Prepping for a Pandemic Christmas

[PurpleCalm]

Christmas will probably be quite different this year.

Is anyone else thinking ahead?

Not actively, but I did make a passing comment to my mum about investing in a chest freezer and getting some stuff for this exact purpose 🤦🏻‍♀️

Yep. Already thinking about food, pressies etc.

Yep already bought some of the treat food stuff and quite a few presents.
I don’t want to be queuing in the cold weather for things at Christmas.

Yep. One present bought and researching others. Mincemeat and Danish Butter Cookies (for eating while opening stockings) are already in the cupboard. My Christmas prep normally starts about now but I really want to get ahead this year.

Great thread.

Yes, I have a few of our traditional treat things in like Bendicks mint chocs as were on offer plus picked up some vac packed chestnuts as always use a few at Christmas.

I don't usually present shop until later in the year but have started now. Trying to do as much locally as possible but will inevitably order stuff as well.

I have ordered some Christmas wrapping paper as was getting birthday paper anyway.

We already have plenty of batteries in.

We have agreed to have a much more low key Christmas this year. My family will be getting mostly useful, practical and edible gifts!

Yes, although I think it will be a toned down one this year.

Yes already got some prezzies bought and wrapped, decided I'm only doing a smallish dinner this year and as soon as Xmas food gets to shops I'll be buying it thinking of making gins for few friends and other little bits, definitely think we are going to get hit again

I started in October last year for Christmas this year. Stuffing, cranberry sauce, schloer. Presents.

Booze for those who like it.

I'm actually looking forward to perhaps a less commercialised Christmas. Everything is so expensive - Santa visits, days out, panto etc. I will miss it but think it will be nice to get back towards enjoying the more simple things too.

I've already started present shopping. Will start to think about foods in September. I've got cards and wrap from last year - bought way too much in the sales!

I'll miss the shops and atmosphere though, I really don't want to queue in the cold weather!

Has anyone seen mincemeat in the supermarket? I’m trying to get some delivered but not having much luck.

Our local big tesco has had shitloads of mincemeat in since March. It's like they've filled all their stock gaps with leftover xmas stuff.

I've got a few presents in that were good value in the sales. I'm keeping an eye on my usual stockpile and making sure I've got xmas food extras in. It's not too bad if you're just picking up the odd bit here and there. I've found spices hard to get hold of, and think this may get worse as covid hits other areas. Getting lots of xmas baking stuff in now just in case

Thanks @NationalShiteYear I’ll have to figure out what that hell they are calling it on the Tesco’s app. Good point about spices, will try and get hold of icing sugar too.

Great thread! I've already started on Christmas gifts for DD and made a start on winter clothing for her. Need to start thinking about Christmas treats though. What does everyone else get? Want to get different things this year.

I started buying gifts last month but didn’t think about food 🤦‍♀️

I started this early as I recall reading that China production of toys might be interrupted due to lockdowns

Also I don’t want to be ordering and getting deliveries in autumn if the second wave arrives.

@Coughsyrupsucks if you get the ingredients now you can make it and it'll keep til Christmas. Homemade mincemeat is great, you can make it a bit more to your taste, I like to include dried cherries and lots of grated apple.

I was just saying to DH that is probably a good thing that we finally went fake with the Christmas tree this year.

We don’t generally buy loads for Christmas and we went overboard with lockdown birthday presents for the children. We do like one Santa visit, buying a new special bauble each year and look at the local department store window which we will miss this year.

@GrumpiestOldWoman good thinking! Will look up some recipes.

We have a lot of Christmas sewn up. I’m shielding and DH is in healthcare so we have been apart for months. I can’t face not having a decent Christmas after so many sacrifices. I haven’t been in a shop since March.

We have:

• Crackers
• Stuffing mix (we don’t usually eat this but I figure it will be better than nothing)
• Chocolate mints
• Celebrations
• Truckles of cheese with 2021 dates
• Crackers for cheese
• Mincemeat
• Spirits
• Wine
• Nice crisps
• A toy for each child
• Clothes for each child

Things I want to get

• Meats
• Cheeses
• Stamps - We only send cards to a few older relatives but I’ve found it very hard to get stamps during lockdown, so I went a stash because I think cards will be important this year.
• A book for each child
• Baking supplies
• Supplies for making Christmas puddings

@BlackBucketOfCheese apart for months, that is tough

Baking supplies, good idea

Stamps, I see they are available from supermarket delivery if you get one and I am sure I read on here that you can buy postage online, I guess you print something off to stick on? I am going to investigate as queue for our post office is already crazy

There’s a Christmas bargains thread prequel over on the Christmas board - lots of good toy and gift bargains if you’re looking to get gifts bought early.

I always start thinking about Christmas in the summer holidays

In January I picked up some new baubles & crackers (pulling kind) which I'm really glad about. I prefer having a real tree but do have a decent-ish fake one in the attic.

Got 6 nut roast mixes, a bag of frozen roast potatoes (potatoes were hard to get for a while round here) various tinned & frozen veg & instant gravy so Christmas dinner is sorted even if it's not perfect.

I've picked up a few stocking fillers (agree with PP who said supermarkets were filing empty spaces with left over Xmas stock). Things like small lego sets, make your own dragon egg, pocket kite.

I have lots of wrapping paper which will be good to use up, same with cards.

I've been picking up puddings for winter like custard, rice pudding, cake mixes etc. Also dumpling mixes, red lentils, curry sauce etc for good filling food. Also long life squirty cream, vegan marshmallows & hot chocolate.

I already have waterproof trousers, boots, gloves etc so we can get the DC out & about. Simple pleasures like looking at christmas lights may be more important this year.

Will be watching this thread & the Christmas threads for ideas!

I bought some winter things early on - jigsaws & crafting stuff. Off tomorrow to look for thermals/base layers for dc in case school has to have windows open, (TA had put on fb group that their school was to have open window policy)

Dc are main concern as ds has a November birthday but will change his mind over his wish list. They are easily pleased thankfully so will get back into sorting gifts.

We had Christmas dinner at my bro's last year & everything on our plate apart from the ham was home grown- my 2 year old niece said 'we're eating tinsel for dinner', that was the name of one of the turkeys they reared! They said they were going to read a pig for this year so we're angling for an invite back there!

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Great thread,

I have started making some lists and plan to start getting some non-perishable food as well as things like foil, greaseproof paper and cleaning stuff that was difficult to get a couple of months ago.

Like many people we are already planning a much less commercialised Christmas. We don't usually go mad with food but lockdown has taught us that we could definitely cut down with better planning and using what we already have.

Also need to think about presents. We tend to gift (and receive) a lot of tickets to concerts, events and 'experiences' many of which are now cancelled/rescheduled and I don't want to take the risk of losing that money and/or chasing refunds yet again.

Great thread,

I have started making some lists and plan to start getting some non-perishable food as well as things like foil, greaseproof paper and cleaning stuff that was difficult to get a couple of months ago.

Like many people we are already planning a much less commercialised Christmas. We don't usually go mad with food but lockdown has taught us that we could definitely cut down with better planning and using what we already have.

Also need to think about presents. We tend to gift (and receive) a lot of tickets to concerts, events and 'experiences' many of which are now cancelled/rescheduled and I don't want to take the risk of losing that money and/or chasing refunds yet again.