Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

miss_emmajane

Bought a couple more little bits to put away this morning at Homebase as they had a lot of offers/sale on when I popped in last week but were having additional 15% off (even on sale) for bank holiday weekend! I got some lovely garden ornaments for my parent's present hamper as they have done their garden up this year, and for my best friend I got some lovely owl print placemats and coasters

Going to have to go through my list now and see who is left to buy for - think I am going to set a budget for OH & me of £20ish or only do stockings as we did last year as we treat each other on our birthdays so haven't missed spending on each other at Christmas since we've moved out - do you all buy for your partners?

miss_emmajane

Just noticed on the Grabbit board that 300g boxes of After Eight chocolates are £1 at Tescos, good to put away for Christmas whilst they are reduced

Josslette

miss_emmajane wrote: »

Bought a couple more little bits to put away this morning at Homebase as they had a lot of offers/sale on when I popped in last week but were having additional 15% off (even on sale) for bank holiday weekend! I got some lovely garden ornaments for my parent's present hamper as they have done their garden up this year, and for my best friend I got some lovely owl print placemats and coasters

Going to have to go through my list now and see who is left to buy for - think I am going to set a budget for OH & me of £20ish or only do stockings as we did last year as we treat each other on our birthdays so haven't missed spending on each other at Christmas since we've moved out - do you all buy for your partners?

Sounds interesting that you havn't missed spending much on eachother at Christmas since you moved out. Would like that to happen for me and OH as we both still live with parents and can be stressful as we could do with our own space. Seems like a nice way to treat eachother at Xmas by buying eachother lots of nice treats.

LINKYPIE2009

double_mummy wrote:

there is always and amazing homemade and vintage fair here in MK at the end of november that i always find some great pressies at

Where is it held in MK? Excuse me for bumping an old post -trying to catch up.

niftythrifty33

I'm loving this thread. I haven't been on here for a while, I was keeping a diary at one point but that's gone by the way-side!

Islandgirl, I notice you have older teens like me, I'm finding it really difficult to know what to buy. I also have a DD16 with a make-up obsession and she doesn't often buy any so was thinking of doing a make-up hamper and nail art set but with the proper nail stuff not the cheap stuff. As for DS17 and DS12 I have no idea? youngest is xbox mad, eldest is laptop mad, but to be honest I dont want to encourage these things as they already drive me mad.

I also struggle with DH as he thinks we should always spoil each other but we are on a real budget now as trying to get some savings behind us. I would be happy with £20 each but his idea is more like £120!!!

Look forward to reading all your tips and tricks

double_mummy

LINKYPIE2009 wrote: »

Where is it held in MK? Excuse me for bumping an old post -trying to catch up.

it is in middleton hall in the city centre right out the front of john lewis where the beach is atm

the next one is the 7th-8th september woo hoo and again on the 1st - 3rd november

Uniscots97

niftythrifty33 wrote: »

I'm loving this thread. I haven't been on here for a while, I was keeping a diary at one point but that's gone by the way-side!

Islandgirl, I notice you have older teens like me, I'm finding it really difficult to know what to buy. I also have a DD16 with a make-up obsession and she doesn't often buy any so was thinking of doing a make-up hamper and nail art set but with the proper nail stuff not the cheap stuff. As for DS17 and DS12 I have no idea? youngest is xbox mad, eldest is laptop mad, but to be honest I dont want to encourage these things as they already drive me mad.

I also struggle with DH as he thinks we should always spoil each other but we are on a real budget now as trying to get some savings behind us. I would be happy with £20 each but his idea is more like £120!!!

Look forward to reading all your tips and tricks

What about this?

Nail Art, I know you said not cheap but Poundland have the gem wheels and I've seen Sally Hansen nail varnish. Makeup again Poundland do some good ranges but try a few different branches.

Do your boys have an xbox and a laptop? If they do Home Bargains do lots of great accesories for both.

Islandmaid

niftythrifty33 wrote: »

I'm loving this thread. I haven't been on here for a while, I was keeping a diary at one point but that's gone by the way-side!

Islandgirl, I notice you have older teens like me, I'm finding it really difficult to know what to buy. I also have a DD16 with a make-up obsession and she doesn't often buy any so was thinking of doing a make-up hamper and nail art set but with the proper nail stuff not the cheap stuff. As for DS17 and DS12 I have no idea? youngest is xbox mad, eldest is laptop mad, but to be honest I dont want to encourage these things as they already drive me mad.

I also struggle with DH as he thinks we should always spoil each other but we are on a real budget now as trying to get some savings behind us. I would be happy with £20 each but his idea is more like £120!!!

Look forward to reading all your tips and tricks

I know what you mean by addiction - DS2 isn,t too bad when the weathers good, he spends alot of time out and about with his mates, football, swimming, camping etc we,re very lucky to live where we do. Back to Xmas, I am getting both DS,s a bunch of smellies, socks, hair gel etc I buy them when I spot them cheap, and of course chocolate:D

At what age do you think its time to stop the Christmas Stockings, I did mention it in passing just before last Christmas - I thought they were going to cry!!!:eek:

miss_emmajane

Islandmaid wrote: »

I know what you mean by addiction - DS2 isn,t too bad when the weathers good, he spends alot of time out and about with his mates, football, swimming, camping etc we,re very lucky to live where we do. Back to Xmas, I am getting both DS,s a bunch of smellies, socks, hair gel etc I buy them when I spot them cheap, and of course chocolate:D

At what age do you think its time to stop the Christmas Stockings, I did mention it in passing just before last Christmas - I thought they were going to cry!!!:eek:

My MIL actually gave us a joint stocking last year though it was our first Christmas in our own home (we're 26 & 25) but I think that was more about her enjoyment of putting them together! My parents made stockings into where our food & drink bits went when my brother & I were late teens and that carried on until I moved out

I absolutely love my stocking as it was handmade when I was little and I just don't think it would of been Christmas at home without it, now when my fiance and I go around on Christmas day, my parents put out joint presents in it which I thought was so sweet

double_mummy

Islandmaid wrote: »

At what age do you think its time to stop the Christmas Stockings, I did mention it in passing just before last Christmas - I thought they were going to cry!!!:eek:

NEVER!!!!!!!!!

i still do stockings for my parents and step mum all in their 50s and for my MIL late 40s and OH late 20s sister n wife both early 20s and SIL late teens as well my LOs

and i always get at least 2 and they all must include a terrys chocolate orange a satsuma and chocolate coins