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

lazysheep

Spendless said:

lazysheep said:

Spendless said:

Sorted Mums Xmas present, or at least got the bones of it. Someone local was advertising hand made  reading cushions, the ones that have a pocket at the front for a book. Ive ordered one, got a slight discount for being one of the first to respond. I'll order one of  the series of books, Ive previously read and believe Mum will enjoy and if when I see it all together think it lacks something will add a soft blanket.

That leaves me able to get my more difficult  to buy for Dad an experience as his gift. 

can you show me a reading cushion?  My mum reads loads and often in bed so thinking this might be a future idea I can shamefully steal!

Like a cushion but with a pocket at the front to store the book in. Other ideas for readers Ive used before is bookmarks either ornamental or one I bought Mum had an electronic dictionary as shed read a book that had a lot of unfamiliar words. I bought that at Waterstones. Heres a link for what I mean by reading cushion. 
 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/981320459/adultchild-reading-book-pillowcushions?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_d-home_and_living&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mCujI34tOGyrYHdcParcOgdN6QNiwSRIBamec-ZA3WEbZbpSNB5SacaAvjIEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_22230387119_176511378444_732865666751_aud-2080357863802:pla-303628061699_m__981320459engb_102858184&utm_custom2=22230387119&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=22230387119&gbraid=0AAAAADutTMe6Y-dIFb06HvO3aBtb2G0vT&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mCujI34tOGyrYHdcParcOgdN6QNiwSRIBamec-ZA3WEbZbpSNB5SacaAvjIEALw_wcB

Thank you!

lazysheep

Spendless said:

B&M have their selection box/xmas chocs out and also their toiletries range. I definitely dont remember stock being out this early before because I normally struggle to find something for Nan's mid September bday.

That's good to know, although definitely need to keep an eye on dates if things are out this early..

PennysIntoPounds

I found a rose toiletries set that a neighbour didn't want so that'll be useful for dividing into stockings and gift bundles. Can't beat a free present!

princesskitty29

I meant to say I took some recycling to Boots the other day, I needed some foundation so that was the £10 spent then with the bonus I had £12 on my advantage card, I managed to get some toiletries essentials that I needed and a face mask and face cloth to go towards my friends Christmas present for free. There was a big section at the back of the store that was pretty much empty so I assume they have cleared it for the Christmas stock. Next had a stand with Christmas cards on it and The Range were clearing their summer stock, again I assume to bring in the Christmas stock. Aldi have also got lots of the Heroes and Quality Street tubs in.

DS1 really likes Prime and collecting the bottles, I found one in Aldi he hasn’t had yet so I got that for Christmas and they also had one called ‘The Nightmare’ (I know, appealing ) which I bought for his Halloween bag. I was just sorting some stuff in my bedroom and found a pair of mens Next gloves that I had forgotten I’d bought half price in the sale for FiL so I’ve stashed those in the Christmas box.

I’ve been making a plan to do better at getting ahead this year and I really want to stick to it, my current plan looks like this:

September – finish Christmas bunting gifts

October – begin wrapping all presents that I have

November – write Christmas cards, make food gifts (chutney that lasts ages) and make Christmas dinner food ahead and freeze (Yorkies, bread sauce, stuffing etc)

These are the kind of things I tend to put off thinking I’ve got ages and then I end up scrabbling around trying to get it all done around all of the other things going on in December! If I don’t stick to this plan this year and end up frazzled in December feel free to kick me off this thread!

@mandco is it worth setting up a new account with Quidco? I hadn’t used it in ages so they were obviously tempting me back, hopefully I’ll get the £10 bonus before Christmas, it just depends how long Argos takes to confirm my cashback.

@PenniesIntoPounds thank you for the heads up on the wine. I know what you mean about a free present! DH renewed his membership with Luton Town FC and they are giving a few gifts with the membership this year, one of them being a branded bottle opener. DH doesn’t drink but my FiL will often have a bottle of ale and is also a Luton fan so that’s going towards his Christmas present!

@Spendless yes I’d also be envious of the girls stocking filler bargains having two boys! Thanks for the heads up on B&M, I want to go there as soon as I get a moment alone as I ran out of time to go there when I was shopping the other day.

mandco

@princesskitty29  Taz has a collection of prime bottles too haven’t seen the nightmare one yet so will keep an eye out. Sports direct sometimes have different bottles from other stores - usually sport team ones.
Always great to get bits for “free” or find a forgotten gift 
crazy to think there’s really just 3 months left till December- planning one type of task a month to focus on is a great idea. I’m gonna borrow that and try to get on top of things a bit more rather than my usual 101 things on the go but nothing finished on time. Fingers crossed this year feel more organised for both of us - though not sure it’s really Xmas unless there’s at least some chaos 
last year after years of saying I wanted to be done early I actually finished the wrapping at a reasonable time Xmas eve instead of my usual Xmas day early am last minute rush so there’s hope for all of us 

homebargains were starting to put out Xmas stock in my local yesterday 

a friend of mine is downsizing and gave me a carrier bag full of Xmas gift bags & a lovely wicker hamper yesterday 

Ordered a couple of bits from the Argos clearance sale for the Xmas donations box -including a goo jitzu toy £2.50 & baby comforters @ £1.80 each 
aldi had a load of character toys in today very popular based on how much people were buying - I did pick up a couple of Disney scratch art & more adult style colouring books £2.99 each. 

My colonoscopy - they removed a couple of tiny polyps because they were there so obviously have to wait on histology to be 100% but they don’t expect them to be anything of concern and everything else looks good   

mandco

Xmas is starting
sains had the mince pies ect out 
boots have star gifts & up to 1/2 price on advent calendars online 
small amounts of Xmas items appearing on various shops online 

picked up a few bits in Aldi I got some cloud sand for taz’s stocking £1.69 they also had various slimes 
Stitch colouring set in a carry case £6.99 & diamond art set £3.99 for dgd2 
colour your own squishy toys 99p / sew your own tote/beauty bag 99p - brought a couple extra of each for the Xmas donations box
scented dog toy £1.99 - got the vanilla star fish one and it smells great 
Oozey goozey unicorn slime vending machine £6,99 they also had dinosaurs - https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/branded-oozey-goozey-vending-machine-000000000601733001  usually around £15-£20
They have some really good prices on character toys/arts & crafts at the moment though selling out fast 

asda have loads of reductions/offers on household /stationery bits as part of the back to school/uni range so might be worth checking if you need any extras for Xmas as they had up to 1/2 price on kitchen supplies & cleaning/storage 

mandco

John Lewis Xmas section is live - https://www.johnlewis.com/christmas/c5000025?tmad=c&tmcampid=51
so it’s boots https://www.boots.com/christmas

princesskitty29

I had to pop to B&M and Home Bargains last week and picked up a few more bits. From B&M I got Oreo cereal £2 for DS1, Elf Haribo tube for DS1’s treat box £1.25, a dinosaur bubble wand £1 for DS2’s stocking and a cockapoo mug £3 for my MiL, she absolutely adores our cockapoo Poppy so I couldn’t resist it! I want to put some biscuits with it, I’m sure I’ve seen Borders biscuits sold in individual packs somewhere, Home Bargains I think?

In Home Bargains I got a squishy bead ball for DS1’s stocking 89p, two small pet blankets £2.99 each and Christmas cake flavoured treats £1.49 for my auntie’s two little French bulldogs, Ronnie and Reggie. I know it’s not strictly necessary to buy the dogs gifts but we all feel like our dogs are part of the family so always get them a token gift.

Lastly in Tesco I found glass sundae dishes for 55p reduced from £1.75, I bought two to make a ‘Just Add Ice Cream’ hamper for BiL and his wife. I mentioned doing it a year or two ago but ended up finding something else on that occasion.

@mandco that sounds exactly like me too – 101 things on the go but nothing finished in time! I think because I start shopping earlier I always think I’m more ahead than I actually am. Wow you have certainly been like a magpie with the offers/Christmas stock coming in, thanks for the heads up on everything! I’m glad to hear all looked good with your colonoscopy, I know they’re pretty awful to go through but worth it for peace of mind.

mandco

@princesskitty29 thanks

sounds like your found some ideal bits for the boys stockings it’s the thing I struggle with most now they are older 
Tesco sometimes have the boarders individually wrapped biscuits https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/312993176?srsltid=AfmBOoqdoX1pXegQyys66eqrXxdP7enCQDiamOQHoxeHysEzdgKWbNfO. 

I always buy for the pets too after all they’re part of the family 

Ordered taz a set of the penguin body sprays from boots for his birthday & another for Xmas as they are currently 1/2 price and they tend to go oos quickly. I got him some last year as a padding type present( practical gifts that bump up the present pile) and he really liked them but I wasn’t able to get anymore as they were part of the Xmas stock and went oos.  Might get him the duo or bumper set too if they become available while on the 1/2 price offer - currently oos. A few decent deals on the 1/2 price offer - the dove hand cream cracker set £3.75 - single tube is rrp £3.50 I buy it just to use it myself as it’s cheaper than buying separately at that price and last year I popped the nail file in dd’s stocking as it’s a quality glass one but it would make a nice gift,

I think your right buying early can make it feel like your doing well and there’s no rush as there’s plenty of time then suddenly it’s just weeks away and you realise there’s so much you wanted to get/do that you haven’t actually sorted yet. It’s September already and just 16 week's till Xmas which really is not long at all. We’re off to Butlin’s in a couple of weeks for taz’s birthday - we’re going a bit later this year as for some reason it was a lot more expensive to go his birthday week ( I paid just £37) after that I’ll have more Available spends and can concentrate fully on Xmas 

iceland had a small selection of Xmas sweets out at the weekend - I picked up some Lindt snowballs for dd’s stocking not cheap at £2.50 but she does love Lindt chocs. She’s after the new shortbread truffles ones https://www.lindt.co.uk/lindt-lindor-shortbread-milk-chocolate-truffles-200g but so far not seen them in stock in store anywhere and I refuse to pay an extra £4.95 for delivery.

Had an idea for the grandkids I saw these spinning chairs similar to https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/pre-school-and-electronic-learning/play-factory/play-factory-sensory-spinning-chair-blue/p/250815 . I know when they are here they absolutely love spinning in taz’s gaming chair much to his annoyance so I think they’d love it,debating paying a bit extra for a more substantial one and getting them that as a joint present - What do you think  

Is a joint present a good idea? Or should I get separate gifts? They’d get a couple of other smaller gifts each but that would be their main gift.
know I already have a few bits for dgd1 but her birthday is a few days after Xmas so I can roll some of it over to that - I always buy separately for both as a lot of people end up buying her a joint Xmas & birthday gift.

Coxy11

Hi all,

We are back from our trip to Seattle - had a great time. We hadn't visited the US since 2015 and really noticed the cost of things especially eating out eeek. We visited the original Starbuck$ coffee shop and I got DIL a tote bag for part of her birthday gift in October. Other than that the only purchases were food/drink and a few tshirts for DS2 which he'll reimburse us for.

September is a heavy birthday month - MIL's tomorrow and we went to a garden centre earlier and bought a white hibiscus plant, plus some chocs from Sains. Really wanted New Berry Fruits but couldn't find them anywhere - think more of a Christmas thing possibly?? BIL is 50 on Friday and we are getting him a voucher for a michelin star restaurant close to where he lives. Need to order today so DH can print at work tomorrow. My birthday is next week - DS1/DIL bought me a Seattle Mariners baseball tshirt for the game we attended and DD bought me a Coolgear water bottle in Seattle. DS2 isn't working yet after graduating and DH earns very little now, so won't expect anything from them. Nephew is 18 at the end of the month and will get £50 cash unless I can find something as a keepsake instead.

DD and DIL are same day in October. Will canvass ideas from DS1 and DD but as previously mentioned, I have the tote bag and bought a felt witch whimsie today at a craft centre for DD - so very cute and she loves Wicked - watched it twice on the way to Seattle!

Thanks for the heads-up on Boots gifts @mandco I've had a look at their £10 Tuesday promotion today too as need some facial day cream but the brand I use (small company, vegan etc.) is now wanting £28 for 50ml and I have to have it posted for £4.99 unless I spend over £40. Noticed that the Olay day cream is down to £10 today so might order to click and collect as I feel I need a change/boost. Also looked at the Dove cracker which does seem incredible value. So glad to hear your procedure went well and nothing serious xx

Love the look of the spinning chairs for your DGC. Not sure if space is an issue and a joint, more robust one would be better? How are they are sharing things.....?!

Sounds like you're off to a great start @princesskitty29 - as you may recall, I wanted to slim down the present buying due to our change in circumstances but this hasn't happened. I would like to spend September getting my list updated and noting some ideas/buying ahead if I can. I don't know what the next few months will look like for me getting another job - possibly something in the pipeline via my sister but no guarantees. In the meantime I have applied for JSA for the first time ever - not sure I'll be eligible but nothing ventured and having paid into the system since I started work at 16 I don't know why I feel bad claiming! 

One thing I did see today at the Craft Centre which I could possibly do is blind date books - a nice quality CS book wrapped up with a short synopsis on the front, bookmark, bar of choc, hot choc sachet, popping corn sachet, etc. DD got me something similar last Christmas from Etsy I think, but these were in a little cotton tote bag A5 size and were so cute and only £8. Variation on a theme from @Spendless book cushion I guess?