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

Treasurequeen

Large boxes of Fox’s biscuits selection are on offer at Tesco’s £3.00. Bought a couple for hampers and a box for me. Now stored safely in my Christmas cupboard. Also got two boxes of orange matchmakers and two of the gingerbread ones. I will have to try the gingerbread ones tonight just to see if they are ok :rotfl:

mandco

GTQ I would add
hot choc
jam or choc spread
cream crackers
paste/pate type filling jars for sarnies
jelly /angel delight/ rice pudding /custard sachets
carton of long life milk
pasta sauce
tortilla wraps - you would have to get them closer to the time but they do usually have a decent shelf meaning they make a good alternative to bread and you can use them to make multiple meals. My lot often have them instead of sarnies but we also make fajitas ,quesadillas & pizzas with them

kerri_gt

mandco wrote: »

tortilla wraps - you would have to get them closer to the time but they do usually have a decent shelf meaning they make a good alternative to bread and you can use them to make multiple meals. My lot often have them instead of sarnies but we also make fajitas ,quesadillas & pizzas with them

The meal kits have tortillas that last longer - the Lidl ones are £1.25 for a kit.

Perhaps a tin of stew or similar too

Tinned meat / fish is always an ask at our local food bank

And not really a staple but perhaps a packet of breakfast type biscuits? Some families get a bit disorganised / busy in the morning so breakfasts can go out the window, or kids might not be morning eaters (I used to want to throw up at the thought of breakfast so would be packed off to school with a banana). At least the kids could put these in these bag / pocket to eat on the go?

StokieBecks

Well I sat and made 34 christmas cards yesterday. Progress at last on that front.

Really want a new job as my place is really doing my head in and making my anxiety bad at the minute but everything is xmas temps at the moment (and selfishly I want my long service award in november first :rotfl: ) sometimes have to remind myself though the grass isn't always greener so will keep an open eye and open mind


We tried the gingerbread matchmakers. They are nice but think we will stick to mint or orange if we buy any more. Not seen cheap chocolate oranges yet.

Hope everyone is ok

3forholidays

I was looking online at B&M's website and happened to notice the chocolate oranges were £1 so might be worth a look in your local store - https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/terry-s-chocolate-orange-157g-316707

pixielottie

Gettingtherequickly wrote: »

Apparently it is possible to buy tinned curry (probably doesn't taste great, but chuck it on some rice, it will keep teenage boys happy for a bit!)

Don't know how well it would go down with teenage boys... but heinz do a lentil curry which is really filling and tasty! I've got it from Lidl a few times there is also a tinned chilli which is good! I'll check the brand on that, it's one you can get at either the pound shop or B&M. (both are low syn on slimming world :rotfl:)

Oooh also how about a mayflower curry? It's £1 again in B&M or heron foods, but it's super simple, just add water to make the sauce, and some veg or meat, and rice and it tastes just like a Chinese take away curry! So good!

Noodles are definitely a good idea, nice easy go to, and yummy, I live on noodles....
Crackers?



I've just been discussing Christmas plans with friends, we're having a weekend at a London friends this year, can't wait! :j
z

Beshki

Chocolate oranges are £1 in Tescos at the moment

lazysheep

Gettingtherequickly wrote: »

I got the Matchmakers:j I bought 13 boxes:D

Although only 1 for me, the rest I will put aside for the families we will be supporting for Christmas. Need some suggestions please for the families. We will get alot of donations for them, but we are going to sort out a staples hamper also, most, if not all, of the kids get free school dinners, so we will want to ensure that they have as full bellies as possible during the school holidays. With that in mind, we are each going to buy a particular item, if we start now, we can buy one extra thing a week without noticing the overall cost.

At the moment, the list is looking like this, so any suggestions on what else would be a good addition will be appreciated.

Tea
Coffee
Sugar
Cereal (probably porridge as that will keep them full & warm)
Pasta
Rice
Apparently it is possible to buy tinned curry (probably doesn't taste great, but chuck it on some rice, it will keep teenage boys happy for a bit!)

I was thinking of flavoured noodles, but any other suggestions will be great.

We will also be getting toiletries, decent loo paper & things like that, it will allow them to use what little cash they have to buy their own preferences, especially as it is such a multicultural area.

There will be treats also!

You could also add things like tinned veg/instant mash/beans so they can get some of their 5 a day which I think can be difficult to prioritise when things are tight.

Gettingtherequickly

Thanks for suggestions, will mention them to the others when we meet at weekend. Had thought about jam/sweet, but not about crackers.

Gettingtherequickly

lazysheep wrote: »

You could also add things like tinned veg/instant mash/beans so they can get some of their 5 a day which I think can be difficult to prioritise when things are tight.

We should be getting a lot of this as donations, there will be a box from end of Nov, so will check weekly to see if this side of things needs to be topped up by us.