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

Spendless

I've found a youtube link since re the Xmas socks. In this one they fill one sock and then put the empty matching sock with it and tie both  together with some Christmas twine. I reckon even I can manage that -lol. Thanks for the idea. 

princesskitty29

Spendless yes nothing was attached to the actual sock, just ribbon tied around the top. I only thought about doing it for my sons friends but you're right you could do it for different ages with different stuffers, I'm now thinking I could do it for some other people!

Beshki I do tend to find a few things in the Next sales, I got my brother a lovely polo shirt and jumper for Christmas last year, they would have cost too much normally and I think they are a bit better quality than a lot of places.

mandco

Spendless sorry to hear about your job  Good job you did have some presents stashed away sounds like they were a hit with dd 

princesskitty glad your all feeling better and managed to get home to visit your parents How are they doing?  

I'm still feeling wiped out and need to nap during the day    but improving slowly. I missed all the good stuff in the next sale as I  totally forgot about it though did manage to order a couple of bath & bodyworks sprays for dd 1/2 price.
Busy sorting things for easter at the moment. we have the grandkids at the weekend (can't wait to see them but kind of dreading it as they are hard work) I'm making them a little easter bag each this year rather than hampers which will help keep the cost down as I need smaller things to fit in there. I ordered a couple of unicorn gym sack type bags for £1 each to put things in and They have a choc bunny, a new dress and a mini kindi kid doll each so far just need to get a book or craft set to finish off. 

Really need to make a start on planning for dd's birthday its not till august but she's 21 this year  and at the moment I have nothing at all in the present stash and no idea what to get her either. I don't think she'll want a party she's more the go for a nice meal with a couple of close friends type but I'd like to do something a bit special if possible. 

On the xmas front I picked up xmas dresses for the grandkids - reduced to a bargain £5 each and a few little stocking fillers not much but its a start. 

I like the idea of the kids xmas sock stockings I'll have to have a google and check them out 

princesskitty29

Well our holiday didn’t quite go to plan, DS1 tested positive for covid 3 days in so we had to come home early on Thursday, we weren’t supposed to be home until today. I was sad as I don’t get to spend much time with my family but also worried as we’d been around my parents for the 3 days before we found out, I’m praying they don’t get it! There’s only so much you can do bar not seeing anyone, on Saturday when we left we had no symptoms and we all tested negative. Then DS1 came out in cold symptoms and a little cough on Monday which is really unlike him and on the same day my MiL messaged my DH to tell him she had tested positive for covid, we had been with them on Friday evening. Just hoping no one else gets it now. DS1 has also got an upset tummy with this one, it must be a different strain as he didn’t have any symptoms when he had it in December.

Spendless do you know what the video about the sock stockings on Youtube was called? I’ve been trying to google the idea but can’t find what I’m looking for, I’d be interested to watch it.

mandco sorry to hear the covid is still affecting you, are you any better now? The Easter bags sound lovely, is it this weekend you’ve got them? I hope you’re not too worn out if it is! Thanks for asking after my parents, my mum is so much better after her treatment and I think my dad will always be in poor health now unfortunately.

Spendless

@princesskitty29 - sorry to hear about everyone ill and your holiday cut short. 

This is the Youtube I found as I wasn't sure how you gave the socks without the contents falling out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74F-408q8Yc

I mentioned the idea to DD and she really liked it. There's plenty of small gifts suitable to fit in them, mini toiletries (often a larger range found this time of year), pack of playing cards didn't realise until DS went to Uni how much card drinking games featured!  

Treasurequeen

In my local Sainsbury’s they had 24 unwind scented t-lights in a nice storage jar for £3.00. Would make a nice stocking filler or tree present. 

Virtual hugs to all those that have been ill, I hope your all feeling better. 

Love the idea about the sock stockings. 

I forgot about the next sale but some of you have had some great savings, I’ve written it down in my Christmas planner for next time. I thought boots was a bit hit and miss this year. 

I’ve managed to buy all birthday and event  cards including  a few Christmas ones. Prices are going up everywhere that I’m finding it hard to make savings. Family are asking for money or gift cards as they are struggling. So again can’t save any money there. My parents have dropped hints at a Christmas hamper this year as they are struggling with costs. I did one a few years ago with luxury items they don’t  usually buy. I’ve already started I got posh coffee reduced with a long date on so far. 

Coxy11 The next heart candles are individual 3 candles in one box. I was thinking about taking them out of box and individually wrapping them for table gifts. 

Spendless

Buying items that will help the recipient save money or on energy costs is going to be a big thing this year. Think I've mentioned before but my own family is top heavy with pensioners - my parents & FIL (70s) and my 2 Nans (90s - one in  a
nursing home)

I've already considered getting my Mum a heated throw. I don't think my Dad would use one. 

Having (at last!) trimmed the extended family I bought for last year, the rest are 'my household' which now includes DS fiancée. Their gifts too will be aimed at saving them money - though it might not look like it from first appearances. The are meant to be marrying next year (though they have yet to find jobs and somewhere to live! - DS is in his final weeks of his degree). Last time they were here, Gf told me that her fav perfume was one I had, though she'd only ever tried it on at an airport shop, never owned any, so I gave her a squirt, she loved it and I know at Xmas time you can buy the gift set with matching shower gel/body lotion. I will look to get this for her so she has her fav scent on her wedding day and doesn't need to buy any special toiletries.

DS too late complained about the price of razor blades (as do 90% of blokes I know) otherwise I'd have got him this for Xmas, which I've recommended before    https://www.razorpit.com/   My intention is to make him up a shaving hamper with the sharpener,   a good razor, few bottles of gel/foam and a good aftershave - which he can also wear on their big day and in the long run will save him on shaving costs

chanie

@Spendless i love the idea of money saving gifts.  For the past few years, I’ve bought ‘green’ gifts like water bottles and shopping bags and travel mugs, but I’ve exhausted all options, so I think money saving is the way forward.

Spendless

@chanie - My Dad is really difficult to buy for, even my Mum struggles for ideas. His hobby is clay pigeon shooting, he's had pneumonia and my Mum was getting really worried about him being out in the cold.

Last Christmas I bought him some thermal t-shirts (m & s) and thermal socks ( b & m). As an additional present I also bought a boxed set of shower gels. These ones  https://www.amazon.co.uk/RADOX-Rainbow-Shower-sponge-Collection/dp/B09BFT36H7/ref=asc_df_B09BFT36H7/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=535040173166&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14303769659900241169&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006679&hvtargid=pla-1434299720603&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

I bought them when on offer at Wilkos though I later saw them cheaper still in B & M. 


Later Dad thanked me for the presents but added 'but don't feel you have to spend that much' . I hadn't spent any more than usual, it must have just looked that way to him

mandco

princesskitty sorry to hear you had to cut your trip short due to poor ds getting covid again. You did all you could to reduce the risks but it just seems like everyone is getting it lately. Hope ds is feeling ok 

Yes we had the girls at the weekend as they are staying at chessington over the easter weekend. It was great to see them as its been a while due to them having covid then us but wow they are hard work- sdd has very different parenting methods such as letting them do pretty much whatever they want as its easy. The youngest sulked for an hour as I wouldn't let her have chocolate instead of dinner. 

spendless sounds like you have some great ideas for presents this year already. Not sure if you shop at boots much but I try to save my point and put them towards a bottle of perfume or fragrance gift set at xmas so might be worth a consideration if you planning on getting one anyway.