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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Treating ourselves to a huge Christmas blow out - how would you spend £1000?

278 replies

Christmas25 · 08/12/2025 19:08

Posting for traffic.

We have had a crappy year for various reasons so have decided we are going to go all out this year.

We have earmarked £1000 to spend for Christmas (ignoring presents) - how would you spend it? We’ve already ordered the Tom Kerridge beef wellington from M&S (not part of this budget), but I’d love to know what other things Mumsnetters would recommend. I don’t know where to start!

OP posts:
MakeMineAMilkyTea · 08/12/2025 20:24

If you can, look to getting away for a couple of nights over new years. I’d not splurge it all on Christmas, but I’d look to do a nice family getaway to see in a new year.

Offcom · 08/12/2025 20:24

Luxe, homemade Christmas crackers with something delightful chosen especially for each person

Gorgeous candlesticks for the table

Stupid, over-the-top water pitcher and matching glasses

The £6 Daylesford cranberry sauce instead of the £1 brand

A Christmas Cameo from someone who will crack everyone up

A beautiful carving knife

Sartre · 08/12/2025 20:25

I’d go see a musical on Broadway and have a lovely meal afterwards. Definitely wouldn’t waste it on frivolous food to eat at home.

SamBeckettslastleap · 08/12/2025 20:26

Reindeer. I bet you could get reindeer to visit on Christmas Eve for a grand.

Or alpacas maybe

SagittariusUprising · 08/12/2025 20:26

Ooo…

Nyetimber
Oysters
Fore-rib of beef
A blow-out at Paxton & Whitfield cheesemonger in St James
Taskmaster crackers

MoosesareREAL · 08/12/2025 20:27

I would get a private chef if you’re determined the money will only be spent on food

GoldMerchant · 08/12/2025 20:27

Spend as much of the budget as you can in local or UK-based online independent shops: butcher, fishmonger, farm shop, wine merchant. You will be making someone else's Christmas, too, if they get a big order. Is there a local cake maker who could make a posh desert for you?

Boudy · 08/12/2025 20:27

Cheese and lots of it and lovely edible crackers. A good port( I realise it sounds a tad gouty!)
Also tableware that can be brought out every year( you may already have this).
Yummy party food.
Massive Yule log!

LighthouseLED · 08/12/2025 20:28

Sartre · 08/12/2025 20:25

I’d go see a musical on Broadway and have a lovely meal afterwards. Definitely wouldn’t waste it on frivolous food to eat at home.

Couldn’t really do that on £1000 for 5 or 7 people, though.

Vitriolinsanity · 08/12/2025 20:28

Panto at the Palladium with lunch beforehand.

Whatwouldnanado · 08/12/2025 20:30

Definitely theatre, (not necessarily London, somewhere new) and an overnight stay somewhere afterwards. More memorable than just splurging on food and booze. Enjoy.

Ineffable23 · 08/12/2025 20:34

Lovely bottle of port, or perhaps a few for tasting - I have a 30 year old and a 2009 colheita I am looking forward to this Christmas.

Really good smoked salmon. Pinney's is excellent but no idea if they deliver, or fortnums is lovely, though obviously outrageous.

Maybe a fortnums hamper to open? They have a cheese and wine one I have been lusting over but can't actually justify the expense of. I also love their loose leaf tea and their "lossus" (chocolossus etc) biscuits.

Could do an Ocado order - their picard Frozen stuff is great and they also do "reflets de France" (sp?!) which is a great selection of proper french cheeses.

Waitrose do a fabulous saussicon sec.

If you don't have lovely crystal glasses, I would be tempted to add them to the list. I love a champagne coupe, for example.

One thing I spent a big chunk of money on recently, and enjoy every day, is a lovely cutlery set. I went for Robert Welch, Radford, but there are lots of great suppliers.

Not sure if it's too late for Christmas but we've never had a bad thing from here: https://www.lavialla.com/en-GB/orderform/olive-oil/olive-oil/ though they are jolly expensive.

I like the idea of buying some lovely ornaments/lights etc that you can reuse year on year. You could also consider doing the same thing with an advent calendar.

Do you want any board games etc for the family? Or to hold a big, fabulous new year's eve party?

I hope you can use the money to have a memorable Christmas OP.

Olive Oil | Olive Oil | Fattoria La Vialla

Italian extra virgin olive oil, guaranteed organic and biodynamic, shipped directly from Fattoria La Vialla farm and wine estate to your home.

https://www.lavialla.com/en-GB/orderform/olive-oil/olive-oil/

notnorman · 08/12/2025 20:34

I’ve spent £800 on a large fortnums hamper in the past- maybe something like that?

Throneofgame · 08/12/2025 20:35

IdaGlossop · 08/12/2025 19:16

OP, we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis, with some people struggling to afford Christmas. Having £1,000 to spend without presents or the main part of your Christmas meal puts you in a position thousands cannot even imagine. Some of them will read your post.

Posting about having children may upset infertile people.

Posting about going for a walk may upset people in wheelchairs.

Posting about living in a house may upset people who can only afford a flat.

Etc etc etc.

You bore!

SomethingFun · 08/12/2025 20:36

I would struggle to decide what to spend an extra 1000 on too op 😊 I think I’d get a fillet of beef and a fancy champagne for New Year’s Eve and some of the stinkiest cheeses. I’d also book a massage for myself 😊 I hope you have a lovely Xmas.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 08/12/2025 20:36

All the cheese you can eat from a specialist cheese supplier and a really nice bottle or two of Gigondas to go with it. Plus champagne, of course. Beautiful flowers on the table, really fancy canapes . . . Candied fruit is a favourite thing of mine, and it's so expensive. Marzipan petit fours.

want another guest?

Scottishskifun · 08/12/2025 20:37

A case of wine, lobster and langoustines for Christmas eve.
A evening out to a light show nearby if you can get tickets still and visit a Christmas Market.

SamBeckettslastleap · 08/12/2025 20:37

GoldMerchant · 08/12/2025 20:27

Spend as much of the budget as you can in local or UK-based online independent shops: butcher, fishmonger, farm shop, wine merchant. You will be making someone else's Christmas, too, if they get a big order. Is there a local cake maker who could make a posh desert for you?

Actually I would do this.

Okiedokie123 · 08/12/2025 20:39

If I had £1000 and didn’t know what to spend it on (because it’s not for presents) but had a desperate urge to spend it…..I’d buy lots of toys, kids clothes and donate it to a domestic violence centre, foster care kids, children’s hospice.

IdaGlossop · 08/12/2025 20:39

Throneofgame · 08/12/2025 20:35

Posting about having children may upset infertile people.

Posting about going for a walk may upset people in wheelchairs.

Posting about living in a house may upset people who can only afford a flat.

Etc etc etc.

You bore!

Reductio ad absurdum.

Letthemeatgateau · 08/12/2025 20:40

I'd not lift a finger and buy everything from Tommy Banks with that much to splurge. Enjoy it!

SunnyViper · 08/12/2025 20:41

A grand just about covers the booze in my house😂

Yamahahaha · 08/12/2025 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Nasty, snide, jealous post.

How do you know the money hasn't been inherited from a parent who's recently died or some other less-than-ideal circumstance? The OP said they've had a bad year which could easily have included a bereavement.

Christmas25 · 08/12/2025 20:44

Thanks all, brilliant suggestions and plenty for me to talk to DH about!

OP posts: