NST December 2023 The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year?

grandmanerd

Wednesday 20th December 2023

T    Think ahead -it always saves time and money. 
H   Habits continue or review  those you started last month, add an extra one
E   Everyone has leftovers - use them wisely

Thinking ahead. You might feel it's too late but small things can help. what would you do differently next year? If the wrapping is becoming a chore think about gift bags and covering gifts with tissue paper. It might be worth looking around in the sales or even the cs after Christmas or from November on next year for strictly Christmas items (trees, decorations and many cs hold back their bigger toys to make a good display).

Of course, perusing the cs all year round is a good habit to adopt and it's very useful if people give you the money and then you give things back to them for wrapping (although mum would sigh).  I've trawled all the cs in the past for specific school texts or gift requests (badminton set and spare rackets). Their clothes selection is varied (dependent on your size). Lots of small person clothes (rapid growth), thinning out a bit for older children (but lots of choice for Halloween, Christmas jumpers if you must and other seasonal items), useful men's jackets and 'boyfriend' shirts, tailing off to the lurid when you get to  women's plus size. 

Well worth looking for wedding hats and matching accessories (especially if wearing high heels is such a rarity that you have to practice for a week before). As  someone who had to wait for present money to replace my single handbag, cs offer a good selection. This year  I've replaced my 'bought for ex-mil's funeral' handbag and added a selection in basic colours - but they still  mainly came from Oxfam online including my precious 'doggy' one and I still used discounts and special  offers.

Many cs get given discarded stock by retail shops or have a selection of own brand new items. we had a couple that were useful  for hats/ scarves/ gloves for winter and packs of socks and underwear. Our Age Concern shop gets Argus returns (beds, wardrobes etc) and a range of small 'useful  items (3 packs of men's plain white hankies, wooden clothes pegs, hand warmers) and this year had a whole section of someone's clear out (maybe bankrupt stock) .

I've been following the MSE Advent calendar selection of threads - very gratified that most of the 'biggest waste of money' section was stuff I'd covered - not buying too much food especially stuff your family hates, cutting back on cards and postage costs (handing over presents at prior meetings - always get married in September if you have to get married at all).

Many people buy cards and wrap in the January sales but beware of buying too much. 'Luxury wrap at 10p  a roll may be hard to resist but when you're on your third year of exquisite 'tasteful' paper, you start longing for something gaudy and brash.

The Advent calendar offers lots of alternatives - only sending cards to the elderly, cutting back on presents, 'those' jumpers, alternatives to wrapping paper (they've  obviously never spent December 27th ironing all the long lengths from their children's gifts to reuse in subsequent years).including newspaper, wallpaper and tea towels.

Questions to ask yourself
What would you do differently?

What do you resent?     This is the second year that I've failed to get my cards out in time. They were always written and ready to go on the first weekend in December (mostly hand delivered) and I would also deliver mum's (write them too in order to avoid the 23rd of December ride round in my brother's van in the dark the last time she insisted she could do them). I've cut back as far as possible but think they're a waste of money, totally pointless for neighbours whom I see quite often, I don't know what to do with the ones I get, I'm struggling to write and I keep putting them off.

Have you spent too much?    I have this year because I have a bit extra and DS1 and his wife really spoiled me last year with lovely gifts including my new walker but I need to come to some accommodation  with my adult children. I think they all earn enough that they would buy themselves things they want when they see them and my income doesn't match theirs. However I've always 'paid my way' and, as with meals out, I want to pay sometimes even if I enjoy them 'spoiling me' most of the time.

Could you be better organised?    I recently read about a type of ADHD commonly suffered by women and had most of the symptoms except  these are all things I used to be good at (I excelled). I know I'm ill and I'm slow but I feel I could do a lot better than I am. I still do some things, some of the time. I love thrifty's routine - doing things on the journey from home and then coming back, collecting and dropping off sewing and her family, posting parcels, visiting her mum. I can organise my shopping, visiting a cluster of shops, adding extra bits to my hospital appointments (where will i get off the bus, can I drop library books back before I go to catch the bus) but have to accept that the list may have to be abandoned part way through when I run out of steam. And i'm struggling to get out of the house (getting to the bins is getting to be an achievement).
I know I could have got the cleaning materials cheaper than I did but buying online was my only option and adding onto my grocery list was better than doing multiple orders.  

Light relief
When you feel overwhelmed, remember
A little at a time is how it gets done
One thing, one task, one moment at a time

Never wrestle with pigs, you both get dirty and the pig enjoys it


 

ladybird1106

Spent yesterday visiting 3 sm to get what we need for Christmas week. I really don't enjoy shopping especially this time of year, so hopefully it will last until things have quietened down.
30 mile round trip to drop of gluten free mince pies at a friend's house as she couldn't get them where she lives (good deed for the day).
Spent the rest of the day supporting the eldest to put together an academic CV as they are applying for a PhD. The Internet was not particularly helpful as most examples were for people who have a PhD. Hopefully we've done it correctly. Personal statement tomorrow. 
Love 🐞

f0xh0les

ladybird1106 said:

Spent the rest of the day supporting the eldest to put together an academic CV as they are applying for a PhD. The Internet was not particularly helpful as most examples were for people who have a PhD. Hopefully we've done it correctly. Personal statement tomorrow.

Most universities have their own guide, and jobs.ac.uk  have one, also prospects.ac.uk have templates, and the University careers service should be able to help.  Google academic CV for PhD application .  

Also FindaPHD.com have guides and cover letters, and courses.

The Unis all closed on Monday, and reopen first weekish of 2024.

ladybird1106

Thanks foxholes for the advice
Love 🐞

ditty1234

Hugs to all. I now had my absolutely last day of work before a good week off. 
Off for a run and yoga tonight. 
Still have a cough and sinus infection of the decade, and am just incredibly tired.
Have managed to purchase one gift so far. And one wrong one.   
Am about to go and clean fridge and put some shopping in it. 
Love to all, and keep the lights on :-)

Toni'sfriend

Had brunch today with the lovely cousin in our local town hall cafe, It was refurbished some years ago and it's absolutely gorgeous and very reasonable, Not nearly advertised enough. Will be going there again.

Wee cousin was a bit down last week when I was away. Someone who really should know better has been taking a bit of advantage of her kind nature and did something that caused her to be in tears, Really not on!  She is such a good person So we set the world to rights over a cup of tea and a square sausage buttie,.

Other cousin got some good news re a health problem, So that was a bit of a relief,

Every bed with book I think. xxx

f0xh0les

Well tonight I am the dirty stop-out Turtle 🐢. Off to the office party 🎉 really not expecting much, but it is my only invitation this year, so I am going to try and enjoy it - unless I get stuck with the Nigel- loving pensioner gang, in which case I will be home with a mulled wine by 9pm and then going to bed with @Toni'sfriend's suggested evening plan.  See, I got options! 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for bumping into a friend at the gym who I've not seen for months, for an exciting liddle shop, for getting a Dr appointment and subsequent antibiotics as the kidney infection has returned, for stocking up on 15p liddle veg, for a quiet Cmas to look forward to -is it really next Monday?!?!?!

Esmeralda2662

Had holiday allowance to use up before year end so finished work at lunchtime today.

Called at the tip charity shop and got 2 extra champagne flutes for £1 for prosecco on the big day.

Took a box of bric a brac and bag of books/cds/dvds to charity shop. Found the rear door to drop them off so free parking for 5 mins. Signed up for Gift Aid. Books were fetching 50p or so online so hopefully the charity will at least get that much.

Went with my mum and sister to meet my great nephew from pre-school as a surprise. His face was a picture. Had tea and cake at theirs.

Got some food shopping for the big day and a couple of stocking fillers so no NSD again. Managed to get some thick cream with a long date on so we're all set, lol.

Met my friend for a nice pub tea and to hand over presents. Plenty of catching up done. Other friend called in last night and apologised as she'd taken the work mail to the postbox on the way home and accidentally posted our cards with it. Not much hope of getting them back as they weren't addressed.

Had a card from someone I had missed off. Was stressing about getting a card+letter to them in time but have decided to send a New Year card+letter instead. Also had a card from old neighbours saying my other elderly ex-neighbour died last week and offering to let me know funeral details.

I've been getting so stressed over everything I need to chill out a bit before I make myself ill. Had several migraines recently so need to calm down. Looking forward to some nice free time if possible. X

ladybird1106

'it's starting to feel alot like Christmas' The current Christmas family disagreement is like hydra, everytime you think it's sorted another head appears. I think if the individuals involved don't start thinking how their behaviour effects others, then they could lose family members. Trying to sit on the fence is getting harder with time.
On a more positive note we are really looking forward to spending time with my family in the next couple of days. We off to see the famous chocolate movie and have fish and chips for lunch.
Love 🐞