* Driving Home for Christmas * - It's the 2021 Christmas Chatter Thread!

Treasurequeen

Managed to get a few bits in sales. Brothers christmas present nearly finished just got to get a bag of sweets nearer time. Got some shower gels reduced to 50p which will go in stockings. In local CS got a hand turned pen for my mum which I will put in a nice box in her stocking.

 I’ve noticed shops are getting some autumn and winter stock in already. I asked and staff told me they don't trust government so are bringing lines out earlier so they don’t get lumbered with it like last year.

I’ve got a nice piece of jewellery  for my mum which I will put in a nice box that I got in a sale. John Lewis have a sale on too with some nice bits reduced a lot. Aldi online also have some men’s socks in Star Wars design, batman and superman for around £4.00 in their clearance sale. 

kerri_gt

I was up in London yesterday for the first time since 2019. First mass participation event and was so good to be back (bar the stupid early alarm call to get up there in time).

@Treasurequeen I can understand shops not trusting the gov not to shut them all down again. I'm still a little lost re xmas shopping this year but sure it will come together in the end. I have a few bits I could shuffle round, or give to the recipients I originally bought them for, or sell them, or dontate them. Really need to get my inspiration hat on. 

Treasurequeen

2022 calendar and diary bought for just under £2.00 for both. Popped into local CS and got a puzzle book to go in a stocking, a affirmation set to give as a gift too. Bought some slippers for my dad reduced in sale he asks for them every year. I’ve got to sort out my Christmas cupboard as have bought a few things on offers with long dates. 

Spendless

Hi everyone, DS and both housemates are back. As housemate 2 didn't come to us on the last 1 or 2 occasions we hadn't realised he was coming on this one. Till DH turned up to collect and DS said I'm not quite ready and housemate 2 said I am. Not that it's an issue to have him, but our sofa bed has broken, so we've had to re-juggle sleeping on sofas and DH has gone away to work for a couple of nights so he has a bed -lol. Ooops we will double check and not assume in future. They are here to dog sit whilst DD is in Greece and we are away o/night picking her up. I have to say what a faff as well as the expense to go abroad at the minute, with the tests. I hope having to buy them to holiday abroad isn't going to become permanent! 

We dropped her off at the end of last week. Our drive home then took 7 hours (should have been half that!). It was soooo busy. We were getting pics from DD as she lazed round the hotel pool sipping cocktails as we were still on the motorway! She'd got to Greece quicker!

Regular readers may remember that housemate2 discovered he was the sole beneficiary of a large amount of money last year whilst staying with us. That's now 11 months ago and though things are going through, it's not finalised. He did have the idea that he could buy somewhere for them all to live in for this final year at Uni, think he's now realised that he's not going to have the timespan to do that. I did try telling DS months ago when it was first mentioned that buying a house wasn't the same process as buying a KitKat - but I don't think I was believed!

On the present front I bought DD what will be one of her 'main' presents this Christmas. It's a suitcase, a pink one from Guess that I got at TK Maxx. It will be so handy for her, now she's started with overnight trips away and holidays without us. DS who I have found harder to buy for for years has given me some ideas about what he'd like in future. He's said he'd like a good knife set, so am going to keep my eyes out for one. 

Beshki

kerri_gt said:

@pixtotts You're quite allowed to complain. I do say when people are down and say 'oh but shouldn't complain, others have it worse', that we never criticise when people are happy. When someone says 'I'm really happy xyz' no one turns round and says 'oh but others are happier so wind your neck in'. It should work both ways. If you're down / peeved / miffed, then if it matters to you, it matters. 
Hope you're out of jail soon. 

I picked up one xmas present today. Feeling very behind and also unorganised this year in terms of lack of ideas. I think it's because often I've got more done by now. But I got a Paw Patrol digger from a pop up Children's Hospice shop for a bargain price. It's brand new (although my friend would prob be quite accepting of second hand goods for her kids and being more eco-friendly). They get quite a lot of toys donated from manufacturers and stores.

Last year they managed a couple of little outside pop up markets but really took a hit as they do several pop up stores in the shopping centre throughout the year. This is their first one back, they're in a big unit and seem to be doing well. It's so nice to see as often the knock on effect to such charities are very much the forgotten casualties in all this.
Without the fundraising, they can't provide the care and support families that use their services rely on. 

So, well chuffed with that. Just a million more gifts to buy now still.... 

Have two DN (girls), who'll be 10 & 11 and really not sure what to get them. I've picked up sets in the B00ts sale before now but haven't this year. Suggestions on a postcard please. 

I think I would go down the gift card route for sure. Perhaps Amazon? At that age, it’s lovely to have something to spend for yourself and to browse the possibilities. Granted, for yourself it feels as if it’s a bit of a boring pressie to gift but to an eleven year old I think it’d be great. Also means that your money will be spent on something they love as opposed or wasted on something they may not ever use/like

Gettingtherequickly

C_J said:

I’m not sure what your budget is for your two nieces kerri, but how about buying each of them a silver (or silver plated) bracelet, the ones that look like the Pandora ones which you can thread charms onto? Genuine Pandora ones are expensive (though I see that the outlet shop at Bicester Village now has an online store), but lookie-likey silver plated ones are only about £5.99 on Am*z*n. It also gives you the opportunity to give them charms for future birthdays and Christmases too!

You can also get 925 silver, so sterling, ones from Aliexpress. They are really good value, so in the event it gets lost, there is not a huge stress. I bought one and it is identical to Pandora and it doesn’t go green!

Gettingtherequickly

Not been on here for a while, been really busy & stressed at work, so decided to take time out of everything except work. This was enhanced by the fact my brother had a heart attack at Easter, thankfully he is ok, but it forced me to put my life in perspective. I decided to resign from the charity I was involved in, realised that I was the only one working full time, but if I didn’t do the admin, returns etc, even though not my role, they wouldn’t be done. I will still do my bit for families, have started shopping for their hampers, so I feel happier for that.

Christmaswise, I have made all my cakes and bought red jute bags for them, I have ordered Fjallraven bags for my nieces. Need to think about everyone else, but may wait until after I finally get home to see my mum!

Spendless

A bracelet mine had at a slightly older age (13) was a nomination bracelet. You start with the bracelet and maybe a charm and then can add over the years. 

https://www.johngreed.com/women/brands/nomination/bracelets?gclid=CjwKCAjwr56IBhAvEiwA1fuqGqtZHOTV3wZHaEumvndvFf1w6CBCPpKqJOpryuqBP62sWC2VGSnsZxoCU68QAvD_BwE

I know with gift cards there's often a warning on this site, because if a shop goes into receivorship, they often won't honour them. I've bought daughter in the past ones that are 'shopping centre' ones and are valid at all or most of the retailers in a particular shopping mall as it's unlikely that every single shop will go bust at the same time

kerri_gt

I've done a bit of digging and have sizes and likes for them so that should help a bit. 
Trying to put off gift cards as long as possible as you don't usually find those in any kind of deals. As I have 10 kids alone to buy for, before friends and adult family (the few we still do gifts with) I need to shop smart.

Beshki

Spendless said:

A bracelet mine had at a slightly older age (13) was a nomination bracelet. You start with the bracelet and maybe a charm and then can add over the years. 

https://www.johngreed.com/women/brands/nomination/bracelets?gclid=CjwKCAjwr56IBhAvEiwA1fuqGqtZHOTV3wZHaEumvndvFf1w6CBCPpKqJOpryuqBP62sWC2VGSnsZxoCU68QAvD_BwE

I know with gift cards there's often a warning on this site, because if a shop goes into receivorship, they often won't honour them. I've bought daughter in the past ones that are 'shopping centre' ones and are valid at all or most of the retailers in a particular shopping mall as it's unlikely that every single shop will go bust at the same time

And it’s fairly safe to say Amazon won’t be going bump any time soon!