What is your favourite Christmas luxury or special festive spend?

[Christmas2026]

I know... I know ... It's June.

I'm just feeling nosy and wondering what your most luxurious/ treat/traditional (whatever) spend is at Christmas?

Truthfully, I don't really have one! But my life is different now. Previously, we were child free and basically working most of it so our most luxe spend was probably some nice chocolates also I only have a small list of people to buy for so I like to not necessarily spend a lot of money but put a lot of consideration and thought into gifts I have a little text conversation with myself where I note when people mention flavours they like etc.

Just interested in other people's Christmases?

Cheese, more cheese and a bottle of Nyetimber English sparkling wine from West Sussex. Don't knock it till you've tried it, it's sensational.

A luxury reed diffuser to make the sitting room smell nice. Last year we had a Scandinavian Skog and all agreed it smelt like xmas.

I would love a recipe if you don't mind sharing? I have the same problem!

@DeedlessIndeed where did you get a goose so late in the game? I know our branch of Lidl had them in December though.

You inspired me to look up Elvas Plums….I read about them in an Agatha Christie once…The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding…and I wondered what they were. Never got around to finding out until now! I love Greengages in the same way I love Chestnuts but as Marrons Glacés are too sweet for me I don’t think Elvas Plums will do it for me either!

@MamaBobo Elvas plums are amazing with cheese - takes away from the sweetness. We’ve also been known to use any leftover ones up in porridge.

I'm really enjoying the contradiction of reading this thread while sunning myself in my swimsuit.

I always buy a big 3 wick 'winter' candle from the white company.

A real tree.
The ones we get are decent value, but it still feels like an indulgence now that the DC have grown up.

Ooh, do they do Dovedale blue

Love this string, it’s given me so many ideas!

I love a side of smoked salmon from Scotland https://www.ugiesalmon.co.uk delicious and I’m sure it works out the same as a supermarket (or that’s what I’m telling myself 😂)

Yes! I love it. And Sage Derby, white Stilton, a golden blue which I think is called Chatsworth gold.

Norfolk Nog.
Absolutely delicious 🎄

Pre LO it was definitely going away every other year. We’d book cold snowy places mostly but also did a few city breaks. The idea was generally to skimp a flights (fly at annoying times) and some meals by having sandwiches etc then splurge on the accommodation, days out and a few upmarket meals out.

Now LO is here I’d say it’s more low key. We spend on a good turkey (raised on a farm by a farmer we know), every year I buy posh cheese, chutney and crackers knowing full well it’s too much for one person (DH isn’t a fan) but I don’t care.
Every year DH has bought a meat selection box thing from the local butcher. Costs a fortune but is good quality and he cooks us a posh steak tea on NYE from it.
Im also unashamedly a fan of Christmas socks/pjs for me and LO and T-shirts/jumpers for LO.

Our biggest and my favourite spend now is doing stuff with LO. I know it’s a bit OTT but the Santa train, meeting Santa, theatre, cinema. It’s not all costly but I love it.

It was indeed Lidl @JingsMahBucket !

If I remember correctly was roughly £70 cheaper compared to Waitrose, and it actually was nice. Was worried about defrosting it in time, but we managed it.

Waitrose also gave me a wee voucher too for causing the chaos, so it worked out well.

I forgot to include in my post, one luxury spend that is purely for me each year is a ticket so we something Christmassy to kick off the season (has been a musical in the theatre, a film with a live orchestra/brass band and a classical concert so far). I go with either my friends or mum and sister, usually end of November or start of December. Book a nice meal and have some drinks, watch the show, come home feeling very festive.

The last 2 years me and my friend have also done a little cinema date mid December to watch a classic Christmas film (Home Alone and Muppets Christmas Carol). Not overly expensive but felt like a treat as you can stream the films at home

I get a professional cleaner in to do a deep clean. I try to get them to come around the 22nd or 23rd, so the place is lovely for Xmas. It takes so much stress off my shoulders when I know I don't have to start cleaning as soon as I finish up for the Xmas break.