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

Spendless

I wrote out a long post earlier and it clearly didn't take. No idea why. It's years since that last happened.

You did well with the tights and chocs Coxy. I have to say I'm glad my new retail job it's quiet from early/mid afternoon, which is down to both location and customer base and isn't open late nights. My friend who is job hunting fetched up with the JC about why she's struggling to find something even basic and was told by their advisor that since the increase in NMW and the lowering of the amount where comapnies have to start paying NI for their workers, employers have started cherry picking on who they take on, whereas prior to this it was easy(ish) to find something.   Keep going you'll get there. 

Today I've booked for me and DD to watch a show when we go to see her. Gosh to some of the prices though, they make West End tickets feel like you're shopping in Aldi. The boys weren't interested. I know Mr S would rather him and DS have a drinking session during the time we're at the theatre.

There's 2 bdays to go till we're done for this year. One is mine this weekend. The other DH's a week later. In between these dates we go away. Once we're back, I'll concentrate on Xmas gifts. I know or have an idea what to get most people which makes things easier.

mandco

@spendless sounds like some of the tix you looked at are we’re extremely expensive if they made west end prices seems like aldi 
Dh & ds doing their own thing sounds like the best option if they’re not really into shows especially at those prices.

birthday wishes for the weekend hope you have a Lovely break. 

Dd is off to Sweden for a long weekend at the end of November long story short her bf is going to some convention but his mate can no longer go so she’s now going instead. She’s hoping to visit the Xmas market in Stockholm while there I think it’s about 45 mins by public transport from where they are staying anyone been?  Anything specific thats worth looking out for? 

fionaandphil

My dad worked in Sweden over a few winters. It is extremely cold, make sure she has very good thermal layers! 

Spendless

DD went to Stockholm a few years ago with 2 friends. It was New Year so she missed any Christmas markets etc. Prices are expensive, especially alcohol. She was aware of that so her and friends bought booze at the airport duty free and took on the plane that way and then each evening they had drinkis in their airbnb before going out for something to eat. She really enjoyed going.

My nearest Boots had got about 80% of  their Xmas stock out when I went in on Wednesday. It's only a small/medium sized store so they wouldn't stock anything premium. At first glance I couldn't see anything that appealed but that might be due to my reduced gift list.

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Beshki

Looking for some small stockings to fill for a couple of our recipients. Had intended on Hobbycraft at just £3 each but have now found out that our most local store has closed and so it’s either a 40 mile round trip to collect them or £5 postage. For just 4 stockings it doesn’t seem to make much sense to do either of those things. B&M have them for £5 but really that’s more than I wanted to pay, I just liked the idea of a few small gifts to unwrap from a stocking. Especially for the elderly relatives who I’m sure will really enjoy that.

Spendless

@Beshki - Have you looked onine the likes of Shein and Amazon etc? Home bargains? They weren't stockings but I bought in TK Maxx a set of 4  small fabric drawstring bags that had slogans on saying things like Seasons greetings etc on them. Think they cost less than a tenner but this is a couple of years ago. Have you tried charity shops either as pre-loved items or some of their own goods they sell. Someone last year told me to check out Chazzas for a Christmas jumper I needed and sure enough I found a gorgeous one in there for £3. It might be slightly too early but if it isn't then this is the time to snap things up. 

Failing that how arts and crafty are you? Buy a couple of pairs of fluffy socks and attach a ribbon/loop yourself? 

mandco

Thanks for the tips I’ll make sure she gets some thermals & duty free

beshki I hate paying for postage on small orders too - some great suggestions by Spendless and Poundland or similar sometimes have cheaper stockings 

well after a long and slightly expensive vets visit this morning looks like we’re getting kittens for Xmas  . Not quite sure how that happened beyond the obvious as she’s a house cat and doesn’t go out - guessing the workmen we had in a while ago left the door open despite being asked not too. Totally unexpected and certainly not what I’d have chosen but it’s a lot better than the alternative which was a potentially life threatening issue. 

Spendless

OMG babies (kittens) for Christmas. Well I suppose if someone in the household  has to announce an unexpected unplanned pregnancy it might as well be the cat. 😆.
We got our dog in a similar manner. Owners took  (mummy) dog to vets who said 'shes pregnant'. Owners were 2 young gay lads who hadnt given any thought to their female dog living in the same house as an un neutered male, not a consequence they had to apply to themselves.

Forgot to say mandco the ticket prices were well into several hundreds each! This was for just ordinary seats not a package including dinner and a glass of wine like Id expect for that amount. Eventually I found a site where you select your date and it showed the cheapest priced ticket, I ended up with a choice of 2 shows that way, 1 in the Gods, the other whivh Ive gone for in the stalls as they were on a promotion.

Visited next town with Mum, but the 2 independents Ive bought jewellery from before had a lack of necklace stock and nothing suitable. Ended up buying something from Peacocks but did get a handbag from independent, so still supported a local business. 

On way home I had two vouchers for free coffees for a pub/restaurant/hotel. They were given to me from a job fayre I attended. Me and Mum had never been in before. It looked like the setting of an Agatha Christie novel, we sat in the lounge with clearly a set of older ladies that lunched, all in smart dresses but casual as had cardis over them. Meanwhile me & Mum were the only people in jeans, I had trainers on and we were claiming our free cuppas - lol. 

PennysIntoPounds

@Beshki go for big socks or pillowcases tied with ribbon, no need to spend extra. Or if you have (or buy) wine/gift bags then use them, much cheaper and looks classy

Blimey @mandco erm happy new kittens! I'm glad she at least doesn't have the worse alternative.

mandco

Spendless said:

OMG babies (kittens) for Christmas. Well I suppose if someone in the household  has to announce an unexpected unplanned pregnancy it might as well be the cat. 😆.
We got our dog in a similar manner. Owners took  (mummy) dog to vets who said 'shes pregnant'. Owners were 2 young gay lads who hadnt given any thought to their female dog living in the same house as an un neutered male, not a consequence they had to apply to themselves.

Forgot to say mandco the ticket prices were well into several hundreds each! This was for just ordinary seats not a package including dinner and a glass of wine like Id expect for that amount. Eventually I found a site where you select your date and it showed the cheapest priced ticket, I ended up with a choice of 2 shows that way, 1 in the Gods, the other whivh Ive gone for in the stalls as they were on a promotion.

Visited next town with Mum, but the 2 independents Ive bought jewellery from before had a lack of necklace stock and nothing suitable. Ended up buying something from Peacocks but did get a handbag from independent, so still supported a local business. 

On way home I had two vouchers for free coffees for a pub/restaurant/hotel. They were given to me from a job fayre I attended. Me and Mum had never been in before. It looked like the setting of an Agatha Christie novel, we sat in the lounge with clearly a set of older ladies that lunched, all in smart dresses but casual as had cardis over them. Meanwhile me & Mum were the only people in jeans, I had trainers on and we were claiming our free cuppas - lol. 

When you think about it that way definitely better the cat than one of the kids  . The vets thinks she’s due in about 3-4 weeks but said it could be sooner. Depending on when she has them they potentially could be ready to rehome just before Xmas but going to assume we’ll still have them and prepare accordingly - could be fun with the tree this year; so much for my hopes of a relatively stress free Christmas 
wow that is expensive for several hundred I’ve have expected dinner & drinks included too  
frustrating when you travel to shop and they don’t have anything glad you did find something though. The Agatha Christie setting with the ladies that lunch sounds like an experience even if you didn’t feel like you fitted in.  were the coffees worth it?

didn’t have time to stop & browse but the range have their full Xmas range out 
Been browsing the Xmas food offerings and there’s a few interesting options debating the red velvet Yule log at Tesco & the m&s dashing through the snow dessert though that ones pretty pricey at £22 that said a lot of the desserts options are pretty expensive this year.