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

princesskitty29

Not much going on here at the moment, except I’m a bit stressed because I have kind of forgotten/not forgotten it’s my mums birthday this Sunday! I know that sounds strange, it’s because I know her birthday is the 16th, but my brain has been so sure that her birthday is the weekend after next, even though I know what the date is. It’s bizarre, my mind seems to work in funny ways these days! I don’t live near her so I have to post things which takes longer. I will speak to her about it later, she’s lovely and would never hold it against me. I need to be better organised!

Mother’s Day is actually on my wedding anniversary this year, we are going to a wedding evening do the night before and will be home early hours as it’s a fair drive away, as well as having other family members staying overnight so I don’t know how much opportunity there will be to celebrate Mother’s Day or our anniversary!

@PenniesIntoPounds thanks for the heads up about the gift sets, they look lovely! I know what you mean though, when I’m out and about I have to keep reminding myself that I’m trying to declutter! Great find on Olio, I use that app quite a lot to rehome things and sometimes pick up the odd gem.

@_Dolly_Rocker_ Hello and welcome! Good to have you here, you are definitely in the right place! Wow your savings pot is great already! It’s such a good thing to do, I started that last year and it definitely takes the edge off come Christmas. It made me laugh when you said you spend more time shopping for dogs than people, they are so special and I love getting a little treat for my dog. I’m sure it has its challenges but it must be quite rewarding being a dog walker?

@Coxy11 don’t worry, you are obviously better than me at remembering to redeem your treasures! It’s great you are still doing the hiking, I really want to get back to doing more stuff like that but my foot still isn’t right after my op in October and I now seem to have the same issue with my other foot so I don’t know when both feet will feel normal again! It’s rubbish that your £5 Body Shop voucher is almost wiped out but like you say it is a small win if you get something you normally buy discounted.

@Spendless I’m glad to hear your DS is doing well these days. I never think to split things down, you’re so good at it!

mandco

Welcome dolly rocker sounds like you’ve made a good start already

Penniesintopounds those BH sets are very pretty guessing they’re pushing as mothers day gifts. I’d normally pick some up as they’re ideal for the present stash but don’t have anyone specific in mind so going to resist - trying to save for a holiday next year. I think that’s half the battle when your trying to budget/save its so easy to buy things as they’re on offer/a bargain but if you don’t really need them it’s a actually just a waste of money.

Coxy. Does he like Minecraft? I know there’s a new film coming at beginning of April which gives the option of cinema tix ect or if he’s into Lego there are some new Minecraft themed sets out and a few are pretty reasonable.

Spendless my older ones are getting a medium egg each currently on offer £2,50 in Sainsbury’s. Easter eggs are such a rip off now and tbh I think they’d prefer cash anyway but it’s alway nice to get at least 1 egg.
taz gets a bit extra as he’s still quite a bit younger he’ll get a couple of small eggs ( he’s dairy free so not a lot of choice especially as he doesn’t like fancy flavours)and some gummies for an Easter egg hunt.

The grandkids have chocolate kittens from aldi( they had the puppy last year) and I’ve ordered them a dress and some sticker sets each. Again I’m cutting back on the budget this year so they wont be getting as much - trying to resist the usual oh they’d love xyz so I buy it.

sold a few bits on vinted and used some of my balance to get dgd2 a gorgeous Disney Xmas jumper to put away brand new with tag just £7 inc p&p my 1st money neutral gift of the year. Came across it by accident i was browsing Disney in general but I was surprised at how many Xmas themed bits there are on there at the moment - might be a good time to look if your after any Xmas jumpers ect for this year - they’re crazy expensive at full price later in the year when they usually only get worn a few times anyway. 

_Dolly_Rocker_

@princesskitty29 - Aw it is great at times but can be a challenge. I do it part time so don't take out huge groups. Most I have at one time is 4. By the time I get all my clients, my 2, my sisters 2, my pals dogs I need to buy for 26  - well I don't need to but I do. Oh actually that just reminds me I bought them all Nightmare Before Christmas bandanas from Primark - all reduced from £4 to £1 so not much more shopping for them this year! I transfer my savings as soon as I get paid, I'm sick of being so skint in December and January or being skint and having to pay for stuff with CC. No more of that, I will be organised.

@mandco - Well done on the Vinted sales. I really need to get some stuff listed on there. Good idea about the Christmas Disney stuff. I might have a wee look. 

Spendless

Thanks for the heads up re Sainsbury's Easter eggs. I don't have a nectar card but Mr S does so I'll ask him to get some. That seems a nice compromise.  Anyone know if Tesco have already done their clubcard price on medium eggs? I suspect  they'll follow suit soon if not.

princesskitty - I think I always tend to notice when you can make things cheaper by splitting them down just due to the amount of females I used to buy for when my gift list was longer.   There was both Mums. my 2 Nans, 2 nieces . both me and Mr S have a sister and of course DD who as you're probably aware has never outgrown me doing 'party bags' for any given occasion!  I  also usually worked in an office full of women. Now for various reasons there's only Nan, Mum and daughter  all with contrasting tastes and needs and where I now work we do Secret Santa. I think it's harder to do when you've got mostly males to buy for as the gifts available aimed at that market don't tend to be able to be split as easily. 

_Dolly_Rocker_

@Spendless - I haven't been to Tesco so not sure. Will they tell you online? 

mandco

Spendless - Tesco had the medium eggs on offer for £2.45 a couple of weeks ago I missed it as saw it in my local express and thought oh I’ll get them when I go the the main store but the offer ended before I got there - back up to full price now so not sure if they’ll reduce that size again. Sainsbury’s reduced theirs after the tesco offer ended.  Re the nectar card oh just has a screen shot of mine off the app he uses if he shops without me so I still get the points.

Off the the outlet tomorrow- need to return some trainers I ordered online & didn’t fit so as that’s my nearest store I can justify a trip ( ok I could post them back but it takes ages that way)  could use my birthday Lindt offer while I’m there but do I really need to buy £10 worth of chocolate? Probably not but might see if they have an Easter bits in as that could be a deciding factor. 

princesskitty29

I’ve managed to pick up a couple of bits this week, Tesco had a set of Beauticology unicorn bath salts for £1.99 reduced from £7 so I picked those up for my friends daughter as we always do a token gift for our children, I’ll pop some Christmas chocolates with them nearer the time. In Aldi I came across some Guiness flavoured rubs in sachets, I picked up two sachets of the Guinness chipotle rub for 99p each as my brother is really into cooking/smoking meats etc on the BBQ, I’m thinking I might put together a hamper of rubs/sauces for him later in the year. The sachets are best before August 2026 so plenty of time to use them and I find you have to buy these things when you see them as they usually only have them instore as a one off. It reminded me actually that a few years ago I bought him some Guinness flavoured crisps and he really enjoyed them so will have to keep my eye out for those, although they are not easy to come by.

@mandco it sounds like you’ve made a great start on being money neutral and the jumper was a bargain, Disney stuff can be so expensive!

@_Dolly_Rocker_ wow 26! You got a great bargain with the bandanas though, I do love Nightmare Before Christmas things. Yes I have money go straight into a savings account, it’s much easier that way and less tempting to spend it.

@Lage it must be a double edged sword for you this year, I’m sure if you have something planned it will still be lovely for your mum. Are you going anywhere nice?

@Spendless yes it makes sense to split things when you had that many to buy for. It’s something I’ll definitely bear in mind for the future.

_Dolly_Rocker_

@princesskitty29 - I know! So many. But I do enjoy spoiling them. Good buys! I love when you spot the wee random ones. My local Tesco express has a wee aisle up the back which they keep adding things to. That's where I got the wee stocking fillers from. This new way of saving is really working - who knew! Next year when I'm debt free I'll find things a little easier.

Spendless

Cheers for info re supermarket eggs. If Tesco have already done their offer on that size  then I don't think they'll be back.  That's fine I'll pick up some in Sainsbobs instead.

Last night during an insomnia bout I signed up to hotel chocolat for the bday freebie. Well I thought  I did but I've since seen it said download an app and I didn't do that just entered my email/details. I'll check it when more awake - cos yes got another insomnia bout tonight, suspect it's all anxiety/stress related. My thoughts are; with my bday towards the end of the year which is a time when I start to 'up the ante' with gifts, I could use the voucher to buy something for Nan's Xmas present. She'll be 100 by then . There's very limited stuff you can get her anyway, it pretty much has to be all edible and small sizes otherwise it's too overwhelming, so just think I could use it to add to her gift this year. In 2 minds about signing up to the Lindor offer but might do it and decide if I want to buy £10 worth of chocolate at the time. It will be the time of year when shops are starting to get Xmas stock in, so could buy something each for the kids that would enable me to collect the offer.

I forgot to say I've at long last located the recycling point at the Boots in the city centre. I don't think the staff are very familiar with it though because when I asked where it was, 2 different staff on diff floors both  gave me the wrong answer!  It was nowhere near the bottom of the stairs like the first one told me, which had me asking a 2nd who told me near to a beauty counter;  it wasn't there either! . I found it myself. It was in the  uncomplicated to describe place  of ' by the doors that lead to the shopping mall to the right hand side as you go out'  There's only 2 sets of doors in the place, 1 leads to the inside mall, the other to the outside pavement! Honestly! That alone took plenty of mental energy next step is to work out what I'm doing and also see if I can locate or if the staff know where the point is in the nearer Boots to me.

Abbafan1972

Hello all. Just thought I would stop by - I am usually just a lurker. 

I am 53, hubby is 58 in April. We have 2 daughters 23 & 20 still at home, plus 1 crazy dog (Beagle that we’ve only had since October). 

Youngest daughter is 21 at the end of March, also we have Mother’s Day at the same time (I am not bothered too much about that as it’s all a commercialised con really). I do get my Mom a card and flowers though. There’s also my Mom’s birthday which falls on Easter Monday. 

My parents get more difficult to buy for every year, as they don’t have any hobbies as such. 

Will catch up soon. Xx