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

SkyeD

Just popping on because I haven't updated for a while - been a bit occupied finalising my late parents' house sale, which has now gone through.

My husband and I only buy Easter Eggs for our granddaughter, although after last year my stepdaughter mentioned too much chocolate and too many eggs had been given from her other side of the family and from her partner's huge family.  I think they had a chocolate mountain which would have lasted until Christmas!

So, I've collected a stash of craft things (stickers, glue, googly eyes etc etc) which I'll put into a felt Easter basket picked up in a L!dl sale last year for 50p.  I think she'll appreciate it I might buy a 5/6 pack of Freddos (which she loves) and put them in too.  (Yeah, I know, it's chocolate... oops...)

mandco

Happy leap Day
my main resolution this year was to try and really make the most of the time we have - its so easy to let life get in the way and pass by before you know it and I realised there really aren't that many leap years we ever get to see so today we are celebrating leap day - we're just having a little tea party but its about making memories while we can.

Spendless  glad the lights are working now hope they help   did his op go ok?
Oh no that's frustrating abut dd's trip I really hope you can sort something 
my older ones are not bothered about doing an easter egg hunt now so they get 1 medium size egg each plus something else they like in a gift basket. dd usually has some kind of beauty/hair products in hers. 
taz being so much younger I still do an easter hunt for as it doesn't seem fair that he would otherwise miss out on all the experiences the others had when they were his age.  My lot are the youngest in our extended family by quite a bit and have missed out a lot over the years as we'd had agreed we'd stop gifts after each turned 18 but once their youngest cousins no longer got gifts they stopped buying for ours too despite the fact they were still under 18 so I thinkI try to make up for that?
I don't think taz has ever had an easter or even birthday/xmas gift from any of them    

Princesskitty  ooh steamed sponge haven't done one of those for ages but its the perfect pudding with the cold weather.  really hoping it doesn't snow I know the kids love it but as an adult you realise how disruptive it is especially if you have to drive in it. we tend to get more slush/black ice that actual snow that lays but it causes so many accidents 
aldi do get some lovely bits in and some of the prices on there middle aisle offers are really good but I do find it very hit and miss I have a few regular items I like to buy from there but often find they are oos- I try to pop in once a fortnight as its a bit out of the way so need someone to take me.
sounds like you've had a lot on did you manage to get any of your xmas prep done? .

coxy
sorry to hear about DH job 

theoldmrandmrs 
thank you for the suggestion 

Spendless

I was also thinking how many leap days do we get to see. 24 years ago today I was heavily pregnant, near the due date and not wanting to go into labour because DH had joked that should the baby be born on Feb 29th he would only be buying a present every 4 years. I believed him! I don't think I'm completely sane at 9 months pregnant! DS hung on anyway and was born in March. Today is a friend's parents 60th wedding anniversary. 

Dad's eye op is improving all the time thank you. 

I bought DD a selection of chocolate eggs, that were on offer for £2 with Tesco clubcard. Also had a thought today I should get her a nice egg cup to have, very fitting for a 21st that falls at Easter. Will look over weekend for something. 

A bodyshop at home consultant  I know is selling off all her  remaining stock at upto half price. Have asked for a handful of items, several of which will go in DD's stocking.

Coxy11

Hi all,

Had a chuckle at the leap year day birthing dreads @Spendless. That was DS2s due date but he came exactly one month early! That was my late Nan’s birthday and she was only officially 22 when she died!

DH’s job woes continue and he is still employed with the final consultation meeting being set up and then cancelled with 10 minutes notice x 3 times now. He is busy looking for other opportunities but it’s a bit demoralising. The case is now with the Chief People Officer to look at.

In Easter Egg news I found I had £20.50 of Tesco CC vouchers on the app so used those to buy for all the nieces/nephews under 18 (6) plus my 3 adult children and DIL2B plus DH. Cost me £7 actual cash. I had a line on my budget spreadsheet for £25 to cover the eggs so well pleased with that.

It’s nephews 24th birthday today. He is house-sitting somewhere in Somerset. I sent a card and have transferred him the usual £30 for which I get no acknowledgement or thank you. He is the golden grandchild of my ILs and despite getting into many scrapes including 2 court appearances for DUI he still gets all the help and advice and special treatment which really grinds my gears. HOWEVER I cannot be seen to treat him differently to any of the others, which is why I sent the cash across. Otherwise I’m as bad as they are.

Mother’s Day is looming and I detest it with a passion. Have given my three children the annual reminder that I don’t want them spending their cash on me. It’s a commercialised load of clap trap. I will be taking mum to brunch with DSis (her idea) and we will split the bill between us, plus DSis is saying she may buy some flowers or a pot plant. I will get whatever she doesn’t. I already have a bland card with flowers on. MIL is away this weekend and has invited us for cake on 17 March. We bought some nice shower gel and body lotion in a sale a few weeks back. Big 500ml bottles for a grand total of £9 so that’s her sorted. DH will source a card.

Next birthday is BIL and we are going to the theatre to see Choir of Man (DSis, DH and me). DH’s birthday is end of the month and he has requested either some shoes or some trousers for his next boys camping trip.

I’ve decided to save my loyalty points (except Ts) again this year, so have Sainsbobs and Boots on the go currently. I’ve also got another Amazon voucher mounting up on Shoppix app. Have already had a £5 voucher which went towards DS2’s PS5 birthday gift. It all helps when it gets to Christmas present buying though and they soon add up.

Hope everyone is doing okay.

Coxy

Spendless

It's my DS 24th birthday today too coxy. We took a card with cash in and bought him a Colin the caterpillar cake. His fav since childhood. DiL who grew up where there's more sheep than people and shops said it was the first time she'd had the M&S version

Later this week it is the furry boys birthday too. He will be 5. I have booked for him to go to a dog play park at the weekend, which had my human son rolling his eyes at me when I told him.  

We eventually stopped buying for one niece in her 30s, I'd have liked to have stopped sooner but didn't trust my kids who are lots younger wouldn't also get stopped. My twin niblings I  stopped  buying gifts at 18 with the exception of their 21st. Unfortunately this was the time that my sis decided to stop speaking to me based on her interpretation of a phrase my DH used when dropping the presents off (nothing offensive, concerning a family event). She is already estranged from all other family members (common denominator here!) and I've tried with cards and messages since to no avail. Twins are 23 later this month, I am sending birthday cards for one last time. If there's then nothing for DDs 21st which is a few days later then I'm done. I tried. 

I filled in a survey and got £10 Amazon voucher. Used it to buy Mum's mothers day present of a power charger. It's needed at min as Nan is in hospital following a fall a few days ago. We keep hearing she's being discharged and then it's put back. Once she is discharged, a care package is  to be put in place with carers calling twice a day. I haven't mentioned it being mother's day to my kids, DD is constantly skint and DS needs to be putting his cash elsewhere as don't know how long his current arrangement of renting will last

I'm also saving Boots points again. Unsure what I'm upto. I also had an email from Waterstones telling me my points were about to expire so to make use of them. Logged on and discovered I have half a point! I needed to spend £95 in order to get £10 worth of points to use all within the next 30 days. Decided to give it a miss -lol.

ETA - I am incredibly impressed by a budgeting spreadsheet detailed enough to include easter eggs. 

 

mandco

Coxy  is always handy when you realise you have points/vouchers to spend that was a great saving on the easter eggs. when you have a lot of people to buy for it certainly adds up used to cost me a fortune when we brought for all the nieces & nephews too.
there's only so much you can do you've tried repeatedly with no recipocation so I'd have no issue putting an end it to it as they are all adults now  
sorry to hear dh jobs woes continue its unreasonable to keep cancelling meetings last minute. DD is having a tough time at work lately they've restructured and she's now working with all new people who basically ignore her and exclude her from everything then complain she doesn't know stuff they've discussed without her. Its got so bad its she dreads going to work each day so she's looking for another job but there's not much out there and the one interview she's had despite going really well she didn't get.

We're away at haven this weekend and I didn't realise it was mothers day on sunday when I booked in fact I didn't even realise till I was looking at restaurant options this week - we'd agreed to push my birthday dinner till we went so was looking for somewhere that did a sunday roast. 


spendless good to hear your dads improving 
sorry to hear about your nan its frustrating when they keep delaying their discharge but I know a lot of places are really struggling to get care packages put in place.
Our furry babies are part of the family so only fair we celebrate their birthdays too - I'm sure he'll have a great time at the dog play park 

I'm planning on saving my points till xmas too as I'm finding it harder each year to buy in advance and while I do try to put money into a xmas savings pot it almost always gets broken into to cover some unexpected expense that crops up - I had to lend dd some money this week as her car failed the mot and the works came in at nearly £800 

I did find an encanto bath set reduce to £2 in argos so picked up one each for the grandkids to go in their easter baskets and its actually quite nice looking set so picked up a couple for the xmas donations box too. 

Spendless

My gut was correct. The large eggs prev £5 are now £3.50 with a Tesco clubcard. Bought DS and Dil One each and that's my Easter eggs sorted. Really like the idea of saving Tesco points for Easter eggs. With a reduced, all adult and top heavy with pensioners gift list there's not much else I buy in there present wise, so great idea to save for the chocolate treats. 

Spendless

Saw on another site I'm on. A selection of £1.50 eggs have been reduced to 60p in selected Asda stores. Have to buy instore and I believe you are restricted to 6 total. 

https://groceries.asda.com/aisle/easter/easter-eggs/view-all-easter-eggs/1215684571145-1215684571146-1215685802124

princesskitty29

Hi all, I’m currently having my annual Mother’s Day lie in. I don’t like all of the commercialism with Mother’s Day but as a mum to two young boys I do appreciate having a bit of time out on the day! We’ve got my in laws coming over for lunch and DH is cooking a roast, I am looking forward to it but worried about DH’s stress levels! I’ve made my MiL a little basket with teabags, jam, clotted cream, homemade scones and two slices of homemade lemon drizzle cake, a sort of afternoon tea hamper. I won’t see my mum as she lives in Gloucestershire 100 miles away, I’ve sent her a little box with some chenille socks, her favourite walnut cake and a sudoku book (she’s obsessed with sudoku). I also ordered a beautiful yellow orchid to be delivered, she loves orchids and yellow flowers so it was perfect. I do agree I don’t like feeling the pressure of having to buy something, my mum and MiL would never actually put pressure on us but I do feel a bit guilty about not being able to see my mum, especially as my brother is also working all day so she won’t see either of us today. If I was there in person I would cook a nice meal for her instead and just spend time with her. That said, it is cute seeing what the boys give me and their thought process, the PTA run a shop at DS2’s school, they buy lots of presents then sell them off at a small profit and the children get to experience independent shopping in a safe space. DS2 chose a lovely notebook for me as he knows I’m always writing lists! DS1 chose a bar of Galaxy chocolate when DH took him out yesterday, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I like Galaxy chocolate, so both very thoughtful. But as they get older I will be reminding them it's not about presents, it's more about spending time together.

SkyeD It must be a relief (although sad) that your parents house sale has gone through, these things can be quite stressful at times. It’s a great idea to do an Easter craft basket, a bit of chocolate won’t hurt I’m sure!

mandco I like the idea of celebrating leap day, we didn’t but I’ll bear it in mind next time. And no, as predicted I didn’t get my Christmas prep done! I’ve got a quieter week this week so I’m hoping to get some of my bunting done.

Spendless that’s handy getting the Body Shop items half price. I hope your Nan is ok and gets to come out of hospital soon.

Coxy I’m sorry to hear about DH’s job troubles, I do hope it’s sorted for him soon and he can find something else. I agree days like Mother’s Day have turned into the shops commercial dream! I totally get your frustration with your nephew, he sounds like the type of person who always falls on his feet no matter what happens, I know a few people like that. I think the problem with the special treatment is he’s not learning to improve himself.

Spendless

Enjoy your mother's day lie in princesskitty. Later DS and DiL and my parents are coming over and we are going to have a takeaway. Mum rang me earlier to thank me for her presents, as well as the power bank, yesterday in Dunelm we saw some oversized hoodies reduced to 4.50. It's a different design but like this. https://www.dunelm.com/product/dog-tooth-oversized-hoodie-1000223526

We bought 2, the other is for DD's 21st birthday.  My parents have lived in a bungalow for over 45 years but what was once 2 large ;living spaces' (lounge and dining room) open except for an archway and high ceilings in one of the rooms is now too large a space for them to heat efficiently and affordably. This was something my (late) Nan used to point out to me as she'd worked for a electricity showroom, but back then my parents worked, loved the space and didn't want to do anything about it. Nowadays I go round to my parents  and I'm cold there compared to my own house and our fire hasn't worked for some time, we manage with central heating and an occasional blast of a fan heater! Mum said she's had the hoodie on already  and she's lovely and warm in it. Keeping to wanting to use up the packaging I have in before buying anything else, I was able to wrap the power bank in plain gold paper, the hoodie was a challenge though, so instead I put it unwrapped in a gift bag I had with a layer of tissue paper on top so it couldn't be seen.