Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - it's the 2024 Christmas chatter thread!
Comments
-
For those of you looking for Christmas cards and wrapping paper, it's well worth looking at the online charity stores. Beautiful things, a chance to support some good causes and they mostly have very good ethical policies. Some things I wouldn't have bought before Christmas because they were 'for me' ad definitely a 'want' rather than a 'need' (Christmas decs) but at half price or less, I can splurge on a few (I really don't need more Christmas decorations. You aren't taking advantage of the charity because, unlike big corporations, they can't afford to store them until next year.The Workx had very cheap (but not nasty) cards - 50p a pack and some kraft paper bows..2
-
hope everyone is doing ok and welcome to any newcomers
sorry I've been mia - my pre xmas illness decided to peak xmas day and I spent the next week pretty much in bed - I'm still feeling the after effects even now. Also had a few other things going on so that combined with January not being a great month for me anyway (this year was extra hard) i've been feeling pretty low and withdrawn.
I didn't even get round to shopping the sales this year and by time I was well enough to leave the house mid January there was pretty much nothing left from xmas instore and everything online was oos locally so this year is off to a poor start xmas prep wise too.
spur of the moment yesterday but ended up booking a cheap haven break for march -ok so its staying in a basic caravan but was only £79 for the weekend which is cheaper than 1 night in a hotel somewhere on a friday or saturday which I what i was looking at originally and its giving something to look forward to which I think I really need at the moment.
I know I've been very much head in the sand this month but seems crazy its February tomorrow already.this year do something that scares you for courage is not the absence of fear just the knowledge that some things are worth the risk3 -
ooh love a little Haven break, £79 definitely sounds like a great deal to me too!
I have treated DS and DGS to FA cup tickets on 6th Feb, I shall go too It's DGS 7th birthday in March and one of the things he wanted to do was watch a football match. £15 for adults and £5 for under 14s. It's something a bit different and not overly expensive.
I thought we'd run out of Christmas wrapping paper, but when putting the decs away found some hiding, I won't need to buy any in December but will want to look out for some next January.
No other present buying done here.
So far have now lost 5lb so seem to be losing 1lb a week which is slower than I'd have liked but a healthy way to do it.
Towards the end of last year, I finally sorted out getting my passport. Hubby is now sorting his out (he didn't bother keeping his updated in our 15 years together) we are hoping to have our first foreign holiday this year which I'm really looking forward to
Catch you all again soon
Knew challenge?£1 a day for Christmas 2024 £100.60 / £366 ~Got married 24/05/19 ~ Credit CardDFW Nerd #1155 ~LBM 25/2/09 ~ Debt at highest £8,037.35 ~ £03 -
Haven break sounds good so does the prices for the football match.
Sorry you've not been feeling great mandco. Tbh from what we've reported there were slim picking this year in the Sales so don't think you've missed much. I went on BD with DD to get her some clothes for her trip to Sweden over NY and some stores were closed, Next, M&S, Victoria's Secret. On the 27th we had DS and DiL over to exchange gifts and by the time I could look for myself from 28th onwards there wasn't much.
We have paid for DD and a friend to go to Amsterdam for her 21st birthday (took some time to find an affordable hol since her birthday falls at Easter!). I am now going to create 2 hol goody bags to give the girls as they set off (yes I know we've been here before!) DD's bag will also contain items for her birthday eg a sash or 21st tiara. I started yesterday with a nod to it also being Easter and got 2 small boxes of Lindor chocolate eggs, currently £2.70 with a clubcard https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/313373223
Thought this was nice as an 'adult' Easter gift whilst still being compact enough for a trip. Other items am considering putting in are a sheet face mask (less messy than the other types and DD's preferred style anyway) so they can do this on the ferry, small pack of make up wipes (seen Simple do a 7 sheet pack) and a small travel charger. We did this last time but DD is a nightmare for her phone running out of charge, so a new one for the trip would be a good idea. Maybe just a bottle of water too. Can't include alcohol as against ferries ts & cs and if bag checked as they board will be confiscated3 -
I've got my first stocking present for DD. A W7 make up remover pad. Reduced from £3 to 75p in Mr T's because it has a reindeer design on the packaging. This packaging could easily be thrown though and the loose cloth put in a hamper of goodies for a different occasion eg mother's day.
Went into Boots and they had a double row left of Xmas stock and that's it. Tbh of what's left I'd have to be looking for something very specific even if I had a larger list of who I buy for. There was little to nothing in the way of a generic 'that will come in for someone' present on the shelves.3 -
Boots 70% sale is on. Shows how much of a non event it is nowadays. I stumbled across the info online (and not on this site). No idea what day it started. Once upon a time if you weren't there early doors on 1st day (and I was really good at predicting the correct date!) there'd be nothing left by closing time. I went in yesterday to the city centre store and had a look through the limited stock. I did come away with 3 items, a cosmetic described as a 'muti purpose stick' from No7. There was one out of packaging and it looks like something you'd use as a highlighter so thought it worth chancing for £3 for DD's stocking. I then saw some bodywash that came in a boxed set with a wallet from Superdry. Netted down to £6.60. DH likes toiletries/travel items due to how much he works away, so bought. Thought that was it, then I came across just 1 on the shelf; a pink cosmetic bag that has inside it a satin pillowcase and an eyelash/eyebrow serum. DD loves silky pillowcases, I know I've talked about them before and we had to throw one of hers away the other day as it had ripped. She also likes eyelash/eyebrow products. Wasn't familiar with the brand Hairburst so slightly dithered then saw full gift price had been £45 and the pillow cases can be expensive so thought it worth its £13.50 reduced price. The present cupboard is slowly filling back as as the other day I bought DD a St Mortitz tanning items in a pink pouch. This will probably be given for her birthday though as think she'll want to be stocked up on self tan products for the summer.
After Boots I went to Primark to stock DD on black socks and whilst there saw they had slipper socks reduced to £1. I bought 2 pairs. These are to go in the holiday goodie bags for DD and her friend when they get the ferry to Amsterdam. Thought they could relax in the cabin with them on and if they're wrecked at the end of the trip then they only cost £1. Ideally I'd like the goodie bags to cost no more than £10 each with DD's 21st items on top of that price. Will see how I get on.4 -
I called in the small Boots near me and to my surprise there was exactly the item I was looking for. Soap and Glory face masks set. 2 x sheet masks, 1 x peel mask, 1 lip and 1 eye. with 70% discount made it £4.50, nets down to 90p each mask. That's the sheet masks sorted for DD's trip. I wasn't going to get branded sheet masks cheaper than this. The peel one will be saved for DiL and the other 2 for DD's stocking. Holiday goodie bag is now at £4.60 for 3 items3
-
Hi all,
Haven't been on here for ages, so hope everyone's doing okay. Thanks for the heads up re: Boots 70% sale @Spendless . Need to pop there tomorrow for some skincare for DNephew who has a birthday on Thursday and loved the set I got him for Christmas from The Ordinary. Hopefully my local largish store will stock it, and I'll also have a look for some bits for the advent calendars I'm putting together in the sale aisle if there is one! My budget is £1 per day!
We've had a couple of family birthdays since I last posted. DS2 got a couple of PS5 games, some chocolate and some cash. DS1 got a kitchen knife block, some Boots 50% off smellies and some cash. Next up is said DNephew (above) who already has a candle to go with his skincare, then DNephew (8) who loves Lego. I managed to get him some Indiana Jones Lego in George/Asda for £9 cheaper than Argos/Amazon.
The next birthday is another DNephew who has left his job and home to go and be a housesitter in another part of the country. Not sure where is is currently residing and a bit loathe to send him money like usual when he's (literally) sitting on his backside all day (he will be 24).
Cross-stitch WIP: HSC Winter Panel 365 1p challenge member No.6 Read 24 books in 2024 - currently reading Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery 31/243 -
Keep us updated how you get on filling up the advent calendars coxy. I keep hearing good things about The Ordinary and how reasonably priced it is, does it explain what the product is for on the label because I've got confused reading the descriptions?
I have been going through all the packaging I have and have put aside things like zipper bags from Shein and canvas type bags from Urban outfitters (all from DD's purchases) as well as items such as bubble wrap that my Mum gave me (came from clearing my Nans stuff out - it was the 1st anniversary of her death this week). I am dividing the packaging up, the 'best' items to be used for family gift wrap, the rest for DD's vinted sales.
Whilst doing this I also came across an advent calendar that me and DD had shared a couple of years ago from the Fragrance shop. Only the box for 25th is slightly battered and has 'The fragrance shop' printed on it. The other 24 are in good condition and only have a printed number on them - easily covered by a gift label. I am determined to be using packaging up this year.
3 -
Sorry I’ve been AWOL for a little while, this week just gone was the first week that both of my boys were in school for the entire week, they have both been off school for various reasons every week since the beginning of the year! The good news is DS1’s awful cough cleared up as quickly as it started in the end. I’ve been trying to catch up with myself in the week just gone but I wasn’t feeling too great myself. Still, onwards and upwards! DH is away Monday-Thursday next week for work so I’m just preparing myself for a busy week. Typically, in the week DH is away DS2 has an extra French club before school at 8am as one was cancelled earlier in the year, both boys have swimming lessons, DS1 has an optician appointment, I have a hospital appointment, DS1 has his school disco and I’m going to have to try and get a doctor’s appointment for an issue DS2 has! Everything just happens to be in the week he is away! Still, it’ll stop me from getting bored.
I haven’t been to any shops recently so nothing bought, however I have had a few more ideas for presents to buy people, I’ll be noting those down on my spreadsheet and looking for them throughout the year. A couple of years ago I bought my brother a bag of Guinness crisps and he loved them, I looked for them last year but couldn’t see them anywhere. I popped into my local Aldi the other day and they had loads, but unfortunately the BB date was later this year. My brothers birthday is Christmas Eve so I can’t even get them for his birthday. Will have to keep an eye out in case they have them later in the year too.
I hope you’re all having a good weekend whatever you’re doing, we’re having a quiet family day at home today before DH goes away tomorrow.
Welcome Auti! It’s always lovely to have new people join, grab yourself a hot chocolate and a chair by the fire!
Spendless I hope your DD’s cough is better now. I love the idea of the goody bags for their trip to Amsterdam and it sounds like you’re getting some good bargains!
grandma nerd I never thought to look at charity shops online, I shall have a little peruse, thank you.
mandco I’m so sorry to hear you were poorly over Christmas, it’s so disappointing when you put so much effort into an occasion. I’m also sorry to hear you’ve been feeling low, I know how it feels and it’s really hard to care about anything! January is a tough month so at least that is now over and little signs of spring approaching are popping up everywhere. What a fab bargain with the Haven break! Which one are you going to? It’s always good to have something to look forward to.
Kdalwayskint well done on your weight loss and you are right, it is a healthier way to do it. Oooh a foreign holiday does sound exciting! We did our first one in 10 years last year and it was lovely.
Coxy good to hear from you! Is there anything you could get your DNephew to do whilst he’s sitting on his backside all day?
3
Categories
- All Categories
- 346.7K Banking & Borrowing
- 251.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 451.5K Spending & Discounts
- 238.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 614.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 174.9K Life & Family
- 252.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards