What are you not going to buy this christmas

Butterfly_Brain

snowleopard61 wrote: »

Turkey, or any other form of 'joint'-type thing.

We see other family and friends in the lead-up to Christmas, but Christmas lunch is always just my two daughters (19 and 21) and me. One daughter is vegetarian and I eat fish but not meat, so it will be a traditional Christmas dinner in other respects (roast potatoes, veg including sprouts, onion gravy, sage and onion stuffing etc.) but the main item is usually a portion of chicken or similar for the one meat-eater and something vegetarian for the other two.

I'm always amazed how many people seem not to like Christmas cake. It's probably the edible treat I love most about Christmas. Mmmmmm...

Nuts in shells, however, I can't imagine buying. They are a right royal pain and I hate finding myself chewing bits of shell when I think I've got the nuts out fairly intact!

ButterflyBrain, is there an Aldi equivalent to Lindt Lindor (which I absolutely love)? I'd really like to try it.

Moser Roth finest truffles in a hexagonal box, they come in milk and plain varieties and cost £1.89. DH loves Lindor but they are now much too pricey even he says that these are better.

steerpike

Love Christmas but never buy:

Turkey - in any way shape or form
Christmas cake - we all dislike dried fruit
Christmas Pud - ditto
Mince pies / stollen - ditto
Nuts in shells
Dates and figs
Liquer Chocolates
Christmas themed cheese
Cranberries
Real Christmas tree
Real door wreath / holly / mistletoe
Poinsetta
Tangerines
Iced gingerbread
Mulled wine or Gluiwein
Comedy tops, hats or socks
Foil wrapped chocolate decorations for the Christmas tree
Pet stockings

paulwellerfan

well i am not buying a turkey( maybe go for beef)
if i do a dinner at all
i am not buying any presents
DD is to old now and she prefers the jan sales.
no xmas tree
nor decorations
no xmas cards.
but i will get in the 3 creates of carling for 21 quid ( that should last me.)

meritaten

I am NOT going to the card shop to buy the 'special' cards for mum, sisters, brothers, sons and wives, daughter and husband and grandkids - It cost me nearly £40 last year!!!!!!!!!!!
I have found 'peel offs' with those on and this year they are getting 'handmade cards' - I think I can do them all for less than a tenner!

cheeswright

ooh more !!!
I will also not be buying
a make your own gingerbread house
chocolate tree decorations that are only chocolate flavour and contain no chocolate
anything with bells on
underwear, aprons, t shirts or kitchen paraphanalia with christmas pitures, slogans or jokes on it
dvds of things that have already been on tv
shiny plates or chargers that you can't actually wash
anything that requires nails to be banged into the walls to be put up
special tablecloths napkins or table confetti (where has that one come from ?)
thankyou cards
new year cards
yule logs
platic holly to decorate home made yule logs
fondant icing
marzipan or any form of chocolate covered marzipan
nothing that requires batteries so it can make a b***y annoying noise for three hours then break
nothing that may take longer to wrap than it does to break / eat/ use
craft kits that take you hours to make things that you didnt want in the first place


NOTHING that would be 1/2 the price on boxing day

and I also wont buy anything that contains candied peel

I may have to buy humbugs though ...when I look at my list....

grumpybear_3

After last years debacle: DIY gingerbread houses.

The year before last my sister (who is a bit of domestic goddess) made my folks a custom made gingerbread house - it was amazing - right down to featuring my mum and dad made in icing.

Last year figuring that they couldnt be too hard to do if my little sister could do it I bought one of the gingebread house kits from Ikea and gave it a go - after 45 minutes of swearing, stickyness it looked less like a swedish cottage and more like a brazillian favela ;(

I sometimes underestimate my sister!

Popperwell

Not said for sympathy nor because I am feeling sorry for myself as the true meaning of Christmas is in my heart but the things that I would like are probably food based but are pointless for three reasons.

1. Being single/alone they are often to big and difficult to portion so they last longer than a few days(also you need space in the freezer for many items and mine is packed so no room)

2. Much as I love how they are made to look nice, many items are avaiable in their normal packaging so you get more for your money

3. Many items are too expensive for those on a limited budget.

Even in a discount place like Aldi's meat and booze is still quite costly.

If I can manage to cook a Christmas lunch, have a drink, and possibly some kind of dessert to follow and play some Christmas music I will have done very well making the effort. I did find a yellow stickered pork loin and turkey roast so they are now in my freezer worth £12(I paid £4)will have to work out how long too cook either and whether to use the oven or slow cooker...

No Christmas cards to send out(well possibly no more than five if that)no presents to buy and niether expected this way...

So it should not be expensive but anyone with a family make the most of this special time with your loved one's.

I'll probably stay in bed(where it is nice and warm)listen to the radio and watch tv via the laptop or if I do get up put all my layered clothing and thermals and dressing gown on...

Liz3yy

I am looking forward to Xmas, despite having my lost job this week....(I will get another soon, I'm sure) because I live in a comfortable house with an amazing fianc!. I have my health and am surrounded by wonderful friends and family who remind me constantly I am loved and needed.

You don't always need the material things to have a nice time

Popperwell

Liz3yy wrote: »

I am looking forward to Xmas, despite having my lost job this week....(I will get another soon, I'm sure) because I live in a comfortable house with an amazing fianc!. I have my health and am surrounded by wonderful friends and family who remind me constantly I am loved and needed.

You don't always need the material things to have a nice time

You are absolutely right. In fact that is true all the year round...you are truly blessed.

bossymoo

I've been thinking about this, and we do subscribe to "the xmas thing" as I have a 3yo and a 2yo. But we have done it (so far) on a budget.

To add to my not list
Nuts and dried friut - nobody wants
Turkey and crackers - mil buying
Christmas Pud - mum buying (only stepdad wants)
Other traditional puddings. We are having profiteroles and cheesecake.
Brandy sauce / butter
Funny cheese
Any plants including xmas tree or living wreath
Satsumas
Special cards
Silly clothes (although the kiddies do like to dress up)

Lol, I did, however get a gingerbread house kit. But DD dropped it on the way home so we may need more "cement". It's only for a giggle though, not as a centrepiece (unless I really enjoy it then I may do one when the kids are in bed so they can't "ruin" it haha)

We do also have some of the xmas craft bits, I have started making mini stockings to hang on the tree with a sweetie in.

So, we've all listed what we won't buy, now, what are our christmas essentials?

I do like a baileys (but wish the smaller bottles were better value) and I like to watch christmas films with the kiddies. DD would say her essentials would be sweeties and a dolly, and DS said he'd like a fire engine (am hoping he's not expecting a real one to be parked on the drive!!!)