Frosty the Snowman - it's the 2025 Christmas thread!

teabody

Merry Christmas all.
Thanks for the well wishes everyone and of course it all worked out well in the end. My boys were happy with their presents so that's the main thing.

@Spendless i love that you got your gift albeit cash from your nan. The intention was clear so her thoughts were filled with her wishes for you all  I had this on my birthday with mine following her passing. Card was unsigned but there was £20 cash inside as she had it ready for me as it was 12 days away. I spent it on a necklace for my wedding the same year. That way she was part of my day.

Made myself a 2026 list on google keep so that I note down prospective pressies as I go. Hopefully that'll stop me from feeling so anxious next year.

Mrs_Ryan

Thanks everyone. OH and I have done nothing but row for the last few days. I had two bottles of Charlotte Tilbury perfume from him (I bought them myself as always, he paid for them) He did actually tell me that he loves his new electric toothbrush that I got him but what I’m most angry about is that he’s least bothered about his new phone- he won’t even take it out the box, let alone set it up. I’m paying a contract for it and I keep telling him to use it but he’s just not that bothered. 

He got the one thing he asked for- a lawnmower, my mum paid for that for him- but the rest of it he was totally blase about. I did tell him that he wouldn’t get much this year- a) because he’s getting a car off me and b) it’s his birthday and our wedding anniversary in 6 weeks time and he’ll expect something big (he knows I’m getting my student loan around then- but I’m going to get him a pair of trainers and some slippers because he needs them) 

Things aren’t too great with us but like I say, I did my best and that’s all I can do. My friends and other family members were all really chuffed with what I got them (I know the guy I buy for at my rugby club was blown away with how much I spoiled him) and so I was glad I managed to get some things right. 

Glad you all had nice Christmases. Home now and everything is put away- the recycling bin is overflowing though 🤣

Auti

@Mrs_Ryan - just to say something like a new phone I have to be ready mentally to unwrap and do it alone (I am autistic which may be why) it is like I need to mentally prepare for a new way of using phone and operating system - confusing to explain. Maybe your OH is similar and has to be ready for change? 

Maybe do not mention phone for a week and he may work it out for himself - I am sorry you are both cross with each other. Trainers and slippers sound good as needed. Keep safe.

Coxy11

Lovely to still receive a gift from your Nan @Spendless - could you perhaps put it towards the gold chain you were wanting? I know the gold price is at an all time high atm, so not sure what sums we are talking about.

Glad the boys were happy with their gifts @teabody and that you all had a good day.

I agree with @Auti about the unboxing/embracing something new @MrsRyan as I too struggle and have to prepare myself. I also think spending 24/7 with someone when you usually have work/studying/socialising to break up the week can lead to disagreements, Christmas time or not. We haven't been too bad this year and I only let DH get away with falling asleep at the dinner table because it was just us and no visitors. Saying that though, if we'd had visitors we wouldn't have gone to the pub.

We went to a NT property yesterday with MIL and FIL which very much blew away the cobwebs as was a chilly day. Ended up in M&S Cafe afterwards as the cafe at the NT was rammed. We just had a soup and afterwards I got a diary HP at £3.50 as hadn't got one prior. Think their cards were also HP but I wasn't sure so left it. Lots of decorations/crackers and tableware including adorable serving plates were HP too but we have lots, and some we didn't use this year. I also got a wall calendar reduced to £4 from the NT place as we didn't receive one for Christmas. 

We are going to SIL/BIL's today. He's determined to host and is putting on a brave face despite his diagnosis. A few appointments next week for him followed by treatment starting the week after. I have the start of yet another UTI - which seems petty in comparison - but it's so uncomfortable. DS2 is going out today and I will drop DH off at the station en route home, so I'll be needed for a station pick up later - hoping they can co-ordinate timings. DD is seeing the panto dancer this evening - so looks like an evening by myself which is no bad thing. I will deploy a HWB and watch wallpaper TV!!

ETA: ILs loved the recreated photo of DH, BIL and SIL and they did not stop talking about it. It made them laugh and cry in equal measure.

Spendless

Glad the IL's loved the photo Coxy.  

I am swaying towards buying jewellery with my Christmas money. Partly because I've come to the conclusion the only way I wil rebuild my collection is by purchasing it myself (the chain not ordered was on a half price offer which is why I was so annoyed it wasn't done, I've not seen a similar bargain since) and partly due to a conversation with a colleague who I told about the money and she said her Mum had died about a week before her birthday, left her money in a similar manner and for a long time she couldn't fetch herself to spend it, eventually she did and bought a bracelet with charms all that remind her of her mum. My Mum suggested us using the money to finish off our bedroom but we bought a light shade yesterday in Next sale for £17 had been £42, had already got the bedding. Mum paid for the curtain pole the day I had a meltdown over everything, there's not enough to replace the new futniture we need and curtains seem too impersonal to spend the money on, so I think it does need to be something for me.

Yesterday I went back to Boots and bought some more sales items from the toiletry range. I bought them because I can tell this year we've struggled more with paying for and getting presents for the family. That's partly because I was out of work for several months earlier this year, partly because DD was initially going to spend Christmas abroad so wasn't going to be able to buy her much, partly because we had unexpected expenses relating to DD's studying abroad  and partly because when my car got written off I hadn't realised how much of a struggle it would be to get anywhere without one to look round shops.

Currently I am working on a temp contract in a shop in a 'dying' city centre. No guarantee that this time next year that I'll still be there or that the shop will!  By buying the half price toiletries though I don't expect them to be a main gift for anyone, it does help with DD's stocking or as extra items for the family as I'm also mindful that if I hadn't taken gifts round for my parents on Xmas eve they wouldn't have had anything at all to open when they woke up on Christmas day, which makes me upset for them (accepting they chose to 'cancel Christmas') when I compare it to December 25ths of yesteryear with extended family all around and parents getting numerous gifts from clients/customers/friends (Mum was a hairdresser, Dad a bus driver for a special needs school for many years). This way I get to 'bulk up'. I've thought there are 3 women to split things between (myself, Mum, DD) and 3 men (DH, DS and Dad) so I can either give an item in full or  divide up. There's only FIL in addition but he is so difficult to buy for. He's in a care home due to physical rather than mental health disability but his needs are increasing so I can't predict in advance anything he may need or appreciate. It has slightly skinted me buying now but I know that come next Christmas I will reap the benefits of buying in advance. I'm also aware I need to have a budget for gifts and save all year round.

Later I am working. I dont mind as I got this weekend off (thought the last full one for a few weeks) got a run of 4 days off last week and the same this week and haven't had to work CE or NYE. 

Auti

I agree to buying jewellery - it is something personal to you that will give good memories that will last and something tactile to hold. A perfect choice. The money is for memories and not for day to day

hope your working today is calm and not too stressful

mandco

Sounds like everyone’s Xmas went well overall 

@mrsryan sorry to hear dh was so blasé about his gifts & that things have been tense since - I will say living with neuro diverse people his response is kinda in keeping with theirs but even if that is a factor it’s not an excuse and he should be capable of at least trying to make an effort even if he finds it hard. We work hard to source thoughtful & meaningful gifts that it hurts when that effort gets dismissed or feels unappreciated.  You give wonderful gifts and your friends & family are very lucky.

@Spendless what a lovely surprise to get a gift from your nan I agree with the others I’d put it towards a piece of jewellery you want that way it’ll be a meaningful & sentimental to remember her.
its often the case that the cheap and cheerful / freebies end up being a favourite gift - it really proves it’s the thought that counts. 
Shopping the sales is a great way to pad the present stash/pile I call them padding presents things they’d need any way so they have more gifts under the tree  to open - toiletry gift sets are always useful and can be split to make more personalised hampers ect 

@Coxy11 sorry to hear about your bil. Hope you’re feeling better soon uti’s are not pleasant 

been a hectic few days here despite agreeing they come over lunch time sdd turned up just after 11am and finally left about 9pm despite several not so subtle hints -already told oh I’m not doing it next year especially as taz took himself off upstairs he doesn’t cope too well with them and by time they’d left he was already asleep so I literally got to spend no time with him Xmas eve  :'(. He woke up at 1.30am Xmas day but fair play to him despite the fact he knew I knew he was wake he didn’t disturb me or even ask if he could open anything he just watched YouTube videos and waited till I got up. He then crashed mid afternoon so I went for a nap as wasn’t feeling great and woke up about 10pm - oops 
Boxing Day dd & her bf were here and bar a few minor hiccups- I forgot to cook the pigs in blankets  the potatoes I brought were naff inside and 1/2 weren’t useable so didn’t end up with as many roasties as planned and oh turned the air fryer off as there was nothing in it- it was pre heating so had to start it again which meant timings were off Xmas dinner was a success. They absolutely loved the Lego set and apparently were saving up to get it so they now have some free spends too.
sat we went to the zoo for the glow event it was lovely but absolutely freezing - personally I didn’t think the lights were as good as last years but it was still really pretty did spend way too much on hot snacks & drinks though tbh needed it to warm us up as we went so early - next time I think we’ll just do the evening.
Not really found much in sales online - I checked out boots Xmas eve but even first thing everything I’d have been interested in was either oos or more expensive than it was beforehand, did ordered a fragrance gift set for oh as it worked out cheaper than buying the bottle alone and I had enough points to cover it so that’s going away for Father’s Day. Popped in Asda for a loaf of bread after glow and the Xmas stock was virtually all gone did manage to pick up a couple of lynx sets £2 each for the present stash and 2 rolls of gift wrap 74p & matching tags 25p for dd. Not sure if there will be anything left in the shops by time I actually go shopping in the new year - we agreed a no going shopping ( only local express for bread /milk if needed ) till after new years this year - look online only but struggling to really find anything worth getting.

Spendless

Oh gosh mandco, that's a long visit on any day let alone on Christmas eve! Definately have boundaries in place for next year.

I ordered Mum the book vase today because the discount code said it was available until Dec 31st and I never know if they mean inclusive of that date or not. The discount code paid for all but 40p of the shipping costs, plus you could also  select a free bookmark, which I intend to giv to DD probably for her bday in March.

This represents around half of Mum's Xmas 2026 present already bought, but I don't really want to get caught out again with whatever the year throws at me.

Our oven has stopped workng. It was professionally cleaned on Dec 23rd, thankfuly worked cooking a turkey on Xmas day and then stoped working on Boxing day! Not happy.

I have no plans for tomorrow or even NYD, mostly due to DH picking friends up from the airport. He picked the other party up yesterday. .I have already said you're not doing this again next year and he agreed. I will just have to listen to DD's stories of NYE as she has 2 invites, 1 to a large house via someone she knows and has been sent a dress code for -lol. She intially queried what it meant to DH, lord knows why, he'd struggle to tell you the difference between a bikini and a cardigan! The other invite was in the capital as a +1 to a nepo baby's party, held I believe at their famous parents house. I said you'd be signing  an NDA and handing in your phone, I think then she was happy she'd decided on the country house invite

Yesterday and today I've been to both our Boots stores. City centre has least stock left but not a huge amount in the one in the retail park near me. The days of plenty left in the days of guessing the 70% off sale date are long gone. Paid for some half price fake tan from a gift set for DD with points which has used most up, but DH doesn't get paid till tomorrow and we've really felt that this year so was happy to not have to spend real cash!

mandco

Happy New Year 

Coxy11

Happy New Year to you all 

Visit to ILs on Sunday was okay, bit of an elephant in the room (due to small children present) but BIL trying to stay positive whilst SIL drowns her sorrows after a year of sobriety. I guess nobody knows how they would feel getting a diagnosis like that, so no judgement here. There is a meeting on Monday with the consultant where they will find our more about the treatment available.

Meanwhile I developed a full blown UTI so stuck to water at ILs then hot-footed it to the pharmacy on Monday for ABs which thankfully have done the trick. Not before I spent two entire days in bed with both UTI and migraine, temperature and general fatigue. Luckily our NYE was quite tame compared to previous years, with BFF and her DH coming to us, and a stroll to the local pub. My tinnitus is very bad since NYE - hoping that it sorts itself out.

Given I lost two days when I could have been out bargain hunting, not least for special Christmas cards and general ones (as used up my entire stash this year) I only ventured out today as needed a birthday card. Not much in the way of sales in our local market town, but did get some cute cards (no specific writing on them) which will do for Christmas 2026.

I'm cross on your behalf about SDD taking out your entire CE @mandco. I don't know what to suggest but perhaps book an event for CE 2026 that means you're not in on the day and she has to adult with her own children??

Some good bargains there @Spendless and great to split them for those you buy for.

Our first family birthdays are the end of this month/beginning of next month, so need to get my thinking cap on about what to buy.

Will there be a new thread and any idea of a title for 2026?