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

Spendless

Yesterday I visited a friend and before going home popped into a charity shop. I bought a small jewellery box that snaps shut for £4. Despite a large jewellery box bought for her 18th DD struggles keeping her jewellery organised - probably because she is always in different places. Wasn't sure whether to give this as a return to college gift or save for her 21st or Xmas. Closer inspection tells me it could do with a little clean up first before deciding. 

Need to get birthday cards for Mum for tomorrow. DH printed off the theatre tickets. Just got to go through my items to decide how to present it and include info that DH will take them there and back. 

princesskitty29

Gosh it’s freezing isn’t it! Plenty of tea being sipped here. I’m trying to now get back on top of my housework etc, DS2 had an unexpected day off school yesterday as their boiler had broken so I had to do some school work with him. My whole house needs cleaning, tidying and decluttering – it feels like a mammoth task at the moment. I would say I’ve been decluttering on and off for a couple of years but I’m determined to get rid of everything we don’t need/like this year. I have noticed a difference in cupboards etc but I need to be better at organising what we do have and want to keep. It doesn’t help that the boys seem to follow me about leaving more stuff in my wake!

All of the Christmas decorations are now back in storage under the stairs. The only thing we keep out for the winter is the hot chocolate station, it gets a lot of use in January/February when temperatures are at their coldest.

Abbafan do whatever works for you! My friend’s twins were born on 22nd November so she too can’t think of Christmas before then! I tend to buy things throughout the year if I see something that I know somebody would like, it certainly takes a bit of pressure off come December. Although I would say probably 70-80% of my Christmas shopping is done from October onwards. My mind focuses better and I tend to have more ideas the nearer it gets!

Spendless March can be a crazy month for weather, DH and I got married on the 30th March, the previous year had been really hot on that date but our wedding day was freezing – there were even whisps of snow in the air! What a lovely idea to digitise your Nan’s slides for your mum.

Coxy if you ever can’t get a label off of something blast it with a hairdryer, I was sceptical when I heard this but I tried it on a couple of Christmas gifts and it worked like a charm.

kdalwayskint Thank you for letting me know about the link, some of these links are very old. I did go through them when I set up the page for last year but I have to admit I didn’t do it this time. I shall remove that link.

Abbafan1972

@princesskitty29 Thank you for the tip about the hairdryer and the labels!

Spendless

I bought years ago down the wonderland aisles of Aldi a bottle like this. Works on most stuff. https://www.diy.com/departments/de-solv-it-sticky-stuff-glue-remover-250ml/254704_BQ.prd

princesskitty - exactly that.DD's birthday is 31st. Each year is different -lol 

Abbafan - I can understand that. In our house there's a lot of celebrations  in March including both my kids (and now the dog too!) my Niece and Nephew (twins) there was also my late Nans and also mother's day falls into it. DD used to get frustrated when they were little  that I refused to discuss her birthday until her brothers whose falls at the beginning of March was over. .Also how many and who you buy for makes a difference. Years ago I was buying for a lot more than I do nowadays and wasn't that good at saving the cash for it instead - it would always go on something else, so buying as and when something was seen was necessary. I will say that strategy has helped though, when I lost my job on Dec 1st last month the bulk of gifts were already  bought and I could have very easily stopped buying more  at that point.

Mums BD today.  I put the theatre tickets inside one of the  metallic folded card I have, bought when DD was taking part in pageants (the contestants often give the other girls little gifts or well wishes). Then i put that in a gift bag I had, along with birthday cards and put a layer of tissue paper on top. This years aim is to use gift wrap etc that I already have in, so happy with that as a start. 

Peppa537

Someone at work said yesterday that they'd heard some people are keeping their decorations up until Candlemas (2nd February) this year. When we were out walking just now I did see a Christmas tree lit up in a living room, now I wish I hadn't taken mine down yet. It's in the corner of the living room and not in the way so next year that's what I'll do 😂 I'll put all the other Christmas bits away as usual by 12th night though. 

Spendless

Mum (and Dad) love the theatre tickets. Turns out Dad had been looking at an alternative venue to watch but had to rule everywhere out due to not driving at night cos of his cataracts.

I've just stumbled across a drawstring bag that says MineCon Paris 2012 on it. It was part of a goody bag received when DS and 2 of his friends went there with DH (was DS Xmas present that year). No idea where it's been just saw it near the washing machine. We used to have loads of bags like this but during the pandemic there was a local call out for them. I can't recall exactly why but I think it was the hospital asking so the staff on the covid ward had something to put their clothes in that could then all be thrown in the wash. We got rid of all our surplus this way but kept a few back. I just don't remember seeing this particular one for years. 1st instinct was to take a pic and send DS, but the next thought I had was to keep it and fill it with items and return it that way. Probably for Christmas as don't think I have enough time and funds to do it for DS birthday (in less than 2 months time). Will talk to DH first about how it's now turned up  just in case it's from when we did DS washing recently.

princesskitty29

I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of things this week but DS1 has been off school for the last three days with a heavy cold and cough so that’s thrown my ‘big clean’ plans a bit. We’ve got a quiet weekend so I’ll just potter about doing a few bits and bobs. As I’ve said before I’m still on my decluttering mission and now I’ve got to grips with Vinted I’m going to try to sell more too. I’ve done quite well so far and have withdrawn funds to put in the Christmas savings pot – hopefully it will make it to Christmas and not be needed before!

I don’t think this will mean anything to most of you but thankfully Luton Town drew their match last night so everyone has gone into the weekend in a good mood! Honestly, the Luton Town results can make or break a weekend for some of my family!

Peppa I’ve been hearing about people leaving their trees up for longer, I think because it brings joy to these dark, winter months. Everything does fall a bit flat come January. Someone I follow on Instagram took all of the Christmas decorations off of their tree, left the lights on and put seasonal items on like pinecones and orange slices. I know people put these on at Christmas too but it did look more of a decorated wintery tree rather than a full on Christmas one. I’ve also seen leaf garlands that would probably look nice too. Although that’s not to say you can’t keep the Christmas decorations on!  

Spendless happy to hear your parents loved their tickets, it’s lovely they are able to go as they clearly wanted to. I need to use up my wrapping supplies too!

Spendless

DD sold some items  on Vinted the other day. I was surprised as she's tried before and it's been slow going. DH took her to post them last night. The money earnt just goes to reducing her student overdraft! 

DH said he's no idea where the minecon bag has suddenly appeared from and wonders if I pulled it out without noticing when I was searching for a bag for DD for Sweden (who of course had announced she hadn't got anything suitable shortly before she was due to set off!). Anyway it is now in my present cupboard and Christmas 24 I will return it to DS filled with items such as socks and underpants and maybe a T-shirt etc. Might not even wrap it, the bag itself becoming the wrapper, will decide nearer the time, but looking forward to filling with items and  giving it back to DS. 

kdalwayskint

No present shopping done here. But, I have spent a bit on myself and not in a very MSE way! 
I have lost 3lb in weight over the last 2 weeks, so I'm pleased with that, slow and steady 
The cat has been for tooth extraction today, thank goodness we had insurance, that would have been very expensive if we hadn't, phew!

SavvySparky579

Thanks for the new post - already counting down to Christmas lol!!