd be happy with a box of chocolates or even a card! It's about what you can afford! To me Xmas is about spending time with the people you love not about gifts although I do like to give them!!

What is the gingerbread stuff in boots called? I have to get my grandma & auntie something so thought this would be a great gift!! Please help!!

Also my stepdad makes me get mums gift of little brother (he's 3) and gives me money! I want to get her a keyring or something similar with maybe his finger print on but they are all so expensive!! Do you have any ideas on where this can be done cheaply?

Kelly7_2

Managed to grab myself a couple of bargains today.

A local shop were selling some Yankee candles at half price so got some for my best friend, mum and auntie.

Also got giant wine glass reduced from £8 for £2.99, though that's for a friends b'day.

Started buying a few things to make pots of gold and snowman soup. And Also made a start on my retro sweetie hampers.

Thinking of buying some cheap frames and tea light dishes and hand decorating them for presents too. Just need to find the time to actually do it as got so much on in October!

Damzel_In_Distress

tab1967 wrote: »

Hi all, Thank you to everyone for all your suggestions about the personalised bauble, I will check them all and let you know which one I decided on.
May have to wait until next months payday now, me and OH have had a very bad year financially due to us both having had to have considerable amount of time off sick from work (he does not get sick pay at all).
I think people should spend what they are comfortable with, we live on a very tight income so only spend about £100 each on our combined 5 kids. If we had more we would spend more but our kids understand they cant have what some have and are quite happy with what they get.

Like i said in my other post, it's about the individual families, what they can and can't do and what they are and aren't comfortable with . If I had 5 children I'd probably be on a £50 each budget! So what you manage to do for them, I have no doubt is amazing
I'm lucky at the moment to have parents who are both willing to help out this year due to my recently newish situation and if it weren't for them there is no way DS would be getting his main present. If he'd asked after the split, the answer would of had to of been a firm no until i'd had chance to save up next year! But it was something he was told yes to a few months before we moved out and i split from his father so I don't feel right suddenly saying no now, I worry enough about what he must be going through after it all, without making him feel punished over a promised christmas present too.

I think this year I've been so upset and worried that I maybe have tried to over compensate in some area's because everything will be so different for DS, Waking up on christmas morning with just me and spending christmas eve as a twosome instead of with his dad as well, Right now it won't be something he'll even of thought of, but come the time I worry he'll be upset

charliemaine1bee

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

Like i said in my other post, it's about the individual families, what they can and can't do and what they are and aren't comfortable with . If I had 5 children I'd probably be on a £50 each budget! So what you manage to do for them, I have no doubt is amazing
I'm lucky at the moment to have parents who are both willing to help out this year due to my recently newish situation and if it weren't for them there is no way DS would be getting his main present. If he'd asked after the split, the answer would of had to of been a firm no until i'd had chance to save up next year! But it was something he was told yes to a few months before we moved out and i split from his father so I don't feel right suddenly saying no now, I worry enough about what he must be going through after it all, without making him feel punished over a promised christmas present too.

I think this year I've been so upset and worried that I maybe have tried to over compensate in some area's because everything will be so different for DS, Waking up on christmas morning with just me and spending christmas eve as a twosome instead of with his dad as well, Right now it won't be something he'll even of thought of, but come the time I worry he'll be upset

10 Years ago i spent my 1st Christmas on my own with my 2 sons who were 7 and 3 at the time..and do you know what..we had the best Christmas..We started our own new traditions.Do everything at your own speeds and what you enjoy..my ex was adamant we had to be dressed before opening our pressies..so vegged out in our pj's til late on in the day..try to see it as a positive and enjoy Christmas with ds x

BBTHREE

Bizarrely, after banging on about it so much on here, I have just been to Bents, and it wasn't even planned.

DH works every other Sunday, and we try to do something on the Sunday he doesn't work. He said his mate had told him about a pub that does amazing 2 for £10 meals, so we headed off there and it turns out it was almost next door to Bents.

It would have been rude not to venture in, so we had a quick 45 mins or so before we went for sunday dinner.

As clayton79 has said the official xmas launch is 10th October, and so there were empty bits with "work in progress" signs.

But..there was still enough xmas stuff around to make us go 'Wow' and be happy.

The main thing I have learnt from my visit to Bents is although I am almost done with presents, and other than this years Disney ball I don't need any decorations, but....my xmas dinner table layout is pants! : (

They have some stunning table layouts on display, and whilst I can't afford Bents prices to buy all their candlesticks,napkins, charger plates etc, I am going to use them to steal ideas.

The other thing is, this could all be a bit pointless anyway, as our xmas plates are oval, and I have never seen and oval charger plate, and if I switch to round plates (after using the oval ones every year) I will feel like I am starving people as they fit far less on.

clayton79 wrote: »

I'm local to Bents garden centre. Can't wait for the Xmas launch on the 10th October. I love the evening classes they do in the run up to Xmas!! If you are meeting up would love to join you. Xx

That would be lovely, the more of us the better. I had no idea they do classes, what do they do?

WantToBeSE

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

I think this year I've been so upset and worried that I maybe have tried to over compensate in some area's because everything will be so different for DS, Waking up on christmas morning with just me and spending christmas eve as a twosome instead of with his dad as well, Right now it won't be something he'll even of thought of, but come the time I worry he'll be upset

Oh DID, have a (((HUG))).
I have been through the same when me and the ex split up. I agree with charliemain, its a great chance to start new traditions for just the 2 of you