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

Spendless

That is a good buy for one of those heated blankets Mrs Ryan. I bought my Nan one years ago long before she had to go in her care home, so 10-15 years ago I'd guess and I paid that then! Mine came from Boots though I'm unsure they still do them. Nan loved it, my Mum used to complain she used it instead of heating her flat, so it was always cold when Mum visited and Mum had to keep her coat on - today Mum would consider it a great idea - lol. I should ask her if she kept it when she cleared Nan's flat.

I eventually had a brainwave about the sprouting pencil and how to make it look like more of a gift. A few weeks back I bought a gift box in the shape of a cracker from HB. It was the only one they had even back then and I thought it too nice to leave. I will buy a plant pot to go with the pencil and either the two things will fit inside the cracker or I will put the  cracker with pencil in (wrapped in tissue paper) inside the plant pot and cellophane it in the style of a 'hamper'. I next need to find out what sweets Dil2b likes and buy accordingly. I know the sweet jar will take 2-3 share bags to fill as DD did a 'guess how many sweets' charity fundraiser at her workplace this summer  with another I had in - with a dodgy lid so was glad to find a cause for it. . 

Peppa537

Mrs_Ryan said:

I found the best bargain in Costco today. They had heated throws! Mum has a big furry throw that she uses when she’s sat watching TV in the evening but I thought a heated one would help keep her legs and feet warm as she complains she can’t seem to get them warm. 

£32! They seem to be about 60-70 on Amazon so I’m pretty pleased with that. Tesco have got some brilliant deals on their Clubcard offers- I bought my friend a Nivea set, some hand wash and hand cream for step MIL, and some tea for OH. I saved 14 quid with Clubcard and points as well! I also bought OH a travel mug as he has been using my Costa one which doesn’t have a lid 🙈I nearly ended up covered in coffee when he was taking me to the dentist this morning. 

Bad news at the dentist though- my painful tooth is a gum infection! I’ve got anti-b’s though. Hopefully that will fix it. 

That heated throw is a bargain. I hope the antibiotics work and you're soon feeling better. 

Jelly1725

@Spendless they have mardy mugs here. I saw them yesterday.

The great yorkshire shop

Spendless

Jelly1725 said:

@Spendless they have mardy mugs here. I saw them yesterday.

The great yorkshire shop

Thank you. I bought him one yesterday. Unknown to me it's only said in parts of Yorkshire, so it was the only thing they had. It cost £17.50! I've told DD at that price I'm not risking posting, he'll have to have it after Christmas. I'll look at where you've said if there's anything else she could order  directly to her though.

I asked DS what sweets his gf liked. She has OCD so I suspect she'll not be keen on unbagged unwrapped sweets, in the jar as wouldn't know how had touched them so was thinking of wrapped ones. He says she prefers chocolate though. As he didn't know why I was asking he gave the suggestions of mint chocs or the seashell ones. I will explain later when I see him as it looks like I'll need to find a fair quantity of wrapped chocolates and I'm not sure what would work out most cost effective. . In previous years they've had large pouches of chocolates. I remember buying DD some a couple of years ago, larger than a share bag or small box smaller than a tub. I think the one I got her was Freddo and friends. That sort of thing would be ideal, but I haven't seen any this year 

Today there's a carol service in my village's original church. It's been unused for years, just opens for special events such as this.
It's a very old Church mentioned in the Doomsday book.  Part of the service takes place by candlelight. I've asked Dil2b to come with me, I asked Mum too but pointed out it'll be cold. It has no heating or toilets Mum still recovering from her op declined because of it, which is understandable.   After that we have friends joining us all to watch football and eat food. Friends are vegetarian, keeping costs low we have both meat and veggie sausages, veggie burgers that DD won't eat so could buy meat ones as well. I took mince out to make a chilli and we have enough in to create a veggie one too. DH says he'll buy a small amount of alcohol but not too much as he doesn't want DS going mad as he has work tomorrow. The rest of us either aren't working or WFH. Other than some alcohol, maybe pack of beef burgers and bread rolls, everything we already have, so minimal costs involved. 

Spendless

Anyone got recommendations for Christmas crackers? Need 6, budget around £20. Would be helpful if you could buy on Amazon as have vouchers. We are party of all adults so no toys/games needed in them.2 years ago DH sent off for these swavorksi ones that arrived too late so we had last year and I think that spoiled me a bit as to what to have next. These ones.

https://www.clearcrystal.com/luxury-christmas-crackers-created-with-worlds-finest-crystals/

Prefer to buy. I make a pigs ear of trying to do anything creative if to try and assemble my own and also prefer the 'bang' in ready made ones. 

littlegreenparrot

Spendless said:

Anyone got recommendations for Christmas crackers? Need 6, budget around £20. Would be helpful if you could buy on Amazon as have vouchers. We are party of all adults so no toys/games needed in them.2 years ago DH sent off for these swavorksi ones that arrived too late so we had last year and I think that spoiled me a bit as to what to have next. These ones.

https://www.clearcrystal.com/luxury-christmas-crackers-created-with-worlds-finest-crystals/

Prefer to buy. I make a pigs ear of trying to do anything creative if to try and assemble my own and also prefer the 'bang' in ready made ones. 

Last year I had lovely ones from Oxfam with Christmas tree decorations in. 

This year I'm eyeing some up on the RSPB online shop, there's a set with flower seeds and one with origami.

C_J

Spendless said:

Anyone got recommendations for Christmas crackers? Need 6, budget around £20. Would be helpful if you could buy on Amazon as have vouchers. We are party of all adults so no toys/games needed in them.2 years ago DH sent off for these swavorksi ones that arrived too late so we had last year and I think that spoiled me a bit as to what to have next. These ones.

https://www.clearcrystal.com/luxury-christmas-crackers-created-with-worlds-finest-crystals/

Prefer to buy. I make a pigs ear of trying to do anything creative if to try and assemble my own and also prefer the 'bang' in ready made ones. 

@Spendless - in the past I have bought some cheap crackers and gently prised open/squished back together one end to add a better gift of my own. To save the stress of looking for tiny but nice gifts to add, you could roll up a lottery ticket or scratch card to slip into each cracker, which might provide a bit of fun and still keep you well within budget.

Jenna_Appleseed

There's some Mardy Bum merch from small sellers/independent businesses on redbubble & etsy @Spendless

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/?query=mardy bum&ref=search_box
https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=mardy+bum

A couple of the cheaper ones
Mardy Bum Yorkshirk roots sticker
https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Yorkshire-Roots-by-KeepKarmaArt/60477585.EJUG5

indie/emo letter bracelet
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1348389203/handmade-black-beaded-artic-monkeys-now

Spendless

Cheers for the replies. I'll send the Mardy Bum stuff on to DD, if she wants to buy something else. I'll have a look at those Xmas cracker links. I do like the sound of a Xmas tree ornament present, that would suit everyone. Best if I could get something from Amazon as it won't cost me in 'real' money. Putting something in a cheaper one is a good idea, but you guessed right I don't want to have to think of another 6 small gifts.. Also  *If* FIL buys his Grandkids anything for Christmas, it will be lottery ticket/scratch card and as it's still an *if* he gets them anything  I'm not keen on repeating the same as a cracker gift (only cos I think it could detract from anything he gives)

DD's present to Dil2b is sorted now. Aldi have tubs of Quality street and Celebrations for £3.49. I bought the  (650g) celebrations one because though Dil2b had told me she likes quality street and it would look pretty in the jar, the card that told you which was what centre would be missing - and I don't remember them all and she told me she'd only ever had the odd celebration never a full box and it says what each of them are on the wrapper if you don't recognise it.

So another sorted for under a fiver. I will buy DS plant pot next.   

Coxy11

Morning!

We went to local big shopping mall yesterday and got gifts for 2 nieces based in Dublin but who we will see at NY when they're over. One is trans so he got a T-shirt from HMV (sent a photo to DD and said would xx wear this?) and the other wants to be a writer and is very into reading so we got her George Orwell's 1984 plus a lovely notebook from Typo. They both enjoy cooking so HoF had some glass bottles with cookie mix/brownie mix (just add an egg) for £4. 

Got DD's bf some Fuzzy Duck smellies in HoF with 20% off. Will also get him some JD. Got DS2's gf a hat and gloves in Superdry (with gift receipt). Got DS1 and DIL2B a personalised tree ornament as she has an unusual name so would never find it on anything. Also got DH some rhubarb and ginger gin from JLewis and a new jumper from Superdry. I wanted a jumper from M&S but it's sold out in my size everywhere. Got my free Percy plush decoration from M&S plus yesterday's advent offer was £1 off a light up tin of shortbread, so £5 instead of £6. They are on 3for2 anyway. Got this to have as a spare gift or to take if we go anywhere.

Glad I'm nearly there as the queues to pay are horrendous already and it's only going to get worse.

DS1 would like some Birkenstocks but nowhere has them at the moment as it's winter so will order online. He's going to Cambodia in January. 

I still need to get alcohol gifts for various people but can do that in one hit in Ts, Sains or Morrisons. Will compare prices this week. Still need to wrap everything and buy crackers!