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

Spendless

Glad you're foot is getting slowly better princesskitty - I used to tell mine that we paid for the presents, FC just delivered them, we were sent the bill. Train journey sounds good. I've done 1st class a handful of times, once because someone's husband working for the rail company so she got us all a discount and the others were just very short journeys just a bday treat with friends. When my daughter lived in Edinburgh though a few years ago we found it  frequently cheaper to book her first class with her rail pass and get her food all included for the 3/3/5 hr journey home than pay 2nd class and have to buy food & drink separate. If you've got a family & friends railcard look into what the price would be using one. 

TQ- Initially thought a £5 SS gift was a tough one but have had a think. Do you know anything about the person you've got or is this a generic present everyone puts in? Some ideas, mug,  ornate drinking glass, chocs, box of biscuits. HB or B&M are doing some nice novelty tins . My own Tesco is a big store, not a really large one but not an express either and they put all the non food out of season/clearance reduced bits on a few shelves, I was looking through them yesterday and they had candles within budget there, could easily get a unisex fragrance  or a £5 giftcard for a coffee shop. 

SavvySparky579

We are doing secret Santa at work but you have to get a bauble for the person (so something they can reuse) and the budget is £10. It's been a right laugh trying to find one that reminds us of that person.

mandco

Princesskitty wow that’s a very specific request I’m sure he’ll love the trip you’ve found. 
When mine were little I told them Santa had lots of children to get gifts for so he couldn’t always bring expensive items so they should pick a few things they’d like and he’d try to bring something off their list,

Dd decided the trainers didn’t fit so those have gone back and I need to find something else instead - did see some nice steve Madden bags in tkmaxx so might look at one of those. Her Fenty lip oil came seriously glad I didn’t actually pay for it ( used points) as it’s tiny. Taz decided on earrings off Etsy for her and those came today.
asda lost my Lego set so now have to Wait on a refund. I paid by Asda gift card so not sure if I should wait for the refund and reorder or just buy elsewhere so I know I have it and use the gift card in store instead?
Ordered displates & headset for ds

xmas tree is up   though it’s not decorated yet 

Ordered a small fridge/freezer to use in addition to the main one as we just never have enough space which means I can start getting some more xmas bits sorted. 

Debating making a Xmas cake at the weekend- it’s only me that eats it so not sure it’s worth the time & effort when I Could just buy a small one instore though the gf versions aren’t great. 

Do need to pick up a tin of m&s shortbread - been waiting to see if it went of offer like it usually does but they don’t seem to be doing many offers this year at all - normally by now they’d have had deals on several Xmas items.

Spendless

Have just cancelled a planned shopping trip with my mum  today due to heavy rain, a weekend of tidying and potentially wrapping presents awaits me instead.

Am disappointed as the trip was to a neighbouring town where they have a shop we haven't got here as I was was going to look for a jumper for Nan, but not only do I not want to drive in it, I can't risk Mum slipping on wet ground as she's had 2 hip replacements. I've postponed the trip until 2 weeks time as we are away in Belgium next weekend with friends, but I'll also look in the French supermarkets for something suitable.

Mr S worked in NYC this week and managed to get a couple of electrical items I'd requested and forgot to buy last time I went. These are for daughter who will spend a term in the States as part of her degree next year. 

Still to buy ,my SS present, I've settled on packing cases for the recipient. I've found some online within budget. I know she goes away with both family and friends and occasionally work and if I buy in a neutral colour if she has some, she can use for another of her family. I also need husband's help to buy for some of the male members of the family which includes telling him to sort out FIL's present. He has an idea in his head but it's time consuming to do and unless he makes a start soon it's not going to be possible to have ready in time.

TQ - You wanted unisex ideas for SS. Have you had a look at Gruum, all their products are unisex and they've got a black friday sale on if you're still looking.

princesskitty - we always have turkey as it's the only time of the year we have it. We buy a crown and the leftovers are used afterwards in sandwiches as cold cuts with chips or in a curry to use it up. Mr S cooks the dinner because I do all the other bits, such as peel veg, prepare the starters and desserts, lay the table, chill the wine, find the crackers etc. Where me and him disagree is I want to simplify things a lot more than he does, eg in prev years  I wanted less starters, he only wanted prawn cocktail but we had someone who was vegetarian and another who was allergic to fish, so it meant 2 starters sometimes 3. Same with veg he always wants more than I think is a good idea and he wants sprouts that no one else can abide and he's not that keen on, just wants them because 'they're traditional' which is what my MIL once said to me when she queried why I'd left them on my plate uneaten. My reply was 'because my tastebuds don't change on one day of the year' evidently my husband's does though!  

Spendless

Went to The Range yesterday afternoon to get some more Xmas tree ornaments. Also picked up this wooden crate that I intend using for a toiletry hamper. I have a cellophane bag to wrap it up in. At £3.99 it's cheaper than many of the wicker type baskets. The slogan on the front does mean it's not really suitable for all year round, but the back is plain so it can always be turned round.

https://www.therange.co.uk/christmas/christmas-gift-wrapping-cards-and-stockings/christmas-gift-bags-and-boxes/merry-christmas-wooden-crate#77353

I also used some boxes from a beauty advent calendar I had a few years ago to put my male colleague's advent gifts in. I just need some festive stickers or a bow to put over where the number printed on is.

 

princesskitty29

I hope you're all staying safe and well in the weather! I managed to drive myself to our local retail park in the week and hobble around on my crutch, it was really tiring and took me ages but it was a productive trip. I got my mum some slippers and a nightdress with 20% off and a cat blanket for my auntie who loves cats from Matalan, some treats for another auntie’s hamper and some hot chocolate flakes and a vegan chocolate bar from M&S for some friends. I was in our local charity shop the other day and found a football stars guess who type game for £3 for DS1, I had been looking at one for £15 on Amazon recently. The footballers aren’t as up to date as the latest game but he still knows who they all are and they still play football so I think it'll be fine. I’ve also ordered my FiL a 1l bottle of Southern Comfort to come with my shopping as it’s currently on offer, he likes to receive one of those every year. I may have also ordered myself a bottle of chocolate Baileys that was on offer as I do enjoy the odd little glass over the winter! It’s £10 at the moment and would make a lovely gift as the bottle is really nice.

Spendless yes we do have a family and friends railcard so that has definitely helped. I like turkey too so I think I will definitely get a breast for my family to enjoy over the week. Gosh that is a lot of extra work having to do starters! We don’t have them as I love to have pudding after my Christmas dinner and I think I’d be too full up if I’d had a starter.

SavvySparky there are some great baubles out there these days!

mandco You don’t get much for your money with these posh make up brands these days! Eeek how exciting you have your tree up, is it decorated yet?? I bet it will be so handy having the extra freezer space, great for batch cooking in the future too.

mandco

Spendless dont blame you for putting off the shop trip the weather was horrendous and not worth risking a fall - says the person who managed to slip on a wet floor in the chemist Saturday luckily I Ianded on my knee and palm rather than doing a full face plant but seriously felt such an idiot.
glad dh managed to pick up the bits you forget last time 
that wooden crate looks great for hampers
hope you have a lovely trip to Belgium 

princesskitty sounds like you had a productive shopping trip fab cs bargain on the football game they are so expensive normally
i couldn’t believe how tiny it was for the retail price - a lot of the branded beauty type items are so ridiculously expensive 
The tree still isnt decorated but it does have lights on now so looks very pretty & cosy in the evenings - ds wants dd to help with the decorating so we’re going to do it at the weekend 

less than a month till Xmas and it’s December at the weekend crazy how quickly it feels like it’s coming around now  

need to order ds gamer supps Friday - waiting on a new flavour to be released but shipping is so expensive it wasn’t worth making separate orders -hopefully they arrive in time. His displates arrived today so finally getting there for him.

ordered dd a oodie onesie 1/2 price + 10% off so that’s her finished once it arrives 

dropped off the toy donations this week which has freed up some space so should really make a start on the wrapping 

still waiting on my refund from Asda honestly losing my patience with the incompetence as despite multiple calls & reassurances each time it’s been sorted it’s still not showing as cancelled and checking today no refund has actually been issued yet.  Glad I brought it elsewhere in the meantime now.

Mrs_Ryan

Hiya all 
I too have been lurking but I’m very behind this year. 

It’s been an absolute horror of a year. I lost my job at the end of October because of some horrible circumstances and I’ve found a temporary Christmas job at the head office of a *large Chemist’s chain that are well known for their 3 for 2 deals this time of year* but it’s killing me. Getting up at 5.30am for a 2.5 hour commute, and 2 hours home, having to cope with others in the office and some really tough calls. I’m currently off sick with a massive ME flare because my body has just had enough. I was also finally diagnosed with Autism and ADHD in March, and I just cant cope with shopping anymore. I have  now tried twice and it’s made me go into such meltdown that I had to find alternative arrangements. 

I also have another two people to buy for this year as one of the high points of this year was meeting a new best friend! So I’ve bought for her and her mum. I’m basically finished now and I’m thoroughly done both with Christmas and this year. The tree is up and has been for a couple of weeks but I’m completely meh about the whole thing. Plus our tumble dryer broke at the end of October and we’ve tried to manage without it, but have discovered we absolutely can’t because of my medical condition- our washing machine is constantly going. So I’ve just had to fork out 300 quid for a new one. It’s coming on Saturday. 

However one thing I have learned from my job is that deliveries from said large chemist chain are great. So I sent a big one to my sister to collect for her and her lot and one to my nephew in Luton. And a good thing about my job is that we have access to a staff shop where there are massively discounted goods. Some of it is random but there’s some darn good stuff in there. I got an Oral B toothbrush for OH- 35 online but I paid 13.50 (the heads cost more than the brush 🤣🤣) I also got him two tubes of toothpaste (Oral B as well) for a quid each to go with. And I got a Sanctuary candle- 22 quid on the website- for 3.50 as the box was very slightly damaged. I’m going to decant it and give it to my mum. I’ve also been hitting Vinted and EBay- I got a Newcastle United hoodie for my nephew brand new with tags for on EBay for 20 quid cheaper than the NUFC website, and I got M&S pjs, a Debenhams shirt and some Next jeans, all BNWT, from Vinted for OH. I also bought him a Northern Ireland football polo top from Vinted, no tags but in basically as new condition for an absolute song. I got a book my friend wanted on Amazon BF deals for half price, and an Oodie for another friend on their BF deals too. My best bargain though was a half price pair of absolutely stupendous glittery Steve Madden trainers for my friend from Schuh- I forget exactly how much they were but they were a really good price.

I warned everyone that this year won’t be as extravagant as usual as we’re broke but I think I’ve managed okay. 

OH has two jumpers, a box of pants from Hollister, 11 pairs of socks (they’re discontinuing the only socks he will wear so I’m trying to get him as many as possible while I can) a rugby top (I pay for a monthly membership for him to his rugby club and the shirt was part of that) I’m framing a match worn rugby shirt I bought him last year for him, a shirt, a pair of jeans, 6 shower gels, 6 deodorants, a pair of pjs, the Northern Ireland top, the toothbrush, paste and some spare heads. Also I got him a Le Creuset teapot (he has one currently but it’s disgusting and won’t clean up no matter how much try 🤣so I got him a new one on offer from John Lewis) plus his Irish tea and cakes, and a giant Ted Lasso mug. 

Mum has a Liz Arden set she asked for, some M&S pjs, some Skechers slippers, a Dove bag, plus I’m going to make her a little hamper with some cashmere gloves I’ve got her, the candle, some Hotel Chocolat choccies, 2 half size Rituals shower gels (from staff shop- 3 quid each and they’re perfect!) a gorgeous Molton Brown hand wash set I’ve just got off Vinted for a bargainous price, and a little ornament thing. I feel bad as I know she’s spent a lot of money on me but I’ve done my best. 

Sister and family- the Boots star gift was the big Sanctuary sets so I bought one each for my sister and niece, a tin of shortbread and a Costa hot choc set for my brother in law, some Sauvage shower gel for my nephew (which I also sent to my nephew in Luton) and the Newcastle United hoodie for my other nephew. 

Brother and his partner- 3 for 2 strikes again 🤣An FCUK set and a Soap and Glory set. I also got some FCUK body sprays which I’ve given to another good friend of mine. 

In laws- M&S Christmas light up candle for my step mum in law, and Irish tea and coffee plus sugar free biccies for father in law. 

I also bought Irish tea, coffee and biccies for my Irish friend from church, and the Oodie for my other friend. 

I need to get an Amazon voucher for my friend’s mum, and for my best friend I got her the trainers, some LOTR ornament, the book, and some little bits from Temu. I also made her a calendar which I won on a McDonalds meal 🤣

We’re going to my Mum for Christmas and we’re going out for lunch on Xmas Day so I got my Xmas Day outfit for a fiver off Vinted- a gorgeous black and gold jumpsuit. I’m really pretty chuffed with it, it’s in lovely condition. I’ve lost quite a lot of weight- last year I was a size 22-24 and now I’m a sort of 16/18/20 so I needed to buy myself something new, but a fiver was enough to pay for something I will probably only wear once! 

Anyway, best get to bed now xx

Coxy11

Hi all,

We moved home last week but I still had to work until last Friday, so only now feeling a bit more relaxed and settled in the house. 

Glad you were able to get about at the retail park @princesskitty29. I love that you were able to grab a gift in a CS too, that's so cool.

Ouch @mandco - hope you're okay after slipping. Did they have wet floors signs up tut tut

Enjoy your Ypres trip @Spendless, hope you find some goodies for gifts.

Sorry to hear you've had a rubbish time of it @MrsRyan.  TBH when you said you'd reined it back a bit I wasn't expecting you to list so many gifts. Guess my idea of reining it back differs to yours lol! Love the sound of the £5 outfit - such a good bargain!! 

I finally got out to Canterbury today and DH and I hit the shops. Got a few bits on the Christmas market stalls - giftbox of 4 cheese truckles and a chutney for BIL, handmade cat cushion for SIL, Oliver Bonas hand care duo for other SIL, a FCUK tin for niece HP in Boots at £5 (will also gift her money), Lego sets for two younger nephews, Giselle Graham scented candle and 3 hot choc spoons for DIL.

The Lego, candle and hot choc spoons were from Fenwick who had a (10/20/30) discount on most things today. Was annoyed with B00ts who failed to recognise I'd inserted my points card and therefore not only did I not get the points for the amount spent (also bought some supplements) but I wasted a £2.50 when you spend £25 coupon that it asked me to post into the slot grrrrr.

I have a couple of items to purchase from the Big River company online. FIL will get a book, BIL and DS2 will get a Guinness nitro surge. I have £22.01 of giftcards left after DH bought a ladder stay...... much needed as the gutters need clearing out and we will save cash doing it ourselves.

My main concern is what to get DS1 and DS2. DS2 has listed lots of PS5 games but a) they are expensive and b) don't look a lot. I've had no ideas from DS1 yet. DD has sent me a P!nterest board of things for her new bedroom (she moved with us) - anyone would think she's Wednesday Adams (taxidermy anyone) as there's some seriously weird !!!!!! on the list!!

PennysIntoPounds

Hi all, joining in a bit late I know but hoping to be inspired into some festive cheer and productivity!
I don't have many to buy for but I'm in a position of permanently feeling the pinch so trying to be savvy and generous whilst not buying tat just to make a pile bigger.
I've done exactly what I did last year and was determined not to again 😁 Made a good start to shopping then got complacent, though tbf it's hard to research and buy for Mr PIP when he's largely working from home with his desk next to mine!
He's in the office tomorrow though, and I've had a bit of a trying day today, so want to focus on some Christmassy niceness and achieving tomorrow.

Sorry you've had a rough time of it @Mrs_Ryan, you've certainly done well with all your discounted gift buying!

Happy new home @Coxy11. I was definitely a Wednesday Adams teenager 😂 What are the young weird ones of today asking for at Christmas? I'm fascinated to see how much it's changed over the decades!

Hope everyone else is keeping well and feeling bargainously prepared