* Rocking around the Christmas Tree * - It's the 2018 Christmas Chatter Thread

Peppapig

Welcome to the thread JEWELS. I’m struggling to get started myself although I’ve got my spreadsheet set up and I’ve done my budget but not actually bought anything yet. I’m sure someone will be along soon with lots of ideas though.

Gettingtherequickly

We are finally getting busy here! Back at work this week, none of mine done while away so trying to catch up as fast as I can, holiday seems a long time ago now.

Need to start going through what I have bought & hopefully start wrapping them, I want to be done & dusted by end of October, so 2 months to get sorted properly. At least all of the cakes are done!

Welcome to the newbies, we are not that mad here, just sensible!

Jewels1207

What kind of presents have yous been buying so far for kids?
I'm keen to get some of the hard work out the way ie buying as many presents as possible so I can focus on the fun stuff like decorstions!! X

StokieBecks

Jewels depends on the ages - kids don't have expensive tastes when they are young so make a budget plan and stick to it. - books, games, clothes etc but it depends on their likes. How old are your nieces and nephews you have to buy for? The list getting longer is that essential family buys?

If you have no ideas ask the families if they have anything in particular they want/need for the kids. If they have older kids maybe consider a shared family gift instead of individual ones.

Jewels1207

StokieBecks mine are 5 and 2. They are both superhero daft and the you hear loves dinosaurs. The oldest likes playing the iPad and watching YouTube videos at the moment. He wants his own iPad for Christmas which we said no way.

I've got 4 nieces aged 6, the other 3 girls are all 3 within a month of each other starting this weekend and a nephew who's 5 months.

The last couple of Christmas's have been so stressful buying all the presents and there's been less fun in it for me which makes me sad. I was told last Christmas I had stress/anxiety/depression which I'm now on medication for so I want to try and make it fun and nice again this year once I get the hard stuff out the way

Jewels1207

The younger one*

alja

Jewels, I've bought a couple of presents for little ones (aged 3 and 5).


I'd definitely recommend checking out [EMAIL="TKM@xx"]TKM@xx[/EMAIL] and H0mesense for affordable but great looking gifts. I bought a dominos set (with farm animals one side and numbered dominos on the other) for just £2.99 in H0mesense.


For the other presents, I picked up a craft set in Mr T for £3 and a colouring activity pack in Wilk0 for just £2.99 too. So there's definitely some great little bargains out there to be had. I hope that helps!


I've not bought anything else this week as I'm full of a cold!

kerri_gt

Jewels some good advise from alja there. Esp on the craft stuff. Poundworld do lots of blank card shapes to colour and embellish such as people and butterflies. One year I bought 2 x DN some shapes, colouring pens, some Pom poms and some foam stickers, and colour me in place mats from there. They looked fab. I think I've also bogugt them personalised colouring pencils from Studio as they are close in age so each got their own set.

Orchard toys do some lovely, inexpensive educational games - I think The Ladybird Game and Shopping Game were both favs.

Keep an eye out in places like Lidl or Aldi too. Their wooden toys are often good value and I've just got an aqua doodle type mat for a friend's little girl for Xmas there. I also got a couple of super hero back packs earlier in the year. They are embossed and would easily be £15 somewhere like Argos.

Don't forget the Sainsbury's toy sales, I think they usually have one sept / oct time.

I try to steer clear of anything that requires batteries for the sanity of friends and family. I also don't feel bad about getting the same gifts for different children, such as the backpacks are one for DN and one for a friends boy of a similar ago. I figure that two birds with one stone is never a bad thing, and if I liked it enough for one of them, there's no reason why I shouldn't get it for someone else.

Oh, and don't worry about giving some of them the same thing if they're going to open it together. I had an uncle who would do this with me and two cousins, we'd all sit back to back and weren't allowed to turn round until we'd all opened the gift. I remember one year us all avidly comparing body shop talc in different aromas. I think we'd all been allowed to pick one blind, lucky dip style, unwrap and see what we got. The whole build up was the best part.

When they're younger it's easier to get things in advance, so Xmas sales are you're friend, and I don't feel guilty about not spending a foturne on them all. All our gifts are chosen with a child in mind but they also get so much at Xmas I'd be amazed if they could even tell me on Boxing Day what I bought them.

Once they start getting a bit older (10-12) I usually send cash until they turn 18. By then they know what they want, are more brand conscious and gifts for them tend to be more expensive so cash takes the stress out for me, and enables them to do with it as they wish rather than me buying something they don't really like or want.

Also, don't feel you HAVE to buy for friends kids. Myself and one of my best friends decided a few years ago to stop doing Christmas. So I've never bought for her kids although I do do their birthdays. Talk through what works for you with your friends, proper friends will understand and any that take umbridge, well you've saved yourself on buying them future presents also because that's not a good firend in my book x

Jewels1207

That's all great advice. Thanks guys!
I like the sound of those superhero backpacks so will have to get into Aldi and Lidl and look out for those.
I was also looking at the Orchard games as well, they're really good and will be great for DS1 who has just started school.

Well I've been off work sick today and made the most of lying about scouring the internet and have made a good start. Bought all 3 Nieces a similar dress up costume for their birthdays and also got all 3 the same playmobile set which is on offer just now. Kerri, I'm totally with you, especially when they're so close in age I try and get them the same thing.
I'm glad to have finally made a decent start.

Btw Boots has started some of its 3 for 2 Christmas offers online. Not all stock is available yet but there is a good bit to get started with.

Woodwick and Yankee candles are currently in the offer!

nic2075

kerri_gt wrote: »

Nic2075 do we have Tim Hortons in the UK now? I've only ever seen them in Canada where it's an institution there (not quite sure why as I didn't think their coffee was amazing, but their doughnut balls are yummy)

We have had quite a few open here in the last year. I've craved Tim bits since I visited Canada a few years ago. I love their coffee, their brewed coffee anyway.