Pass the mince pies- Christmas Chat Thread Part Deux

Jude13

I'm lucky in that my family is small, and also though 2008ish was very difficult for us a family it re calibrated us. So it's really only the kids and my folks who get presents. We get each other token things or a funny thing but that's it. The kids are lego mad so that's easy and my parents we try and treat as they raised feral kids in to almost normal adults. So they are the main expense.

I try to have nothing to purchase of substance for December. Though when I am home I pick up a few things around town if they jump out at me, mainly its sweets or booze.

DvB

Jude13 wrote: »

I'm lucky in that my family is small, and also though 2008ish was very difficult for us a family it re calibrated us. So it's really only the kids and my folks who get presents. We get each other token things or a funny thing but that's it. The kids are lego mad so that's easy and my parents we try and treat as they raised feral kids in to almost normal adults. So they are the main expense.

I try to have nothing to purchase of substance for December. Though when I am home I pick up a few things around town if they jump out at me, mainly its sweets or booze.

Good shout. Its always nice to have the costs more or less covered so if you see something closer to the time that stands out for yourself or your OH etc you're much better placed to treat them or yourself.

TRS30

DvB wrote: »

Again, this 100%.
It makes the run up so much more enjoyable to not be stressing about getting presents & costs etc.

I suspect people who enjoy christmas plan earlier & spread the cost & reduce the stress where possible, some may not have the spare cash to start early what with schools starting back etc. but would probably start early enough if they did.

People that dont like christmas so much but accept it later in the season I'd wager leave everything until the last couple of weeks & then complain about it being too stressful etc. i.e. its a vicious circle, leave it late, get stressed, complain its stressful & promise to leave it as late as possible next year = getting stressed because you've left it too late again!

I've no sympathy:D

The last few years we have broken the cost of Christmas up into stages, usually after each pay day for the few months before. Late Sept will do stuff for the house (have hosted the last couple of years), will do presents late October and then do food (non perishable obviously) late November and then dip into the Christmas fund for tree, decorations, Santa trip etc as the needs arises.

snowgal

CheerLouth wrote: »

How much are they in Aldi? They were 6.50 in Tesco!

and €7 in Dunnes! Im sure the offer wars will begin soon! Its good to be back!!

DvB

TRS30 wrote: »

The last few years we have broken the cost of Christmas up into stages, usually after each pay day for the few months before. Late Sept will do stuff for the house (have hosted the last couple of years), will do presents late October and then do food (non perishable obviously) late November and then dip into the Christmas fund for tree, decorations, Santa trip etc as the needs arises.

Similar with us, each wage packet at the end of the month (Aug, Spt, Oct) is earmarked for fencing off different bits. Novembers wages close out the drinks (we always have at least one night for friends/family in ours) & last few little bits. So when we break up from work we have a grocery shop to get & little else.

Works for us anyway.

snowgal

TRS30 wrote: »

The last few years we have broken the cost of Christmas up into stages, usually after each pay day for the few months before. Late Sept will do stuff for the house (have hosted the last couple of years), will do presents late October and then do food (non perishable obviously) late November and then dip into the Christmas fund for tree, decorations, Santa trip etc as the needs arises.

great way to do it! We dont have kids or anything so theres not a huge amount of that kind of prep to be done (though the niece/nephew list is growing!) but Im trying to get going now from 1st September, to buy something every week that we'll need/want. I find Nov/Dec are just such an expensive time in general for me, birthdays etc that it would be good to spead the cost. plus get to look at Christmassy stuff for almost 4 months, obvs!!

TRS30

snowgal wrote: »

great way to do it! We dont have kids or anything so theres not a huge amount of that kind of prep to be done (though the niece/nephew list is growing!) but Im trying to get going now from 1st September, to buy something every week that we'll need/want. I find Nov/Dec are just such an expensive time in general for me, birthdays etc that it would be good to spead the cost. plus get to look at Christmassy stuff for almost 4 months, obvs!!

Yep, is a great excuse to be thinking/planning for Christmas for about 4 months!

washiskin

CheerLouth wrote: »

How much are they in Aldi? They were 6.50 in Tesco!

€3.99, iirc. Hang on....I'll check the receipt...... yes, €3.99.

chuckles30

I'm very lucky where I work - the company introduced a Christmas Savings Scheme a couple of years ago - you can get the money deducted from your salary every month and you get it back with your November salary. It's so handy as no matter what happens during the year, you cannot spend that money. So effectively, the cost is spread across 11 months.

Loughc

washiskin wrote: »

€3.99, iirc. Hang on....I'll check the receipt...... yes, €3.99.

Oh hello.....

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

Again, this 100%.
It makes the run up so much more enjoyable to not be stressing about getting presents & costs etc.

I suspect people who enjoy christmas plan earlier & spread the cost & reduce the stress where possible, some may not have the spare cash to start early what with schools starting back etc. but would probably start early enough if they did.

People that dont like christmas so much but accept it later in the season I'd wager leave everything until the last couple of weeks & then complain about it being too stressful etc. i.e. its a vicious circle, leave it late, get stressed, complain its stressful & promise to leave it as late as possible next year = getting stressed because you've left it too late again!

I've no sympathy:D

Fantastic post. Absolutely spot on!

Christmas like anything in life is you get what you put into it. If you spend your Christmas being stressed and running around the place there won’t be much enjoyment but if you relax and enjoy it a bit you will enjoy the holidays more.

otnomart

Agree with y' all !
Spreading the prep and expense out, allows to actually enjoy December, which goes so fast anyway and would be a shame to miss running around like headless chickens !

Have got childhood memories of my parents doing the prep (getting the drinks and the foodstuffs that keep), me writing the letter to Santa early...
It then came natural to me.
We tend to give each other presents throughout the year (not waiting for Christmas) so that it is just a time to be together and enjoy.
And to enjoy the food of course !

SCOOP 64

Sony Christmas+1, Christmas with the Kranks on now, when did Sony Christmas start ?

kitten_k

freshpopcorn

Most years we start buying a few things in about October but we'd get more serious in November. We might hold off getting the tubs early this year to see do they do the 3 for €10 offer this year.
Last year all we had to get was the Turkey, desserts, etc,the standard weekly shop and maybe the odd other thing in the days before Christmas.
It does make things easier and you can go to shopping centers, etc in the days before and have a nice time.
I generally top my mothers clubcard up and we leave the points build up also.
I know some people say ban Christmas stock until December and just let people save but in reality this is hard for a lot of people.

iguana

DvB wrote: »

This, 100%!!
Theres no way we could leave everything until late November/December, we wouldnt have the time or the money to do everything in such a short space of time, especially as we usually have some socialising in the run up too & that never comes cheap!

I like to have pretty much everything done before the end of November so I can actually enjoy Christmas time. I want to spend the month before Christmas soaking up good Christmas vibes and having fun. Not stressing out. I often think there is a direct correlation between pre-planning Christmas and how much you enjoy the season. If you do the potentially stressy bits in advance, they aren't stressy at all, in fact they are fun as they are little tastes of the fun ahead. And then once the season gets into full swing you are free to enjoy it. If you leave it all to the last minute it can feel too stressful and you miss a lot of the fun. Then next year you bury your head in the sand until the last minute and the stress starts again.

Posy

Yep, if I didn't have everything bought, wrapped, and organised by mid/late November I'd be in a panic!!
Plus, as has already been said, spread the cost! Much more manageable and keeps the stress levels low.

Jude13 wrote: »

I love the taste of the bah humbuggers tears.

CheerLouth wrote: »

How much are they in Aldi? They were 6.50 in Tesco!

These two consecutive posts gave me a chuckle!

otnomart

interesting survey about UK shoppers that kinda links with our convo !

When questioned, consumers honed down the ideal timeline for Christmas shopping as:

Christmas gifts hit stores: October 21st
Christmas decorations fill the shelves: November 6th
Festive food tantalises our taste buds: November 7th
Christmas music rings out the festive season: November 13th

One in 20 (5%) of those surveyed have completed all their Christmas shopping by mid-November, with 42% stating they enjoy Christmas shopping early in order to enjoy a stress-free December and the build-up to Christmas.
On the other end of the spectrum, half (50%) complete their Christmas gift shopping between 21st December and Christmas Day, with a staggering 23% of consumers admitting to leaving it until Christmas Eve to buy a last-minute gift.

More than half (55%) say they will buy the majority of their Christmas gifts this year online, with this significantly higher amongst younger age groups, peaking at 71% of those aged 25-34.

Full article here:
https://internetretailing.net/themes/uk-shoppers-have-already-started-stocking-up-for-christmas-as-peak-starts-in-august-20163

TRS30

otnomart wrote: »

......... with a staggering 23% of consumers admitting to leaving it until Christmas Eve to buy a last-minute gift.

I remember the first year after college when I had a job and a bit of money, going into town on Christmas Eve to buy presents.

Even at that early age, I said to myself never ever again.

Mollyb60

Leaving present buying till Christmas eve would give me heart palpitations.
I'm not usually this early at organising stuff but we think this might be the last year for Mr Claus with my nephew so I was checking out the good experiences to go to. Have convinced my sister to drive up to the one in Navan that most people here recommended (so thanks guys!). And when I started looking at that I thought I might as well get a head start on doing a few other bits and pieces. So I've my lists on the go now and will be keeping an eye out from now on for stuff.

DvB

kitten_k wrote: »

One of my favourite quotes, hence my signature on boards.

Littlehorny

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

Sony Christmas+1, Christmas with the Kranks on now, when did Sony Christmas start ?

Think its been on for a couple of days now, is it on for the week or staying on till Christmas?

Loughc

Littlehorny wrote: »

Think its been on for a couple of days now, is it on for the week or staying on till Christmas?

I think it’s on until Christmas

Autosport

Tesco have tins of biscuits 2 for €20 or €12 each, selections boxes for €6:50 and have a few advent calendars like Cadbury’s, milky bars and little Cadbury’s chocolate snowmen and snowflakes (which I bought today)

OUTDOORLASS

I saw tubs of Quality St in Aldi yesterday for E3.99

TRS30

Loughc wrote: »

I think it’s on until Christmas

I might have watched 'Defending Santa' last night with Dean Cain (always wondered where he disappeared to and did a bit of goggling and he has made a ton of Christmas movies! )

TRS30

Autosport wrote: »

Tesco have tins of biscuits 2 for €20 or €12 each, selections boxes for €6:50 and have a few advent calendars like Cadbury’s, milky bars and little Cadbury’s chocolate snowmen and snowflakes (which I bought today)

I couldn't buy biscuits this early. They wouldn't last till next week let alone Christmas

DvB

TRS30 wrote: »

I couldn't buy biscuits this early. They wouldn't last till next week let alone Christmas

I'm the same with the tubs of quality street, wont stop me picking up half a dozen tonight though

TRS30

DvB wrote: »

I'm the same with the tubs of quality street, wont stop me picking up half a dozen tonight though

I guess I could get my wife to hide the second tin and I could just eat the one

Autosport

Yea what’s with Quality street for €3:99 and the others for €6:50. I love Quality street so I’ll be buying them

I’ve signed up for a Christmas card exchange through a group on Facebook, should be interesting