Essential Christmas Items

[Didkdt]

What are your normal must haves
If a lockdown goes on
Will a tree be an essential? Or the annual wreath for the door
Advent candles
Things we normally get from local stalls or shops that might not be classed as Essex if lockdown continues beyond the 2nd.

essential not Essex!

We have a fake tree so I won't have to travel further than my loft for that. Ditto the wreath.
I have already bought the Xmas pudding, stuffing mixes and Xmas biscuit tin, but that's no different to other years as I try and spread out the cost from October. There isn't anything I won't be able to get from the supermarket if lockdown is extended.
The only thing I am making a point of buying this week is advent calendars for the DCs. And I might pop into The Works as I pass if they have their Xmas crafting stuff in already.

Wrapping paper, crackers etc I buy in the January sales so have long been set on that front!

Wrap and cards i buy in the January sales so have those. Got the Christmas treats as have always added bits to the shop each week from September so it’s habit and tree and wreath are in the loft. Presents will be done online as usual so just need to order those and book a food delivery.

If you want your Advent candle to start on time, you are going to have to buy online, or find a church (which is open for private prayer) which has them.

I doubt any decorations are ever going to be classed as essential, so buy online, or arrange click&collect. Trees might be the easiest, as they are sold outdoors anyhow.

Some of the larger supermarkets stock christmas trees so I can't see a problem if someone wants to buy one whilst food shopping. Also DIY stores and garden centres will still be open. My local Homebase has a section for Christmas trees and decorations and I can't see them closing that part.

Bought nothing yet .....cool crackers are my luxury Christmas item but I tend to get online

@frozendaisy - where do you get your crackers on line? I love crackers, they are one of my favourite bits of Christmas!

Regarding decorations - do people really buy new ones every year? I thought they were the sort of thing that you build up over the years so that they each have a memory of some kind? I know I have some years old which I had when I was a child.

I'm sure the farms or garden centers selling Christmas trees will open up ; it's all done outside.

Everything is my normal must haves

We already have our tree although I was thinking of buying a new one and passing our old one on.
Decorations we already have,I bought aload of new one's last year that I love and they'll be used again this year.
Our Angel we've had for years and I love her so we'll be using her again.
Lights we already have.
Stockings we already have.

Things I do need to get:
Advent calendars I'll buy this week,already got our Grandsons.
Wreath I'll either order online or pick up nearer the time.
Wrapping paper I have some but buying some more this week.
Gift tags/labels I'll buy this week.
Crackers(the pulling kind) I'll buy this week.
Cards for close family and friends and cards for neighbors,I'll buy this week.
Gift bags I'll buy this week.
I've bought some Christmas presents but I need to buy more.
I need to start buying the dried bits,tins and jars this week,so crackers,picked onions,piccalli,chutneys and pickles,chocolates.

I absolutely love Christmas and fingers crossed I might be able to make the day good for my family despite what's going on.

The tree is in the harden so will just dig it up.. I have frame for a wreath so will scour the hedgerows and garden. The Christmas Decs are in the attic..

Presents will be online but from local shops that will deliver.. along with the grub... sorted without having to leave home 😇..

[quote MagicSummer]@frozendaisy - where do you get your crackers on line? I love crackers, they are one of my favourite bits of Christmas!

Regarding decorations - do people really buy new ones every year? I thought they were the sort of thing that you build up over the years so that they each have a memory of some kind? I know I have some years old which I had when I was a child.[/quote]
I search for novelty crackers or game crackers

The most fun we had with crackers was with a set of 8 each with one xylophone note in to cover the octave numbered 1-8 ....a carol song sheet in numbers so one person "conducts" and points at the person with the numbered note and the whole table, after a couple of glasses of pop, attempts to perform Good King Wenceslas. Even little ones can join in.

Just want my cake I’m going luxury in a tin this year I can keep the tin then for next year, presents done, tree bought, a new one marzipan fruits I’m getting early December, I’m doing luxury over quantity this year. Just waiting for the Morrison’s dates to drop.

Tree is artificial and in the loft, I'll get it down the week before if anyone wants it up. Nobody eats Christmas cake or pudding so that's easy.

Given up on crackers as everyone insists every year we have them then the entire contents go in the bin. I don't like Christmas cards much and have cut right down to only people who would be moaning if they didn't get one like elderly relatives.

My essential item will be DS1 if he can come home.

It was my turn to host Christmas this year, so if we’re still restricted on numbers, it’ll be just me and 14yo ds for dinner and I won’t be going overboard. So long as there’s pigs in blankets, ds will be happy!

Tree x2 in loft, x1 in pot in garden.
Wreath and decorations in loft, plus gift bags, wrapping paper and cards.
I’ve bought all presents but 2, even stocking fillers. Those 2 will both be sent straight to the recipient from Amazon or similar.
I bought DS a bundle of 28 used Lego sets from FB to keep him busy over lockdown.
Mincemeat, cake and chocolates bought, Christmas cake made.
I’ve cleared a freezer drawer (I have 3 freezers due to Brexit worries) to fill with Christmas foods.
I feel well prepped for a long lockdown, Christmas and Brexit.

I made the Christmas cake last month with DD and we are having fun "watering" it from time to time

After Eights. I confess I have bulk bought these from LIDL.

Already had cards, wrap & tags from last year (though ordered the obligatory child art ones from nursery too) & stamps left from last lockdown. Bought a fake tree as soon as they went up online as usually get a small potted one, plus a couple of new decorations. New stocking as it's the first year DC will really get it, to use every year. Advent calendar/Christmas Eve Box/stocking contents (fairly low key as I try to avoid tat), tree gifts & almost all presents now bought (+ winter birthdays). Still had last year's Christmas pudding left! Already have wire wreath (& overgrown holly tree), lights, Christmas music/DVDs/books/jumpers. Made a rough plan of festive activities to do & bought some crafty bits.

Other not-really-essentials, but things that make me feel festive so I've bought since the first lockdown ended: alcohol free fizz & orange juice; brandy, icing sugar & butter; apple juice & mulling spices; ingredients to make gingerbread/mince pies/Christmas cake/marzipan fruits; Turkish Delight, tin of shortbread, twiglets; Christmas dinner & our traditional NYE meal special extras; treats for the cat; hot chocolate, marshmallows & festive mugs. For the first time ever I've ordered matching brushed cotton bedding, though in a winter print rather than specifically Christmas (neither funds not storage for that!) I'm sure there'll be more as I've been planning Christmas as my stress relief!

I know I'm early & some people will think it's ridiculous, but a) it's been a brilliant distraction while I've been hugely stressed, b) my already halved wage will soon be cut further so there won't be money to spare & c) my LO is of an age to really start getting it so I want to make it special for both of us. I love Christmas, and I plan to spend all of December enjoying the build up instead of stressing about organising in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Okay so I guess i look a bit obsessive - but given the year so far, I'm taking all the precautions I can!

I thought this would be coming, so I've shopped since stuff came into the shops.

Our flower shop, where I get my real tree started selling veg, so it could stay open. I'm doing my local garden centre today. We already got bits last week. They do fantastic decorations, that nowhere else are doing.

We did a shop at Primark, Hotel Chocolate Lush and the Disney shop for last bits yesterday. All of the other stuff will still be available via delivery or from the likes of Home and Bargains/B & M.

Tesco had clubcard prices on Bailey's, wine and Lindor etc, so our snackes have been bought already. M&S bits are ordered.

Garden Centres are staying open so will get my tree there. Ive got all the presents / cards/ wrapping paper. Ive got a refillable wooden advent calender, bought some new tree lights in Asda yesterday, getting my crackers today from M&S.
Food will be from local butchers and independent food shop that delivers locally.
Thats it then.