Jingle All The Way - It's the 2023 Christmas Chatter Thread!

mandco

Princesskitty sounds like you had a busy 1/2 term sorry to hear your not feeling great wishing you a speedy recovery I'm sure ds will love the minecraft set its hard when you are not sure if they'll change their mind but when its a limited availability item sometimes you just have to take the chance. 

the dentist went ok they did a temporary fix and I have to go back next year to review - apparently I'm grinding my teeth a lot and my jaw is tight? so they want to see if that resolves first as they thinks that's part of the problem

The first xmas ads were released today - seen M&S Argos & Asda so far 

Black friday deals also went live today in a lot of places - ordered a fragrance that I'd been waiting to see if it went on offer for 1/2 price at superdrug so that's another thing off my list.

Coxy11

Hi all,

Glad to hear some folk are making inroads into their Christmas buying! I am not one of those people! I had a 20% off voucher from Red Letter Days and found a suitable outing for ILs (vineyard tour and afternoon tea), Mum (London walking tour) and DS1/DIL2B (cocktail making and pizza) - put them in my basket and got distracted and now the offer has expired. However, I'm leaving them in my basket in the hope that there is some kind of Black Friday deal or other offer. 

Have asked DD for some ideas, so hoping this Dyson AirWrap thing isn't a 'thing' as that's beyond my budget!

We have added to the food goodie stash this weekend with a bottle of rhubarb and ginger gin plus some stollen. DH was with me and it'd could have been much worse tbf. We've also ordered a box of wine which includes a bottle of prosecco and the friend I've been supporting through his grief (lost his Mum in April) gifted me 5 bottles of prosecco the other day. He gets gifted them at work and doesn't drink - result for me! DH casually dropped into the conversation at the weekend that we are hosting NYE this year - err okay - better dust off my platters (not a euphemism) 

DDad is home having fought off the pneumonia but a tumour removed from his bladder 2 weeks ago is aggressive cancer so we await chemo and radiotherapy treatment news. Poor guy is falling apart. 

I never think to look on Vinted so thank you @MrsRyan - I have favourited a dress on there for a possible Christmas outfit!
That Lego sounds expensive but better to get something DS wants that an alternative imho @princesskitty29 Hope you feel better soon x

I spent an hour yesterday afternoon carving a pumpkin to put out on the step. We had around 20 children over a few hours and luckily had enough candy with a bit leftover! Some of them were so cute! 

Still need a few more points on the Shoppix app to qualify for another £20 Amazon voucher. I am holding out! Boots points now up to £14.50 and Sainsburys £7.50. Not huge amounts but will be useful for something!

Peppa537

For anyone who needs to buy presents from Amazon their extended Christmas returns started today. Anything bought can now be returned up until 31 January. 

Coxy11

Found a £5 M&S e-gift voucher in my personal inbox yesterday. Came whilst I was walking in August courtesy of the Postcode Lottery. That will be used for Christmas.

Does anyone else do the PCL? I've done it for 7 years and have won 3 x £10 plus this £5 voucher. Daren't cancel it as you can bet Jason Donovan would suddenly appear and dance down the road with my neighbours!

Peppa537

My husband won a £5 M&S giftcard at a quiz the other night, it can be part of my Mum's presents as she shops in there regularly. 

mandco

Coxy sorry to hear about your Dad 
Its frustrating when you find an offer then forget to use it time fingers crossed another one comes up soon. Nice of DH to decide you're hosting NYE this year I hope he's willing to organise it all

Used my tkmaxx reward for a pack of xmas cards + £1.50 donation to charity

Hope everyone whos affected by the bad weather stays safe -thankfully it was nowhere near as bad as they predicted here but I know some places got hit hard.

Coxy11

Yes DH will be sourcing a gazebo to attach to the back of the house for the smokers, and will help with food and drink buying and prepping. There's a very good chance I may have to work in between Christmas and NY at the new job. Won't know until I start on 27 Nov! EEEK.

Just as I was saying I'm ill-prepared I saw @sammy_kaye18 mention on another thread about those bargain oversized hoodies. DD already has one and we are all jealous so.... I have bought 8! One for me, DH and DS2 (DS1 and DIL2B and their dog have matching ones already), also got them for nieces x 3 and 2 nephews. I normally give them one of the Boots 3for2 plus some cash, but this year they will get hoodies and some chocs or similar.

Younger nephew aged 7 will get Star Wars bedding for his room, and even younger nephew of 4 I got a remote control dinosaur just now in The Entertainer - was reduced to £9.75. Also picked up a sushi making kit for DS2 in WHS for £7. I had withdrawn £20 of the Christmas pot so happy that it's now out of my purse and spent on Christmas!

Coxy11

Now on a roll! Saw that Ts have selected Bulldog giftsets on HP with CC points, so popped in and got 2 - but the best thing is I used my Ts vouchers so zero to pay yay! 2 more gifts ticked off the list.

Mrs_Ryan

Afternoon all

Coxy- I’m sorry to hear about your Dad. Hope everything will be okay. 

mandco- I have the same issue with my jaw/teeth. One of my teeth is permanently painful from it but the dentist says it’s fine structurally and has no holes or cracks so they won’t take it out. If you get pain from your jaw, a hot water bottle or warm wheat pack on the side of your face works wonders. My dentist recommended it and it really does help. 

I’m currently on a bus across London to go and get OH his Irish Porter cake. That’s to go in his hamper. I’ve been to Westfield- it actually wasnt as busy as I expected, there were no queues anywhere that I went into but I deliberately went early. I’m off to see Frank Skinner tonight so I needed to be done in sufficient time to get back to the hotel and get changed. 

I was really good- I had a list and I stuck to that list. Didn’t go anywhere I didn’t need to. 

I’ve got all my presents from OH to me now- my concert ticket, a bottle of D&G Q perfume (20% off in John Lewis for Black Friday) and a Juicy- style black velour tracksuit from VS Pink. 

I got OH’s underwear and polo shirt from Hollister- he’s fussy about colours on both so that wasn’t easy but I got some that hopefully will be okay. 

I got the two Nivea sets from Boots for my brother and his gf- I got an extra 10% off with my Totum discount on top of them already being half price which was really good. 

Rituals was best though- I got 2 shower foams, a diffuser, candle and hand wash for my mum. Because I’m a member of their loyalty programme, I got a free candle as I spent over £50 plus a free body cream as it was my birthday a few weeks ago. 

The candle is gorgeous- I’m going to give it to step MIL alongside some hand wash that I also bought from Rituals with the remainder of my voucher. 

I’m a member of a cash back app called Cheddar- if you buy a gift card for various places through them you get instant cash back. I got just under £7 which added to the bits of cash back I already had meant I could withdraw- £11. 

I also got some trainers for my friend in Scotland- she’s on UC and the soles on her only pair of trainers collapsed. She couldn’t afford to replace them so I paid £40 for a new pair. That’s her pressie. 

I’ve literally just got the Irish food run to do now and I need to get mum the air fryer she spotted in Costco. 

It feels like Christmas shopping is never-ending this year! I don’t mind though. I would much rather that than what happened last year. OH is starting to pick up bits of overtime and he’s wanting to work every hour he’s allowed to this year so I’m confident it will be okay. 

Spendless

Was feeling quite envious that you're all ploughing ahead and I felt I was at stalemate.  This morning I went to the small retail park 10 mins drive away. In Boots a SA approached me and asked if I'd like a £10 off No7 when I spent £20, said yes, and then discovered it's also on 3for2. Bought DH 2 Shaving gels, they're £7.95  each so I don't usually buy this brand but he mentioned it to me recently (from bygone days when you'd get a £5 off voucher) plus a toner for me cos I'd ran out. Total £10.95. Thinking about it I could have used my Boots points too as I have over £15. Never mind I will save for something else. As I already have some shaving stuff for DH, I think I will just create a hamper for him as one of his presents. He works away a lot so often has 2 lots of toiletries for home  and away going on. When it was his birthday, he bought some tops from a shop with money he'd received and told me he liked the brands stocked, so I think I will go back there and get him some items. I'll then review if he could do with anything else. Had a quick look in TK Maxx but only things that sprung to mind were for DD, who probably already ahs enough! She still insists that she doesn't have a coat and that's why she's asked for one. Also went into M&S the dog shaped chocs I bought for DD's stocking are now OOS so glad I bought early. I also saw a different tin of biscuits for Nan, nicer tin but less familiar biscuits (think praline Belgian chocolate rather than Custard creams!). Asked my Mum who told me to stick to the familiar biscuits and that Nan would bin the tin anyway.  

I think next on the list should be a sort out of the present cupboard


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