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

Spendless

I remember you posting youd found it still wrapped and thinking what a bargain youd found. Well if he didnt know thats not the objection. Weren't you thinking MIL could use it on her hols, so its not like he thought she'd have no use for it either. At least he apologised.

It sounds similar to my Dad all those years ago, because neither of them do the gift buying, they've no idea of the time and energy it takes and dont know the cost of anything. I agree next birthday leave him to sort. I suspect he'll find it more difficult than he imagines it is in his head. My prediction is he'll either ask you to help him or 7yo nephew will be getting £20 in his card.

I have to admit one of the reasons I dont get involved in FIL's gifts is due to interference by another family member over what is bought, which is difficult enough anyway. I broke my own rules last Xmas (just cos we had so much going on) and came up with 2 suggestions. One was a boxed set of chocolate bars that Ive only ever seen in the Cadbury shop and are FILs fav. DH said 'weve bought them before Dad didnt like them'. I was baffled, like I say Ive only ever seen them in the cadbury shop, knew full well I hadnt picked them up (or wrapped them!) Then I remembered that a few years earlier a flavour had returned after being discontinued for years and wed picked a bar up in B&M I think (the flavour very much a love it or hate it) and relative (not FIL) had said to DH that '(FIL) doesnt like that choc you bought' The pack I suggested had loads of completely diff flavours in but still I let it slide. Then heading close to Xmas with

DH still not sorting out a gift and hearing that FIL keeps spending a fortune (money he doesnt have) on downloading films to watch in his care home, I said to DH cant we buy him a voucher for him to use for his films? DH said I'll mention it to relative, who said No, because they wanted FIL out of the habit of downloading films. DH then ended up buying FIL the same t shirts hed previously bought him just in different colours! Then what happened at the end of Jan, relative was on the phone to DH, annoyed and upset cos FIL had spent loads again on downloading films, so hadnt got out the habit at all. On being told, I just said to DH 'didnt we offer to buy a voucher for your Dad for Xmas to cover the costs of his films and got told not to' Its not been brought up since. I'm returning to my previous stance of not getting involved and leaving them to it or to quote DD's fav phrase 'not my circus, not my monkeys'

Coxy11

Frustrating isn’t it @Spendless? I know nephew likes Lego and likes to help on the family allotment. There is a limit to Lego available in our budget so for Christmas I got him a mini greenhouse with seeds and tools. Was pleased to see it all set up at New Year and he was explaining what he was going to grow. I’d normally be looking online for ideas/sales to maximise our budget - something DH would never do. If he ever looks at things (for the house/car/garden) he just goes on Amazon normally.

DS2 worked yesterday until 9pm and messaged me during his shift that they’d asked him to work today 10am to 5pm so he said yes. I can’t blame him as he only gets 15 hrs/week at minimum wage (they are really strict even over Christmas it was the same) I’m guessing someone is off sick or hadn’t realised it’s MD! Hoping he’ll be back to see DS1/DDIL and my Mum before they depart.

Spendless

Oh dear was Mr Coxy's objection the price you paid (assumming you told him it was £x in a sale at Boots) or just didn't like the gift? (like my Dad objecting to Nan's ornamental straw hat with decorative flowers!). Hope the rest of the day went smoothly and DS2 managed to join you. Ours had ups and downs (sibling issues!) which annoyed me no end.

I agree that the best way to make someone see it's not that easy (I think if you have a gift for buying it tends to look that way to others) but that's easier for me to do as I only leave DH sorting out his Dad so only 3 occassions a year (bday, xmas, Father's day) for him left to his own devices.

The Grace and Stellar 'freebie' (pay p&p) came yesterday and looks so nice I'm not going to wreck it by bagging one for myself so into DD's stocking it is going. It comes like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/grace-stella-Award-Winning-Under/dp/B0C4Q4VMXH/ref%3Dasc_df_B0C4Q4VMXH?mcid=783eb7ba06223643bea444bb635a3825&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697261239304&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11822081567391630778&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9208923&hvtargid=pla-2197063581744&hvocijid=11822081567391630778-B0C4Q4VMXH-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

Next up is DD's bday and though she has some ideas we've not ordered anything yet. Need to crack on with that. She's home again this weekend as we are attending a drama festival she competed in as a child. We have bought a trophy to be awarded in memory of a classical drama teacher she had who died last year so are going to watch that presented. After that I'm unsure when she's next home as though it's the Easter hols she has a heap load of rehearsals to attend.

mandco

@Coxy11 I’d have been fuming at dh that was a lovely gift set you found - I’ve probably told him to sort it out himself on future - your family your problem I’ve been having some similar issue with my oh lately I’d already brought for the grandkids for Easter which he knew he decided to ask sdd what she wants for them so she suggested a list of expensive items totalling around £100 each 😡 absolutely not happening. I might have said a few choice words and refused to do so as its way way over budget even if I hadn’t already brought stuff and tbh just greedy on her behalf - I’ll probably end adding something else as now he’s asked it’ll just cause problems if they don’t get at least 1 thing off her list but I think he’s realised I’m really not in the mood for his attitude & lack of consideration of the work involved right now as I’m very hormonal ( thanks menopause)

Hope ds got to see the others before they had to leave though can’t blame him for picking up an extra shift.

@spendless shame the eye masks came in 1 pack as you were looking forward to using one but they will make a lovely stocking filler

What a lovely ideas to award a trophy in memory of DD’s teacher I’m sure it will be a bit emotional but fantastic dd is able to be there.
Sounds like she has a very busy schedule coming up with rehearsals when is the show on?

Not used this specific parcel holding service before the one I used previously is no longer available but it opens up so any extra options for shopping as not tied to just looking in physical shops.

had a lovely time at the spa MD though woke up early this morning with raging ear ache - managed to get a sit and wait doctors appointment and I have an ear infection - gp seems to think it’s likely from the water at the spa combined with the heat apparently they are seeing it quite a bit at the moment?

have to say I’m very impressed with dd & her bf. her car failed the mot a couple of weeks ago and she was quoted nearly 2k to get the work done at the garage - they sourced generic parts online rather than branded ones and using YouTube tutorials did the work themselves - passed the mot and set her back just over £300

Currently trying to find some comfortable holiday clothes as none of my current stuff fits 😥 but the choice in the shops isn’t great at the moment - why is women’s summer wear all teeny tiny shorts & cropped tops? Seen a few maybes on vint@d - i sold a few bits so will have some credit once those clear but since the change the sizing on women’s wear is so hard to find things in the size you actually want the amount if items I’ve looked at that turn out to be Size 10 on the label despite being advertised as 2/3 sizes larger is ridiculous.

Spendless

@mandco - asking for £100 spend p.p for Easter of all times is ridiuclously OTT! My parents though they've now stopped altogether if they didn't buy eggs gave £5/10 in a card to the kids and I considered that generous.

DD;s show is the w/c 6h April, Any day but she won't be told until the middle of next week! I've said I can't see it being the Monday as that is a BH, but could be any other. I find this lack of attention to details frustrating. It's not DD;s fault and it's something she's been up against most of this academic year (which seems in line with a member of staff leaving!). I'm just glad she had the foresight to think of stuff before she went abroad and got her headshots done and looked in agencies with the result that she's one of the few on her course who has been signed by an agent. I've already got my work schedule for the week in question which I'm unable to change so no idea whether I can watch or not!

Not all the summer clothes have been sent in yet at least not where I work. We still have jumpers on one rail and t shirts that have come in on the other side! I agree about sizing, I spend my day telling ladies either where a, the fitting room is or b. the refund policy!

I used to suffer badly from ear infections after going in water. I bought some stuff in Boots that helps with preventing water going into the ear. Not sure if I'm allowed to mention a medical product on the forum, but next time you're going in a pool go into that chain chemists and mention swimming and ears, they'll fathom out what you mean. Other than that glad you enjoyed the spa day and that sounds a bargain your DD and boyf sorting out the car for £300.

My Dad's car is in for MOT this afternoon. It has had thing after thing go wrong with it for the last 12 months ish, it needs replacing, but Dad is resisiting. I hope someone comes along and buys Nan's house soon!

mandco

@spendless yeah it’s always been an issue with sdd and why I never ask her for specifics anymore as it’ll aways be for something stupidly expensive - I’ll ask what the girls are into and base gifts around that but within my budget and they are always very happy with what they get so not like I pick rubbish gifts 😉

Oh that must be very frustrating for dd you’d think they know by now what date the actual show is going to be - I’m sure you both be disappointed if you can’t make it due to work especially as it’s some that could have been finalised weeks ago. Congrats to dd on being signed by an agent

I Couldn’t believe how much they saved by doing it themselves vs the garage fees some of the mark up was obviously the fact they quoted for branded parts as there’s more profit but the majority was labour

I think I know what ear stuff you mean I used to get one for the kids when they went swimming when they were little. TBH didn’t even really think about as it we didnt swim as such but between the hot tub & sauna ect it does make sense that could be the cause so will def try that next time.

I did wonder if the absolutely atrocious weather we’ve had so far this year has had a knock on effect on instore ranges as usually there’s loads of summer stuff out way before Easter as that’s often when holidays abroad start to pick up for the year but most places still have a lot of wintery stock out.

My dad was the same he had a car that 1 thing after another went wrong with and he just keep putting more money into it when it would have been cheaper in the long run to just get another one. Have they had any interest in the house yet? The markets not great at the moment

Coxy11

£100 pp!! For Easter!! What a joke. I honestly don’t know what goes through peoples minds! Easter is for chocolate eggs, end of. If intolerant then dairy free or a little pocket money imho.

Not the price of the gift set as I didn’t tell DH how much it cost. It was more the size of it but ILs go away to Warner hotels several times a year (in fact were away last Fri/Sat) so she’d definitely use it. Anyway I mentioned nephew’s 7th birthday to DH this morning and told him to find out from SIL what he’s into. He asked why me? So I said because he’d peed me off over MD gift and that he has as much free time as me now we are both working PT. Plus I didn’t think it fair for a child to receive money in a card.

I’ll be food shopping at Tesco this weekend so will see if there’s any of those cute MD mugs left and might treat myself!

Spendless

Ahhh so it was same as my Dad's objection then - didnt consider it 'much' but that's from men who dont go gift shopping and have no idea of retail prices! Lol at him asking why he had to find out about nephew's birthday. Hope hes now suitably subdued.

I bought again today. Give me cosmetics had reduced (allegedly cos I dont know what full price was!) their mother's day bundle to £25. You get 10 items covering hair, skin, body, beauty so £2.50 per item. Im going to split it between myself, DD and Mum. ETA link.

https://www.givemecosmetics.com/products/mothers-day-bundle

(not working to click on for some reason, but you get the idea!)

Then I was very tempted as Id 'won' a free track an animal bracelet, considered ordering for DS until I discovered delivery was around £10 and most of the reviews say the tracker stops working.

Ive been buying some little bits that DD will like for her bday, mostly toiletry wise but items that take a chunk from the budget. Just used a plastic container we had to create a bit of a hamper. I get my containers handed back from the kids, so no point in buying another. I didnt have anything the right size in my stash.

Parents accepted an offer on Nan's house this afternoon, at full asking price. I was starting to get slightly concerned over how many views they were getting but no offers. Their car only cost £50 to put right at its MOT too today, so they were happy.

mandco

@coxy11 lol at dh asking why he had to sort it I swear they just don’t get it hopefully he’ll take the hint this time

@Spendless great new for your parents on the house sale & mot
That gift set looks lovely for the money

if you have the boots app might be worth checking the personalised offers I had one for a free lip jelly when you purchase any boots skincare - found a face mask for 59p online and still qualified for the freebie so those can both go in DD’s stocking - paid using points as I was ordering some sun cream for our holiday anyway so they were technically free too.

Was browsing last night and found some of the Lego botanicals better than 1/2 price so ordered those to put away for dd - hoping they’ll actually arrive and it wasn’t an error as they are no longer showing online - usually if oos the items would still be listed but say unavailable but they’ve disappeared totally?

Spendless

I prefer buying chocolate eggs, though the kids used to get a lot when little as there was us buying as well as 2 sets of grandparents, 2 Great Grandmas, 2 Aunts as well as any given out at school or any clubs they attended. I think thats why Mum sometimes went to sending a little cash but she and other relatives stopped it completely once DS went to Uni. I remember that annoying DD no end, her point being that at 16, DS was still receiving eggs as she would only be 13, but it had been stopped for her just because her brother had moved away. It probably doesnt help that of her cousins one is an only child and the others are twins, so she is the only age gap younger sibling.

Whats the boots app? The recylcling one or a different one. I still use my ancient physical card for my points. Im.a bit of a techophobe when it comes to apps, something I want to address.

Exactly that happened with a gold necklace I wanted last year. It disappeared completely, never said oos or discontinued. It just couldnt be found anymore!