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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What’s that thing called when you go mad and buy crap??

108 replies

Puddingypops · 11/12/2023 17:03

It’s happening to me right now and I MUST be contained!!!

that last minute panic that everything you have bought is rubbish so you buy loads of shite to replace it and go insane!!!!!

I decided my poor 14 year old son had no fun stuff in his gift pile and have now bought 3 extra FUN gifts

crayola globbles

zombie apocalypse team leader duffel bag

over door basket ball net and balls

STOP THIS MADNESS

OP posts:
Original poster
Puddingypops · 11/12/2023 22:52

@Stumpedasatree i ordered mine from Emily’s eats as I’ve heard good things (freeze dried sweets) and went for the medium mystery boxes £14 each

OP posts:
recklessgran · 11/12/2023 23:29

Don't worry - you are not alone. I'm entirely bonkers too. DD3 is TTC and asked me if I'd mind wrapping a baby blanket and putting it under the tree - apparently it's a popular superstition you must do this if you want a baby in your arms by next Christmas. What have I done? Not just any old baby blanket. Oh no. I've ordered a G.H.Hurt merino wool baby shawl. How the hell am I going to explain that to DH?? He already humours me and calls Christmas my "winter project" but he is completely oblivious to the existence of THE TWITCH or what effect it has on normally sensible, sane ladies. I'm going to have to just wrap it and keep quiet aren't I? Anyone know what happens next - does it stay wrapped or what do I do with it on Christmas Day?

Catsfrontbum · 11/12/2023 23:48

I am bought. I am wrapped.

I twitched so hard this week. In a moment of menopausal
madness I have bought-

a poo timer for ds
a fidget game for dd
another set of books each
a chocolate mint orange-they have a Chocolate orange orange!!
a moon lamp for dd
a noodle cook book for ds
an air fryer.

who is the air fryer for?

we have just bought a fucking rangemaster cooker which is amazing why have I bought an air fryer?

someone disable Apple Pay please.

SantaExpress · 12/12/2023 00:15

Forgive me Father, for I have twitched…..😱.

Thought I was all done, then remembered … need a present for DP - from the Ddog

Soooo, Ddog will be carrying a bottle of something expensive & gorgeous-smelling round her neck ( like a St Bernard ) over to DPs chair on Christmas morning.

WithIcePlease · 12/12/2023 00:26

I'm defending the twitch
It's useful to have spare gifts. I got loads of the super bargainous wax lyrical Christmas candles when they were about £3-4 instead of £18 and great for secret Santa - been used by family for years!
I twitched on a Clinique mens set at £10 at Mcarthur glen - great value and will probably be useful at some point.

SequentialAnalyst · 12/12/2023 00:36

I do a variation of this, where I fret that my quirky presents bought with that individual in mind, will, when opened on Christmas Day, seem like the results of my brain malfunctioning. Unfortunately usually I have difficulty in thinking of suitable alternatives...

JingsMahBucket · 12/12/2023 06:54

recklessgran · 11/12/2023 23:29

Don't worry - you are not alone. I'm entirely bonkers too. DD3 is TTC and asked me if I'd mind wrapping a baby blanket and putting it under the tree - apparently it's a popular superstition you must do this if you want a baby in your arms by next Christmas. What have I done? Not just any old baby blanket. Oh no. I've ordered a G.H.Hurt merino wool baby shawl. How the hell am I going to explain that to DH?? He already humours me and calls Christmas my "winter project" but he is completely oblivious to the existence of THE TWITCH or what effect it has on normally sensible, sane ladies. I'm going to have to just wrap it and keep quiet aren't I? Anyone know what happens next - does it stay wrapped or what do I do with it on Christmas Day?

@recklessgran I love how appropriate your username is 😂

Justleaveitblankthen · 12/12/2023 07:01

I've just ordered my 27 year old DS a harmonica 😂
He doesn't have a musical bone in his body & the dogs will go crazy if they hear the noise

recklessgran · 12/12/2023 07:59

@JingsMahBucket Lord yes - I didn't think of that - oh dear. That term was coined by my eldest grandson many years ago after a particularly energetic episode of dancing on tables at a Greek night when we were on holiday. When I eventually returned to the table where our family were sitting cringing he declared "Gran that was SO reckless!" It kind of stuck and now he's an adult is often a sort of in joke between us whenever I do something deemed to be inappropriate.

narniabusiness · 12/12/2023 08:08

I’m so please to learn this has a name as I get this every year. I buy early to be organised, then decide it’s not ‘enough’ and go buy some more crap to top it up. This year I’ve not started my shopping yet to try to avoid it. I’m getting the panic instead now.

Frasa · 12/12/2023 10:15

TheMainChristmasCharacter · 11/12/2023 20:26

I’ve twitched on some lush bath bombs for my dc so I got free postage on someone else’s present.

Football boot dryers off an Instagram ad 🤦🏻‍♀️. This is the worst one. Complete impulse buy sucked in by it being 50% off or something.

Two books

And erm some knives for myself (again for the free postage, and a free gift).

I finished shopping at the weekend. Reading this thread now with a cup of tea and I have taken a notepad and pen out for some of the ideas 😅

Football boot dryers sound very interesting off to google ....

JingsMahBucket · 12/12/2023 10:22

recklessgran · 12/12/2023 07:59

@JingsMahBucket Lord yes - I didn't think of that - oh dear. That term was coined by my eldest grandson many years ago after a particularly energetic episode of dancing on tables at a Greek night when we were on holiday. When I eventually returned to the table where our family were sitting cringing he declared "Gran that was SO reckless!" It kind of stuck and now he's an adult is often a sort of in joke between us whenever I do something deemed to be inappropriate.

@recklessgran what wonderful sweet story! 😊 You also sound like an inspiration!

WeirdPookah · 12/12/2023 11:17

@SantaExpress my cat just did the same!! She somehow managed to buy walkie talkies for my children!! So now the HAMSTER is giving them the bath paints. Oh dear.

I also bought giant Jammie Dodgers as an additional stocking presents yesterday!

PointerSister · 12/12/2023 11:19

Yup nearly bought a light up football for £30 yesterday then gave my head a wobble 😂

TheMainChristmasCharacter · 12/12/2023 11:41

SantaExpress · 12/12/2023 00:15

Forgive me Father, for I have twitched…..😱.

Thought I was all done, then remembered … need a present for DP - from the Ddog

Soooo, Ddog will be carrying a bottle of something expensive & gorgeous-smelling round her neck ( like a St Bernard ) over to DPs chair on Christmas morning.

🤣🤣🤣😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

coffeetofunction · 12/12/2023 12:01

I've just caved and bought a £200 bottle of perfume. I'm done or at least I said I was.

psuedocream3 · 12/12/2023 12:12

I've found it easier to not give in to the twitch, due to everyones behaviour lately!

longtompot · 12/12/2023 12:30

@Puddingypops well, having never heard of freeze dried sweets, I now have 4 mystery boxes ordered😬

I've been ok with my buying this year and although only made a loose list for each person, have pretty much stuck to it. The hardest has been my yd who got a very expensive pair of headphones and a reconditioned phone for her birthday at the end of Nov, so we said just small presents for Christmas. Well, I have spent less on her than usual but still...
I try to buy the same amount of presents for my three amounting to about the same in money. However, ds presents aren't anything close to my eds, but I made peace with that when I thought about the amount of booze he will get through whilst he is here.

SantaExpress · 12/12/2023 12:36

@WeirdPookah

Thank goodness it’s not just me with the pets presents…I felt foolish til I realised I’m not alone!😆

Now, tell me more of the Jammy Dodgers…

Reepycheepy · 12/12/2023 13:10

@TheMainChristmasCharacter - if it’s any consolation football boot dryer is honestly one of my most useful buys this last year!

Although mine is kind of a mini hairdryer

fishfingersandchipsagain · 12/12/2023 14:31

Oh god, I totally forgot to get presents for or from the dog 🙄

IcedupTulip · 12/12/2023 15:49

Puddingypops · 11/12/2023 22:52

@Stumpedasatree i ordered mine from Emily’s eats as I’ve heard good things (freeze dried sweets) and went for the medium mystery boxes £14 each

Freeze dried sweets?? I’m intrigued. Off to google.

dressedforcomfort · 12/12/2023 15:51

I had it two years ago and suddenly ordered DS an Oodie and a board game at the 11th hour... (The Oodie was worth every penny tbh.)

VioletCharlotte · 12/12/2023 16:00

I promised myself that I wouldn't twitch this year. However I had a panic this morning as the DC (24 and 22) don't have any 'presents', and have just ordered a Lego set for DS1 and football shirt for DS2.

I need to stop. I've had stuff arriving all day and my lounge is full of boxes 🤣

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 12/12/2023 16:07

My dh will be succumbing to the Twitch any moment now. All ours are grown, one lives abroad, so presents have to be light and small, they have enough crap. He is irresistibly drawn to the Gift aisle in big supermarkets. I know he’s not got me anything (been ill) so am being very strict that I do not want Stuff. He will buy me Stuff.