Countdown to Christmas 2022: it's s bit warm to be considering Christmas, but I'm doing it anyway! (Thread 3.)

[NoWordForFluffy]

Evening!

Here we go...unless we talk more, this will do us til the big day! 🎅🏻 🎄

Yes, early mornings have the scent and light of autumn. I love it! 🍂 🍁

I’ve decided on the record player I’m getting dd (with help from my sister) and they have one on Urban Outfitters which has a code running for 48 hours only but it won’t work! So annoying as it’s worth £20 off 🤨

we’ve also finally got round to saying no presents for adults (well, I said it and everyone agreed) so I feel much less stressed knowing I only have the dc to buy for now. Dh has nephews and nieces but he can sort that.

I think somebody said the UO codes don't work on record players, Wreck. Which one is it?

Well done re the no presents thing. I bet others were grateful you'd put your head over the parapet!

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The rain woke me up. It's chucking it down! Again.

Our new grass seed will hopefully be happy and start to sprout. Second time lucky after the first lot took, but then got squashed by the bouncy castle for DS' birthday! 🙈

I've got 38 strawberry runners pinned into pots as well. The strawberries were shit this year, so I'm getting myself some new plants sorted!

I tried it on some clothes too and it didn’t work. The code has disappeared this morning which is annoying. I can still get 10% nhs discount so not all bad.

it’s definitely not autumnal here this morning, it’s 19°, very mild.

in good news I’ve just paid my final payment to my dad for my car. Last month we paid off our big load and we would have cleared dh’s credit card had it not been for poor WreckCat but should have it cleared by December.

Just in time for the energy prices to go up, Wreck! But at least they're gone. I've been throwing money at debt this year as well. Still a way to go, but it's an improving situation!

Maybe a new code will replace it, as that one didn't work. You can get 8% cashback on Airtime Rewards on top of your discount. So that will help a bit.

What’s airtime rewards?

Yes we overpaid our loan by £200 a month as it was due to be paid in November. We’re definitely in a better position than we were thankfully. I’m really worried about the energy bills, we’re fixed but I’m guessing we lose our deal if we move? Plus we will likely have gas too at a new place.

Also in October I’m getting ds a private OT assessment as the NHS one was declined. See if they can offer suggestions and check his anxiety isn’t being caused by anything specific I guess. Not sure what I’m after actually I just want to be sure I’ve explored everything.

Our private OT cost £150 for the dyspraxia assessment. I don't know what her fees per session are, but we've agreed that she'll go into school for a block of sessions once they're back. Thankfully his DLA will cover this.

My fixed contract says it can be moved to a new property. I imagine they'd wriggle out of it somehow if we moved, however, as it's so good!

Airtime Rewards is cashback linked to your debit / credit card spending. Handy if you use a voucher meaning the usual cashback places won't pay. They do also work in conjunction too.

This is £550 for an assessment and report, that CAN’T be used for an EHCP but I don’t think he needs one. I just want things sorted before he goes to secondary school in two years, he still struggles to talk to adults so at least if I have a report saying he struggles with x y and z I can give that to them. One place I looked at wanted £850 and had an 8 month wait!

Morning all.

Both DS and I are tired of the holidays now, having a quiet few days before seeing my grandparents this weekend. I am desperate to give the house a really good go over but am waiting until DS is back at school so I can stick an audio book on and do it undisturbed.

Weather has definitely turned autumnal and we are getting regular rain which is a relief.

I really wish we could do only buying for kids but DS is the only kid in the family so it would be unbelievably unfair. We have 5 siblings between us and so far none have produced children.

looking at a cheaper version of a GoPro for ds and have found one on Amazon. It’s £79 new or £55 from Amazon warehouse - used like new in original packaging… I’m wondering if it’s just a return? Guess I could get it and if it’s not perfect I could return it?

Dreaming my sister and her husband don’t have any dc and nor does dh’s brother, they are happy with the plan though. I told my sister not to buy for us a few years back but still bought for them as they were buying for the dc, but we’ve all decided just to stop now. My mum even asked if we could extend it to birthdays which is fine by me. It’s all just buying for the sake of buying for us as it’s mainly token things or just my mum giving us cash. I guess lots of people will be cutting back this year.

I have always found the descriptions 'as new' etc pretty accurate

Wow, ours was for assessment and report too. And as many visits as it took before the assessment was complete (it was 3, about 4-5 hours). Being up north is useful!

I feel the same wreck like we are just buying stuff that they could buy for themselves and vice versa. If they suggested it I would happily agree but I feel a bit cheeky asking when I know they will want to buy for DS.

Fluffy that’s such a bargain. Follow ups have an additional charge. I guess if we needed the whole shebang it would be cheaper to travel to where you are 😅

Dreaming that’s so tough. Is there any one in the family you feel you could broach the subject with? To gauge their feelings? I felt the same in previous years but I think with the cost of living we’re all ready to rein it in —apart from my boomer grandparents— 😂

We have pared Christmas presents right down as well , my DC are adults (and the only grandchildren on my side of the family) DH side we have neices/nephews , again all young adults .

My DS is going back to University , and already wistfully proclaiming that he'll miss earning money , but he has the long term to consider and will find earning/finding a job enhanced by a Masters .

DD will be going into 3rd year (hopefully , if her exams went well) .
So by Christmas , they'll be knackered and even with the University holidays , probably working hard .

Tomorrow is another Rudolph Day
And then the last Bank Holiday of the year . (It'll rain , always does )

DH has done major decluttering so we should reap the benefit of more space .
I can use the garage to store things (my Costco bargains maybe , when I get there )

I'm doing a mental list of Things I Don't Need To Buy this year .
Chocolate Advent Calanders for one (though we might get to the 14th and DS will riot that I forgot his )
They'll still get a Selection Box but the simple £3 type , the huge ones are more style over substance .

I'm still debating on Christmas Cake , they only get eaten by me (I used to take some to my DParents but that cannot happen now sadly )

I could do a small one ? And a mega layer of homemade marzipan.
Though this year it might be a case of "What kind of cake can I make"? depending on what is in the supermarket .....!

Dd wants a Tony’s advent calendar and ds white chocolate (he doesn’t really like normal chocolate).

We didn’t get the house. Never mind.

we had a good day though, saw some deer and went out for lunch.

Great photos Wreck

I've got fabric refillable advent calendars. There's a riot if they don't have chocolates in so I don't bother with anything fancy.

Ours is fabric too, Woolly. I usually get dairy free ones. But they also had a Cadbury one last year as they're more able to cope with dairy now.

I have brought a refillable fabric one for my daughters first Xmas. She will only be 10m so wanted to avoid chocolate and she is dairy free currently too. I have brought some lovely wooden animals (in the sale) to go in some of the bags and a set of 8 mini Disney books to split up. Also Christmas socks and bibs, some finger puppets all 2nd hand. Then I'm going to stuff them with tissue paper (ones without the books as there won't be room in them) for her to pull out as she absolutely adores tissue paper!

Hi (or do I say Howdy now)?
We're in the airport waiting to fly home. Holiday has been amazing but is sadly over.
I was hoping for some cool weather but it's showing a sunny 23° for today 🙄

Wreck which record player did you go for? I bought one for DH for his birthday this year - a Crossley Voyager (pic).

Dreaming I'm going to be honest, we do 'kids only' in both sides of the family and as the only ones without dc (but with 5 nieces and nephews) it rankles a bit so I've scaled down what I buy for them.
I wouldn't mind if it was just one or two dc though.

I want to buy a traditional picture only advent calendar for myself this year so will look for that soon.

Forgot the pic

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Crazy the one I’ve seen is like that but floral, it’s really nice, would you recommend?

We’ve had loads of rain overnight and it’s not meant to clear until 11. Will be a day of doing nothing I think.

Morning.

I've finally got the app working so 🤞hopefully I'll be able to catch up with you all.

Ah Wreck bad news about the house
Crazy you can say "Howdy" or "Yee Ha! "

Absolutely pi**ing down here , thunder at 3am , heavy noisy rain. Need to check this evening if my plants survived or if they;ve been deluged out of their pots !

Happy Rudolph Day
Any plans for the Bank Holiday ?