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

Coxy11

Card Factory offer:
https://www.cardfactory.co.uk/christmas/christmas-cards-8-for-8/?utm_campaign=1831552_BAU_XMAS8FOR8_15.10.25&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email%20marketing&dm_i=4Y66,1398G,6UFF9A,54WSQ,1

Spendless

That's a really good card offer. Think I can potentially make it up to 8 cards if I include buying some family ones on behalf of my adult kids.

Had a painter/decorator round for a quote yesterday following our bedroom being replastered, he can do it, but he has no availability for almost another month. Just as well it's me, Mr S and the dog at best here currently, often just me and the dog. We are having to sleep in what is/was our kids bedrooms with all our furniture all over. I feel it's like sleeping in what I imagine a squat would be like (and I probs have rose tinted glasses on for that) with just a bed you can crawl into and everything else everwhere. Was quite touched the dog however came and lay down on the floor at the side on the heaps of extra bedding etc that is just laid on the floor. He didn't care, he was comfy (he has his own bed and several sofas downstairs he could kip on instead) but meant he could be close by. A few years back me and DD saw a homelss man with his dog and he threw it a ball and the dog so excitedly chased it and fetched it back, just enjoying the moment regardles of circs they lived in. Dogs just love you unconditionally.

Anyway all this means my present cupboard is out of action till mid November and no space to keep elsewhere. So I need a plan in my head for what and when to buy for everyone. Follwoing a convo last night with my Dad about thinking I've missed the dog's booster vacs and will need to start again with them (and pay more!) and can't leave it in case we ever need to put the dog in kennels, Dad said being stuck is how he feels due to Nan situation that he can't even go for a drink cos what if he later receives a call and he's needed. I mean he could ring me and DH, we live near my parents both drive, both have cars, prev experience tells me he wouldn't though. Unfortunately I feel he made a rod for his own back earlier this year when he cancelled a hol (to celebrate Mum's 80th) last min as Nan was about to be released from hospital and though Nurse on 1 ward told parents them being away  wouldn't be an issue, Nan  transferred to another ward and Nurse told them it was. Consequently parents cancelled their hol and lost their money (insurance didn't cover this). I gently said to Dad that all that did was send a message to everyone concerned, hospital, medical profession, adult social services and Nan herself that parents would do anything in order to provide care needs and this wasn't fair on them (they are elderly themselves) and that what they need to do is start looking at what they could do and enjoying stuff. I made suggestions of going to a  nearby city  theatre to a matinee so they can catch the train there and back and gave Dad a brochure I'd just got for ideas. Anyway this led to me thinking about what to get Dad as he's difficult to buy for and also my lack of storage space and some independant restraurant/hotels here (long established) do vouchers for meals. I'm thinking of one that covers Sunday dinner for two.

So now my gift list looks like this.

Nan - Hamper of nibbly bits (maybe I can clear some space in a kitchen cupboard to store it).
Mum - Reading cushion, book, biscuits, maybe cosy socks 
Dad - Flat cap and restuarant voucher 
Daughter - Stocking of bits due to being abroad.
Son - Clothing probably plus add bits for the 'bonfire  hamper' 
DH - I don't have a clue  tbh but we can have a convo about how if it's looking to chaotic we will just address situation in Jan and have something we'd both like then. 

Coxy11

Good idea about the restaurant voucher @Spendless. Maybe they could book it when they know both you and DH are around in case of a Nan emergency. 

I’m off to London this afternoon. Was meant to be meeting my ex-boss but she cancelled on me last night. This means I have 3 hours to spare in central London. I’m going to head for Regent Street to look for a dress for a ‘do’ next week. I’m at the theatre with DD, DSis and niece tonight.  Might pop into Fortnum and Mason too but I’m in London again on Saturday for lunch with friends so could save it for then. 

Spendless

Back from browsing M&S foodhall looking for inspiration for Nan's pressie. Didn't find much inspiration tbh. The  mini xmas cake looked beautiful but was a whacking £9! It was first place I've looked so no idea if this is standard price? Wondered if she would actually eat a mini xmas pud - great if she does and if cheese straws are a bit 'modern' for her - she's very traditional or as my Mum would describe asks for things that were discontinued in 1957! An ad came up for hampers from Ringtons so I might end up ordering from there instead - will sound Mum out on her thoughts.

If anyone uses money wallets, they are in Card Factory now think 39p each or were so many (5??) for £1. 

Picked up a Boots gift catalogue too. Know we've had discussions in past as to whether they still do them. 

Coxy11

Lots of individual bits in Aldi @Spendless - nougat, fudge, candied nuts, individual Christmas cake/puddings. Also some lovely ‘dessert’ chocolates. Appreciate that might be viewed as ‘lesser’ than M&S. 

I bought a book whilst in London yesterday. It’s for niece (on my side). We don’t buy for DSis or BIL but have still bought for the adult children. I know DSis has ordered my three children something (asked for ring sizes) so once this Christmas is over I’ll chat about no gift buying going forward. That will be another 3 off the list 🤗

mandco

@spendiess Waitrose & Morrison have mini Christmas cakes showing online £3ish I’ve previously found them in Tesco & sains too but not seen any yet this year.  Frustrating you have to wait a month for the decorator to be available you’d wouldn’t think there would that much demand with the current economy crunch.

@coxy11 thanks for the works cards deal heads up - I forget to check their website great value especially on personalised cards 

went clothes shopping with dd yesterday as she wanted to look for some bits for her trip to Sweden 
Picked up a couple of arts & crafts sets for the girls - less than 1/2 price of elsewhere and an escape room board game for Taz in tkmaxx - she did see a couple of Steve Madden bags she liked so might get her one of those - have seen a couple listed on vint@d a bit cheaper so will keep an eye on those .
sportsdirect had a bunch of reductions/clearance lots of board games & toys under £10 - they also had a quite nice Xmas stocking in red&white with special delivery from the North Pole on for £2.99 down from £10.
Not sure if it’s store specific but my local Poundland had a bunch of Christmas decs reduced to 50p 

evri seem to be having a lot of issues lately (still waiting on my parcel from 3 weeks ago apparently I have to wait till November before I can say it’s lost ) its been so bad my local store have ended their contract as a drop off/collection point it was meant to come into effect in November but they ceased accepting drop off with immediate effect this week following a series of issues over non collection though they are still taking deliveries till nov. it’s going to be a lot harder shipping stuff as my nearest drop off point with them is now a car/bus trip away rather than walkable and I sold 5 things so far today - may have to consider using other couriers for vint@d going forward & I’ll probably end up paying extra for home delivery on anything I buy too as the extra travel wont be worth the saving for click & collect anymore.

Diane1276

Coxy11 said:

Lots of individual bits in Aldi @Spendless - nougat, fudge, candied nuts, individual Christmas cake/puddings. Also some lovely ‘dessert’ chocolates. Appreciate that might be viewed as ‘lesser’ than M&S. 

I bought a book whilst in London yesterday. It’s for niece (on my side). We don’t buy for DSis or BIL but have still bought for the adult children. I know DSis has ordered my three children something (asked for ring sizes) so once this Christmas is over I’ll chat about no gift buying going forward. That will be another 3 off the list 🤗

Those Ald1 dessert chocolates are considerably nicer than many more expensive ones in my opinion, including the ones from a certain chain that sells only chocolate and rhymes with motel....

Spendless

I'm a muppet! The present cupboard isn't currently out of action, we never had any plastering there (but did in an adjoining one). Gifts are currently all still in there but all cupboards are being painted so will need to be out for then. After today's lunchtime cover at work I have 2 days off then a horrible run of 5 days in (did I really use to work full time -lol). So plan is get all pressies out of gift cupboard, look thru, sort into neater pile and find boxes for them to go in when it's time for cupboard emptiyng.  Go to Aldi and check out their range for ideas re Nan. There's a potential change of plans for DD over Christmas so I also need to look thru what I currently have for her if I'm no longe restricted to buying bits that travel well.  

Coxy11

Just a quickie to say there's 20% off Benefit at M&S currently, making items cheaper than in Boots. Boots do have a Benefit promo with %'s off items if you buy multiple items.

mandco

@coxy11 forgot to say thanks for the link wavy circle I’ve just ordered a set for dd and another for her friend who is moving nearly 200 miles away in the new year for work - she was spiked earlier in the year while out with dd who thankfully was able to get her home safely. I did get charged for postage despite it saying is free if you spend £10 or more? 

@Spendless at least you realised the cupboard wasnt actually out of action after all and have time to sort it out - do you know when you’ll know for sure about what dd can do or its is a case of wait & see? 

The evri drama continues I now have several parcels missing that they claim have been delivered but haven’t -they have loads missing and the store manager said they are trying to get it sorted but evri won’t even answer the phone or reply to messages. Not having any luck sorting it with vinted either as evri claim they’ve been delivered so they won’t accept them as lost so might end up with no goods and no refund either.