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

SkyeD

Today I was so excited because my bargain "MyFairyGarden" goodies arrived   My Christmas cupboard is no longer bare   Next week I'm off to the charity shops to donate a couple of items and maybe to have a look to see if there are any things suitable as birthday/crimbo gifts for this year.

princesskitty29

Well we took our decorations down yesterday, normally I’m ready for it and to get the new year started but I don’t particularly feel like that at the moment, I’m still in hibernation mode and am missing the lights! Although there is a sense of calmness now there’s not stuff all over the place. It was also the 15th anniversary of DH and I meeting, I can’t believe we’ve been together 15 years. I don’t know how I do it! Just kidding……

I had a little look at the Matalan sale and ordered a jumper for my mums birthday in March and a zipped jumper for my brother for his birthday/Christmas (his birthday is Christmas Eve so I split accordingly at the time). I also ordered some gloves for DH as I had bought him some Superdry ones in the Next sale last January but unfortunately they’re a bit small even though they’re one size. I think Superdry tends to come up quite small as my DH doesn’t have unusually big hands! Luckily they only cost me £6 in the sale so hopefully I can sell them on at some point.

I popped into a local shop a week before Christmas and they had loads of Mini Egg chocolate in, I couldn’t believe it! I know I favour Christmas stuff coming out early so I can get ahead and I do feel like that about Easter too but I think it’s better to end one evdent before beginning the other!

Crazycatlady you are more than welcome to read along! Pull up a chair and a grab yourself a hot chocolate. 😊

Pixtotts good to hear from you again! I’m glad you’re well. I also cut up Christmas cards for tags, I haven’t done this year’s yet though so that’s a job I need to get on with. I agree it’s frustrating when it’s printed on the inside!

Coxy I hope you have a lovely time seeing your family, you deserve it after not seeing them at Christmas.

Peppa ah I wish my Tesco had reduced wrapping paper as I need some more.

Skye I always feel better when I’ve got a few things in my present cupboard! I’m feeling good as I’ve got a few birthday presents in there now which will stand me in good stead.

Abbafan1972

Morning all. Well Christmas is well and truly over in this house. We always take our decorations down on New Years Day. I don’t like to have them still up when I go back to work. 

I have never bought presents throughout the year.  I always start buying about late November for Christmas. My daughter’s birthday is 30th November, so I always have to get that out the way first. Perhaps I should change the way I do things! 

xx

Spendless

We also took our tree and cards down yesterday. Just waiting for them to be moved to the attic. What I missed most about eating out this year was slightly having meat in for sandwiches and additional nibbles but mostly all my Christmas crockery collected over the years. I told DH this and he got it down from the attic so was used when we hosted NYE. Getting this box down also found 3 fabric gift bags I'd bought Xmas 22 cos I thought they looked 'cute' but had no idea what to do with them - this year I'd been  searching for them! Also the dog's stocking. I didn't completely remember he had one but I'm glad he does, as he can now open his with DD as he needs to sit in DD's bedroom on Christmas Day morning whilst we put presents under the tree otherwise he'd destroy everything. Yesterday when tidying up we discovered the dog has built it's self a lair behind the sofa with the ripped up TV guide, a soft toy it had chewed and got the fluff out of, 1 slipper and 1 shoe and various other bits it had found. Must have been channelling it's inner wolf but we'd not spotted as it didn't sleep there cos that far comfier places to snooze! 

Coxy - Did think about Mum's dress but it's one evening in March and I know from DD's bday that is 10 days later how excuse the phrase - 'bi-polar' the weather can be at that time of year. I've known it snow on DD's bd, I've also known it reach hotter temps than in the following  July.

This year I am going to use my packaging up. I keep saving my nice boxes for  items I receive thinking that'll come in for another time and then don't use - No more. 

Peppa537

princesskitty29 said:

Peppa ah I wish my Tesco had reduced wrapping paper as I need some more.

I found the wrapping paper at the back of the shop, it's a smaller Tesco near me and it has a reduced section at the very back next to the pharmacy. I just found them because I was picking up my eldest daughter's prescription. 

Spendless

Happy with what I've done so far. I've gone thru all my left over Xmas wrapping paper, gift tags, xmas cards etc. Put them all together in one place under the bed. Paper etc that is used for birthdays is in a seperate holdall. Got a shock when I looked thru some ribbons that I'd totally forgotten about inside one of the cardboard tubes was what looked like a medical specimen container with a clear  liquid in it - urgghh no idea what it was. I don't even remember buying these ribbons so quite possibly 'inherited' from my Nan when she went in a care home. DH said it didn't smell and was thicker than water - it's been binned!

DH has continued tidying the summer house. This is his office  when he WFH. He mentioned finding some old slides of my late Nans and asked what to do with them - his sugestions being stick them in our loft or give them to my parents - who would stick them in theirs! I asked what else could be done and he has said he can look at digitising them, so I've said yes and this would become my Mums Mother's Day present. I'd add a card & flowers/chocs. Really pleased with that idea because when we do have birthdays/celebrations they come in a cluster together.  So I now have 2 birthdays and Mothers day sorted already.

Coxy11

Scored 4 x gift wrap in Sainsbobs today for 10p each. It’s red with white stars so could also be good for kids birthdays. 

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-folk-print-roll-wrap-3m

First birthday gift bought for SIL who shares a birthday with DS2 at the end of the month. We went to Sevenoaks yesterday and popped into Oliver Bona$. Got an EDT and set of two hand creams, boxed in floral packaging for £12.50 and £16.50 respectively. Lovely fragrances and would gladly receive those myself. Bit annoyed that we also bought a birthday card (for £3.75!!!) and they’d used little price gun price stickers - it took part of the back off when we removed it! Not sure why they don’t use the barcode like everywhere else ☹️ Anyway, that’s £8 under budget, so a good start. 

https://www.oliverbonas.com/beauty/rose-hibiscus-perfume-354170?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google+Shopping+UK&utm_term=1676426&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtOmsBhCnARIsAGPa5yZINh7PFO9HrvTxCTWAK39e_6jBkEBlSD0sIpu9D3M_BAfz_-s2KHwaAo5kEALw_wcB

ILs have just left. DH did the roast today - fine by me!! 

kdalwayskint

Hi

Just a little message from me to say I am here and caught up.

DH and I have both got colds for new year! 

@princesskitty29 one of the links on the first page is a bit odd, the one for 'Polar Express Party Pack' - I don't know if it's just me but when I click on it, my computer tells me it is a security problem.

K

kdalwayskint

SkyeD said:

Today I was so excited because my bargain "MyFairyGarden" goodies arrived   My Christmas cupboard is no longer bare   Next week I'm off to the charity shops to donate a couple of items and maybe to have a look to see if there are any things suitable as birthday/crimbo gifts for this year.

I was trying to find 'MyFairyGarden' but couldn't see how/where to buy - could you let me know please? thank you

SkyeD

Hi @kdalwayskint - I got several bargains from Pl*y M*nster, B*rgain M*x, and the bay of E.  H*bbycraft had a sale on (not sure if they still do).  There are lots on the bay of E and Amaz*n.  Hope that helps