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

Coxy11

Hi all,

Did another 3.5 hours work yesterday then dashed round to Mum's as the fire brigade are doing house fire safely checks. She had 3 guys and a rig turn up to fit some smoke alarms. Then went back to Halfords for the tyre change - took an hour. I think I could have done it quicker 🙄

Finally got to A$da today for the Easter eggs. There were loads available which I was a little surprised about given it's been half term. Maybe folks are waiting for payday. Anyway I got the 6 'large' ones I needed - large = one small bar or bag of the chocolate. Sugar tax much? They were the bargain price of £2.32 instead of the £3.69 in most other places so thank you @Spendless for the tip off. Whilst in there I managed to get some YS items - the bill was £27 with a 50/50 split between food and Easter Eggs.

Am attempting to book the Escape Room using my solo voucher. DSis said shall we do it with our DH's as their birthdays are a week apart in March and we no longer buy for each other. I am also planning to do the pig walk in June when my Dad comes over to the UK. He can sit in the cafe whilst I walk mr porky chops.

Mum's birthday is mid-June and I've seen there's a Cleopatra immersive experience at the Excel Centre in London. Might be good fun given she's a bit obsessed with Ancient Egypt. Think they have concession tickets and/or a group rate so could also take my Dad. Not sure I could handle them both on my own given they are well into their 80's.

Spendless

That sounds a good way to use both your bday experiences up coxy.

I had a £5 a head budget for DS, DD and DH for Easter eggs

I bought 2 x £2.32 eggs from Asda and then 2 packets of Easter choc treats. That came in at £3.99 and £3.97 respectively.

I then intended to buy 2 of the £1 eggs from Iceland (they had milky bar, smarties and kitkat at this price). When we got to the store they'd all sold out and the offer ends today. Not too worried, I think another store will come up with a similar deal. Aldi are now doing the 'large' eggs at £2.29 I think undercutting Asda by a few pence. The £1 eggs I missed out on are £1.40 in Asda so I can go over budget by 80p or as I haven't bought Mr S his egg yet and just intended getting him one, take it from his allowance - mwahaha.

Coxy11

Some good egg prices there @Spendless

I went to T's for our weekly shop yesterday and on the RTC section found some diffusers. They are 30ml with 3 reeds (T's own brand) and cinnamon fragrance. They were only 55p so I got 4. Have put one each in the cloakroom and en-suite. Main bathroom has the window permanently ajar so not point fragrance-ing the outside world!

They had some lovely MD things in there too including a cute floral oversized mug:

Bayswood Mother's Day Pressed Flower Mug - Tesco Groceries

If it gets reduced I might treat myself!!

Spendless

I would like a mug for MD, to use in our staff room. The 'pool mugs' are grotty.

Thats a good price on diffusers.

We have spent £55 so far on 2 practical items for DS bday next week and given them early as he needed them.

His computer gadget 'want' item. Hes getting back to me about the best deal. He said prices have gone so high, that something he bought 4 years ago he could now sell 2nd hand for more than he paid. I said its a good job he's been building 'trigger's computer' for the last decade. He's decided to put another 'want' on ice for now. It'll probably need replacing around Xmas time which should work out well.

mandco

@princesskitty29 that’s a lot to deal with in a short space of time and school refusal is hard enough to deal with when you’re feeling well. I found it harder the bigger ds got as when they are little you can still physically get them to school - I spent many many days literally carrying a kicking & screaming taz to get him to school - once they get big enough be past that stage no amount of effort of your behalf is getting them out the door if they decide it’s a no.
Hope things have been a little better this week.

@spendless pc parts have gone through the roof price wise since last year apparently there’s a global shortage of some components? the boys built their own last year and the same set ups now would be nearly 3 times the price. Definitely need your own mug at work I’ve seen some absolutely disgusting staff room ones over the years.

@Coxy11 sounds like a good way to use your vouchers

sorry I’ve been Mia again we’ve all had some horrible lurgy the last couple of weeks which totally wiped me out and just getting through the days has been hard work - we’re meant to be going out at the weekend for my birthday rescheduled from last week but tbh I still don’t feel up to it.
Dd did pick up some of the cheap Easter eggs for me as I haven’t even been shopping and wasn’t sure how long the offers would be on for so just need so sort out a dairy free one for taz.

DD’s car failed the mot and they quoted her over 2k for the work needed so she’s currently car less - she was already thinking about changing cars this year and with the value of her current one it’s really not worth spending that much repairing it.

cbsexec

Easter eggs. Large ones £2.45 in Morrisons but an extra 50p off with the app. Hope that helps someone

Spendless

Im getting ahead with some of the bday/occassions coming up and not so much on others.

In the ladies clothes shop where I work I saw a slim fitting plain long nightdress and thought it would be good for my Mum to take on her cruise, not to sleep in but as a sort of inbetween day and night clothes for hanging around the cabin or as a cover up after sunbathing. Using staff discount and also adding the phone bag I got in the sales fetches her mothers day gift in at £14.82. I had a £15 budget - happy with that. So far all my gifts have come in spot on for my budget.

Next week is DS's birthday. Weve already given him a coat and shoes as he needed both early. He's still looking for his computer item and says he doesnt mind if that's late. It does mean we have nothing to give him on the actual day though! It is also the dog's 7th bday. Not that he'll know or care. He just likes opening presents any day of the week. So currently my gifts for the next month-ish look like this.

DS - Coat, shoes (already given) computer item (yet to get)

Dog - Yet to get

Mother's day - Nightdress & bag (already bought)

DD - Asked for ideas.

FIL - He has recently asked for a water pistol. Hes in his early 80s and lives in a care home (the mind boggles!). This is DH's domain so am leaving him to it!

Parents used Dad's Nandos voucher I got him for his bday this week. I know we have some difficult to buy for relatives on here so I would definately sugggest this. We took parents there initially around a year ago after they hadnt eaten one evening due to seeing to Nan. We talked them through the menu and then later they went in themselves (think that was also cos I bought a voucher) We've tried doing similar with Indian restaurants with less success not because they dislike the food as theyre happy with us guiding them, I just think they dont feel confident in choosing whereas they understand ordering from the Nandos menu.

Wanting to nail the Easter egg buying this week too.

Spendless

Morrisons with a More card had XL easter eggs for £3.95 and selected small ones for £1. Got 2 x £1 for kids so with their £5 budget they have 1x large, 1 x small, 1 x bag of easter chocs each

DH I got an XL egg for £3.95

Total cost £14 (just under by pennies) out of my £15 total budget, so bought myself a £1 egg with the change.

Spendless

In Savers I saw a boxed set of Aussie hair products for curly hair. It was £7.99. It's £16 in Boots online. I'm saving it for my friend's 50th next month .

This week it has been DS bday. We had family round for burgers and chips and a chocolate caterpillar cake (Cuthbert this year as I couldn't get to M&S for Colin). On behalf of DD we went and got him his own bottles of chocolate stout.

Yesterday as I wasn't at work I had a huge sort out of my bedroom which included reorganising the present cupboard as I'd bough quite a bit of stuff in the sales. Glad to report it's now looking very healthy and will be really helpful later on in the year.

PennysIntoPounds

Great bargain @Spendless. I did laugh at 'his own bottles of chocolate stout' 😁