£29,303...Enough is enough!

WelshKitty85

The community orchard is wonderful @savingholmes. We live close to a medieval town and they carry on a lot of traditions. The DCs have loved taking pots and pans to the annual wassail at the orchard to wake up the trees. It's worked every year we've been here and it always produce a huge amount of fruit.

WelshKitty85

I know it's only September but I've been putting a lot of thought into Christmas this year. It's been such a strange year so far that I want something special to look forward to. I want to put up the Christmas tree at the start December, watch Christmas movies every weekend, drink lots of hot chocolate and eat too many marshmallows. I want a magical Christmas done on a budget.

DH & I have decided that we will get DD the phone she wants for her birthday, but this will use up pretty much all of the funds we've allocated for both her birthday AND Christmas presents. There's nothing else she wants and I'm not going to buy her random Christmas gifts that she probably won't use. So for Christmas she will have a pamper hamper (she loves face masks etc), a mint chocolate hamper (her favourite), and some PJs. 

I've preordered 2 collectible figures for DC2 @ £18 and today we have ordered his main present. It's coming from abroad and when I first looked it was coming up at just over £60 including postage. I ordered it today and it said the price was £55. Checked my cc account and it's only charged me £53. Can only think it's to do with the exchange rate, but I'm grateful for the savings. We need to get some PJs and a selection box, that's it.

We have all of DC3s presents now. I've used an am@zon vouchers (and paid £1 on top) to order him some fleecey fireman Sam PJs. We just need to get him a selection box.

I've ordered 2 collectible figures for DH @ £18. Annoyingly, he only needs 1 more to compete the set. They are sold out everywhere and selling for 4 x the price on eb@y. I'm refusing to pay that much and if I can't find it for a reasonable price before Christmas then it's an idea for his next birthday. He's hinted at another gift he would like. I'll put some more though into it but that should be another £50-60.

Personally, I don't want much. I would rather the DCs went shopping with £10 between them and put thought into something I might like than DH spent a fortune. I know he's thinking of buying me some jewellery, but I would really rather put the extra cash to savings, especially now we've got the goal of moving house. I've got my birthday next month too, so really need to rein him in.

I have some whisky (local produce bought at half price) and smellies for my dad. I need to buy for my mum. She's amazing and does so much to help us. I could never get anything that truly reflects what she deserves, but need to get something thoughtful for her. I have offered to make a Christmas cake for my in laws (they haven't replied yet) and will sort a token gift from their grandchildren (maybe homemade peppermint creams?). Finally, we need a token gift for a special friend.

I've currently got £250 left in the Christmas budget, but I'm hoping that with some clever shopping, use of vouchers from surveys etc, and reining in DH, we won't need to use all of this.

We already have cards, wrapping paper, and Christmas crackers that we bought reduced in January. We have a lovely artificial tree, decorations and window lights. All that's left to think about is food. I'm going to make the cake. We've already got 2 Christmas puds (reduced in jan - are you spotting a common theme? ), and I've recently bought 2 tubs of sweets, a jar of hot chocolate, and some marshmallows. I'm going to make a list of what else we need and plan to buy 1 thing every week.

I'm also thinking (although not overly concerned) about any possible disruption that could come from a further lockdown, or brexit. So, I'm also making a list of store cupboard essentials with the aim of topping up 1 or 2 a week. Today I've bought a jumbo pack of loo roll to be stored under the stairs for emergencies, and 1 carton of long life milk.

Drawingaline

Talk about organised! I am holding off as I am hoping our move goes through in November and don't want to have to move loads of presents. Or maybe I can stash them at my mum's instead....

Drawingaline

Me and hubby are basically getting a new house for Xmas if all goes to plan 😂

WelshKitty85

Drawingaline said:

Me and hubby are basically getting a new house for Xmas if all goes to plan 😂

That would be lovely to be in a new home for Christmas. I wish we could say the same...maybe for Christmas 2023...

savingholmes

You are sounding incredibly organised Welsh Kitty.  If the 6 thing stays - it ruins xmas - as we normally have 11 or 12 at my parents... We could still see a couple from DH's family but that would mean 2 can't come... It is all getting very weird!

WelshKitty85

savingholmes said:

You are sounding incredibly organised Welsh Kitty.  If the 6 thing stays - it ruins xmas - as we normally have 11 or 12 at my parents... We could still see a couple from DH's family but that would mean 2 can't come... It is all getting very weird!

We're in strange times, made worse by the uncertainty. I think if we could know what's coming then at least we could make plans, but it's hard to plan for anything at the moment isn't it? I work in local government and there's obviously a lot going on behind the scenes that we don't know about & is above my pay grade. But we were told many months ago to prepare for a spike in cases in September, which it appears they were right about. They've also told us to prepare for another in December, so I'm planning for the worst. If we have to isolate in December then we will hibernate happily with a house full of hot chocolate, mince pies, and Christmas cake. We will have finished presents shopping, so won't need to worry about getting to shops or queuing outside on a Welsh winters day. It's the first Christmas that DC3 will start to understand what's going on, so I'm determined to make it as magical as we can, no matter the circumstances.

mark55man

That' probably the most helpful (and IMHO spot on the money) analysis I have seen.  I just said to my OH that we should do all our shopping in November, arrange for my FIL to bubble with my SIL over Christmas and then catch up when its safe in 2021.  We are 6 adults and young adults so we can party AND isolate at our house

WelshKitty85

I think that's a sensible approach Mark. And if they're wrong about another spike in December, and we're back to some sort of normality by then, won't it be nice to spend time at home with the family, indulging in Christmas treats, and avoiding the last minute panic buying.

savingholmes

It is all weird times. I think you've done a great job. My kids are older and want £ more so do older nephews. I've got some things for the littlies already but Am**** do a great job of sending things if needed.