Presents for self

[Sepoctnov]

Single parent with no DP and few friends and family that will buy me gifts beyond a bottle of wine and chocolates (which I am grateful for BTW!)

So I am planning on treating myself this year to a few presents to open on Christmas day. So far I have put on my list new perfume and some books (real paper books as I have too much screen time).

Please share your ideas if you are doing the same.

Do yourself a stocking,
Decent bath soak or shower gel
Half bottle of champagne/ wine
Cocktail in a can
Fancy chocolate
Maybe something craft wise, small embroidery set, crochet kit or similar
Good socks
All of the above will be in my stocking plus an antique wooden bobbin which has been made into a pen

A really nice Christmas candle to light while you drink that wine and eat that chocolate. Diptyque Sapin is always gorgeous, as are the Neom ones.
A lovely house plant you can enjoy watching grow all year. Pothos are high reward on the growth front, while being pretty hard to kill.

I would buy luxury items of things you normally use. Nice chocolates, double the bottle of wine price, posh makeup? All things you would use, but make them a bit special. Hope you find some lovely things x

M&S do a festive Afternoon Tea letterbox package, https://www.marksandspencer.com/festive-afternoon-tea-letterbox/p/hpp60629254#intid=pid_pg1pip16g4r2c2|prodflag_submsg-Delivery%20included

I usually send this to my cousin who lives on her own and alternate with the fruit basket. Plenty of other stores do them as well.

You could get yourself some surprises? Like a beauty box where you don't know what's in it. And one of those cool secret books - this kind of thing, though actually my local bookshop sells single ones ready wrapped.

mrbsemporium.com/gifts/reading-subscriptions/?utm_term=books%20to%20give%20as%20gifts&utm_campaign=Subscriptions&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=2073676860&hsa_cam=1702068867&hsa_grp=69048685671&hsa_ad=678288887036&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-296153343340&hsa_kw=books%20to%20give%20as%20gifts&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwgfm3BhBeEiwAFfxrG7a5vlsmIADt6LP09FUTOf3ygbL93WktXaL8B_hguBXmneXOsv71FRoCz1QQAvD_BwE

Also how old are your DC because we go to B&M with a fiver per person per gift and the kids go round themselves to buy gifts from them to me and DH - often it's chocolates or bath stuff but it is so sweet seeing what they choose and one of those sparkly cheesy christmas animal ornaments is actually one of my favourite gifts ever,.

I always buy myself a posh advent calendar and have a little gift for all of December (I like Rituals)

My list consists of scented candles (apple pie and pumpkin latte, and don't come at me for that, I KNOW hahahah), jewelry or fragrance and probably an updated version of Photoglory, the photo restoration program I use, but we'll see if I get it earlier.

I have a huge list of ideas for myself - whenever ANYTHING pops into my head I write in on my list (on my iPhone notes). The list runs all year, not just near Christmas.

My list has a variety of luxury-ish things/treats that I wouldn’t normally buy for myself, as well as useful things that will make my life easier, but again, wouldn’t normally spend money on. I also add in a few silly and nostalgic stocking fillers.

A few examples: Kate Somerville goat milk cleanser, heated throw, Olaplex, hair turban, few books/cookbooks, cherries in brandy, massive toblerone, crystal growing tree, usb candle lighter, fancy lip balm, fast phone charger or MagSafe charger, pjs, selection box, decent picnic blanket (my ex took his when he moved out and I didn’t realise how much we used to use it!), body scrub, fancy cooking ingredients, walking boot/welly bag (didn’t know they existed, saw them mentioned on another thread and I need to save my car from muddy walks!), pickle fork/grabber, board game to play with my child.

I don’t get everything on the list, I do go back and forth over it deciding what to finally buy! Then I just have to figure out how to pay for it all!

I'll be treating myself to something from One Hundred Stars, they really have excelled themselves this season!

Diamonte stud earrings

Acupressure mat

Beauty items, lotions and potions and pedicure type stuff

Fancy gloves and or scarf and hat

New slippers / pjs

Massive fluffy bath sheet

Oodie style hooded blanket

Candle
slippers
advent calender
nice robe
an hour of a hobby (I’d go horse riding)
a care bear!

I’m the same OP and last year I got a box from the Mystery Gift Box company, you can set some of your interests and things you like and you get a parcel of things individually wrapped so its a surprise. I actually still use all the bits I got last year (socks, mug, lunchbox tub, notebook)

My parents would always take my kids out and help them buy me gifts so I had "surprises". I found Xmas morning the first couple of years as an SP really awful ..up mega early, both kids overwhelmed and wanting me to make / fix / play with their stuff at the same time. It helped knowing that effort had gone into thinking of me and the kids were always do pleased to give me stuff. Is that an option? (As well as actually treating yourself to nice stuff as pp have suggested)?

That’s so lovely of your parents!! My dad died a couple of years ago, then me and my child’s dad split up not long after. Christmas was a huge deal to me and my dad so I really felt it when I suddenly had 2 less people around at Christmas, which is one reason why I really spoil myself on the day!!

I like those eye mask / gel things. Put them in the fridge ans they help reduce eye bags

Have done this for last 16 years single I became a single parent.
To Mummy love from Mummy is always gift wrapped under the tree.
Always something I want not something I need. Something shiny like jewellery or a jumper that's a bit more than my usual budget. Got my eye on some boots this year. I usually buy it early and wrap it early and try to forget about it. So if it's jewellery I know it's jewellery of course, but I've forgotten what it looks like 👏🎄💕

Thanks for sharing your lists. I'm getting inspo from your ideas. Thinking I might go the whole hog and wrap the presents so I can open them with my DC. Is that just mad and sad?

My list now consists of
Perfume
Books
Dressing gown
Woollen blanket for the sofa

I usually treat myself to hand lotions and nice smellies throughout the year so have a surplus in the cupboard already😳

Love this! You're right I think I'll go all out and wrap my presents with bows and tags. To Mummy, Happy Christmas, You've been a Star this year. Love from Mummy😂

I've had a look and really fancy one of their grandiosely priced lampshades! Off to TKMaxx website for me. What do you have your eye on?