Countdown to Christmas 2023: get past the post-Christmas slump by thinking about the next one! (Thread 1.)

[NoWordForFluffy]

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Morning (just)!

I failed at eating yesterday which meant I got blotto far too early and wasn't well. Oops! 🙈

But we had a great time anyway and I avoided having to tidy up!

Countdown to next year is go go go! 🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

I'm back at work tomorrow too. Booooooo!

We're only just getting the house back into some shape as yesterday I was too hungover there wasn't time before we went to Liverpool. We have got so many leftovers to eat through. Our meals are planned for at least the next week. 🤣🤣

We've washed up and put stuff away for now, and I cleaned the kitchen etc as well. We desperately need the recycling collection on Thursday to take place now; I reckon we have 1/4 of a bin's worth at least waiting to go out once it's empty!

I'm sitting on the sofa now. I may struggle to remove my arse from here again tonight. 🙈

Hi everyone, can I join? Lovely chilled out Xmas day followed by tricky Boxing Day. I was just in a grump then DS was being grumpy then coughing. I've spent today pretty much in bed, such a horrible bug that feels like covid but test neg. Deffo bought too much food again so will try not to next year. DH had inexplicably just started repainting the bedrooms though!

Ha! We're all making these decisions now for next year as Christmas 2022 is still a raw wound , but give it till September/October and the How nice it would be to have the family round /go to PILs/have a meal with Uncle Sid and Aunt Pat wanders into your mindseye .
And like childbirth, you forget the pain.

I should've put up more decorations I think (cat proof) .
Don't bother with making puddings , there's Brownies and StickY Toffee Pudding in the freezer , the Christmas Pudding still not eaten (it's coming out of the pantry for New Year)

I've booked my travel and hotel to go and visit my Mum

Thanks for the new thread Fluffy and welcome to all newcomers!
Glad everyone seems to have had a nice Christmas!

I've also made a start on next year - I bought Kraft wrapping paper, tags and some Christmas cards in the Barnardos sale.
I've also started a 2023 Pinterest board to put together all the crafty things I want to get done next year.

We travelled from the medium sized town we were staying in to a small town today. We're staying for a few days, before going to an even smaller town then home.

I'm massively in love with the way people decorate here (helped by the timber houses, huge porches and lots of snow). Warm white lights and real trees everywhere, plus there are only around 4 hours of grey/blue 'daylight' so the lights are pretty much always on It's so Christmassy DH was happy to listen to my Christmas playlist while we drove 👍🏻

No reindeer or dog sled rides for us 70 - we left it too late to book the reindeer and I didn't fancy the dog one. We're doing snowmobiling in a few days instead, plus we have another whale watching trip booked.

My sister got me this for my planning

Morning all 🙂 Mind if I join you?

I'm half planning to Christmas my way through the year - there were so many things I wanted to make and recipes I didn't get round to trying this year.

My "mum book" of Christmas and birthday planning is currently stashed away safely, but will be coming out tomorrow while everyone potters about, so I can make a start on next year's plan.

We definitely need more decorations next year - I wanted some (super tacky my colleague said 🤷‍♀️) ceiling garlands but couldn't find much in the shops so think they'll be an online purchase, and the kitchen is rather bare too.

I think I'll go down the same route with the girls presents again though; they were mostly practical, but a few surprises and things they'd mentioned through the year as well. Dd2 is particularly taken by her Britney Spears perfume - she has a million body sprays but never had proper perfume before 🤣

I'm actually waiting for her to get up atm - she's 13 today but had a late night relishing the "last time I'll do X, as a 12 yo" so I left her to it...

Love must get one.

Good morning put my cards into a Christmas themed bag which is 9n a huge laundry bag this will eventually hold presents for other people tissue paper will be ordered February March. Tags will be made by then.

362 - don't want to lose track of the countdown just three days in 😂

Lovely planner Chips. I must get mine out and make a note of what worked well and what wasn't a success. This year I'll make a note of how much the turkey breast weighed as it was a bit too big. We've had 2 roasts, 3 lots of sandwiches, I've got a pot of soup going and I've frozen enough for four more lots of soup and two more dinners. I don't mind leftovers but that's taking the piss.

Welcome @lucysmam - beware - there's a few crafters among us including some cross stitchers. Just warning you that you might be tempted into a new craft...

Place marking, I actually started thinking about next year’s presents this morning.

Afternoon!

My Christmas savings officially started again today. I still had a few quid left after splurging £41 on decorations in the JL sale online but it's started properly now with my monthly standing order going across.

I still have £186 in Nectar points to start next year's stash of points for stuff, which isn't bad going.

Chip, I love your planner!

Hello to more new people (familiar names, though)! 👋

I went to Boots earlier and made a start on my Christmas shopping. I got four presents and now feel very pleased with myself. It is unheard of for me to start this early.

Getting a planner cards put in bag for making tags will get silver pen for that, tissue paper will be ordered ideas for presents already written down.

My car won’t start. Dh is pissing me off and I’ve only written 150 words in 4 hours. Might just give up and start drinking.

@NoWordForFluffy You're beating us on the Nectar Points Balance - we've got about £13 so far for next year and DH is aiming for at least £200 so we can get all the food shopping for free!

(He's just come in from work, read the meters and declared a state of emergency based on the fact we've spent £800 on gas and electric since October 😳)

I think we'd have had about £500 in points if I hadn't been spending them as I went along, @TribeD. I lose track, but we've started to get jittery if they go below £200! 🤣🤣

Wreck, what's wrong with your car? Did it start in the end?

Why...bang on the head?! 🤔🤣

Do you not do monthly I’d go nuts doing quarter monthly dd for me any credit built up for summer can remain there for next winter.

DH sorts out these bills, while I do others. We're still quite considerably in credit even when we pay the bill, and there's a buffer in the gas and electric bill pot (we always have at least enough to cover a quarterly bill and then some)

DH is very good at finances, and we've been slowly building up our reserves because we want to be in a position where we've got at least a years worth of bill money in the bank just in case. We're not there yet, but we're not far off. we're very lucky to be in this position quite honestly.

Joining in this year. I have my Christmas planner as well, no sales shopping as I am utterly skint, but hoping to save properly throughout the year as opposed to getting to November and panicking how I am going to afford it all.

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On my way to the family party. I'll wave as I pass Fluffy.

I tackled a fair chunk of the laundry yesterday and tidied DS's room while he did a GCSE past paper. Poor love doesn't get much respite from school work even in the holidays.

No sales shopping here skint also but bills safe and food in so can survive this week, at last on Sunday can say I can start saving this week for next Christmas. I’ll order my planner with my bedding next week not Christmas bedding but just happens I can order both at the same time.

Fluffy I didn’t bother trying again after a few times there’s no point. None of the garages are open between Christmas and new year but I’ve got a mechanic coming to look at it Saturday which saves me having to get it towed there. Could really do without the stress though.

<Waves at Woolly!>

Wreck, what a pain. Hopefully it's something minor.

You are all delightfully bonkers!

@TheWoollybacksWife I don't mind a new craft or several to try 🤣

We've been for a wander to the little Asda this afternoon - I actually only wanted some berries from the holly bush on the way there to try and grow a small bush myself - I started on next year with 25p chocolate coins (don't worry I checked the date on them!).

We also bought a couple of small stollen and panettone for 30p each 😋