OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

sallypurple

Stocking Fillers do seem to be a scary price now. I can't make my own either because my kids would recognise my handiwork

For DD(age 10) I've got lots of No 7 make up with the free vouchers, but the other two are more difficult - Hooray for Poundland :T :T :T

Queenie

Lillibet wrote:

.... In my very humble opinion too many families christmases are abotu opening the presnets in as gultonious manner as possoble then watching TV all day whilst eating too many sweets! ....

Funny you should say that ... I rediscovered this today:

On the 1st day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Undivided Attention
On the 2nd day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Enthusiasm
On the 3rd day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Creative Energy
On the 4th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of simple Seasonal pleasures
On the 5th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The Gift of Tenderness
On the 6th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Good Cheer
On the 7th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of beauty
On the 8th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Communication
On the 9th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Surprise
On the 10th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Wonder
On the 11th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Peaceful Surroundings
On the 12th day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:
The gift of Joy
(Sarah Ban Breathnach)

jazzyjustlaw

My daughter wanted items totalling £100.00 I normally spend £50.00 incl stocking fillers. Now she is not living with us I decided to send her money and get her a £10.00 present from Boots a smelly set. I do have the one though if I had two I would probably share that between them. i do spend about £10.00 for two stocking fillers for oh and some at £1-5.00 - but to be honest he doesnt cost me much throughout the year so i like to treat him. My sister has 5 children and I think she spends £30.00 max on them. The are the most unmaterialistic children you could meet - I love them so much they are so happy to see me they run at me for a cuddle.

BWZN93

jlw wrote:

.

My Initials are your user name!! That took me by suprise for a second....

Anyway - ive been buying xmas decorations, I got a great set of 40 pieces for the tree for £9.99 in B&Q today, they look really nice - so im done with that now!! Tomorrow im off to matalan to source a xmas tree, and have already planned the xmas week food shopping in advance so I know what to get, how much its going to cost, and what im buying in advance.

Im on track and im enjoying this planning xmas lark!

Jo xx

BoltonMinx

Posted this on Shop But Don't Drop, then remembered this thread! Im making my own x-mas cards for close friends and relatives. I got my supplies from these guys: http://www.creative-detail.co.uk

katieowl_2

Oh reading this thread has made me feel nearly human :T
I'm not the only parent planning on a spend of less that a zillion pounds (I was thinking 30 quid, but mine are all teens) and not the only person who has noticed that a cheapie stocking filler doesn't exist any more. I was shoked to my sox's at the prices of the 'stocking fillers' in BHS yesterday, and they were already knocking 20% off for the weekend!

My quandry is this, and any thoughts would be appreciated: I told my two still at home (eldest is at uni) no stockings this year.....DS said fine - I just want a PS2 game (no prob - I have a tenners worth of vouchers for Amazon which will help with that) DD who is 15 said NOOOOOOO!!!!! I don't want a present - Just my stocking.....It is also her birthday a forghtnight before Xmas.....which really doesn't help!

I think if I do not stocking for him and just stocking for her... they will all be crestfallen (you know what they say they want isn't always what they mean they want!) I was thinking of just reducing MASSIVELY into the teenyest stockings I have, and making next years even smaller? (until they dissapear)
What age do kids stop having stockings? One of my friends thinks mine are way past the age they should expect one, and another friend still does them for her late 20's kids?

What can I put in a stocking that will fill it up and come in at under a tenner say? DD is music mad...playing not just listening any suggestions?

Desperate of Sydenham

Regards

Kate

moggins

I even get a stocking for DH. I buy them all ready stuffed from Hawkins Bazaar

The kids love digging in to find out what they've got

Queenie

Dear Desperate of Sydenham (a.k.a. Kate/katieowl)

Ah yes, the proverbial dilema of "What age do kids stop having stockings?"

In your DD's case I would recommend: not yet!
In DS's case: now!

That is very much down to *your* personal traditions and really isn't dependant on how everyone else does it

If you find that *you* would feel bad/guilty about *not* giving your DS a stocking and you need some more inspiration for DD too ..... then my personal preference is to give "jokey" gifts that you can rustle up dead quickly, little cost. There is a magnificent array of "Gag Gifts" that you can find HERE - Tip: Grab a cuppa, you may be some time

Queenie xx


PS: Anyone who wakes in the morning in our household always gets a stocking: regardless of age/gender

Chipps

We all have stockings (including self & DH) although this year there will only be 3 of us for the 1st time, so adults with stockings will far outnumber kids!!!
But stockings don't have to cost much at all. I usually put in some choc coins (Aldi is usually quite cheap for these) some other sweets, a couple of little or novelty items and maybe something practical like socks and shower gel - which I would probably have to buy anyway!

Yorkielass

My brother and I have always had quite a few small presents from mum and dad (well 'father Christmas' when we were little) at Christmas rather than a big one, mum and dad do the same for each other - we all have a pillowcase type 'sack' (not full i hasten to add) and would always include things like socks, stationary as well as chocolate, a book, dvd/video/cd a game and other bits and pieces. We've never got much from grandparents etc so our parents probably bought us more than other people's parents who got presents from grandparents, step-parents etc.

Anyway my mum did one for my OH last year as we spent Christmas with them for the first time and this year even though we're off to inlaws apparently they'll be stocking waiting for us when we do get to theirs after Christmas - (we'll both be 23 then and brother is 20). I think that my parents will only stop when there are grandchildren on the scene to buy for too.

Whatever you decide I'd make sure you're children know - you don't want them to be disappointed, moody, cross etc on Christmas Day if they don't get the stocking they're expecting