* Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * - It's the 2019 Christmas Chatter Thread

123june

Hi everyone x i`v been a " lurker" on this site for quite some time but never posted before . I would like to say how much iv enjoyed the Christmas threads over the years and have picked up some great tips here . I love planning for Christmas and buy presents for the festive season whenever i see them as i hate shopping in December . This month i will start buying a tin / jar towards Christmas every time i order from Mr T. it soon adds up and is a massive help when the big day arrives . Anyway i would like to join in hope that`s ok . P.s. i`m sat watching a Christmas film on Sky Xmas in July haha

princesskitty29

04624181 Thank you for thinking of me a while back, we’re all good thank you. When is your operation?

vulpix, Treasurequeen and mrsinvisible I’m so sorry to hear all of your sad news, there are no words for things like this, I’m just sending you all my love and wish you lots of strength.

Hello to newbies and welcome back to some familiar names! Good to ‘see’ you again.

I’ve managed to catch up, it’s nice to read about everyone’s holiday plans and Christmas! I’ve got a few more ideas for Christmas presents so have been thinking about Christmas a bit more recently. I’ve had so much going on since I last posted properly; my birthday, DH’s birthday, Father’s Day, Squeak’s 2nd birthday, I did a 26 mile hike for Macmillan, various fundraising events with the PTA and we’re now planning Wiggle’s 5th birthday. I can’t believe he’s going to be 5 and has nearly finished his first year at school! We’re doing a big disco party for him in a hall and have invited his whole class. We’ve been to quite a few parties like that since he started and we thought we’ll do a big one this year then keep it to closer friends in the future. He is so excited bless him and is forever talking about it! I’m a bit nervous about it as I’m worried people might not be around as it’s in the summer holidays (August), but we shall see.

I’ve picked up my cross stitch again today, it’s a picture I am doing for my auntie, I couldn’t get it done before last Christmas so want to get it done for this Christmas. It went off the boil for a while as I’ve been so busy but it was lovely to do a bit today so must keep it up.

Peppapig

Welcome back SAMMYKAYE, it’s been a while. Glad things are looking up for you now. I’m still trying to cut down - not overly successfully so far but it’s my fault really because I do love pressie buying.:o

Welcome to the thread 123JUNE. Nice to have you fully on board.

Welcome too JOSE. I haven’t seen any recently but I’ll keep a lookout. Of course when I do see some I’ll have forgotten who wanted them but I’ll post anyway. I start to feel the Christmas spirit in July too - I blame QVC and their Christmas in July although the last few years their Christmas offerings have been a let down.

Nice to see you PK. Life is so busy when you’ve got little ones isn’t it. When I look back now I can’t think how I used to fit it all in.

Nothing festive here at the moment but DD2 could go into labour any time so I’m on standby to dash off and collect DGD. Although she’s not due until 15th they’re going to induce her next Tuesday if she hasn’t had him by then as she’s carrying too much fluid. I foresee some ‘my first Christmas’ things falling into my shopping basket.:D

Treasurequeen

Its so good to hear from you SAMMYKAYE and welcome back.
Welcome to the newbies,

So far i have:
Gran: earrings, candles (Finished)
brother: shower gel, stress ball, shave balm
dad: slippers, shower gel,
mum: book,

still have to get something for: my aunt and uncle, grandad, pets, stockings and main gifts for parents. i usually have some ideas but got nothing.

who else thinks this year is flying by so quickly.

xx

princesskitty29

Peppa I’m like you, I find it hard to cut down as I like present buying too much! I really enjoy it. I don’t buy any old tat, I do buy things I genuinely know people will like/use but I probably buy too much! Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for your DD2. Funnily enough I saw a really cute little ‘Baby’s 1st Christmas’ reindeer rattle in the Next sale online yesterday!

Treasurequeen oh this year is whizzing by! I’m really emotional at the moment as Wiggle has almost finished his first year at school and I can’t believe it.

Squeak is having a nap, I know I’ve got 101 things to do but I just want to sit and do my cross stitch with a cup of tea so I might indulge myself just this once, it is for Christmas after all! :xmassmile

123june

Did anyone buy the Jack Wills Mug and socks gift set from boots between Sept 18 and Feb 19 ? There`s been a product recall on them ( base cracking and separating when boiling water is poured in them ) If you have any of these tucked away in your xmas pile return to store for a refund . I had a letter through from boots informing me this morning so thought i should let everyone know . x

sammy_kaye18

FREE - congrats on yoru bargains. It has been a good year for bargains this year!

PEPPA = Thanks lovely. It is hard to cut down but I have cut out unnecessary gifts this year and its making life easier.
Congrats on your impending little grand baby! Do you know what the sex is?

TREASURE - Thanks Lovely. You look to be doing well on your shopping too. I think I will be doing stockings or bags for my mother and sister this year - thankfully they like the same things so it should be fairly easy! This year is going by so quick - I feel like I blinked in January and I was at my sisters birthday in March. Its 'Baby Hollys' birthday next week! and she will be 9!

123June - welcome! These boards have a fab bunch of people on it and will always be very welcoming.

Had a shocker the other day when I logged in.......I joined these boards when I was 19 and had just had my son......well Im 34 now........that little boy turned 15 last month and the baby and pregnancy that I was helped through by these boards when I was severely anaemic = well she turns 9 next week! :eek::eek: Where does the time go?

Anyway back to Christmas. I haven't done much. I have been busy working on the garden. I think next year I will make a real effort with trying to grow some things now that all the brambles and stinging nettles are gone.
Ben has given me a list of shoes he would like for Xmas and they are about £60 each! :eek: so he will be getting one pair and a game at the rate hes going.
Meanwhile I have the opposite problem with Holly. She doesn't tell me anything. She must be the only child I know who wants a skull and unicorn themed bedroom!

princesskitty29

123june I didn’t buy one but thanks for letting us know as many of us on here do tuck presents away!

sammy time really does fly doesn’t it?! I joined this forum when I found this Christmas thread about 6/7 years ago – since then I’ve bought a house, got married and had two children! I can’t quite believe it.

I bought Wiggle a Christmas present the other day, last year he really loved watching Aliens Love Panta Claus and he still enjoys it now so I bought him the book. We’re in planning mode for his big 5th birthday disco at the moment so once we’ve done that I’ll start to really focus on Christmas. Although I say that, but we really want to start getting some decorating done in the house so I need to focus on that too or we won’t get anything done! One exciting plan we have is to put a fireplace in the living room, I really love fireplaces and I’m even more excited about the idea of decorating it at Christmas!

123june

princesskitty29 wrote: »

123june I didn’t buy one but thanks for letting us know as many of us on here do tuck presents away!

sammy time really does fly doesn’t it?! I joined this forum when I found this Christmas thread about 6/7 years ago – since then I’ve bought a house, got married and had two children! I can’t quite believe it.

I bought Wiggle a Christmas present the other day, last year he really loved watching Aliens Love Panta Claus and he still enjoys it now so I bought him the book. We’re in planning mode for his big 5th birthday disco at the moment so once we’ve done that I’ll start to really focus on Christmas. Although I say that, but we really want to start getting some decorating done in the house so I need to focus on that too or we won’t get anything done! One exciting plan we have is to put a fireplace in the living room, I really love fireplaces and I’m even more excited about the idea of decorating it at Christmas!

That`s such a good idea x a real fire would be lovely for Christmas and the winter in general . You`ll be able to snuggle down with a lovely hot chocie or a adult beverage if you wish :beer: I`v started buying a couple of tins / jars a week towards my xmas stash , started with tinned corned beef and salmon as they keep for ages . I always find it a mega help come December and my stash normally lasts through January and February which are horrible months . Nice to have a delve in the box and find a nice treat :j x

Spendless

Hi, I'm an infrequent poster on here just having a bit of a catch up. I'll struggle more with the younger members for suggestions as the youngest in our family is my 16yo daughter.

chirpychick wrote: »

I will share who I need to buy for and budgets maybe people here might have suggestions?

Mum (52 posh likes high quality unusual things) £20 - Try TX Maxx, really good for one off items and band names
Mum's BF (49? has a beard, likes beer, computer games & woodwork) £5 -Either the bottles of beer you find in supermarkets, or you might find some surplus stock of Father's day gifts right now in places like poundland, think I saw a beer cooler the other day, or many places to things for beards like in the cheaper chemists such as superdrug or savers or even in the toiletry section of home bargains or b&m
FIL (82 gardening, books) £15 - Books at the works? Gardening bits from poundland
MIL (79 housebound, disabled, watches tv all day, perpetual dieter) £15 Book of nom? I'm sure I've seen this on offer in Waterstones and Asda
Niece (20 at uni) £5-10I've got a Uni student son, if I had to sum up the typical student I'd say 'skint and likes alcohol'. I'd either go with booze or a gift card for the cinema/coffee shop, both will make their loan stretch further.
Nephew (17 into video games not a lot else) £5-10 eek, I have no idea. 17 is that age when they're too old for certain stuff and too young for others. What else is he doing eg attending college, on an apprenticeship, maybe you can think of something that is practical for his journey to from work/college for example
Step dad & wife (they say not to buy anything, but buy for my son so like to get something token £5) Box of biscuits, chocolates, bottle of wine
Dad & step mum (starbucks gift) That's simple enough, either in starbucks itself or Boots and Debenhams do starbucks ranges when they get their Christmas stock out
Niece ( loves barbies, unicorns, fairies 5 going on 15) £10
Best friends children 12 Girl, 6 boy, 2 girl £10 max each
Nan (76 lost grandad recently, alone, loves dogs, tv, chocolate BUT lives 200 miles away and anything has to be posted) £10 incl postage
Son will be 7, has ASD and other disabilities. will have a budget half of what he normally he has as we are struggling so approx £100 which NEEDS to be 10 presents. One thing I am going to do will be a chocolate box - a shoe box or similar filled with his own little stash. I've spent £19.99 on one PS4 game already. I am trying to convince him to ask for surprises lol he gets very caught up and when he writes a wish list he thinks it's an "i'm going to get list" I've spent a lot of time trying to explain otherwise and also trying to explain value so 1 big thing means nothing else but he simply does not understand - "at christmas i get 10 presents from mummy and daddy" anyone who knows asd kids should understand this one. But I'm not so worried about that figure as i can always wrap a toothbrush or what have you.
Husband 53 - £15 no hobbies or interests impossible!

Does your husband shave? I've recomemded this before on here for the hard to buy for male and has the added advantage of making blades last longer so money saving. :money:

https://www.shaving-shack.com/razorpit.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwgqbpBRAREiwAF046JdJpnOi2WBdilQIkifq1HMk-9Bvt_I0L1m6pBuTdwi_Mea4SgYtHrxoC0wwQAvD_BwE

I am stumped for the rest though.