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

WantToBeSE

I may get my kids big expensive toys, but i never pay full price for any of it, and save all year so that i can.
I think people who judge, dont realise this.

Anyway, moving on
I really need to come up with some quick, cheap and easy christmas food, so thats my research for the coming week.
I am really getting excited now!

My younger son will be getting his own laptop, as he is always asking to go on mine. I know a place that does refurbs for about £120!

I just need a few small things for stocking fillers, and i'm done after that.

tab1967

I was lucky enough to have a cadbury chocolate machine when I was a kid, dont ever remember having any refills though.....lol
But I always wanted a Mr Frosty and Mousetrap and never got either one of them.
I always remember my mum buying those orange and lemon slices, like jelly coated in sugar every christmas and looked forward to them every year x

WantToBeSE

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

Just had the Next Christmas Directory delivered, there is some beautiful home stuff, a Christmas Pudding cushion, a lovely wooden advent calendar, mistletoe lights for the mantlepiece, great things made of bark, a brilliant fake fur Christmas tree! and some lovely Christmas candles, well worth a look

also have lots of different knitted animal hats, gloves etc in all department, men, women, boys and girls

Is it all on their website?

clayton79

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

Just had the Next Christmas Directory delivered, there is some beautiful home stuff, a Christmas Pudding cushion, a lovely wooden advent calendar, mistletoe lights for the mantlepiece, great things made of bark, a brilliant fake fur Christmas tree! and some lovely Christmas candles, well worth a look

also have lots of different knitted animal hats, gloves etc in all department, men, women, boys and girls

Anyone know if next in Mamchester Arndale or Barton Square Trafford Centre have their Xmas stuff out?

moneysavingmumofone

Damzel_In_Distress-As you say its up to each parent as to what they spend on their child or the amount they get. Everyone does the best they can for their child no matter if its spending £5 or £500. I would never dream of saying anything to anyone about that or anything else, some people really seem to think they can just say whatever they like to people and push their opinions on them! Im sure you and your DS will have a brilliant christmas, maybe you can start a few new traditions together? I will always remember how hard my mum worked bringing us all up and making sure our birthdays and christmas' were great. She is an amazing mum and I remember all the love she gave/gives us than any bad stuff. Sorry jumbled and doesnt make much sense lol, I suppose what Im trying to say is it will all be ok and dont let anyone bring you down. xxx
P.S I noticed you'd disappeared, good to havee you back.

yummymummy1987- I was actually just thinking about duvet sets, I want one for my DS but cant find one anywhere and the only one on ebay is £20 plus postage! :eek: Im sure I saw a double one somewhere last year, if I remember or see one again Ill let you know! x

BBTHREE- My cushions are red velvety ones with buttons and a white top to look like Santas coat! I got them from Halfcost last year, theyve gone a bit lumpy though so may have to try and restuff them! I think Ill get the gingerbread one for the chair in my room lol!

littlemschatabox

BBTHREE wrote: »

Wow, there's so many of us. I like the city centre but really only for Primani. I usually park where Boddingtons used to be (£3 all day, I'm a scrooge!) And head for Primani, and the big Arndale. I love it when the markets are on, and I have always had a bit of a soft spot for St Annes Square.

You are absolutely spot on, its no ones place it comment on any of us on what we spend on our kids. Love the middle finger comment, that's how I feel. :rotfl:

I used to love a day shopping in Manchester when I used to live back home in Liverpool. Me and the bf (who is from Bramhall) used to go the city centre quite frequent, back when Liverpool didnt have a brilliant shopping centre!
Used to love mooching around Selfridges & Harvey Nics and then having a good shop in the Arndale. Some decent shops!
Now im stuck with a rubbish shopping centre and have to go to Westfield for a good old shop!
I miss up north!!! :T

moneysavingmumofone

tab1967 wrote: »

I was lucky enough to have a cadbury chocolate machine when I was a kid, dont ever remember having any refills though.....lol
But I always wanted a Mr Frosty and Mousetrap and never got either one of them.
I always remember my mum buying those orange and lemon slices, like jelly coated in sugar every christmas and looked forward to them every year x

Snap lol! I love the orange and lemon slices too! My sister had Mr Frosty, it was pretty awesome! I always wanted Dream Phone! You can still get it actually lol. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/DREAM+PHONE.htm

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

Just had the Next Christmas Directory delivered, there is some beautiful home stuff, a Christmas Pudding cushion, a lovely wooden advent calendar, mistletoe lights for the mantlepiece, great things made of bark, a brilliant fake fur Christmas tree! and some lovely Christmas candles, well worth a look

also have lots of different knitted animal hats, gloves etc in all department, men, women, boys and girls

Ooh you've reminded me, the other day I got a lovely animal hat from Asda for £4! I know quite a few people on here are interested in animal hats lol. It was an owl and so cute! From the older boys section.

chirpychick

Hello!

I would just like to say.... My feet are blistered, my sciatica is agony, my SPD even worse, my arm hurts from the flu jab and I still have a rotten cold LOL !

However, despite that, today was great

First off we went in BHS where I ended up buying MIL a necklace reduced from £12 to £3 and even managed to find some matching earrings reduced to £1.75 from £3. She loves Blue and chunky show jewellery and this stuff is lovely. When I got to the til they didn't take the right discount off and my hubby literally had to argue with them to get the discount and then they bodged it up (young girls with such bad maths skills they didn't know what half of £3 was :eek:) so I ended up having both for £4.22 in the end lol.

Then we went to Wilkies and there was quite a bit of their Halloween and Christmas stuff actually! I brought 2 packs of bulbs for FIL (January planters) and some labels which were 1/2 price. Then 2 chocolate Santa's (2 for £2) it's tradition we have these every year and every year I must say about 100 times don't you break those to DH :rotfl: I got chocolate coins BOGOF and Christmas tree chocs one princess one boys disney like monsters inc they were 2 for £3.
They had some of their usual gifts already a good 3 or 4 aisles of stuff. No decorations though (not that we need any tbh!!) oh and also their Winter book is out, so it said on the til.

Then we went to Poundland and I got 3 teddy's for the dogs stockings, 1 halloween ghost, pumpkin & spider.

Then we went to Primark (I only go once a year and omg I was so excited LOL) I brought my Mum some gorgeous winter grey slipper socks that are really fluffy with snowflakes on the outside (£3) I brought myself some AMAZING slipper socks for £4 they are navy blue and the fluffiest, softest material ever!! I also brought a mans onesie :P I know someone else was asking this question so honesty... before I got pregnant I was a size 22 and I'm now heavily pregnant so I got the mans penguin one in an XL and it fits perfect, except for the feet, Im going to have to cut the feet off because they are a bit of a hazard given im 5'7 and they seem made for 6ft+ the tiger and monkey would also have fit but not the superman or hulk. I love my new onesie! I have wanted one for the last few years. That was £12 and as far as im concerned an absolute bargain!! (Im so tempted to go back for the monkey one!).
I also got the last red and white reindeer throw which was also beautiful softy material £5.
If I had been slimmer there would have been tons I could have brought today! They had loads of winter jumpers and pjs which were gorgeous.

After that we went to Argos and got our baby car seat and blind and got a gift card which we used to get 2 baby outfits in the clearance.

Then we went to Tesco to take something back (£43 back in my account after all that spending :rotfl:) I ended up though buying the Fox's tin of biscuits which were £6 but are always sold out every year and I end up having to hunt them down. They are tradition for Christmas morning. Also a couple of Halloween treats for the Halloween hamper I'm doing - these cadburys spiders (1 pink 1 black) and a scream egg. Then get this I got the baby a penguin onesie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:T:j:rotfl::j:D
It is grey and mine is black but who cares we will be matching!!!
It was £5 completely frivolous but I don't care LOL.
Hubby brought me Snowmen Haribo (65p for 100g though!) they also had santa's for the same size and price.

I very nearly brought my Mum's bf a star wars t shirt for his birthday but decided against it and now im still stuck as to what to get him. (It was £8 for anyone buying for a star wars fan)

Oh and i saw the infamous haribo tub too in Tesco but there was only 1 left on the shelf!

Then I had to go into M&S and got 2 santas 1 with honeycomb and 1 bubbly (i like these for my stocking as they aren't high in calories!) mince pies which were obviously last years as they expire today so were reduced but can be frozen. I hunted for percy pig calendar but they didn't have one I hinted at hubby that I want him to buy me penny pigs so hopefully he will when the baby is born :T they are the yellow ones and absolutely amazing! I also brought 4 nursing bras (and almost died a death at the til!).

So I have my Mum's BF to buy for for his Birthday and my FIL for his Birthday but Christmas presents and Baby stuff now 100% complete and even made a start of the Christmas food with the tinned biscuits and the stuffing I brought. Need to make a list and hopefully buy a bit every time I shop.

Wednesday Im going to get all the remaining presents wrapped and then they are done.
I have been having "things" occurr which would indicate that this baby is likely to arrive sooner rather than later so if i can have most of it wrapped it will relieve some pressure for me.

I hope my really detailed shopping expedition helps you with your planning.

(p.s hubby nearly got battered by an OAP in M&S over the reductions! They were having a proper argument because she said he pushed her - which he would NEVER do and I actually saw her push into him with her trolley! she put every single reduced item in her trolley and wouldn't let anyone else even look - this kind of bargain hunting is not nice! I had to tell hubby that her rudeness wasn't worth his energy)

Oh and in regards to budgets with kids - I also agree that spending what you can afford is the key - if you can afford it and want to spend it and your kids appreciate it then great.
But I hate to see people get into debt over Christmas because as I said earlier on in this thread it isn't the presents they remember. Also it is always important to help those less fortunate in some small way or another

BBTHREE

clayton79 wrote: »

They do classes on a Thursday evening.. Think they start November. They are in the evening and they show you how to dress your tree... Bents style and your dining table!! I love them and try to get to as many as poss!!

OMG!!!! I am so there!! I definately need the dress your table one. Would you mind posting on here, or PMing me when the dates are up.

Depending on work shifts I would like attend them all, and I have some lieu time to use up I might be able to swing it.

clayton79

Someone wanted a double/king size duvet cover. Studio have a red and white snowflake one that is reversible. Double 16.99 can't remember the price for king size.

Also can't post links yet so sorry😒 didn't want you to think I was being lazy.