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

Gettingtherequickly

Thanks for the suggestions for the shoe boxes, something for me to have a look out for.

Spendless

DS and gf went to her parents last night shortly after I got home from work making today the first day of my empty nest. I'm not counting it as the official day though as we are seeing them tomorrow when we meet her parents (me for the 1st time. DH has met her mum) at the venue where they are thinking of having the wedding reception in 2 years time.

Today I can definitely do what I've been saying for ages, pull my presents out, have a good look at them and see what else I need to get.  

Beshki

Well the ‘everything’ shortages seem to be ramping up. Despite only buying token gifts this year, I can’t afford to buy them all in one go & so i am instead aiming to ensure everyone has at least one gift. That way, if the shortages are drastic it won’t matter.

mandco

Spendless I'm sure dd leaving home was more emotional for many reasons not least that this time you don't have anyone left at home to distract you. Hope she's settling in well

ds is actually enjoying college so far and He's so much happier than he was at school 

Stock in the shops has been hit & miss for weeks and not looking likely to improve anything soon so def want to get a more on with getting the essentials in. We popped to the outlets yesterday as ds needed new trainers and there were hardly any decent discounts/offers on most stuff was full price and that seems to be a theme this year stores just don't seem to need to reduce prices as the lack of stock and competition means people are buying anyway. 
Ds would like a gaming chair for xmas as his main present so that's my next item to source as the ones he likes all seem to be oos and while he did love the one we saw in costco its £280  and I refuse to pay that much. Other than that the only thing the boys have asked for are a few playstation games but I can get those as digital versions if needed to no need to worry about those.

Matalan have a smallish wreath making kit for £3 so ordered a couple of those to make with Taz though we'll personalise them a bit more. 

Planning on having a clear out this week as the boys have both outgrown loads of stuff and the box room is full of stuff that doesn't currently have a "home" so needs sorting and putting away properly with anything not needed put aside to be donated so I'll have space to put Ds chair when I get one. 

Tesco had orange and cranberry jaffa cakes

kerri_gt

One place I'm sure there will be lots of stock is the charity shops. I'm wondering if I can pick up a few bits in those,  not to be cheap but to be a bit more eco concious.

Mrs_Ryan

Hi everyone! 

I’ve started my shopping but I’m a bit all over the place this year as I’m away virtually every weekend and my money is disappearing down a black hole I’ve basically been on leave from work most of September and I’ve got bits coming up in October and November and December as well! My student loan is going to be received god only knows when this year as Student Finance are being difficult so again god only knows when I’m going to be able to finish my shopping! 

I went to the Clarks Outlet village when I was on holiday so I had the bright idea to call my sister and ask what I could get for my nephews. Socks and pants was the answer I got them two pairs of Superdry trunk style boxers each and three pairs of 100% organic cotton Superdry socks each. Came to fifty quid! 

They’re at that difficult age though where pants from the M&S outlet won’t cut it. However looking at the full priced ones I’ve actually made quite a saving as two pairs of boxers and 3 pairs of socks alone would be forty quid. So I’ve actually saved myself about thirty quid. I got my niece a Superdry hoodie. My niece is very petite and wears a size 4-6. I always get amazing bargains when I buy her anything as it tends to be very small sizes that are in the clearances. The hoodie I got her was reduced to £14.99- nothing wrong with it, it’s a lovely hoodie, navy with ‘Superdry’ picked out in silver sequins- just end of line so further reductions. She’s also got a Victoria’s Secret body spray to make her even with the boys. 

I got my brother in law a Molton Brown cracker- £14.00 but contains 4 mini shower gels. Cheapest I’ve found it anywhere else is £20.00 so every little helps he is an artist and I always buy him some supplies every Christmas. This year I went to the Works Outlet and got him some colouring pencils, a sketch book and a sketching set, all for a tenner. My sister says he always loves the art supplies I buy him and finds them really useful. 

Ive got two vinyl records for my brother. He collects them and there was an offer on in HMV in Meadowhall when I was in there a few weeks ago so I rang him and asked him to choose two for Christmas. 

I also bought all my Christmas cards in one fell swoop on Saturday from Card Factory in Sunderland where I was staying at the weekend. I buy individual cards for close family and a few friends and I managed to buy them all. 

September and October are horrendous months for birthdays! This month I’ve had to organise cards and gifts for OH’s nephews and stepmum (plus it was OH’s stepmum’s 70th. We sent her a card and an M&S gift voucher but then I organised a bouquet of flowers as well) My two best friends had birthdays within a week of each other as well! October- my mum, nephew and sister have birthdays within 3 days of each other: and just to complicate matters OH and I got together on my nephew’s birthday 15 years ago. We don’t usually mark that date but as it’s 15 years this year we’re marking it by buying each other a small gift costing £15 I got my nephew a Superdry hoodie from the outlet in Sunderland for his birthday, Mum wants money as she’s going away on hols and sis and I are going to Edinburgh for our birthdays so I’m going to buy her a nice single malt. 

Phew! Once the birthdays are over I can concentrate more on Christmas. I am very excited this year- myself and OH are going to my mum’s for Christmas Day and we’re going out for Christmas lunch. I haven’t been home for Christmas in 10 years and it will be lovely to open my presents with my mum and OH. 

mandco

Mrs Ryan wow sounds like you've been busy and yet still organised as usual.  Once they hit the age of liking brands it gets so much more expensive for so much less my ds has decided he likes under armour and blimey that stuffs pricey.  

Sainsburys have scrapped the nectar double up so will probably use my points to get some bits from argos instead I figured it was going to happen as they haven't had any of the usual offers this year but its still disappointing,

Sainsburys had xmas themed scratch cards in £1,£3 & £5 versions so picked up the £1 ones -another thing off the list

kerri_gt

Don't forget that eBay have Outlet stores for brands too. Once DN's get into brands (if they do - some 'youngsters' are very anti branding these days, all about vintage and sustainability and not supporting big corps) I will prob start sending them £. Not only does £30 - £40 a pop get very expensive when you're talking about potentially 5 to by for - but for ones that need posting, the cost to insure the items hikes up too. So if they really want something, they can have £ towards it. 

Random Q but does anyone know if charity shops do vouchers? I know it seems an odd gift but our local home store has some fabulous stuff in it, and also is a Frenchic paint stockist. 

princesskitty29

I toured round a few shops such as Home Bargains, B&M and Poundland etc last week and managed to pick up a few Christmas presents. My boys love trains and Home Bargains had some lovely miniature train tins with chocolate coins in which will be fab for their stockings. I also got my FiL a box of Famous Grouse chocolates and some Turkish Delight for my auntie. There were a few things I wish i'd got so will try to pop back either tomorrow or Friday. I bought my SiL a bath bomb from the Body Shop, usually I get quite a few things from their Christmas range but I don’t really like the Christmas stuff they have this year.

 

We booked our Father Christmas visit yesterday, I know there are a lot of organised people out there but I was surprised at how few slots they had left already!

 

Ever since I met my DH we have alternated which parents we spend Christmas with each year, we were supposed to spend Christmas with my in laws last year but weren’t allowed to see anyone in the end and this year should be my parents. Unfortunately DH’s two brothers don’t see their parents on Christmas day so if we don’t spend it with them they will be on their own and they have been on their own for the last 2 years, so we’ve decided to spend this year with them instead of my parents. They don’t expect us to but we don’t really want then to have a third Christmas day on their own. My parents always spend it with my brother and my auntie so they are never on their own and we will go up for a couple of nights probably on the 27th Dec.

 

mandco glad to hear your DS is enjoying college and is a lot happier, that must be a relief for you.

 

Welcome back Mrs Ryan! It sounds like you’ve made a good start on your Christmas shopping and what a lovely Christmas you have planned.

 

kerri I don’t know if any charity shops do gift cards but it would be a great idea! I’ve never heard of any doing them though.

kerri_gt

I did a bit of digging this afternoon and it seems there is a charity shop gift card scheme a bit like National Garden Centre vouchers with certain shops signed up

https://www.charityretail.org.uk/the-charity-shop-gift-card/

Not sure if others do individual cards too.