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

mandco

visited a garden centre with dd today and they were selling off old wilko branded Xmas stock 1/2 price or better came away with a 7ft Xmas tree for £40. We’d seen the display model so I knew I was happy enough with the style/quality considering the cheap price didn’t realise till I got home and checked it over it actually has hinged branches so as soon as you turn each piece upright the branches simply drop into place no effort or arrangement needed - never seen that on cheap tree before.

Coxy11

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice on Apple watches. I think DD would like it to track steps but I'm not that convinced she'd use it for anything else. The jury is still out and I'm waiting for other ideas from her. One thing I'm definitely getting her is a cabin suitcase as she doesn't have one and will be travelling with her BF next year.

Re: the AF for DS1 and DDIL - he sent me the link to the cheaper one but the Ninja is an 8in1 model. As they use this more than their oven/hob I'd rather get a decent one that will last. I found it on offer with £30 off so ordered it and it arrived yesterday. It's within budget so I will just get them a couple of personal bits to open. Not sure if they are staying over CE and are with us CD, which will inform whether they get stockings or not. Thems the rules!

Still waiting for other ideas from DS2 although I have ordered some slippers and PJ bottoms which he definitely needs. Got these from M&S along with PJs for one nephew and a quarter zip top for the other. Ordered the Christmas hand wash/hand cream too.

Nephews are the only 'littlies' we buy for now so along with the M&S bits I've got the older one a game called Sketch Off with whiteboards (sort of like Pictionary) and the younger one a dragon egg fidget type toy. That's them done.

I need to visit a large Boots to get DS2 the Squatch Christmas edition duo set as he very much prefers bar shower gels and these are great as they are non-drying and some of them have grit, so are good for exfoliating. I make him sound very spoilt - he really isn't, just has very dry skin so needs to use decent brands.

I got a MrT food delivery at the weekend as DH is away and I had a few bits to be getting on with here. I haven't visited our local MrT for a long time after twice using the scanner thing and being stopped for a full trolley check (the shame) after genuinely forgetting to scan one item. I had £16.50 of vouchers so used those on the order. They popped a Christmas food brochure in with the food and they have some lovely things. Most of the things I liked the look of were vegetarian/veg side dishes. Shame I won't be going back!!

That's a good deal on the Christmas tree @mandco and sounds like a lot less faff with the branches.

Great of your parents to gift currency to DS and DD @Spendless that's a really good idea!

Am I the only one here who can take or leave Baileys? (runs off to hide in a corner…..)

PennysIntoPounds

You wash your mouth out with soap Baileys young woman @Coxy11 😁

mandco

@Coxy11 if the af is their main cooking appliance I get why you went with the ninja. Sounds like it’s coming together but frustrating waiting on confirmation of others plans so you can organise what yiu actually need to get.
You’re not alone I know it’s popular but I don’t like baileys or any of the creamy liqueurs

Aside from Sam cleggs usual tearjerker - which shows you don’t need a fancy cast or huge budget to make a meaningful memorable ad - I found that one particularly poignant this year as I saw on on the anniversary of my dads passing I’ve been pretty disappointed with the Xmas ad offerings so far this year