A Jolly Holly Christmas - It's the 2022 Christmas Chatter Thread!

Gettingtherequickly

Spendless said:

Older readers may also remember DS housemate2 discovering he was coming into a large inheritance whilst camping in our back garden. It was DS birthday on Friday and he  bought DS a very generous birthday present of some items for his computer. (I'm talking several hundred pounds) Our  gift of underwear (DS's request) and some cash paled into significance at the side of it -lol.  
 DS computer is like Trigger from only fools and horses broom. He initially got it for his 16th birthday and has now replaced every single part of it, without ever buying a new PC.  

 

What a lovely young man, your DS clearly means something to him. I hope he had some financial advice regarding his inheritance as it can be so easy to spend money and not have anything to show for it. Or maybe he has decided that £x is for frivolous spending and he is enjoying that freedom?

Spendless

Gettingtherequickly said:

Spendless said:

Older readers may also remember DS housemate2 discovering he was coming into a large inheritance whilst camping in our back garden. It was DS birthday on Friday and he  bought DS a very generous birthday present of some items for his computer. (I'm talking several hundred pounds) Our  gift of underwear (DS's request) and some cash paled into significance at the side of it -lol.  
 DS computer is like Trigger from only fools and horses broom. He initially got it for his 16th birthday and has now replaced every single part of it, without ever buying a new PC.  

 

What a lovely young man, your DS clearly means something to him. I hope he had some financial advice regarding his inheritance as it can be so easy to spend money and not have anything to show for it. Or maybe he has decided that £x is for frivolous spending and he is enjoying that freedom?

Not sure tbh. After the inheritance was found out about in late summer of 2020. DS and the other housemate started a relationship. We then went into 2 further lockdowns, tier systems and restrictions (their Uni town had restrictions even before tier systems), so limited when we saw them. A year on and DS and gf get engaged. With gf already graduated and us paying DS rent due to his min loan we had to find accommodation where we paid per room rather than per person. HM2 went to different accommodation. I know he has had various money released, but not if the whole inheritance is his. It was made up of a portfolio though not just £xxxx into his bank account. He'd also 'forgotten' about a property he also inherited when we asked him about it this weekend. I've asked DS and gf to ask him if he needs some help going and looking round it and seeing what state it is in. It'll have been empty for 18 months minimum. It's not going to be somewhere he'll want to live himself.

I asked him about his plans once he graduates this year and he said he was thinking of staying in his Uni town and finding work, either degree related or just a 'turn up and do it' job (prior to inheritance and pandemic he'd worked in maccys and in a pub) for a year whilst he had a think about whether he wants to do a masters and what in. I suggested he use that time to learn to drive too.

It's hard when he has no older person in loco parentis to guide him other than myself and DH and I don't think he'd come to us, we'd have to offer. However there is no new girlfriend currently on the scene and very few people are aware about it (I checked with DS) so at least he took that piece of advise from me and husband about it.   

C_J

@Spendless your DS’ computer being like Trigger’s broom really made me chuckle 😀

I did a quick check of my Christmas spreadsheets workbook yesterday, and discovered I only have four more items to get for each of the son-in-law’s Advent calendars, but needed a dozen things for each of my daughters. After a quick trawl through eBay I bought a couple of fantastic beauty boxes (similar to Glossybox or LookFantastic) from a private seller, each containing 10 unusual but high-end products for £20 including free postage -  so at £2 per item, I’m really pleased! 

For the guys (who both help my daughters with the weekly food shop) I bought a trolley token each - one branded with his favourite football team, and the other is a poppy appeal one which other SIL will appreciate. Another couple of items sorted then, although I’m starting to run out of inspiration.

Coxy11

Hi all,
Not a lot of purchasing this end as have been to see my Dad overseas. Went into the London office yesterday which is adjacent to HoF - was a bit like the Marie Celeste if I'm honest in terms of goods and staff! Found some Star W@rs Mandalorian night lights - baby yoda - for £7 each 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paladone-Baby-Yoda-Lamp-Multicoloured/dp/B0887QSHD2/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=39F29SZKEPCOF&keywords=star+wars+mandalorian+light&qid=1647590891&sprefix=star+wars+mandalorian+light%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzOUlWMlQ3NUlUNDhFJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzA4NTk5MktMMTgzSTkxQlUyNCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjU1MjUxMVoyREVOWEc0NUQ5TiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Got one for nephew and one for DD as she loves baby yoda! Now safely stashed in the present chest of drawers in spare room.

Treasurequeen

Princess kitty the baileys biscuits I got in home bargains. They also sold the baileys wafers at Christmas too. 

Spendless

I have the following birthdays/occasions coming up before the end of March, having already had DS and my Nan's birthday already this month. We made DS birthday a bit special due to not being able to see him last year for his 21st. Unfortunately I lost my job the day before! 
Next weekend - Niece and Nephew 21st (twins)
Mother's day
followed a few days later by DD's 19th birthday

DD has spent her previous 2 birthdays under lockdowns. Her 17th couldn't do anything as first lockdown had been called the week before. Her 18th last year was the week limited people were allowed in gardens. So this year we thought for her to do something special/different booked her and a friend on a trip to Amsterdam with P & O Ferries - you couldn't make it up. No idea if it'll still go ahead!

So I need to very much use up what I have as gifts for these events. I have the following
Moschino perfume and aftershave. I bought these because I wanted the free gift of a travel holdall for myself and this met minimum spend. I didn't have a clear idea of who they were for.

Moschino mini perfume set. I bought this a few weeks back in Superdrug, thinking it would be good to put away for Xmas. When I got to the till, the cashier informed me they had an offer on of buy a perfume full price, get a 2nd half price, and my purchase qualified. She also directed me to a stand where they were already reductions for my 2nd bottle and so I bought a full sized limited edition of a ghost perfume.

On going through my present cupboard, I realised I had already bought a minis set but of Estee Lauder perfume in the Jan sales. I bought this so DD could have some classic perfumes, she would dearly like some Miss Dior for her birthday but I don't think it's going to be affordable. However, I tried some of one of them on her whilst out just to judge her reaction but she wasn't keen on it. I am now thinking the following.

Give the Moschino full bottles of aftershave and perfume for my Neice/Nephew 21st (we stopped buying at 18, but make an exception for a 21st, so this is likely to be the last birthday gift to them)

Give the Estee lauder mini set to my Mum for Xmas. Unfortunately I have mentioned to her I got it with DD in mind, but I think she'd be understanding. We can also give her some good sunglasses that DH gets as a work freebie for a conference, again I think that can be explained to her. She knows how expensive this past year has been supporting both DS and DD living away whilst studying. 

The ghost perfume go to DD. She  also has other items such as the suitcase and hair travel set that's unknown to her. In addition she wanted a Dior luggage label set, which is a freebie with a loyalty scheme but only after spending £250! Fortunately I found said luggage label on ebay! In my haste to buy it when I spotted it  I probably paid a couple of pounds more than I needed to, as since seen others on there.

That would leave the Moschino minis for Christmas. They are 3 perfumes and 1 aftershave, so my thoughts are either give DS and gf between them or divide up between them and DD as stocking fillers, depending on where son is on Xmas day this year.

Earlier this week by chance I popped into Boots and discovered they were on day 2 of their 70% off christmas gifts. Not as lucrative for bargains as it was in years gone by, but DD got a dressing gown/slipper/candle set for £9 and a make up pallette for £5, though I admittedly gave in over that one as I'm convinced she has several unused ones! Then I was able to put away a comisole set and a bubble bath set that will go into my gift cupboard

princesskitty29

I’ve been very busy here with various things going on, finally sitting down and popping on here whilst I’m having a lie in. I went to my local retail park last week and there were still some sale bits around. There was a small section in Matalan and I picked up a Christmas bauble for DS2’s stocking with his initial on it for 50p. My boys have small trees in their bedroom at Christmas so I like to pop a decoration in their stocking which they love. There was also still a section in Boots as some people have mentioned and I picked up 2 Nails Inc hand and foot mask boxes for my auntie and cousin, half price at £5 each which is more than I thought they would be (they didn’t have a price on them so found out at the till) but thought it would be a nice thing for my auntie and cousin to do together as they like that kind of thing. I also got a flying UFO as a little present for DS1 which was half price at £6. It was nice to pick up a few more bits and my spreadsheet has been duly updated!

Well what lovely weather we are having, the sun is streaming in through the window this morning! A lovely spring day. I really need to get myself to the garden centre so I can start planting some things out but not sure if I’ll have time today. We’ve got to do a nature walk with DS1, collect some materials and make a Viking house for his homework and then it’s chicken pie and roast potatoes for tea. DS2 was really poorly with a fever yesterday and spent all day on the sofa which is so unlike him, but he’s so much brighter today thankfully and has no temperature. We did a covid test but that came up negative so perhaps some other nasty virus going around.

Spendless that was really kind of HM2 to give those gifts to your son, it shows he must think a lot of him. He’s very lucky to have you and your DH to offer him advice and guidance.

CJ that’s a great idea getting the beauty boxes to split for the advent calendars.

Coxy love the Yoda lamp!

Treasurequeen thanks for letting me know, I’ll keep an eye out for them.

Treasurequeen

I popped into next this morning and they have a lovely set of glass heart candles for £4.00, there are three in a box and are a reasonable size and they smell amazing, jasmine scent. I bought a few of them, one will go in my DM stocking and the other will be a back up gift but I might be keeping them for myself as they are so pretty. https://www.next.co.uk/style/st015493/879573#879573 

I got a mint foot spray my dad loves in boots today as it was half price, along with a shower gel again reduced. Shower gel will be for Father’s Day and foot spray might be Christmas or his birthday. 

Bought the cat a new scratching post for Christmas in pet shop half price sale just need to find somewhere to store it as it’s a large box.

Spendless

I've wrapped the Moschino perfume and aftershave for my twin Niece/Nephew's 21st this weekend. I had wrapping paper and gift tags in. So glad this has only cost me a couple of £s for 2 cards, I'm finding everything so expensive. I think once I use up the xmas paper I already have in, going forward I will just buy plain colours for gift wrap so they suit any occasion throughout the year. 

Coxy11

Hi all,
Love those little heart candles TQ - are they wrapped individually? 
Good that you've sorted the gifts for niece and nephew Spendless.
I have Covid - got a positive test yesterday. This has scuppered plans to see the Mums this weekend and also it's DH's birthday on Sunday. DH will go visit his mum on the doorstep - he will buy some flowers to take, we already have a card. I will post my mums card (she also has covid) and will have to see her in a few weeks as I'm meant to be going away 1-16 April.
I haven't bought anything for DH yet. Was hoping to pop into HoF this week at work to get a nice shirt or similar. Didn't end up going in yesterday as felt rough and now I know why! He will have to wait until I can get out to shop.