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

Spendless

I forgot to say we did our 3rd and final car boot yesterday having missed last week when DD decided for various reasons not to go. Tbh it wasn't really worth it. It was the dregs of what hadn't sold the previous 2 times but it was very slow going. Even the people at the burger van we were parked next to said it hadn't been as quiet in months. DD is using the money raised to go to the charity that is the one her paegant fund raises for. I said I'd pay the car boot charge for her each week because of this so every penny she made could go towards it. If I hadn't it wouldn't have been worth going, she only made around £18, the previous 2 she'd got about £100. Still it did de-clutter a lot of her stuff - no wonder her bedroom was always messy with the amount of clothes and accessories she had!  

DH discovered yesterday we have hold luggage for our Italy trip. Really thought it was just hand luggage. He's going to check restrictions later but that makes it easier in terms of what we can pack. 

On the Christmas front - I have several things I know I want to get, but currently the focus is on hol, DD moving then her pageant and then I can start spending money on Xmas, the stock isn't available yet or I haven't got a great deal of ideas about what to get. 

Beshki

Money is tight at the moment but I’ll pop a couple of bits from my Amazon basket through in the next week or so. Also thinking for elderly relatives that an electric throw might be a useful gift.  

mandco

Beshki thanks for the heads up re the puzzles - I ordered the dickens house & a reindeer one to do in dec and a tiger one to pop in the xmas donations box - added a roll of random xmas wrap & light up xmas ball for 50p each to make up the £10 minimum to get free click & collect
The only concern I would have over an electric throw is if they would actually plug it in if they are worried out heating costs? 

spendless shame that your last car boot wasn't great but dd has raised a decent amount to go towards her chosen cause 
sounds like you have a busy few weeks coming up hopefully your holiday will give you a chance to relax & recharge

I have a list of possible gifts I've seen on various websites that are currently unavailable/coming soon - its one of the things I hate most about online shopping you spend ages scrolling trying to find things or find the perfect gift only to find they are oos.

M&s are doing a starry night xmas tin this year which I'm really hoping I can find as taz would love it

asda are advertising a kindi kids doll set in the toy sale that I haven't seen elsewhere so hoping I can find that too as it will be perfect for one the the grandkids and I'd have enough rewards credit to cover it making it free.
no sign of the lynx set in either of my local asda's 

I have a few ideas for the kids main gifts hoping to find some kind of discount before buying but there just haven't been any offers/deals around yet this year. fingers crossed for some black friday offers its later than I'd normally buy but I hate paying full price unless absolutely necessary especially for more expensive stuff. in the mean time aiming to pick up a couple of smaller bits each week - token gifts, stocking fillers ect 

Beshki

@mandco I don’t think our elderly relatives are worried re heating bills, they are fairly well off but thought the electric throws would help them along. Also, much cheaper than using the heating so I think they will use them. I will be using mine instead of the heating for sure

Spendless

I forgot to add about the car boot sale. Though we didn't take much money - what was at the next stall? A Guess Who game! Got it for £1. It's an electronic one so think it'll need batteries but it's also the extra game, so more versions in it, some like animals are unlikely to be used but there's also a monster one, which I think might be amusing for a Halloween party. 

Gettingtherequickly

Things seem to be moving along nicely here!

I have to think about what to buy this year, numbers have dropped dramatically as I won't be going home for Christmas.  Think I will just send money to the kids, hate doing that, but have not got any interest in shopping for them.  So that means I just need to think about my brother and the mob in Canada only.  Need to think about Canada, booked my flight a couple of weeks ago, £3,200 business class, I know it sounds pretentious, but I use my expenses at work, saved £5 notes & £2 coins to cover the excess of economy, so I don't really notice the excess cost. Had a look to see what it would have cost me last week, another £600 so pretty happy about things.  Advantage is that I get to have 2 32kg bags, just need to work out what to buy them now!

Spendless

@Gettingtherequickly - What are the ages/genders of the Canadian family you buy for? We have relatives in Canada. 2 Aunts came over last month for a large family party in memory of my MIL, who died in 2020 when we were under restrictions of how many could attend her funeral.

1 Aunt took back a heap of chocolate and sweets, whether you are legitimately allowed to take them I don't know. I can see the attraction I prefer British confectionery too -lol  Other than that a family friend who came to stay a few years back when he was 16, adored Primark!  Something with the Marks and Spencers label on it? Failing that I'd look in my beloved TK Maxx especially if an item has previously been priced in Euros (I once got DD a Dolce and Gabanna phone case for £12.99! When the dog chewed it, I wished I'd bought a second one!) 

Your flight sounds fab. 

mandco

beshki electric blankets sound like a good idea then aldi are meant to have some goods one on offer -  my nan was a stubborn old dear and refused point blank to put on the heating till she really had to or use anything that would cost her money even though she could afford to and would sit in the cold & the dark  I used to buy her blankets/thick cardi's ect and make her a hamper of treats 

spendless fab bargain on the game - I really must check out some charity shops as Taz is really  getting into playing board games lately but they are so expensive new.

GTQ not pretentious at all you've easily justified the extra to yourself and if your going long haul its well worth if if its within budget - extra case is a bonus too 
like spendless said Uk branded sweets & treats are often very popular with American/Canadian residents

my next vip slot was this morning tbh pretty disappointed as it was mostly left overs from the last sale though did order a dress each for the grandkids - I was given a £5 voucher as compensation for issues with my last order so used that meaning I got both for just £8 

managed to find the M&S light up shortbread tin today - lucky as I picked one up just before someone cleared the shelf of the rest. The staff member stocking the shelves with xmas stock said they are selling out as fast as they come in

picked up my puzzles from the works-  they had some books at the till on offer for between 50p & £1 picked up a 365 ways to remember things book for ds stocking 

Gettingtherequickly

@Spendless, @mandco, chocolate is a given, although, I have to say that Irish chocolate tops UK! I know it sound strange as it is still Cadbury's, but it is much creamier & we can get other options.  I suppose it is the same as Guinness, apparently it tastes different at home due to the way the pint is pulled.

Coxy11

Hi all,

Sorry for the radio silence - such a busy time.

BFF and I didn't queue for the lying-in-state in the end. Although my boss said I could clock off at lunchtime on Friday, the queue was shut from 10am-4pm and we both had a lot on at the weekend, so decided to put the live feed on and walk solemnly around our lounges instead(!)

Managed to get the last bits for DS2 on Saturday - crockery from B&M (thanks @Spendless) and a full shop at A!di on Sunday. Some of his flatmates arrived on Saturday and took all bar one tiny cupboard in the kitchen so most of his food and equipment is in his room! It's a lovely sized room though so no bother. He seems to be making friends which is the main thing. Panini press will be on his Christmas list!

I am off to Glasgow this evening on an overnight bus with DSis. We are walking Glasgow to Gretna Green over the next 8 days as part of our JoGLE attempt. Mixture of bnbs and camping, so hope the weather is kind.

Great that DD has raised some funds for charity @Spendless and bonus that her room is clearer!

@GTQ - well worth treating yourself - have a fab time x

I'm going to see what A!di have in once I'm back from Scotland and start putting some bits away, but first we have DD's 21st on 1 October - we will give her some money and planning an escape room type thing - her choice! 

Coxy