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

Coxy11

DS1's trainers arrived yesterday so paying the £4.99 was clearly worth it! They are now wrapped and I will stick £70 cash with them as budget is £150.

DS2's Abbey Road poster also arrived yesterday and I put it in the frame last night. Looks great. That is also now wrapped, along with the Dr Squatch shower bars which I've put into a bigger box to disguise them mwhahahaha. He will get £100 cash in his card too. Birthday is tomorrow.

SIL's birthday also tomorrow. Realised last night that due to car woes, I hadn't got out to buy a birthday card for DH to drop off after work today (he passes her road). I suggested we dropped it off after going out for dinner later, slight diversion but at least it would be on time. Got tutted at for that suggestion(!) so I got a bit cross because it's DH's sister and why should it always be down to me to sort all life admin for every relative?! I have no car today as had to drop it off early, but noticed on the banking app that DH had bought something at a garden centre early doors - he'd managed to get a card for SIL, and as he's not yet home from work, I'm guessing he's dropped it off! Men!

Bagged one of the £1 Gruum items from the MSE email. I went for the lip saver - might keep for a stocking filler for DD, or use it myself!

PennysIntoPounds

Thanks for the heads up about the gruum offer @Coxy11, had somehow managed to not spot that despite reading the email!

Spendless

Me neither. I've just ordered the moisture gel which will either be stocking for DD, in the toiletries pack for DS or I'll use it myself.

It did take me a few gos to order because each time it wanted me to verify the order on my banking app and when I did and returned the whole order had gone. I got round it on 3rd attempt my ordering on my laptop and verifying on my phone. No idea whether the issue was the app, my bank or myself!

At the risk of sounding sexist, men and offloading the mental load and not even realising that it's a thing! Mr S used to ask me most Christmases when the kids were little why I got stressed and my frequent answer was cos someone doesnt really turn up and sort things out! Don't know if offer is still on but The Card factory was doing 4 for price of 3 single cards. I bought Mums (Jan bday) and Dads (Feb bday) both there to get ahead, especially since Dad's bday is near valentines day so always loads of queues (and not much choice!)

The car sounds like it's going to cost quite a bit. coxy eeek! I need to repalce mine soon because it limits me so much though fortunately I took public transport to work anyway.

pixtotts

Oohh I like Gruum! Their customer service is very good! I took advantage of one of their instagram offers last summer for sunscreen, but it got lost in the post and then I'd been on holiday so i emailed them and they sorted me a replacement of none sunscreen bits which I thought was very nice of them.


I haven't bought any presents… but my mum has been on a roll! Apparently next year is the year of the outerwear!
She's got hats and scarfs from newlook for family friends 2 sons girlfriends
Jumpers, fleeces, and body warmers for my uncles, Regatta branded from Debenhams for very good prices, 70% off I believe. x

cbsexec

just delurking to say Home Bargains have a really lovely selection of birthday/occasion cards from 29p. Worth stocking up if you are near one

Coxy11

Hi all,

Glad some of you could take advantage of the Gruum offer. I've had face sunscreen from them before and it's great. My order is out for delivery.

I've just popped to Home Bargains @cbsexec for some washing pods and picked up a couple of lovely giftbags for 69p/99p respectively. Really lovely quality and designs. Did walk up every aisle - not working today and had the time for once - and they have some lovely gift bits for MD and Easter. The Easter eggs I normally buy are nigh on £4 each. Hoping some of the SM's will have deals on. I still buy for two youngest nephews and my 3 adult children plus DDIL.

DS2's birthday meal at a local Italian was lovely. Worked out at £40 a head which we didn't think was too bad. It's been a spenny week - birthday meal, car issue, and a new front door yesterday! All needed though.

No birthday cards from SIL or BIL for DS2 yesterday. SIL did send a text (her birthday is the same day and DH dropped a card in on Wed), nothing from BIL. Bit annoyed with him as he also didn't send DD a card or say HB to her last year when he stayed over 2 days after her birthday. Clearly in their household they sort their own family members out and he forgot! Glad I decided we would stop gifts as that would have made me more cross!

We are going to a fancy dress party in London tonight. It's 'come as your favourite TV detective' theme so we have costumes and will be wearing them on the train. Friend is going with her husband as Starsky and Hutch, they too will be on the train complete with wigs. So funny.

cbsexec

@coxy11 Easter eggs on offer in Morrisons £1 for the small ones - buttons smarties mini eggs etc.

princesskitty29

I picked up a pair of red fleece gloves in the Next sale which were £2.50 reduced from £5. I will put these with my mum’s favourite hand cream as a Christmas present. It’s my SiL’s birthday in February but we only do cards which I have already got, then my mum’s in March so will have to get my thinking cap on for that.

Thank you for the heads up about the gruum offer, I didn’t see the email but luckily the offer is still on. I chose the shampoo bar, I’ve been using bar shampoo and conditioner for the last couple of months and I really like it. I need a new shampoo bar but I bought it as part of a set so it was cheaper, it’s more expensive to purchase individually so I’ll give the gruum one a go for now.

It’s a similar story here with buying gifts and cards for DH’s family. My DH would do it if I told him too but he’s not very imaginative so I tend to pick things up when I see them.

Another quiet weekend here, i'm hoping to see some sunshine, winter days aren't so bad when the sun is shining!

Coxy to be honest I never usually find this many things so early on, I’ve just been lucky this year that I’ve found a fair few things in the sales that I think people will like. I saw those wellbeing candles In Boots and was quite taken with them but didn’t buy any, I wish I had now! That knitting necklace is adorable. Gosh it’s been an expensive month for you, not what you need in January!

Spendless oh how frustrating about the parking fine, it’s always hard to pay things like that as they are unnecessary. Sometimes saying nothing speaks volumes!

Pixtotts ooh you can never have too many hats and scarves! :D

Cbsexec good to see you out of lurkdom and thanks for the heads up about the cards and Easter eggs.

Spendless

Boots is 70% off instore today on ex xmas stock with the gift label on.

All stores will have different surplus stock, but I visited 2 and 1 was low on mens stuff, the other none at all. Ladies needed looking through for the better brands/items. I spent around £30ish (so full price £90) with items that I will divide between keeping myself, and xmas and bday gifts for mum and DD (only bday for DD as Mums bday already gone).

Messaged DD to tell her and she went to one near her and decided that the last fake tan gift set originally £100 was worth it for £30 cos there was a bottle in it that retails at £20 and other stuff that she will use/wanted to try, so will save her in the long run.

Spendless

I forgot to say for anyone considering buying from the 70% off Boots stock to put away for Xmas but has a recipient who likes posting their 'haul' to SM and you think they wouldn't want last year's packaging. My suggestion is to remove it and repackage, either by putting in another decorated gift box, a gauze bag, with ribbon round it, as part of a hamper or simply without the cardboard packaging.

DD also got herself some face masks yesterday. I think she said they were £3 (so originally £10), as she said normally the face sheet masks she likes are around £2 each, plus her travel costs so stocking up this year saves her money.