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

Spendless

Glad you're on the mend princesskitty.

The beauty advent calendar that I bought as a surprise for the office I work in, divides perfectly amongst the 6 females that work in it, but we also  have 1 male who works in a diff role but works from our office ad-hoc as his role demands. I felt mean leaving him out but was left with a dilemma cos the only unisex calendar I've seen is gruum which was well out of price range. I came with with the plan to do the male's  4 gifts separately. 1st  I looked amongst the clearance in my Tesco and got a  branded men's travel size  moisturiser for just £1.11 . I've also seen a car freshener that's 75p  with clubcard. I have some mini packs on haribos left from Halloween - wasn't needed due to Mr S trip to the sweet factory shop. He's veggie so I'll pull those ones out and bundle together. I was stuck what to do for the 4th item  but at the w/end I pulled out an old fragrance advent calendar me and daughter shared a few years ago to re-use the packaging. One of the small boxes felt heavy, I opened it and to my surprise there was a mini aftershave in it, never opened, never used, so I have my 4th gift.

mandco - even if I see an offer from an ad on my phone, I don't follow the link to buy, I go search for it on the company's website, that way I know any offers are genuine because as you say they aren't always.  

I have got another £5 voucher from another beauty company to use, but postage is £4 and due to recent spending, I don't need any more products . I think I've found something that will go in daughter's stocking though. It'll still mean that I've paid £1 less then I would in the shops plus haven't had any travel or parking costs.

Yesterday my office decided to do secret santa. I have drawn the manager and I'm after some ideas, as I don't know her that well, she's early 50s, married, 2 teenage kids who are in school exam years, 2 dogs. She goes to the gym and runs. Budget is £10.

I'm also after a Christmas jumper but I don't want it too tacky/blingy. We are resurrected a trip to Belgium we used to do  with friends at the end of the month to see a Christmas fair etc. As it's been such a long time since we last went, we've decided new jumpers all round are in order - I just don't know where the best place would be to look - budget upto £30. 

C_J

@Spendless How generous of you to do an office advent calendar, and how kind to ensure your ad-hoc male colleague is included!

For your Secret Santa, how about a new water bottle, or one of those mini microfibre towels as she goes to the gym? Actually I think I recall seeing ‘gifts-in-water-bottles’ in previous years, which you could easily replicate more cheaply - a large water bottle from, say, £Land and put a few gym-related things in it like a mini towel, moisturiser, lip balm type thing?  Alternatively how about one of those light up dog collars for when she takes her dog out at night?

I’d be inclined to keep an eye on charity shops for a Christmas jumper, they all seem to be putting those on the rails now. Failing that, I’m sure TKMaxx,  Primark or Home Bargains will have something, if you have branches of those nearby.

Peppa537

I feel like I'm behind with buying Christmas presents this year but then my eldest daughter and husband don't know what they'd like at the moment and I have no ideas for surprises apart from little bits. 
I ordered my youngest daughter the White Fox hoodie she wanted with a discount code this week. I also got some stocking presents for both my girls and husband. My ILs are difficult to buy for and if I ask them request things like hairspray and make up and music dvds that are impossible to find. Last year we just got them a voucher for a cream tea as a surprise which they enjoyed so we'll try and think of something similar for this Christmas. 

Spendless

C_J - Thanks for the suggestion of looking in the Charity shops for a Christmas jumper. I got one today for £3. The ones I'd seen in a supermarket were £20+ and I didn't like any of them.

Peppa57 - I'm seeing white fox hoodies being mentioned a lot this year. My Nan does the same as your IL's to my parents asks for random stuff they can't find or was discontinued around 1957. I swear she's just doing it to entertain herself -lol.

Had a sort out of my Christmas cupboard. My parents are bought for. Nan and son are mostly ideas in my head at the minute. Daughter as usual has been easy to get for.  FIL I delegate that task to Mr S as too difficult, he has an idea but he needs to start working on it. I have a couple of items for DH but nothing of substance. Each weekend seems to be busy with something on and I need time to go get things.  

C_J

Glad you found a jumper Spendless!

I had quite a successful supermarket haul in Tesco this morning, I obviously timed the YS bargains perfectly. I got a very large outdoor reared salt aged pork loin crackling joint reduced to £8, a large boneless turkey joint (there will only be the two of us for Christmas Day) for £5, and a mahoosive turkey leg joint (which I will use to make stock to make the gravy, with the stripped meat as a Christmas Day treat for the dog) for 99p. These are all now safely stashed in the freezer. I also stocked up on the large tubs of Celebrations and Quality Street (£4.50 each, clubcard price) so I’m feeling a little bit organised.

princesskitty29

I received my Matalan order, some of the stuff was right so I’ve popped them into the Christmas box, however the bag and slippers for my mum weren’t quite right so I’ll be taking them back and will have to look for something else. Most of the stuff I have on my list I will have to go to the shops for. I’m walking more on my foot now and have been doing it without crutches for the last couple of days so I’m going to try driving later in the week and will hopefully be able to get to a couple of shops next week.

I’ve borrowed the River Cottage Christmas book from the library and have Heart Xmas on the radio!

Normally I like to start stocking my freezer with food for Christmas but we’re going to stay on a farm near my parents this year so can’t. I was chatting to my mum about Christmas lunch and because my dad doesn’t like turkey they’re opting for beef, which I don’t mind. I might get a big turkey breast for my family to enjoy during the week as well. It got me thinking though what does everyone else eat on Christmas day? What do you ladies eat? I do usually like to do a turkey when I host but I’m happy with anything really as long as it has all the trimmings!

CJ Wow that sounds like a great haul at the supermarket! How satisfying.

Peppa I always end up feeling a little behind as sometimes I get stuck on some people.

mandco

Spendless very generous of you to do gifts for everyone you work with very few people bother nowadays 
bargain on the Christmas jumper theyre always so expensive for something you’ll probably only wear a couple of time a year 

Cj some great ys deals - I’d love to get ahead with my Xmas meat shopping sains had some 1/2 price pork & lamb joints this week but have a serious lack of freezer space at the moment 

princesskitty glad to hear your on the mend fingers crossed drving goes ok this week and isn’t too sore. . Shame some of your matalan bits werent suitable it’s one of my biggest hate with online shopping - you can never really tell till things arrive and returns can be a hassle then you have to find a replacement too.
ooh a farm stay at Christmas sounds lovely very Xmas storybook though I get the frustration of not being able to prep as much as you would at home.

we always have beef for Xmas dinner as none of my lot were ever really fans of turkey.  last year taz wanted to try turkey so I got the frozen Aldi joint which was actually pretty good so will be doing him that again this year too. I always do lots of extra sides at Xmas so it’s a bit fancier than a normal roast and serve self serve rather than plated.  Apparently it’s a bit divisive but we always have Yorkshire puddings too regardless of what meat option we have. We always did growing up and so I’ve never questioned it as it’s a basically a roast dinner but seems a lot of people don’t. 
We also have gammon and lamb xmas eve - using the left over gammon cold cuts for a buffet the next day though I’ll probably end up doing the gammon with Xmas dinner this year as dds bf doesn’t like beef.

Ticked a few more bits off my Xmas lists - I think I’m nearly done for taz just need get the Lego stitch he asked for.
Boots had 1/2 price on selected gifts and I had a 15% off voucher plus total spend points offer so ordered a few bits some of which will go in the presents stash as I can guarantee someone will decide they need a last minute gift for someone and Means I finally had enough points to order the Fenty lip oil dd wants from boots. I ordered some 1/2 price Nike trainers for dd she asked for but waiting on her to decide if they fit or not as she hasnt been home in a week if they do then she’s pretty much finished too just need to order her some earrings off Etsy from the boys.
ds not so much the voucher for his free displate came though this morning so I can order that once he decides on a design need to order his gamer supps soon so they arrive in time but again still waiting on him to decide flavours. He does need a new gaming headset as his broke at the weekend typically just out of warranty so that’ll be his main present - he saw one he like in Argos that wasn’t too expensive went to order it today and it’s gone up £90 it didnt say it was on offer when we looked originally so now need to look at other options.
when dd ever comes home she has a wish list of Xmas present ideas for her bf - his family are doing secret Santa and the app they use has a wish list section which they’ve all added stuff too either specific items or item in general so I’ll get something ordered off that and he’s done 
grandkids are mostly done - ordered one of them an Encanto bag bnwt off vinted for £1 (£3.29 inc p+p when it’s £10+ elsewhere)which will be great for popping all the little bits in 
still need to finish sorting stocking fillers for the boys but finally feel like I’m getting there 

I do need a gift for a 10 year old girl that I don’t know so any suggestions much appreciated

I’m hoping to have all the presents finished by the end on the month as it’s a last proper pay day before Xmas -like a lot of people I do get paid early just before Xmas rather than the usual date but i try to keep my dec budget for the Xmas food shop extras/new year ect 

been a bit hectic here we all had a flu type bug and we’re currently rearranging the house - we’re swapping dd to the smaller bedroom as she’s hardly ever here and I need to make space for the Xmas tree in the living room - once that’s done it can go up as taz has been asking for weeks - he’s like if the shops have their tress up we should have ours up- can’t really argue with that logic 
hoping to drop of my Xmas donations next week - drop off points open Monday so that will free me up some much needed space 

anyone else feel like this month is flying by? 

Treasurequeen

Went to local shopping park today and have got  nightwear for my gran and my  mum as requested by them. So with some posh biscuits, sun cream set and chocolates my gran is now finished. I’ve still got a little bit for my mum to get. I ordered a few Amazon gift cards for family members which arrived today. My dad, brother and sister in laws gifts are all finished as are the pets gifts. Still need to buy my grandad something for Christmas. It’s his birthday the first week in January so I need to think of something for that too. 

My local boots have run out of catalogues which is a shame but will keep looking for one. 

Advent Calendar, chocolate tubs and stocked up on mince pies as the ones I buy from supermarket can be frozen. Always handy to have in for  visitors as only takes a few hours to defrost. 

Has anyone got any ideas for a secret Santa gift?  - budget £5, unisex. 

Mandco this month is definitely flying by and it’s cooling down outside ready for winter. 

Princesskitty River Cottage Christmas book is lovely to read this time of year. I read the ebook last year and  asked for the physical book for my birthday this year. It’s  a beautiful book to be treasured for years to come for me. Also glad to hear your healing well after your surgery. 

princesskitty29

My driving went well so I’m slowly getting back to normality, however I only feel comfortable driving to the school and back at the moment which is about a mile away. I popped into Tesco yesterday (which is right next to the school) and got Poppy my dog a treat challenge puzzle for Christmas and a Cadburys pudding to put in the toe of a sock stocking I’m making for my friend. I went with a friend to a local garden centre yesterday afternoon and managed to hobble around The Works with my crutch for 10 mins, I got whoopee cushions for the boys (they will love those), a dinosaur grabber toy and dinosaur puzzle for DS2 and a squishy ball for DS1 who likes lots of sensory things like that. I always like to get a craft to give them when I do my North Pole breakfast so I picked up a decorate your own wooden tree for them both. I bought DS1 a hooded blanket from Vinted, it’s an M&S one and I was pleased to find it was in excellent condition when it arrived.

DS2 wants to ask Father Christmas for a Polar Express train set so I got one of those delivered yesterday and it’s tucked away safely. DS1 is 10 and still believes in Father Christmas, the problem is he wanted mega expensive stuff (a £350 Hornby train set, then a £500 Playstation) and he said don’t worry I’ll ask Father Christmas then it’s free! So we’ve had to do a bit of chatting about how Father Christmas may have to pay for some things. He’s obsessed with trains and loves going on them, so he now wants to travel First Class on an EMR Intercity train – very specific! DH has found a decent journey he can take him on where he will be in first class for 2 hours and it doesn’t cost the earth so Father Christmas will be getting him train tickets this year! I want to enjoy it though as it may be his last year believing.

mandco the farm we stay on is lovely and it’s like a home from home as we’ve stayed there about 11 times, my parents bungalow is way too small to stay in for longer than a couple of nights with us all in it! We always have Yorkshire puddings too no matter what meat we have. I know it’s traditional with beef but it wouldn’t be a roast dinner without a Yorkie! It sounds like you’re doing really well with your presents. November is definitely flying by, I can’t believe Halloween and Bonfire Night have already been and gone!

Treasurequeen It sounds like you are doing well with your gift buying and it’s a good idea to keep some mince pies in the freezer, I’ll remember that! Oh I do love the River Cottage Christmas book, I’ve borrowed it from the library but I have also put it on my Christmas list as I would love a copy to keep forever. I will have a think about the Secret Santa gift, nothing springs to mind right now but it could just be that it’s early!

princesskitty29

Oh I meant to say I finally got my chocolate orange for 95p as they're back on offer in Tesco!