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

C_J

I’ve not done much Christmas-wise recently, although I did buy one small stocking filler for our newest granddaughter. She will be 10 months old at Christmas, so her stocking will only have a few little bits in from us. I’ve already bought a lovely baby bubble bath for her, a bath book and some bath toys, so in keeping with that theme I’ve just ordered a nice Egyptian cotton flannel for her and had it embroidered with her name.

Beshki

Just picked up another five greetings cards and two Christmas jigsaws for £15 delivered, making the most of the W H Smiths deal before it finishes tomorrow. Wasn’t sure re the jigsaws for our elderly relatives, but for £4.99 each I decided it was worth a risk. Hoping they’ll enjoy them

Coxy11

Hi all,

I received my Body Shop order just now. The bag was £4 @Spendless but I did buy other items too to get free postage. Had to laugh at your DD turning down a Dream Boy! Not so funny about the train ticket though - that's the sort of thing my DD would do!

We were on the IOW at the weekend for our silver wedding anniversary. No shopping done as majority of shops were closed due to the BHs. Now on countdown for DMums 80 bday on Sunday. I need to make some food for her afternoon tea and book some trips for our weekend away to Stratford Upon Avon. It's all go.

That's a great deal Beshki - will take a look now!

Treasurequeen

When doing my food shop, I picked up some thick fluffy slipper socks with treads on for my sister in law for Christmas. They were half price, she’s now finished. Also picked up some shaving cream to go in my dads stocking, reduced with my club card. Picked up a lovely candle too  which was reduced and it smells amazing, it’s going in general present stash and nearer the time I will decide who gets it. They had some lovely votive candles for £2.00 which I was thinking for tree or table presents but didn’t pick them up in the end as I didn’t budget for getting so many gifts. If they are still there next time I go I will get them. 

I’ve set the goal that each month I will buy something for Christmas even if it’s small things and to set money by for Christmas food. 

Spendless- I giggled that your DD turned down a dream boy. 

For the jubilee I made up paper chains I loved them as a child, for Christmas this year I’m going to get some to hang around my home. It brought back lovely memories and pure joy. 

Spendless

TQ - I'd not thought of that, looking in Mr Ts to see what toiletries are cheaper with clubcard for stockings/hampers - great idea.

When DS came to stay for the Jubilee weekend I commented that the shaving rash he'd had the time before had cleared and he said he'd been using a product I'd given him, which I couldn't remember if I'd raided my gift stash for something for him or just given from Mr S's bits full of things that he reckons he uses and doesn't shhhhh.  That's when DS gf mentioned that the razors DS is using are the cheapest disposable ones because that's all they can afford. A hamper full of shaving products is what's coming his way this Xmas which will also save them money in the long run. 

C_J

A little bit more done Christmas-wise today - I remembered to go and get some gardening bits from £Land for a gardening hamper I am planning for younger daughter. She and her husband have just bought their first house and have a lovely garden complete with greenhouse, so she is eager to get stuck into growing fruit, veg and flowers. I bought a kneeling pad, pair of nice gardening gloves  which came with some snips, and a pack of plant labels. I will supplement this with some bamboo flowerpots and some heritage veg seeds (Premier Seeds Direct are great for these) so that’s another gift sorted very inexpensively.

I also splashed out on a couple of items from L’Occitane (there are soaps and aftershaves there which my sons in law like, and I had budgeted for these as a Christmas gift), plus I had a voucher for a free gift set which comes in a lovely box with about half a dozen travel sized items. This will make a fab extra stocking filler for one of my daughters.

Treasurequeen

Christmas books coming out this year 

• A Christmas Celebration by Heidi swain – 13 Oct. 2022
• Keeping a Christmas Promise: jo Thomas - 13 October 2022
• Merrily Ever After: Cathy bramley -13th October 

• The Christmas Postcards by Karen swan - 27th October 2022 
• Snowed In For Christmas by Sarah Morgan -27th October 2022 
• A White Christmas on Winter Street: Sue Moorcroft - 27th October 2022
• One More Christmas at the Castle:(paperback) by Trisha Ashley -27th October 

• The Christmas Holiday by Phillipa Ashley -10th November 2022 
• The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop: Book 7 by Cressida McLaughlin -10th November 2022 

Spendless

Thanks for the books lists.

DD goes on holiday abroad next week with 3 girls from her drama school. Other than DD who was getting a lift as DH is off they were getting tot he airport by train -only it's one of the strike days! We now have all of them travelling here the day before, staying overnight and DH taking them to the airport. He did suggest they looked for a cheap airbnb the night before instead but DD veteod that in favour of a sleepover because Mum is so good at providing drinks and goody bags - gulp.

Well I last did one before the pandemic and I'd no idea for what to put in a holiday gift bag for girls in their late teens/early 20s. With a limited budget - I've earmarked £20, I've also had to raid some of the Xmas stuff. Anyway I went to HB and bought the following a pack of 3 lip balms (frustratingly so many multi packs come in 3!). I've also raided my stash to provide a father's day present for DD who is skint and in a box of mini toiletries was a lip balm that he won't use, it's unisex so that makes up the 4th. 4 packets of handbag tissues. a 4 pack of stainless steel straws and 16 small bars of kinder chocolate. That lot came to £5.62. Then it was onto poundland where I picked up 2 masks, I already had a lip and an eye mask in, these 2 are a bit cheekier as they are a boob and a booty one. My idea if the girls aren't keen on their bits they can swap with each other. After that I had a brain wave and raided a jewellery advent calendar I bought cheap as it's last years. I intended taking it to bits for DD anyway. Some of it was a charm bracelet and charms which is no good but it also had 4 chains and pendants and frustratingly 3 earring sets and 1 bracelet - so had to use the chains so they all get the same thing. I had enough velvet-y bags to put the chains in plus they come in already wrapped in a little plastic bag. I also have gauze bags to put the items in. I didn't have any gift bags and poundland again had a 3 pack, so instead I've bought  10 lunchbags from HB and decorated them with holiday stickers DD had. I haven't included these in my budget.

Tomorrow I will head back to Savers where I have seen travel pillows and luggage labels for £1 each plus a £1 pack of  thin headbands which fortunately did come in a set of 4. That will total £9 plus the £7.62 I've already spent so £16.62, leaving me just over £3 to get some alcohol. I have seen some  fruity vodka shots for £2.99 so might get them. It's annoying because last Autumn I was picking up shots in HB all the time for 99p!  I will find out from DD what everyone drinks though and if need be raid my own cabinet. 

ETA - Slight change of plan. I forgot I'm also getting 2 x twin packs of folding toothbrushes also £1 a pack so £2. Thought these would be useful if anyone forgets their or to keep in their handbag when out if  ahem if any of them end up waking elsewhere. That totals £18.62. Having checked with DD they'll all drink prosecco and I have a bottle in, so total spend even if I include the HB lunchbags which were 89p comes in under budget and once again I'm grateful that I have a stash to turn to. 

Spendless

Also DD realised it was Father's Day on Sunday and has no spare cash due to her hol. I'd spotted 2 different twin packs of Lynx soap in Savers. They were £1 each. Going through my stash earlier, I also found 3 shower lillies that were in a pouch that said Ben Sherman on it. I bought them in TKMaxx for £3.99  earlier this year they were in black/grey/olive colours. I took 2 lillies ou, put one back in t and stuffed the bag with the soaps,  mini toiletries, a lynx shower gel out of a set and the  pouch was filled.  As DH works away  every week he likes toiletries that he fills his overnight bag with, these will keep him going for a while and Father's Day is sorted for £2.

Coxy11

Wow @Spendless I didn't realise goodie bags before holidays was a thing. Please don't tell my DD and DS2 as they will expect something too lol!

Thanks for the list of Christmas books TQ. I will look for some of those in the library - use it or lose it as they say.

In present/celebration news, it was DMums 80th last Sunday. DSis and I organised an afternoon tea with the adult grandchildren in DSis garden. Luckily the weather was glorious. We organised a cake, flowers, balloons, all the food, drink and logistics for getting people there. It was a lot of work and a fair bit of money too. DMum was very underwhelmed. I'm not sure if it was being centre of attention, or she's just losing the plot but both DSis and I are upset by it. We have planned to take her away for the weekend to somewhere she's been before, but not for ages. "I've been there" she said when she opened the card. Honestly it's so upsetting. Grandchildren got her Kew Gardens visit plus afternoon tea - "I've been there" she said. I mean really??!!

No phone call or text from her since Sunday or anything on FB where DSis posted lots of photos of the day. Maybe we will go away on our own as can see it's going to be testing!