* Step into Christmas * & 2020 - It's the 2020 Christmas Chatter Thread

Spendless

Hi everyone
I've ventured into town twice now, I have a shop-a-holic teenager and can't say I enjoyed the experience at all. Not because of crowds, but the whole thing of queueing/head counting in order to get into the shop. Being careful not to browse too much and create a backlog behind you of people who can't move on, or getting stuck behind people browsing too long. The one way system, the requests not to touch things (I'm a very tactile shopper, which is why on-line shopping rarely appeals), unable to try anything on.Both me and daughter need new clothes, daughter needs to return 50% of what she bought due to not fitting. I didn't bother buying.
By now I've usually got a small stash of presents in my cupboard. This year I've already had to dip into that for lockdown birthdays and with my aversion to the current shopping experience can't see if or when I'll build it back up.
Thankfully my list of people to buy for has grown smaller this year. I no longer buy for my Neice and Nephew. After the next birthday in Jan I will no longer buy for other neice. Other than my own household, this knocks me down to parents and 2 grandparents. Grandparents are in their 90s and in a nursing home or have limited mobility, so quite restrictive what I buy anyway. 
I did pick up a Radley handbag reduced to £18 in TK Maxx. Daughter refused to let me leave it - lol. Was in 2 minds whether to keep it myself, but think I'll give it to my Mum and that's one less present to think of -lol. If I then buy the usual flowers and baileys for the Grannies and give remaining neice the bits I a;ready bought and don't suit daughter, that's over half my shopping list done. It would just leave my IL's and I pass that task to hubby if I get stuck and my Dad who is really difficult to buy for. I hit on for Father's day because he'd got problems with his hands due to all the hand washing. Body shop do a hand scrub and a hand cream (hemp range), so I got them. I know how good the hand cream is because a relative who lives on a narrow boat loved it for combating dry skin. It arrived the day after father's day, hey ho, so just had to tell him it was on his way.
That would leave my own household and I've already warned daughter 'Mum doesn't do queueing, so you might just have to accept cash instead'. Son is a skint Uni student so won't care. 

nic2075

Spendless, I hate shopping too. Our shops haven’t opened up yet. But. Home bargains stayed open, I guess because they sell food. But I hated the experience. I felt rushed and impatient too. I used to love going to Tesco every other night and home bargains every wed while DS was at his guitar lesson. Now I hate it and go shopping once a week and a small top up on a Friday. It’s saved me a fotune lol. 

I enjoy buying for the kids stockings. They always get underwear and socks. The girls usually get some lip balms, hand creams, bath bombs and mini make up things. DS gets his underwear etc and lynx body spray. But it’s a bit harder for him. I end up getting silly things from Poundland like muilti tool card and tiny hands. He had so much fun on Xmas day with the tiny hands, best £1 I spent lol. 

nic2075

Last night I got to sample my home made Rhubarb and ginger gin that I’ve been waiting on for 4 weeks. I grew the rhubarb at the allotment. It’s tastes delicious, I plan to make more and some rhubarb and ginger vodka too for Xmas pressies. I have some nice bottles to use up. The rhubarb is almost at the end, so I’ll use up what’s left. Might have to sample another couple of glasses tonight..hic. 

Redredrobin

Anyone many one needing masks Home bargains online have washable ones £1-99 each you can order up to 5 and including delivery 5 will cost you £12 .

We have had a massive boost like a lot of people last year we put in a claim for PPI just before the cut off date as I saw Martin Lewis on tv saying even if you don’t think you qualify put a claim in before the deadline , well we have been getting paperwork every so often and Friday a letter saying we will be getting £11,250.00 back .To say we are gobsmacked is an understatement.

Hubby is really enjoying his new job he was a HGV driver from the age of 17 in the army until this year aged 58 , he is now a support worker in a supported living facility.A complete change for him but years of experience with our daughter has given him the experience he needed to get a foot in the door .

Christmas wise everything that I have bought so far I have wrapped Although I’ve misplaced the lucky dip paper so still got a couple of items for that to wrap up .

Can anyone recommend an overlock machine ? Never used one before but I’m going to treat myself .

Spendless

That's handy re masks. Teenage daughter will need them for college as she commutes by train and bus.
Fantastic news on your PPI claim. I did the same thing not knowing if I'd qualify either - I got a cheque recently for £8.43.  

Redredrobin

Spendless said:

That's handy re masks. Teenage daughter will need them for college as she commutes by train and bus.
  

The masks are washable at 60 degrees and are really comfy.

Samiire

Redredrobin said:

Anyone many one needing masks Home bargains online have washable ones £1-99 each you can order up to 5 and including delivery 5 will cost you £12 .

Thanks so much for this RRR, I came on to get my Christmassy fix but this has helped so much. DH is going back to the office from the 6th and has to get the train in. We have a few masks but not enough to get him through the regular commute so this is perfect and I’ve just ordered some for him now - thank you!

On a Christmassy note, I’ve been well and truly in the spirit for the last few weeks. Singing Christmas songs and constantly thinking about it. We had our first Christmas in our new home last year and had my in-laws come to us. This year is our turn to see my parents and so they’re also going to come to ours too. So excited! Already looking up matching pyjama sets for me and my Mum to wear on Christmas Eve and pondering what I can convince my DH and Dad to wear.

Haven’t really thought about presents yet, but no doubt will soon. Main thought at the moment is that we need to turn one of our spare rooms in to a proper guest room (in-laws had to stay on air beds as we had no furniture) ready for when my parents stay. We’ve got wallpaper and paint ready to decorate but trying to decide what furniture would be best. In-laws are donating a double bed they no longer need so that’s a start. Room already has two wardrobes and chest of drawers left by previous owner but I’m thinking one wardrobe, a dressing table and a comfy chair would be better for a guest room. Any thoughts?

Last Christmassy thought I have at the minute - does anyone know if any of the movie channels are doing the Christmas in July thing this year?

Treasurequeen

Movies24 Christmas in July starts today! 

mandco

Nic Glad to hear your in a better place mentally - social media has a lot to answer for. I do really miss my old shopping habits I used to love popping out and having a leisurely browse.  I've been to town a couple of times since the shops reopened but its so stressful crowd wise it wasn't too bad but all the queuing, feeling like you need to be quick , no browsing totally ruins it.
Hows the rhubarb & ginger gin?  

Vuplix congrats to ds on the engagement - photo shoot sounds like a good idea not sure what else to suggest as a lot of the usual things are really still not doable at the moment

Redredrobin congrats on the payout that's a nice kind of shock to get 

Picked up a couple more bits today
found some lynx shower & shave foam for £1 so got a couple of those for stocking- never seen/noticed it before but apparently its been around for a while.
Got some art/craft sets 2 for £5 in the works - will get some more next time if the offer is still on but couldn't carry anything else today - another down side to the current situation having to try and do it all in one trip means I'm more limited to what I can actually pick up normally I've have just gone back tomorrow but it will be next week before I go back now.

Hoping to finally see the grandkids in person this weekend we've face timed a lot and they've changed so much the last few months esp the youngest who's now walking and into everything- not sure they will be able to stick to social distance they're 1 & 3 but dd isn't worried and said she's fine with them having hugs if they want as if she was a single mum we'd have been able to do so for weeks anyway. 

nic2075

Mandco the gin was lovely. It’s lovely with the fresh ginger flavours coming through. Nice and summery.  How exciting to get to see your grandkids soon. Face time and zoom has been a godsend at this time, but nothing like seeing them in person. Not hugging my wee niece has been hard. I seen her for the first time last week. She can’t social distance either, too young to understand.