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

Peppapig

Welcome RAINBOW, lovely to see you at last 😉 We’re lucky with most of the men in our family in that they have interests we can call on. DH however is another matter and I have real trouble thinking of things for him - not helped by the fact that everyone else asks me for ideas for him too🤦🏼‍♀️. FREE I’m sure you look beautiful, black eyes and all. VULPIX hope you’re ok, it’s so annoying when nothing shows on the outside and you feel completely bruised inside. PRINCESSKITTY I’ve never seen The Grinch, I’ve just never been able to bring myself to watch it. Maybe the animated version would be a good place to start. TREASUREQUEEN/GTQ I’ve been thinking about starting to stock up but I’m not good at having reserves, we tend to start on them. I am concerned that there could be another lockdown though so I think I’ll have to do it. Do you just buy tins and the basics? Well we had almost a week of being able to visit mum by appointment for 30 mins and now the home is locked down again because cases have risen in Bedford or Luton. The home is miles from either but still part of wider Bedfordshire so we’re back to outside visits only, still at least we can see her. I ordered some lovely laser cut trees and hearts and I’m making up ‘family trees’ which are decorated trees with hearts added with people’s names on them. I’m hoping to do them for pressies for Christmas but I’ll have to see how they come out first. I’ve also got the hanging baubles and hangers for the Christmas crafting day so I am making some progress although nowhere near some of the rest of you.

Peppapig

Sorry, I thought I’d put paragraphs in that post but obviously not.

Treasurequeen

Welcome Rainbow . 
Peppa, I buy tinned fruit, custard, jelly, gravy, sauces things like that. I tend to buy when on offer too to save some money. I buy two gravy for example one for now, one for Christmas. But if for some reason gravy is out of stock when I need to replace I take from Christmas cupboard and replace it later. This method has come in handy in lockdown and when I have been ill. 
I check dates on things first. I don’t buy chocolates yet as I will be tempted to eat them and my flat is so hot they would go funny. Mostly tinned foods, I buy things with a long expiry date. I keep a spare bag of cat food too and treats for her. 

Free I hope things are going ok? 

mandco

Welcome Rainbow

Peppa with the stocking up I usually go for longlife items tins/jars/packets of things we'd use anyway and then some toiletries/household items. I also add to the medicine cupboard so by winter we're well stocked.  I have a list of things we use/need and tick them off as I add them to my stores - I aim for about a months worth of each item in total though I don't always get it in one go.   My brexit stores came in very handy over the lockdown 
Normally I get a couple of bits and then put some money on a savings card but this year I'm just getting extra bits each week instead - hopefully by xmas I'll just really need to pay for the fresh stuff
Where did you get your baubles & hangers from ?

Well town was disappointing couldn't get half the things I wanted so ended up ordering stuff online when I got home and spending far more then I would have liked.  It was really busy too though I think that was down to the eat out help out deal as all the food places were packed never seen them so busy not even at xmas.  Wanted some krispy Kreme donuts to cheer dd up but surprise surprise they had run out of the ones on offer

I did find some merry christmas cat litter tray liners 20pk for 29p so it wasn't a total loss 

vulpix

Hi there and welcome Rainbow.

I hope you are feeling ok tonight Free after your staple removal xxx I feel less sore now. I think the swelling has receded.

I started a new job today.It will be just a few days a week for the time being.I am working at a very busy tourist attraction,so if ever any of you are in the area look me up.My job is completely the opposite to what I saw recently in Scarborough.We have very strict PPE rules.

My cousin died last week,very suddenly,my ex MIL too.It is a very different experience not being able to go to a funeral.Just sort of in limbo.

Peppa we are just the same if I stock up too early.One year I had to replace the Christmas cake 3 times! I was a latecomer to the Grinch but I realy like it.The Jim Carey version is a bit full on though.

Rainbow I haven't been anywhere recently to look in shops but I know the Card Factory had a great offer last year on gift bags,think it was 4 for £1.Probably too early yet for them.Shops seem to get Halloween out of the way then get into Christmas.Never too early in my opinion.

I think the weather seems a little Autumny,sorry for those of you enduring a heatwave.I have been spending time looking at Christmas ideas on pinterest.Thank you for adding me to the board PK.

Like all of you I am at a loss for ideas for gifts.I ordered a pressure point thingy from China for DD1 which is supposed to help with migraine.We don't spend much on each other for Christmas now that everyone is an adult.It is £30 each of stocking filler type things.It is the men that it is always difficult to buy for and my MIL who says don't buy anything but I think she would be very upset if we didn't. I find you lot such an inspiration when you share your purchases and bargains.
Take care Vx

Peppapig

Thanks TREASUREQUEEN and MANDCO, I think I’ll do a list and then get a few bits from it delivered with my shopping each week.  VULPIX I definitely can’t buy treats early - I usually have to replace all the Easter eggs two or three times unless I buy them at the last minute and the same happens at Christmas if I buy the tins of chocolates when they’re on offer. I’m not a Jim Carey fan, I think that’s why I’ve always avoided The Grinch.

MANDCO the baubles were an absolute bargain on eBay. I can’t take the credit because MURIE found them but they’re glass, lightbulb shape with the opening in the front, they’re a large size and they were £2.99 for 6 including postage 😱. Other sellers had them for £9.99 so I think they must have been a loss leader to help build their feedback up because they came royal mail so the postage would have been more than that. The stands are black metal and were £5.99 for 6 so a bauble and stand worked out at less than £1.50.  I’ll see if I can post the link if they’re still available in case anyone wants to look.

Peppapig

Not sure if these will work but here are the links:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6x-Clear-Open-Mouth-Glass-Bauble-Candle-Tea-Light-Holder-Hanging-Xmas-Tree-Decor/283705395719?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6pcs-set-Plant-Stand-Ceramic-Planter-Hanging-Glass-Bauble-Tree-Light-Holder-Hot/203049951348?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Gettingtherequickly

Rainbow, if you are not fussed about delivery time, you can use Aliexpress. I ordered gift tags etc, Christmas oven gloves and other bits, didn't order bags as still not 100% certain on what I will be doing, which were cheap, came quite quickly also.

Sorry about your losses Vulpix, it is really difficult not being able to go to the funeral, being able to do that is so important for the grieving process.

Free, hope you feeling better now, imagine you are starting to turn a lovely shade of purple & yellow!

murie

if anyone is looking to take advantage of the brilliant offer that mandco posted a while ago, (as long you are OK with picking up an order from a Boots store), then you can get the tin for £3.50 using  SAVE3ONLINE
https://www.boots.com/no7-fresh-and-fabulous-gift-10278485

rainbow_791

Gettingtherequickly said:

Rainbow, if you are not fussed about delivery time, you can use Aliexpress. I ordered gift tags etc, Christmas oven gloves and other bits, didn't order bags as still not 100% certain on what I will be doing, which were cheap, came quite quickly also.

Sorry about your losses Vulpix, it is really difficult not being able to go to the funeral, being able to do that is so important for the grieving process.

Free, hope you feeling better now, imagine you are starting to turn a lovely shade of purple & yellow!

Thank you so much, I’ll try there tonight for some bags, luckily I picked up all the paper and tags in the January Sales so should not have too much to order 🙂