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

Spendless

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82026530#Comment_82026530

Hi, welcome to the thread. Well for me, buying in advance stems back to 1997. I had a mortgage, lived on my own, and there was a huge chance that Id be made redundant at the end of that year, something I knew from January but I commuted to my workplace, the area I worked in paid more than my local area did so I wanted to hold out for the enhanced redundancy package on offer, before job hunting nearer to home, just 1 problem how would I afford Christmas at the same time as losing my job, so I bought in the sales, on clearance, with gift points and so on, and when my redundancy came into effect on December 26th. Id already got Xmas sorted. I continued from then on, some years more successful or difficult than others. Last year I had a lot of personal stuff going off which meant I wasnt able to be as organised, this year my 'present cupboard' looks very healthy already.

Well done on the lego bargains and stocking fillers.

suprisinglynice

I have always budgeted for Christmas since the children were small, OH's work was so unpredictable and it was scary at times but we always managed somehow.

We have 4 adult children/partners to buy for and 11 Grands. I'm always looking for bits to stash when the sales are on. The adults all get gift cards and a weekend of babysitting by us so that they can have a break and spend time together.

The only non negotiable in our house is that everyone gets a smellies gift and a chocolate orange. This was started when the children were small to bulk out their presents and has carried on to the next generation. Smellies are always bought in the January sales!

Coxy11

Hi all,

Well we are about to pack for our trip tomorrow and don’t have any cubes - lol!
Work today was really busy and I had an eBay sale to take to the PO en route home. It’s also been really cold and rainy today so I’m looking forward to getting some warmth in my bones and having a rest.

DDad is here and is staying with DSis. We’d booked our trip before he decided to come over so it is what it is.

Great idea for your parents WA @Spendless and nice to treat yourself with the love2shop voucher x

Some great bargains there @mandco x

Welcome @suprisinglynice x

I picked up a silky sleep bonnet and some exfoliating gloves in Primark on Tuesday. These will be put away for DD’s stocking. She’s very easy to buy for - my 2 x DS’s on the other hand…….!

It was our WA yesterday and ILs had given us a voucher for Christmas for afternoon tea at a local hotel. They had an event on in another room so we were on our own in the breakfast room which lacked ambience tbh. Anyway it was free(!) and food was nice so I can’t complain.

PennysIntoPounds

That looks delicious @Coxy11, happy WA!

mandco

welcome @surprisinglynice. That’s a lot of grandkids to buy. I away look out for bargains/offers throughout the year but definitely find it a lot harder now mine are older the boys especially as they generally end up requesting very specific items so difficult predict what they’ll want - dd & the grandkids are much easier to find cheaper bits for.

@coxy11 happy wedding anniversary shame about the ambience but the food looked lovely. Will you get to spend some time with your dad when you get back? Hope you have a lovely trip

I was thinking today I really need to start looking for stocking fillers as the last couple of years I’ve ended up still needing to get bits last minute to pad out the boys stockings - dd is so easy I usually end up with too much for hers.

mandco

Argos have up to 1/2 price on selected toys ordered a couple of arts & crafts bits for the girls

Spendless

Happy belated WA coxy.

Im another who finds shopping for an adult son far more difficult than for my adult daughter.

If it wasnt for DH understanding the gadget/techy item he likes, Id be resigned to ordering from a link or giving money.

I stopped doing him a stocking last year too, as I thought maybe a rule of that should be 'if you wake up here on Xmas day'. Otherwise I dont know when Id stop.

At the same time I am mindful that my kids only receive presents from us and my parents nowadays and DS has his own house and more recently a cat, so there is scope for ideas.

suprisinglynice

Tesco and Morrisons have chocolate oranges on offer!

Spendless

Ive just gathered together all the FD presents for the 3 Dad.

My Dad has some jeans bought in the US (just at Walmart) that he'd been talking to DH about.

FIL - Has some Belgian chocolate and his fav flavour crisps not commonly found in the UK, these were also bought abroad earlier this year.

DH - Has a set of Belgian beer in a commerative set that marks the place where he has a relative named who died in WW1 - again bought overseas.

In addition he has a gift set of bodysprays as he told me a couple of weeks ago that his supermarket ones werent lasting long and he could do with a better brand. These are Osprey bought in Boots on their 50/70% off sale. Ive provided for both kids as theyve each had issues with paydays and additional expenses and these were already bought and waiting to be gifted. It is so nice to have the present cupboard up and running again to be able to dip in to on such occassions.

I was thinking that was it till mine and DH bdays but realised it will also be DD's graduation ceremony early Autumn and we will buy a gift for it. When it was DS he lived somewhere remote with no major supermarket, and was a struggle to buy everyday toiletries. We put him a hamper together, think I might have included aftershave too. I have some ideas for DD's likely to be a keepsake item.

mandco

surprisinglynice thanks for heads up I picked up a couple of the choc oranges in Tesco today as a bargain at 95p(only the standard version) and the bbe is well into next year - just need to keep them hidden

@spendless it’s great having a gift present stash that you can dip into if needed really handy for last minute/unplanned needs. Mine is very lacking so far this year.
I know it’s been a bit of a rocky journey at times but Crazy to think dd is graduating already

On the Xmas front I Found some reusable hand warmers reduced to 35p in Tesco so those can go in the boys stockings & picked up a couple more bits in the Argos clearance for the Xmas donations box.
Still trying to figure out what to get the boys for their birthdays - I think Taz has gone off the steering wheel idea for now at least so glad I waited. He’s an absolute nightmare for that he’ll really really really want something and constantly bring it up but if he doesn’t get it pretty much immediately he’ll go off the idea.
The saga with sdd continues she’s now expecting us to dog sit their puppy at ours while they go on holiday - I hate the fact they just assume because Im home I’ll do it. I did suggest going to theirs for a few hours at a time instead but apparently he can’t be left alone at all as he's super hyper, chews everything and is not housetrained yet 😱.