Christmas 2018 - Mega index and Christmas chat!!!!

IrishRose12

Sorry I can't help. We're a family who buys presents, the kids don't get spoilt throughout the year and get one gift for their birthday so Christmas is our time of year to buy the stuff that we won't or don't throughout the year.

I'm not one for the idea of buying experiences to make memories instead buy buying kids toys etc. We do that through out the year, and most of our memories are made here at home, we don't need special outings to do that.

But we're a very traditional family also, so Christmas is the one day the kiddies get spoilt, the adults get spoilt and we all have fun.

But we don't buy useless items or "funny" things, we always buy things that we know will be used and appreciated.
Santa on the other hand usually brings the kids the stuff that we've told them they're not allowed, which the children think is great lol.

VfM4meplse

cbsexec wrote: »

Im trying to cut down on the family present buying this year and wondered what others do? I want to stop everyone spending so much when most of them just buy what they want throughout the year anyway but would still like to keep the token "gift for christmas". Do I suggest a price limit? Any ideas?

There is a whole thread on this.

In our family, children (n=1) get gifts on birthdays, Christmas and any time I see her. Grown ups get a bottle / HM hamper of something / some other consumable delicacy, and I make chocolates and bag them up as a little treat. I didn't do chocolates last year as I was busy moving, but this year I've got so much space to work in, it would be wasteful not to

Laura_Elsewhere

I've just finished making the last of the family Christmas presents, only a few bits, like decorations to slip inside cards, still to think up and make.

So now I only have to think of something to give my Mr Nice...

But our flat is really untidy and cluttered - it all got away from us over the summer, then we both had stinking colds all of Sept, and then I have had lots of work all Oct, but my contract stops now, and I revert to being a housewife, so I hope to get the flat cleared and cleaned so I can make it really lovely and Christmassy, come December, for our fifth Christmas together!

C_J

I spoil my immediate family (Mister CJ, our two grown up daughters, one son in law and now one small grandson) rotten at Christmas because it gives me enormous pleasure to do so, and I’m lucky enough to be able to afford to.

My daughters however do not have much money to spare - one is on primary teacher pay while funding her own Masters degree, the other is a full time mum to our little grandpickle so for the past couple of years, not wanting them to feel pressured into buying gifts for their Dad and me, I have suggested they have a £5 limit to spend on us and the gift(s) must come from a charity shop. It has been wildly successful, they love the challenge and have found some utterly brilliant presents for us.

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
I hope you don’t mind me popping by.
We’ve started Xmas early this year due to family being all over the world. Also OH is due to have an op on his shoulder and won’t be able to drive for 3 months so we’ve visited one chunk of family in the uk and given the relevant adults money to buy something from us for the littlies, same when one niece was visiting us, and then transferred money to the ones abroad for their littlies. I normally buy vouchers but worry this year about which shops will have gone bust by the time they want to spend them.
I had a blitz buying pressies in October so have most things bought and now just need food and booze. We are all doing really well at SW so Xmas food wise is only going to be Xmas eve to Boxing Day so the usual eating Xmas food well into the new year won’t be happening this year. The Xmas food bill seems to be tiny compared to previous years.
The Xmas food is being spread over the next few weeks weekly shops so will hardly be noticed too. I’m determined not to be paying Xmas off well into the new year as has happened in the past.
Anyway better get on
Have a good day guys
Cuddles

DKRobert

I work in retail in a high street, and it's pretty crazy how sudden the switch from Halloween to Christmas has happened this year. No 2/3 day purgatory, just straight into the festive season everywhere.

Got my nieces present sorted now, so that's 3 out of 4 presents done. Managed to save £20 so far by sitting tight & waiting for deals so pretty chuffed with that.

VfM4meplse

DKRobert wrote: »

I work in retail in a high street, and it's pretty crazy how sudden the switch from Halloween to Christmas has happened this year. No 2/3 day purgatory, just straight into the festive season everywhere.

I went into 2 Aldi's today on the hunt for something specific. I'd agree, it was totally Crimbofied!

kippers

Prinzessilein wrote: »

I still have last year's Advent Calendar...I don't have the choccie sort - just 24 windows with pictures to open...all the doors are intact...I am considering seeing if I can reclose the doors and use it again this year!...failing that I will buy a small cheap one...it is just for the fun of counting down.

This reminds me of when i was growing up....we had the same advent calender for years. Me and my three sisters took it in turns to open a door. Obviously in those days there were no chocolates, but it eas so exciting for us all waiting our turn to open a door....how things have changed with rediculously expensive advent calenders now with all sorts of needless rubbish behind doors

VfM4meplse

kippers wrote: »

This reminds me of when i was growing up....we had the same advent calender for years. Me and my three sisters took it in turns to open a door. Obviously in those days there were no chocolates, but it eas so exciting for us all waiting our turn to open a door....how things have changed with rediculously expensive advent calenders now with all sorts of needless rubbish behind doors

Its the advent calendars for pets that really baffle me!! (Again spotted in Aldi). £10 that would be better donated to the PDSA.

K80_Black

I'm well on track for a super Christmas! I have a tree, decorations and lights for the first time, I've bought a present for my OH (secret, he might snoop!) and best friend (a make-up advent calendar, as she is building her collection at the moment) - and I have decided on what to get my niece, I'm painting a ukulele for her.

I'm going to see the OH's family on Christmas day for dinner - I'm a vegetarian, so I'll be taking a mushroom, chestnut and cranberry tart pre-cooked that just needs heating up. I found a recipe on a previous thread. I'll take a couple of bottles of wine for the table, and I think that's everyone sorted!

Oh, and it's my first year as a diabetic, so no choccie advent calendar for me - I'm getting a cheese one! I appreciate that some people think 'alternative' calendars are ridiculous, but I appreciate having a choice that's not just chocolate, even if they do cost a bit more.