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

Spendless

Hi everyone old and new, I know I've been here since the early days because my bd appears on one of the first pages, but can't remember if I've been on everyone as I know I've had times when I've dipped in and out. Since knocking off adult niece off gift buying a few years ago (and my hunch is proving correct, mine not being treated the same way  at the same age/life stage as I did for theirs) I know I have a gift list where I wish to get recipients a present rather than feeling obligated to. My age range is wide though from 21 - 98 (99 by Xmas!) broken down it defines into definite chunks with the older generation being aged between 75-98 and the younger 21- 25. Only me and DH sit between these age groups. 

My fav sc meal I've not done for years cos it makes loads and DD become veggie and DS moved out, but it's pulled pork. Slice layer of onions at bottom, put pork shoulder in, throw enough bbq sauce (any brand at all, whatever you like) to coat the meat but not submerge it,  when cooked take pork out and 'pull' using 2 forks. Discarding fat/bones/etc put the pulled meat back in sc, I usually use the warm setting  at this point whilst I get ready rest of meal (typically, bread rolls/chips & coleslaw). Slightly more time consuming, than 'cook and serve' dishes  due to the 'pulling' part but very yummy.

DD has come home for the w/end. We went to Bodyshop store. They say they are staying opening as they are an outlet store. In there I found 2 bottles of shower gel that DD says is the nicest she's tried. I told her she can take one back with her and I'll keep the other, but now I'm toying with keeping mine to add to her stocking as a surprise, cos yes it's nice but it's not my fav of all time, like it is hers and it's prob the last 2 bottles I'm going to ever find. 

We go away to US in a few weeks and hoping as before to top up my Xmas items then. 

mandco

Caz congrats on completing your family xmas Xmas this year will be extra special 

welcome bamboo socks 

spendless I love USA shopping I’d hoped to bring back more last year but ran out of luggage space /weight thanks to dd & her bf 

picked up a Steve Madden bag from tkmaxx for dd’s birthday its one she’s had her eye on for a while and it was moved to the clearance section so thought I’d better pick it up while they still had one. 

sammy_kaye18

Hello all 

Creeping back in after being MIA for a bit. 

Oh how I have missed this Christmas thread! It feels like my little safe haven to come and enjoy all things festive. 

Had a clear out of a cupboard the other day and found lots of little things - bath bombs, a reading light, craft kits, slippers etc that I had obviously put away and just never found again or gifted so I have put them all into a bag upstairs and will sit down at some point and make a list of things to do and people Ill be buying for this year again. 
Family range has been cut down quite a bit by some of just not buying for each other so my gift list went from (not including my husband or two kids)  19 people down to just 7. Mainly we cut two families out because we just don't exchange gifts anymore. Its kind of nice though because it means I can use that money and get them something more meaningful. 

I have started to reach that age though where I would rather gift meaningful useful things rather than filling peoples houses up with tat. 

I have my sons birthday coming up the end of this month though so I am focusing on that primarily at the minute. Hes a keen mountain biker so we have brought him some parts he wanted (he works an apprenticeship now though so earns his own money) so I'm struggling to think of what to get him at the minute but something will spring to mind no doubt. 

Coxy11

Morning all,

DNephew’s birthday yesterday and managed to visit last weekend to deliver the JD giftcard plus a Bulldog skincare giftset I got on Tesco CC points for £5.50 (not sure I believed the RRP of £9 though!). Poor lad had his Maths GCSE but luckily it’s a subject her likes?! Uncle’s birthday this weekend, so I’ve sent a card.

June is pretty birthday heavy with DSis and DMum. I have a couple of ideas for DSis and bought DMum a teacosy knitting pattern book in a CS in Bridgnorth whilst on my hike. Will probably get her something for her garden as she has enough ‘stuff’ in her small house.

It’s DIL2B’s bridal shower tomorrow hosted by her Mum. Apparently there is no need to take a gift or any food/drink contributions, but I will take a bottle just to assuage my guilt! Hoping the weather holds as the plan is to be in the garden.

I have earnt a £10 Amazon giftcard with Shoppix and my Sainsbobs points are building as there is a large branch next to work. I buy supplies for the office and the occasional lunch/dinner item which mounts up – currently on £4.89. I also have £3.50 of Tesco CC vouchers. My plan is to save these for Christmas again this year.

DH is still looking for a new role. He is particularly mopey atm which I can understand but also can’t do anything about! I on the other hand am almost at the end of my 6-month probation, have nowt to do, struggle to look busy, and spend most of my day thinking of all the many things I’d rather be doing. Just couldn’t make it up. I have done some training in order to help out other teams, and have been told, thanks but No. Have also volunteered my time to help out on the wards at mealtimes (with frail patients etc.) and am waiting to hear back. Just crazy.

Coxy11

Hi everyone,

It’s DSis birthday next week. We went to the theatre last night so I took along her gift as I won’t see her again beforehand. I got her a mini elf skincare kit from TK’s (cleanser, toner, moisturiser) in a little zip lock bag. Thought it would be good for our next JoGLE hike - £6.99. Also got her a bespoke necklace from NOTHS with birthstones of her 4 children on a silver chain £42 delivered. Budget is normally around £40 but the necklace on its own looked a bit ‘lean’. It’s THIS ONE

The next birthday is Mum – Dsis and I are planning to go to the Call the Midwife tour at Chatham Dockyard, plus lunch after. Will be investigating that later for dates and availability.

I popped to Sainsbury’s earlier for milk for the office. My receipt shows I have precisely £5 in rewards to spend. I will be saving this up for Christmas again. I also keep snapping my receipts and hope to get around £20 worth of Amazon vouchers via Shoppix before the end of this year. Tesco CC vouchers are currently at £3.50 – we have our phones with Tesco Mobile, so despite spending very little in the actual shop, this does mount up steadily. I also recently signed up for YouGov surveys which builds up points towards cash or vouchers. Minimum payout is £50 and I’ve only answered 4 surveys so far, so a way to go yet but it all helps.

DH is still applying for roles but not getting any interviews. I told him last night to use ChatGPT as I was part of an interview panel at work last week, for a lower graded admin role than me. The personal statements of 3 of the 5 candidates – let’s just say there’s no way they were written by them, as they could barely articulate an answer to the simple question “what attracted you to this role?” I know that a lot of firms now use AI to screen and shortlist candidates, so he’s got nothing to lose and just needs to get his foot in the door to ‘sell’ himself. He has registered for JSA and has a meeting on Friday with the DWP. We are still weighing up options to move/downsize and take part time jobs/early retire. Food for thought but have DDad arriving next week for DS1s wedding in just over three weeks’ time eeeek. DS2 also returning home from year 2 uni early next week, so not exactly an ideal time to be looking to sell when the house will be full of even more ‘stuff’.

As an aside, DH received an experience voucher for his 50th in March last year which we only got around to using last Saturday. It was a tour of a deep shelter in Clapham SW London run by the Transport Museum (Hidden London). Yes it does sound very niche, but was so so good. Really interesting and would highly recommend.

Coxy11

Managed to get Mum a RLD voucher for Call the Midwife Tour x 2 people. Usual price is £80 but with my Blue Light discount it was £65.69 (including p&p). Will get another single ticket for DSis once we know what date we will go.  They only do the tour on Saturdays and selected Thursdays so means I don't have to take a day off work. We will also take Mum for lunch somewhere closeby and split the costs for both between us.

No birthdays in July, so next ones are FIL and SIL on the same day in August, plus BIL a few days later. 

mandco

Wow is quiet in here I guess it’s that time of year when life just seems to get in the way

coxy some great bargains there that necklace is very pretty 

sorry to hear dh is still looking for work and it’s starting to get him down - they can moan why are there x amount of unemployed when there are loads of jobs out there and now pushing those on uc to take on more hours etc or face sanctions but you try and actually find one . the repeated applying and not even getting an interview is demoralising too fingers crossed he finds something soon.

dd is back at work thankfully as ssp does not go far  - just about covered her essential bills but left me funding the rest. She’s going away on a weeks holiday in a couple of weeks and the premium on her travel insurance to update her cover due to new medical issues was nearly £100   
she’s still looking for another job too but not even had 1 response 

Not much happening in the Xmas prep front though did pick up some fleece pjs for ds £5 and a couple of babies teddy comforter blankets £1.50 each for the donations box from the argos clearance section .

Spendless

I'm certainly one that hasn't been posting because life has got in the way. My present list has reduced by one, not because anything has happened to my 98yo Nan, but because DiL has left DS, they haven't even been married a year! It's been bewildering, shocking and hurtful and we don't really understand what has happened. DG ran them to a holiday cottage where they had a hol with DiLs parents and a family friend (I'm unsure if it was a last hurrah for the family friend as he has since died) 6 days later DH goes to pick them up and the marriage is on the rocks, and a few days later DiL returned to her home town, then 2 days later DS who was off work due to the stress of it all, woke to find DiL, her Mum in his bedroom taking stuff, they'd also fetched a removal van and 2 men with them!  That changed DS emotion from distraught to angry and we are still in the process of helping him heal from this

On the present front, we were away the prev week in the States due to DH work. Did a walmart trip but not as good as last Nov when Xmas stock was in. Their prices have rocketed too and not just due to currency exchange rates. A raspberry scented shaving gel that I always picked up as a stocking filler for DD has changed from the $3ish I used to pay to $4.99 (plus their taxes). I did pick her up some soft PJs with pockets (plus a pair for myself) to go in her Xmas eve hamper and one or two other bits I can't currently think of cos not fully unpacked yet as went straight back to work due to lack of AL (was a killer!) and then attended a hen party this weekend. I made goodie bags for the guests just small ones with wipes, bottled water and a toiletry item in them. 

Next w/end have nothing on (thank goodness) and then the following have a 4 consecutive day occasions of workmates wedding (evening invite), father's day, parents WA then our silver WA. Haven't got a clue what we're doing! 

SkyeD

I haven't posted on here for a while either, although I have been reading posts.

It's not much, but I popped into The Works earlier and, along with some books for myself, picked up some colouring pencils to add to my step-granddaughter's Christmas stash.  I also came away with a heart-token guestbook frame for a quid, reduced from a tenner.  I thought that it might come in handy since my stepdaughter is planning to have a "secret" (not telling anyone other than her dad, plus two witnesses, and no guest/party) wedding around Christmas - I thought that it would be quite nice for if she and her partner wanted to use it for people who visit them at home after they're married.  She might not even like it, but if not then it can always get donated to the local school summer fayre. 

The Works also had some "make your own Christmas candles" on offer, although I didn't buy any because I don't know anybody (that I buy presents for) who might use them.  Shame really because I love a bargain

princesskitty29

Hi all, wow I have been MIA for a long time and I didn’t mean to be at all. Life is pretty busy at the moment there always seems to be something going on, especially now both of my boys play for football teams. To be honest some of it is also me feeling completely overwhelmed by things at times, something I never used to feel. I don’t think my life is any busier than it used to be with two young children but sometimes there is just so much to think about that my mind almost shuts down! I think perhaps it’s because I’m getting older and reaching a certain age. I’m going to try harder to be organised and get ahead with things to help with it. It’s DS2’s birthday on the 19th June and he’s having a party on the 15th, I am only just getting around to sorting everything out for it, I think this is the most last minute I’ve been with my boys birthdays! I’m literally only just getting his presents so don’t have much time to search around for bargains. I haven’t done anything for Father’s Day yet. I just need to take a deep breath!

I’m not going to leave it so long to come on here as I enjoy a little natter here. I honestly can’t believe we’re halfway through the year! It’ll be Christmas before we know it!

I have commented on a few things below but I haven’t been able to comment on everything I wanted to as I’m off out soon and don’t have the time!

mandco I hope your DD is ok and recovering well, sorry if I missed the update I’ve had to skim read!

theoldmrandmrs wow that quote from me was a blast from the past! Yes the very original thread started in 2012, back before I was married, owned a house or had children! I am so glad I’ve still got somewhere to come and chat about these things, it used to be a lot busier back in the day but the nice thing now is I can keep up, sometimes I used to log on after a couple of days and there’d be ten new pages of posts and I wouldn’t be able to catch up! Thank you all of you who still contributes to this thread, I know I’ve not been great at getting on here lately but I am grateful it is here.

Caz congratulations on your baby boy, I’m sorry it was such a struggle but I’m happy that you now feel complete as a family. Yes I remember all of the old names too, I don’t know if they’re still on the forum as I don’t venture onto other threads much. Vulpix used to be on here and I have seen her on another thread so she is still around.

Bamboo_socks hello and welcome! We always love to hear from new posters with a similar love for Christmas! Any prep now will be useful when the times comes.

Sammy good to hear from you again!

Spendless I am so, so sorry to hear about your DS and DiL, I can only imagine how hurt, upset and confused you all are, especially your DS. I hope you get some answers to your questions in time, how distressing for you all.