Santa Baby - it's the 2026 Christmas Chatter Thread!!

Spendless

Yes thought best buy him his own stash!

Yesterday was a really productive day. Starting early I went thru the xmas items still not put away(!) and using a bag with different outer pockets (originally bought in the travel section in TK Maxx), I used it to put away things like tissue paper for hampers, ribbon, gift tags. Then I found space for all the empty decorative boxes Ive kept, a lot from a perfume advent calendar I had a few years ago. Once I find where my holder for rolls of gift paper has got to (!) and add the stash I 'inherited' from Nan, I dont think I need to buy anymore gift wrap/accessories for some years - certainly not for Xmas presents, maybe for birthdays.

That done, I joined my friend for an impromptu walk. Bought a dress still with tags on off the 50p rail. This fills a gap in my wardrobe that I identified earlier this week. Onto Tesco where I bought a silentnight wearable blanket for £5.40. This will be a xmas present either for Mum or DD.

Then we went to a coffee shop, I got 2 loyalty points and am now only 1 more away from getting a free drink. Spotted my parents walking past outside, went to speak to them. They were on their way to buy a birthday card - for my dog! - lol (hes 7 today).

Then we walked home catching up on gossip. Today I get my car, so finally have my own wheels again.

mandco

@spendiess sounds like you had a very productive week and the present stash is filling up nicely

Happy birthday to the dog

Still getting over whatever bug it was we had so not much happening here. ended up cancelling our meal out again last weekend and rescheduling as a joint birthday/mother day one next week instead -hopefully I’ll actually feel up to going by then.

Did order the grandkids these for Easter instead of choc eggs https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3445583 thought that was a good deal as they are £25ish elsewhere

Spendless

The pooch had to settle for doggy treats bought by my parents. We tried to get him a toy from reputable pet stores and couldn't find any that didn't pose a potential choking hazard. After a recent trip to the vets over him chewing something he shouldn't have decided to leave it. It didn't matter for his bday where he didn't understand, unlike Xmas where he wants to know where his pile of gifts are cos everyone else has one - lol!

Now DS and the dog's bdays are out of the way, the next occassions are within the next month. Starting with mother's day this Sunday and I have a phone bag and nightdress (to be used as a cover up) for my Mum to use on her cruise later this year. I need a card.

Then it is DD's bday. She has sent me a list of suggestions.

After that it is Easter. I already have choc eggs for the family.

A few days later it is FIL's bday. He hasn't been well recently and went into hospital o/night (chest infection). I leave buying his gifts to Mr S, but I think he needs to leave till last minute in case something comes to light that FIL might need.

Once the above are all done that is it till the next 'cluster' of occassions (none of them birthdays!) appears in June.

Spendless

I have a couple of cheap stocking filler ideas.

Battery operated handwarmers for £5 though you may need to factor in del charges too (we have prime)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FANDLISS-Warmers-Rechargeable-Cylindrical-Handwarmers/dp/B0FFSCLCJL/ref%3Dasc_df_B0FFSCLCJL?mcid=682ddfd8fe0d35e7ac06ca14add0c676&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=775266029724&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10658356338492332354&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9208923&hvtargid=pla-2450758716156&hvocijid=10658356338492332354-B0FFSCLCJL-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

Also Grace and Stella are giving away 4 pairs of eye masks. Postage is 4.99 not 2.99 like they say in this link. They can't have updated the info bu offer was there yesterday when I ordered.

https://www.graceandstella.com/products/free-starter-pack-of-eye-masks-4-pairs-uk-lfs?currency=gbp&utm_source=lfs&utm_medium=referral

I'm going to assume they all come as an individual pair even if all boxed together, hoping so anyway cos I want to use a pack myself and then use the others as gifts.

I hit the jackpot yesterday, my city centre Boots has a clearance section tucked away at the back of the store. I saw Simple sheet face masks for 50p each thought they were a good price. They had other Simple ones on the same shelf for £2 each so goodness knows how much ful price now is! There were 4 so I decided to save some for others and took 2, went to the self serve till when they came up at 25p each! I decided I wasn't that generous and hotfooted it back to the shelf and bought the remaining 2 - lol. The first lot I even paid for with points, so 4 sheet face masks for 50p. I had also picked up a bubble bath and shower puff with a cartoon character DD likes on, for £2 instead of £4 in B&M, ex xmas stock reduced cos the box was bashed in I think this is my new fav thing to buy cheap cos the packaging is damaged. I have so much now in terms of wrapping paper, boxes, ribbons and a few ornamental embillishments, I can easily re-package or create hampers and I have zero artistic talent, so it's easy enough to do.

DD is returning home for a fleeting visit this weekend. We are going to go to a Wildlife Park because my ticket was free cos of Mother's day. Feel a bit bad not asking my parents to join us, but I think Dad especially would struggle with the walk. I think instead we will invite them for tea when we get home. Not sure what yet, will get something today.

mandco

@spendless some great deals there thanks for the heads up on the eye masks I’ve ordered some for dd
Enjoy the wildlife park & time with dd Hope your fil is ok

We’re off the to zoo on Saturday as Taz wants to see the new meerkats. They are getting quite a few new animals this year including capybaras which he’s absolutely over the moon about.

dd has booked us an afternoon at the spa on Sunday for Mother’s Day so looking forward to that though guessing it’s likely to be a lot busier with it being Mother’s Day.

Ordered a few bits to be delivered to a parcel holding service to pick up when we’re away - mostly bits I can’t get in the uk or are ridiculously expensive here compared to there some of which is for birthdays/xmas. Stocked up on bath and body works hand sanitizers as they were on offer and worked out at approx 80p gels/£1.60 sprays - they are £4/£8 in next

Once Easter is out of the way I only have Father’s Day until Aug so that will give me a bit of time to boost the present stash/fund. Hoping I’ll find some bits while we’re away as it’s currently looking pretty dire.

Spendless

I agree re bath & body products. Another 'fan favourite' with DD is EOS, again either expensive or cant get here. Never thought of getting stuff delivered to a parcel.holding service. What a great idea.

Yesterday when I made my post I nearly wrote about my dilemma about wrapping Mum's MD present. Though I have plenty of stuff its heavily biased towards Xmas and my choices were using the one generic gift bag I had in (and accepting I wouldnt get it back) or wrapping paper, but its partly clothing, which I find means easily torn paper (as a teen being given clothes for bdays Mum used to hand them over unwrapped just in the store carrier bag, wonder if this was why).

Then I decided that my ramblings about gift wrap was boring and deleted it - lol. Heres what happened next.

I popped in.a charity shop on my way to the supermarket and there were 2 oblong lidded boxes that said 'for mother's day with love'. No idea if they were donations or charity shop stock, assistant said theyd only come in the day before. I bought one, lined it with tissue, and then neatly folded Mum's nightdress and bag into it. Wrote a tag out with a message that I was thinking of parents cruise for the items, wrote MD card out, put that inside too and popped the lot to Mums who absolutely adored the box, like I thought she would. Shes a sucker for packaging like I am. Told her not to lift and look inside till Sunday. Wonder if she'll use the box or be open to it being returned each year to be refilled .

Looking forward to our day out, just hoping weather holds off. DD returns today until Monday. Parents are then coming round for something to eat tomorrow evening.

Some eggs had been reduced to £1 in Tesco yesterday with a clubcard but when I looked in ours, they didnt have the kitkat one, milkybar had sold out and only smarties were left.

After tomorrow. We have in order DD's bday (nothing done towards this yet)

Easter - all chocolate eggs bought

FIL bday - He is lot better than he was. DH visited yesterday.

Coxy11

Gosh I haven’t been on here for ages! Thanks for the stocking filler heads up. We have a small Boots in our High Street and I always check the reduced section. I bagged some Nivea shower cream recently for 65p each x 6 (there were about 20 on the shelf) and I used points so free! Your MD gift in a box sounds fab @Spendless

DH and I visited MIL on Tuesday - they were going away Friday/today and having everyone for coffee and cake on MD. We have my Mum here tomorrow as DSis’s was meant to be away for the weekend. DSis now not away(!) but will come for coffee after lunch and take Mum home.

I had found MIL an RHS lavender travel bag/set which DH tore into me about as being stingy and insisted we went via M&S for something extra - got a potted canna lily. I wouldn’t mind but he NEVER helps with any present buying so I got really upset. Anyway lily was £10 so total spend of £16. As you know I loathe MD so the least outlay the better. We don’t hear from/see ILs much at all - it feels very one way and it’s exhausting.

I took my Mum shopping yesterday and she pointed out a gap in her front (paved) garden. Said she was thinking of a hydrangea, so instead of flowers I’ll get her one today.

Have bought an additional Easter egg for DD’s boyf - large eggs were £2.25 in Aldi yesterday so got a Twirl one.

Still haven’t booked my pig walk or escape room. This past week I’ve worked three days - total of 19.5 hours as boss and her niece have had a family bereavement and I’ve been working alone - luckily from home. Money will come in handy.

Enjoy the wildlife park @Spendless and hope everyone else has a good MD. I will enjoy DH cooking roast lamb and seeing my children.

PennysIntoPounds

What a cheek of DH @Coxy11, fuming on your behalf! He can buy his own mother gifts in future

Spendless

Was the RHS lavendar set the one you found in the charity shop coxy? Was that your DH's objection? If so Id keep your bargain finds quiet and not tell him, if he asks show him the full priced version online. 😆

Years ago when I was in my 20s and either was paying car finance or a mortgage on my own(or both!) and Dad clearly disliked the Xmas gift Id bought my Nan. It was a small ornamental straw hat decorated with dried flowers, hand made, bought at a craft fair and at the top end of my budget. Dad kept on saying what else was I getting Nan. I was annoyed but eventually gave in and bought something in addition. Best of it is, I cant even remember the other item I bought whereas Nan then had that straw hat ornament hung on her wall for years.

Coxy11

Yes @Spendless I did find it in a CS but it was BN in cellophane and is still for sale on the RHS website so maybe an unwanted Christmas gift? i told DH it was from Boots though as yes he’d have an issue otherwise. I actually thought about keeping it for myself as the bag was so pretty, but I’m attempting Project Pan and only buying what I’m running out of. DH was in a right mood on Tuesday - not sure if it’s the male menopause (not even joking) but he later apologised to me.

The next birthday is his 7 year old nephew so I’ll let him sort that gift out - budget £20!