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

Mrs_Ryan

Hi all
Thanks again ❤️My own mum doesn’t bother about the cost of stuff but the candle is for OH’s stepmum. She can be an awful snob and OH’s stepbrother is loaded- he throws money around like it’s going out of fashion and stepmother in law is always banging on about the fantastic things he’s bought her. Normally buying her Jo Malone is ‘acceptable’ but I’m hoping the fact it’s M&S appeases her a little bit as she does like M&S. 

Likewise I’ve bought some Boots winter hand wash and a reed diffuser for brother’s partner- he’s another terrible snob who whines bitterly if we don’t spend shed loads of money on her (the partner) The partner herself is lovely and is always grateful for whatever she is given but the whole thing gives me a headache! 

I managed to get some Molton Brown hand wash/hand lotion sets on the QVC pay in 4. I was going to get them when I went to the outlet but the prices weren’t hugely different. I will give one set to my mum and one to my brother. 

I got some more of the Lynx Gold shower gel (I cleared Boots shelf…ooops) so OH now has 14 lots of shower gel! Sounds excessive but that honestly won’t last him all that long. He has two showers per day and is always looking for shower gel. He’s always grateful for good shower gel! 

I also picked up a tin of Nivea lip balms which I’m going to give to my friend; they were half price and on 3 for 2 as well with the reed diffuser and I got the hand wash free. I got a bar of Dairy Milk for brother’s partner in the local Co-op as well so that’s them finished for. 

I’ve got two things to get for mum; most of OH’s stuff but to be fair I need to wait for the Amazon voucher; there’s some bits I’m getting for him next weekend when I’m paid and there’s one thing I’m getting around the middle of December; and some coffee for my mate which I’ll get when we take mum to Costco. I got some wrapping paper today too- £3 for three rolls. I found two full rolls knocking around the house and also half a roll so that’s a start; the shop I bought it from is next door to our regular Aldi so I can easily get some more. 

My pressie pile usually takes over my whole home office but not this year! I’ve had three birthdays as well (in 4 days- nephew’s today, I gave him £15 in his bank account and sent him a Moonpig; sister’s 50th on Sunday- I got her some of the Primark charity PJ’s and I put some champagne and chocs on PayPal pay in 3 a couple of weeks back from Moonpig for her and mum’s birthday is Tuesday- I got her some gloves from Accessorize she asked for and I’ve sent her a Moonpig card and a giant box of Maltesers) 

Mum keeps telling me I’m doing great and I know all you lovely people have said the same thing- but I’m so used to spoiling friends and family on birthdays and Christmas that I feel so guilty that I can’t do it this year. I know the majority of my friends and family don’t judge me but the ones that do make it worse and I get so upset. Mum tells me I need to relax more and not worry about what everyone is thinking but I just wish I could! Hope all are okay xx

Beshki

@MrsRyan, Wow. If anyone ever judged a gift I bought them on what I spent, it would absolutely be the last one they ever received!

I spend very little on those I love, but think hard about what they will use and enjoy. That’s what it is about

Spendless

I agree that people like that aren't worth bothering with. Long term they usually get their come-uppance anyway. I can understand though that for the sake of family unity you keep trying with what you can manage Mrs Ryan. I've bought for people like this in the past (I'll keep their relationship to me secret) and I always liked it the best when I bought whilst on hol abroad and they'd no way of knowing where or how much I'd purchased item for. A couple of items come to mind that had ended up in clearance stores where we were holidaying  but had initially been limited ediition and/or designer. Bought them, the recipient loved them and was none the wiser. 

Beshki - I know that feeling. The toll of DD starting drama school followed by her pageant weekend and knowing DS comes back here next month has taken it's toll. However yesterday I returned something I'd received for my birthday which wasn't quite right and now have just over £60 in Amazon vouchers, which will help towards Christmas costs. 

Spendless

BTW @Mrs_Ryan - With your OH going through so much shower gel, does he apply it with his hands or use a shower puff which would make it stretch further? You can get them in more muted colours or aimed at the male market at his time of year. I've seen Lynx do one before. 

Flugelhorn

Beshki said:

@MrsRyan, Wow. If anyone ever judged a gift I bought them on what I spent, it would absolutely be the last one they ever received!

I spend very little on those I love, but think hard about what they will use and enjoy. That’s what it is about

Too right - the best presents cost little but have a lot of thought to them.  Some families set a price limit but tend not to be those who like to "splash the cash"

Beshki

Payday meant that I could buy up a couple of bits I’ve been wanting to, and I need to pull everything out at some point and make a list of things I now need to bring the things I’ve bought together. I want to avoid over buying bits for some people and not buying enough for others, although our gifts this year are mostly token gifts around the £10 mark. Pleased with what we’ve collected up so far

mandco

was meant to be going shopping with dd tomorrow but I preordered something a while ago which is due out in about 2 weeks with payment due to be taken approx 7 days prior. I got an email yesterday saying they would be taking payment in the next couple of days. That means it might clear before I get paid which wouldn't be so bad but I cant remember which payment card I set it up on (it just lists paypal) so now I'm stuck holding the amount on both cards till it goes out    no shopping for me this weekend      If anyone knows of a way to find out please let me know

going to do some halloween baking with taz tomorrow - we have black gingerbread skeletons, monster cupcakes and oreo bats on the list so far. Also still need to carve our pumpkins dd usually does it as she's really good at it but she has plans this weekend so not sure she'll have time - might have to settle for my amateur caving skills instead 
anyone got any plans for halloween?

Mrs_Ryan

Hi all
thanks for the kind comments on my last post. This is the sort of thing I’m stressing so much about! 

Payday yesterday so I’ve managed to assemble some bits. I bought my mum a Kipling purse to match her bag (EBay- but it’s a independent department store that sells on there so definitely legit- I’ve bought from there before and was really happy with it) I paid £31 but the same purse on the Kipling site was £48 which I was pleased about- decent saving there. I bought some Molton Brown handwash for Mum and a cracker full of mini Molton Brown shower gels etc for my brother- I was going to get it tomorrow from the MB shop but when I went on the MB site there was 20% off everything so I saved nearly a tenner which I was really pleased about. 

I wanted to get OH a rugby shirt from our local team- when I went on the site there’s free delivery at the moment and 10% off, I was going to wait until next month but between the free delivery and 10% off I saved eleven quid which was good. 

I’m off to that there London tomorrow. I’m off to relive my misspent youth at a Blue album signing in Westfield 😂while I’m there I’m going to do some more shopping. Boots have half price on their Jack Wills and Nivea stuff at the moment which is massively helpful. I’ve got my eye on the JW boxers gift set for OH, a Nivea set for mum and a Gillette Fusion razor and shaving foam gift set for OH in the 3-4-2. 

Off to Costco next week and they do the 16 pack of blades for the Fusion, so I’m going to pick some of them up. Going to get a new electric toothbrush for OH as well as his is manky 😂you get £10 of points for spending over £60 on electrical so OH has given me some money to get some of my gifts (I always buy my own stuff. OH’s disability means he struggles to shop without assistance and he doesn’t have anyone to help him so it’s far easier for him to just give me the money to buy my own. And plus I never get a bad gift 😂) I’m going to get a pair of straighteners. I wear a wig but it’s a human hair one and so I can use heat on there. My three year old rarely used Nicky Clarke ones have given up the ghost on me so I’m just going to get a nice but not too expensive pair. I don’t use them much so it’s not worth buying GHD’s or the like. I’ve seen a nice pair for £42 in Boots so that with OH’s toothbrush will get me my extra points. With the remainder I’m going to Victoria’s Secret, either for a pair of my fave PJ’s or something from their 2 for 60 loungewear offer. 

I’m getting some jeans for OH too but I haven’t decided what to do about those yet. I got him some from Next which he loves but his very fave are from Hollister and they’re stupidly cheap right now. There’s both a Next and Hollister in Westfield so I’ll pop in and check both of them out then make a decision. I’m also going to get a candle for my mum, probably the same one I got my step MIL but I’m going to wait until Tuesday to get that as I don’t want to risk it getting broken or damaged on the way home from London. 

I’m hoping by next weekend I will be finished- I’m doing the study for the Amazon voucher on Thursday and last time they emailed me the code  immediately after the Zoom call so if they do that again I can get OH’s stuff ordered off Amazon- then I can get the last of the bits I need at Costco next weekend. I’m still very stressed and crying a lot about Christmas- I know I’ve done everything I can and I’ve not done badly but looking at the list I originally made and what I’ve ended up getting it’s nothing like what I wanted. 

Spendless

Mrs Ryan - you are being far too harsh on yourself. You've done amazingly well, sought out discount codes and reduced items, and still  bought branded goods. Ok it might not be what you anticipated months ago, most of us don't have the same financial situation we did at the beginning of this year.  

I've been off sick most of this week, due to an infected cyst that's become an abscess in a sensitive area, so unfortunately that will reflect in next week's paypacket. We've also had to step in and buy DS and gf a new mattress after an issue with one they believed they'd be gifted. They move to where we live this weekend. DS starts his new job on Monday.

Having only had the opportunity to shop in my head because even movement can be painful, I think I've worked out what I'm buying for extended family.
My Nan in the care home. I'm going to get her a photo of DS in his graduation gown and DD in her pageant dress, but in a frame where I can also put a pic of their younger selves at the side , because when DS and gf visited this summer she didn't recognise him. She recognised DD on a further visit because I was with her (restrictions mean only 2 visitors at a time). This will be her main/only present from us as there's so little you can get her and she doesn't recognise anything 'new' as belonging to her. The rest of family will also get the photos just separately.

Other Nan - I have the blanket already and will add something edible nearer the time depending on what I see.

Mum - I have the dry leg oil, body butter I already had in as she's now aware she needs to keep her skin moisturised. I received a free  £5 to spend from Bodyshop as it had been my birthday last month and picked up a couple of items including a mini s/gel in the same fragrance as the body butter. I'd intended it for myself but realising it matches I'll give it to Mum instead. I was waiting for my Boots points to accumulate enough to buy her some expensive nail oil, as a lifetime as a hairdresser means weak nails  but since I don't think I'll manage it, I've seen a cheaper version I'll get instead and I also want to get her a reusable water bottle.the kind that keeps water cold for several hours  I queried why they bought bottled water as I frequently saw a part used bottle in their living room and discovered it's my Mum using it for various tablets she takes during the day  and saves her getting up to get a glass.  

Dad said he used bottled water too but only  in the summer. Every week him and a friend go out for half a day and he takes it then, I've bought him a 500ml  water bottle, Mum only needs a small one if she's just using it to take tablets. I've got a couple of other ideas floating around to give to him but I need to check with Mum first. I'm unsure if he takes a bag/rucksack when he goes out with his mate (they go clay pigeon shooting) and could get him a new one. I know Mum has said he has to clear the boot on their small car each week to fit his gear in, so I'm also thinking of a boot tidy that hangs from the back of the rear seats so saves space. He also likes reading and I'm considering a nice bookmark. Which of these I'll do, I don't know.

So that only leaves FIL

We went in a military type pop up shop recently and got some ideas. DS says you can order online I think a mug and coaster with the Army regiment FIL was in. This would pad out the usual chocs/biscuits we normally get.

If I manage to get most of the above done over the next week or two (abcess depending!). It would leave me free to concentrate on immediate family. Not sure what me and DH are doing, but he wants a hol so has suggested we fly to America a few days ahead of him being on a work conference there and have a mini break, then we move to his conference hotel and I just use the facilities whilst he works. For this reason we may go to token gifts only.

I've seen a local theatre doing 3 different shows I want to watch and had the idea of tickets for relatives plus for me (I'd only be gate crashing DS tickets, DD it would be me and her and parents + DH would love the third) but I think it's going to be out of budget for Xmas unfortunately. However I'm thinking of still getting them and giving them as birthday presents instead as they fall between Jan - March. 

Mrs_Ryan

Hi everyone 

So much for best laid plans and all that… London trip didn’t quite go to plan! I hadn’t factored in having to carry everything home as I took my rucksack- but I ended up having to carry my DM’s home as they were tearing my feet to shreds (living in slippers more or less permanently has made my feet soft) fortunately I had taken trainers to change into, but the DM’s pretty much filled my rucksack. The trains and Tubes were heaving and I was struggling with what I was carrying- so there’s no way I could have carried all that Boots stuff too. 

When I was watching Shopping with Keith Lemon the other night they went to an Irish butcher’s in London which sold all the Irish food. So I took a detour on my way to Westfield and stocked up on some goodies for OH- Irish tea and Irish mustard (his grandad was Irish and he loves Irish food brands) and for my friend who was born in Ireland (biccies and porridge) and of course the all important Tayto 😂 (I love Tayto) I did well though- the prices were quite reasonable and I got quite a haul for fourteen pounds which included a nice canvas tote bag. 

Next was Westfield. Mixed fortunes there- I got OH’s jeans, I ended up paying far more than I would online but it was definitely worth it as the delivery takes ages to come and the delivery is also expensive. I wandered into Abercrombie and Fitch, and I got him a lovely polo shirt in there, they had 20% off so I got it for £20 which for A and F I thought was quite reasonable. On the way back I stopped off in St Pancras and Fortnum’s- not MSE really but OH adores their Irish Breakfast Tea so I bought two boxes for him, and a tin of Xmas biccies for mum and some squeezy honey which she also loves. 

I had planned to get OH’s electric toothbrush from Boots but I had a voucher for £5 off £15 or over on Amazon so I got it on there. It was £20- same price as Boots but with the fiver off it was only £15. I got my mum a pretty opal necklace from EBay and some absolutely gorgeous opal earrings from Next as well- the earrings were bargainous at £12. Tomorrow I’m off to collect OH’s rugby shirt- when I was ordering it I asked him if he wanted a name and squad number on the back but he said no as it would cost too much- so I’m going to have it done as a surprise. I’ve got to get my Boots bits and mum’s candle tomorrow, then I’m done for everyone apart from OH and my best friend- I’m getting her some coffee from Costco at the weekend along with some bits for OH and I’m hoping to order his stuff off Amazon on Friday. 

I got myself a top and joggers from VS Pink on Saturday, and I’ve still got my straighteners and perfume to get for myself which I’ll get in December. Normally I love Christmas shopping but I’ve been so stressed about it this year I haven’t enjoyed it.