Starting from scratch for Christmas..

[MadameBabawic]

I divorced my xh in january and have moved from a large-ish house to a 2 bed flat in March.. whilst looking for somewhere to live my criteria that had to be met was have a bath and enough room for a christmas tree in the living room!
So i've bought a flat, started over and a new life for me and 2 DDs who are 6 & 8 1/2.

I have no christmas decorations at all, no christmas dishes, nothing for christmas, i want to cry at the thought of having to start from zero, all over again. This was my choice and i'm not complaining but i think i underestimated how difficult it would be.

Especially as things are tighter now financially, i would like to start planning, but also as i have always loved christmas. Christmas 2014 was non existent and quite hard for us all and i would love to finish off this life changing year for us with a lovely christmas :-) (no pressure there!)

Does anyone have any recommendations where i could start ordering naice decorations/thingys and homeware? I'm hoping we can have it in our new home with my mum and perhaps my boyfriend but havent actually talked about where we shall be, yet.

I have made a good start on stockings - picking things up gradually and i know DD wants a kindle but am trying to rack my brains for other ideas.

PLease please share any ideas you have for an new shiny, optimistic christmas!
Thinking i left the christmas boxes in my old house with my xh is making me very sad.

Thank you - but it is the collected wisdom of quite a few different Irish ladies!! (I just collected them for my own lazy brain purposes !!)

Jumble sales. They usually have masses of christmas christmas decorations and cost pennies. Especially at this time of year. I have bought loads of vintage, wooden and unusual decorations from jumbles.

a book advent calendar - a different christmassy book each day for dec that they can unwrap. So many books have christmas in it isn't that hard (bet we could help you get ideas). Some nights could be boardgame or dvd instead.

Also christmas eve pyjamas.

Portmeirion have discounts on some of their "Christmas Wish" and "Sophie Conron Christmas" ranges, they have been running the same ranges for a while, so you could get a few bits now, building up a christmas range over a few years.

Not read posts however I would take it easy and go for lots of paper home made stuff then clean up in this years sales?

JL have fab reductions, as do TK MAX and wilkinsons have great cheap bulk decorations as a base.

look on pin interest.

We bought all new Christmas decorations a few years ago from Wilkinsons. Bought loads of cheap decorations like candle holders, baubles, little reindeers figures, didn't cost much at all. And a box of 50 assorted baubles from Next for £10. Our tree is a Tesco Finest artificial tree that cost £75 but we used our Clubcard vouchers towards it.

I don't buy Christmas plates or anything like that. I'd love to but I just don't have the room to store it for the rest of the year.

Home bargains and poundland usually start to get Christmas things in September/October time lots of fun Crockery and Christmas decoration kits for the kids to do

I want to do everything on Biddy's list!!!

Came here to say buy chargers to put underneath normal white plates from poundland. Yes they weigh far less than Jl ones but look just the same! I also use a paper doily on them and put mince pies etc. On them. Christmassy for pennies!

Hobbycraft do 3 for 2 on Christmas Dec's. I saved a fortune making my own garlands using their plain bases and it'll be more fun and festive for you.

Last year I bought my huge artificial tree from Christmas tree world in October. It looks great and I saved a packet.