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

Spendless

I dipped it on 3 reels of silver Christmas ribbon for only 70p in TK Maxx. Was tempted as idea in my head is to go for more plain wrapping and jazz up with ribbon, dithered cos I do have some ribbon that I've not used in ages. Decided yesterday morning I'd get it and it wad gone. Telling myself if I'd really wanted it that bad, I'd have bought when I saw it.

Gifts received are starting to make their way upstairs as we are hosting NYE. Said I'd do it though it's not my turn (we hosted last year) because the others are back to work after NYD, so less impact on me. We are doing 2 curries, 1 meat, 1 fish. Haven't got to accommodate DD as she's still away.

DiL messaged me to say the cosy socks I bought her (from B&M) fit, so I'm now aware I can buy her socks that say 'one size' so long as there's plenty of stretch in them. Still going to make it my mission to get her sleepwear for Christmas 2024. Pretty sure she once told me she resorts to long T-shirts as nightwear as such a struggle to get anything that isn't too short on her.

I looked around Boots sale but didn't really see anything that inspired me. I liked the look of a boxed set of Ted Baker handwash, refillable pouch and handcream that's now £10 but can't think who would appreciate it and am asking myself do I only like it cos it's boxed so therefore looks more fancy (DS once described me as a 'marketing managers dream' due to my tendency to be drawn to nice packaging!). Think it's possible I got all shopped out on Boxing Day searching for clothes for DD's trip  and have no enthusiasm left. Mum gave me the money she got refunded for the PJs that dug in round the waistband. I'd have just asked her to get the next size up but I'd been unable to try the top on due to the way the 2 pieces had been tied together, and I thought separating them might make a return invalid.

Next year I want to make even more use of loyalty points etc to buy gifts. I did do some presents this way this year but also 'wasted' several points buying suntan lotion at the airport due to DH telling me he'd bought F50 suncream when I wanted lower - turned out he hadn't he'd bought the same F30 I purchased at Heathrow Boots!  DH gets hotel chain loyalty points when he stays away with work. A lot of the time when he has enough they are used for free hotel stays but they can also be converted into certain store gift cards. Currently we have turned some points into £100 from a main supermarket and this is being saved to do DD's first grocery shop when she returns to her drama school. Would like to have more points saved this way so can buy gifts as other than what I get in advance for DiL, I can't really see what I can buy early this coming year. Next year's gift list is going to be along the lines of

Nan - who will be 99 by then - either  another hamper or possibly nightwear
Parents - As they sadly no longer have to take a dog into account -an event to attend 
DiL - Sleepwear as above
DS, DD and DH - No idea till nearer the time
FIL - Left to DH to sort.

For this year the greatest surprise for DD was the sol de janeiro stuff as she didn't consider I'd think of it or buy it due to expense (got it duty free at airport that's why!)  and her fav stocking item was Victoria's Secret Velvet Petal bodywash - bought in US, not available in UK stores (on ebay for a lot higher price than I paid!) this was also DiL's fav item.

Think my current starting point is around £3 in Boots points and maybe a fiver in Tesco. Let's see how I get on. 


 

Coxy11

4Hi all,

Have just bought a nice card HP in WHS for £1.92 - would have got more but only that one left. I find it really difficult to find suitable cards for my Mum as most are too mushy or sentimental and tbh we don't have that kind of relationship.

Went into PoundStretcher and The Works looking for disposable cups for a party game for tomorrow night and was shocked at how little Christmas stuff is now left. I really think the stores have not gone overboard this year on wrap, gift bags etc. Only a tiny section in Sainsbobs too. 

All our gifts are upstairs now too @Spendless except for some foodie bits we received. I have half a mind to put them out tomorrow night when we host NYE to get through them, rather than have them hanging around in January. 

Glad that DIL was pleased with the cosy socks. How about those socks that are more like a tube shape with no actual heel? I reckon they would be good as one size fits all? There's a shop called Long Tall Sally that caters for taller ladies - might be some bits to grab in the sale? https://www.longtallsally.com/nightwear/nightshirts-nightdresses/c

I too used some points for this years' gifts:
Boots - got nephew a Penguin toiletries set
Tesco - got DS2 and nephew a Bulldog toiletries set
Sainsbobs - got coleslaw x2 and potato salad x4 for 23 December for DH to take to DSis's house - as wasn't well enough to make any
Shoppix - received £40 of Amazon vouchers from snapping my receipts throughout the year. Put this towards an order of 2 books, and 2 sets of bedding for FIL, BIL and 2 x nephews. Think I topped it up by £10?

I still have £13.50 of Tesco points left as they now put them on the app rather than send paper vouchers. As DH did the food shop and the app is on my phone, I will now save these to use later.

Wishing all of you a happy new year. Hope whatever you're up to tomorrow night, you have fun.
Coxy

princesskitty29

Hi all, the shiny new thread is now up and running!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - it's the 2024 Christmas chatter thread! — MoneySavingExpert Forum