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

mandco

Princesskitty sorry you missed out in the choc orange offer it wasn’t on for long so I’m sure lots of people missed out thinking it would be longer - hope dh is feeling better there seems to be a lot of illness going around at the moment - we’ve all had coughs/colds ect since we got back from Butlin’s and both oh & dd said Lots off sick at work too.
thats a good offer on the celbration tubs they are back up to £6 in Asda 

Spendless definitely not the start to the holiday you needed after a 10 hr flight can’t  believe your driver dropped you at the wrong hotel. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip  fingers crossed for some Xmas stock. I do miss the food I was a bit gutted I didn’t have more space to bring back extra snacks last year taz says next time we’re taking a while suitcase just for Oreos 

Coxy the serial killer expo sounds interesting didn’t know it was a thing

Picked up a glow hub gift set for dd in tkmaxx which was 1/2 the usual price. Taz saw some unusual/fancy pasta in there he liked the look of so might get him that as a present/stocking filler- random I know but it’s pricey for pasta @ £8 for small bag and I wouldn’t normally buy it.
dd did ask if I’d get her a Fenty lip oil for Xmas as they are £21  and she doesn’t want to pay it herself so will see if I can find any offers on that.

picked up some of the scratch cards the £1 are shaped like gift tags which is a nice touch though I do wonder if people will punch holes in them to use as tags then find they are invalid as damaged?
£2 one is shaped like a Xmas cracker. 

The £5 ones come in a standard & advent calendar style - if you’re patient enough to do it each day could be a nice alternative to a chocolate calendar.

On top of the seemingly endless rain it’s been freezing here lately so picked up new hats/gloves ect from primark for next week as I went though the box from last year and there’s lot of random odd ones in there - honestly don’t know how they manage to lose so many?  They have a super soft matching range in women’s wear ( just basic design so suitable for anyone really) hat, scarf, headband, tube neck scarf & wrist warmers - no gloves though? at least not in stock. 

Popped to the outlets with dd at the weekend and literally found nothing - though dd did get herself some new trainers a pair of ugg branded ankle Boots & picked up her (birthday offer)free box of Lindt chocolates which she’s putting away for Xmas so not a totally wasted trip.

Coxy11

Annoying to miss out on the chocolate orange offers @princesskitty29! Let's hope there are others nearer the big day. 

I popped to Lidl at lunchtime and got some Cadbury Robins, some Malteser mini Reindeer and some Swizzles Squashies Naughty or Nice elves. Chocolate will be for younger nephews (8 and 5) and the Squashies for DD's stocking! (if....they....last...) 

Ooh to the scratchcards. Haven't done those for a while so will get some when I'm next in town.

Off out for Vietnamese food tonight - DD's choice for her birthday. We invited DS1 and DIL as it's her birthday too, but he is cooking a 3-course meal for her - awwww bless! DS2 coming back from uni for the meal but has lectures tomorrow!

sashybo

Hi all, de-lurking to say thanks for all the info on your posts - much appreciated. 😊 

Also if anyone has any Bluey fans in the house, I found the Bluey 2025 annual for £2.99 in Home Bargains. I saw it elsewhere for £7.99! Got it for my DD who is just coming up for 5 as she still loves Bluey and really enjoyed the annual last year. I think there was also a Minecraft one but it might have been a gaming guide rather than the annual, still a good price at £2.99. Alas no lego star wars annuals for DS, so still on the lookout for that at a decent price.

I also got some Christmas themed sheet masks for my nieces for 69p and some cute lip balms for 99p (although not Christmas themed). I saw some Lynx shower gel/body spray sets for £3.99 which I thought was a good price too. 

emb01

Mirage Wedding Backdrops have there Christmas backdrops for hire.

Spendless

I returned from sunny Texas earlier this week. Did a Walmart  visit but unfortunately though they had their 'christmas shop' out it was all decs and tree ornaments haven't got a gift range yet, plenty of Halloween stuff though.

I did pick up 3 lots of PJs for the ladies in the family (inc me) as they were on a clearance rack for $8 each (approx £6ish) - I wouldn't be able to get a set in Primark for that. Mums is to be added to her 'holiday bag' present I'm doing her.

Got home and kicked myself that 2 electrical items I'd intended buying over there I'd forgotten to get. Doubly annoyed because I'd offered to get one on behalf of my Mum for her to give as a Christmas present. DH goes to New York in November but has very limited time to shop but is looking into if he can stretch an hour out somewhere to go and get them. 

See my nearest Boots has all the Christmas stock out now. Sure my local shops stick to a yearly plan cos it always follows the same pattern, nothing out in time for Nans Sept bday (14th) but everything out by time it's DH's exactly 3 weeks later.  We had friends round last night to celebrate DHs bday. He received some toiletries from our kids and I got him some cushions and a throw as he's recently reorganised/refurbed his home office and added a small sofa in there - I think this is for the comfort of the dog- lol.

Need a sort through the Xmas cupboard to see where I'm at now all family bdays are over and the Xmas stock is in the shop

Spendless

The poster that asked about Xmas advent calendars. I've bought this one today in Boots. It's 18.75 with an advantage card and has the full 24 doors to open. Thought it gave an alternative to choc ones whilst  not being the beautiful but astronomical prices some of them are and mini products are always handy to keep at work or in your car/handbag. 

https://www.boots.com/sence-collection-advent-calendar-holiday-spirit-10348223

Coxy11

That advent calendar looks good @Spendless - can't believe the typo in the advert heading though - Boots rushing to post their Christmas stock tut tut!

Coxy11

DD bought the Tesco Christmas food to order brochure home last night. They have some hampers which are a bit cheaper with a Clubcard. One caught my eye for a potential gift for BIL/SIL which is an Italian themed one: red wine, pasta, pesto, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil - £35 in a nice basket. Could definitely do this for less than £35 just need to find the time to shop and source.

I have given in my notice at work as have to give 8 weeks. Now only 6.5 weeks to go. Looks like our buyer is okay with the survey he had on our house, so just waiting for our agent to be back in the office to push for dates. My last working day here is 22 November so ideally I’d like a moving date of 29 November to allow me some time to pack(!) and also bid farewell to our family home. Think the top end of the chain is good to go sooner (elderly couple struggling with stairs) but no way am I commuting back each day, although DH did (jokingly) suggest I could stay at the Premier Inn!!!

I completed the staff survey at work and have been awarded a £5 value for OneStop which is a website with all manner of goodies to purchase – gifts/household etc. I couldn’t find anything that I didn’t consider a rip off (and didn’t want to make a rash decision) so decided to exchange it for a One4All giftcard which I can use wherever. Should receive it in the post in the next week or so.

DH’s Niece is 20 on Thursday so I will be transferring her some cash (card posted yesterday). That is the last birthday gift of the year. My niece is 34 in November but that’s just a card now.

Spendless

Mum has thrown a slight curveball re her bday gift today. She will be 80 in Jan and her and Dad have booked to go away for a week with her birthday in the middle. I have a ticket for her to watch a play with me in London but I didn't buy for Dad because a, it's not his cup of tea and b,  due to the situation with my elderly Nan I didn't want to take both of them miles out of the way for the day. Yes they're going to go abroad for a week and have only just returned too and they can't have their lives on hold either but that's a decision they're making together not one I've imposed on them. My original idea was to give the theatre ticket on Mum's bday with an explanation to both my parents about why there is only 1 ticket and what we intend doing at a later date for Dad's bday to 'compensate'. I now need to fetch giving Mum's birthday present forward so I can explain but not sure when!

On the positive side since they have booked to go to the Canary islands it will make my Xmas present of all themed holiday gifts and suncream  seem very apt! 

princesskitty29

I’ve had two shopping trips since my last post and managed to get some more presents on my list. I found DS1 the Match annual, Flump cereal, voice changer megaphone and treats for his treat box, and for DS2 Marvel cereal, a hatching dino egg, a Transfromers police car, a Recycle Me vehicle kit, a dinosaur game, treats for his treat box and a rocket launcher pen for his stocking. I also got my mum two tubes of her favourite moisturiser using my Boots points and two lovely pairs of cashmere and Merino wool mix socks to go with two of my friends foot hot water bottles that I bought previously.

My shopping might slow down a bit now as I’m having an operation on my foot next Wednesday so I won’t be out and about for a while. I will have a little look online but I’m really not great at online shopping. I’m thinking I might spend some of my resting time getting ahead by writing my cards and perhaps wrapping some presents. I shall see how I am! It’s my first time under GA so I’m a little nervous, but I know it’s very routine so it should all be fine.

As a side note I was searching digital radio for some music the other day and Heart Christmas popped up! Now, I am a hardcore Christmas fan but that is even too early for me! I tend to tune into Christmas radio on the 1st November after Halloween.

mandco those scratchcards sound interesting, I usually buy one for DH’s stocking so will have to keep my eye out.

Hello sashybo! Thanks for the heads up about the Bluey annual, my youngest still really enjoys watching it even at 7, but I wonder if the annual might be too young for him?

Coxy ahh that’s sweet your DS cooking a three course meal for your DiL, my DH stress levels only really stretch to one course! I’m glad to hear the buyer was ok with the survey.

Spendless glad you had a good time in Texas, that’s annoying about the electrical items!