How to make sure you have a great Christmas without breaking the bank

How to make sure you have a great Christmas without breaking the bank?

Make a list of every item of food and drink that you will need for your Christmas feasting and dining.

And every time you go food shopping between now and Christmas buy one of those items and tick it off your list and place the food and drink items that you are amassing in your pantry, in a large box, etc. But do check that the use by date isn't before Christmas.

But do make sure that everyone in your household know that those items are not to be eaten or drunk before Christmas.

And as for presents and gifts, why not try your hand at crafting and making very special Christmas presents for family members and friends? 

You can even buy a modestly priced wicker hampers from The Works https://www.theworks.co.uk and fill them up with goodies! These make excellent presents and leaves the lucky recipient with a very useful wicker basket, too! 

Please refer back to this blogpost to learn how you can get making and crafting 

https://thatschristmas.blogspot.com/2023/08/why-not-try-crafting-for-christmas.html

Hippychick for perfect Christmas gifting for mums and dads

Any babies or toddlers in your life now? Any expected in the very near future? If so, you really do need to check out the Hippychick website.

Because at https://www.hippychick.com you will find an absolutely wonderful range of all good things for the babies and toddlers in your life, or the lives of other people you know.

There are ride on toys, baby shower gift items and gift sets, bedding, sleep aids, waterproof clothing (well, this is Britain, right?!) weaning aids, toys and loads and loads of top branded items.

Everything you could think of and even some items that you might not have thought of but seriously you do need.

Potties, disposable travel potties, toilet trainers, bikes, trikes, buggy covers, indoor and outdoor toys, bibs, dummies, toys including a classic golf set for the budding Gary Player or Arnold Palmer in your life (it's OK. Just ask your granddad who they are!) play balls, soft toys, back seat organisers, car seat protection mats (now that's a great invention!) a super safe stroller fan to keep your little one cool on a hot walk, stroller parasols, travel cots, breast milk pumps and accessories, tableware, baby carriers and much, much more besides.

Brands stocked include Bumbo, Bumkins, Blinky Crocodile Creek, Classic World, Dooky, Fraupow, HappyHopperz, Hippychick, Moby, Moover, My Buggy Buddy, myHummy, Nattou, Tron, TryBike, Tum Tum, Vilac, Wallaboo and Wheelybug.

Those looking to live a greener lifestyle will be pleased to learn that some pre-loved items are also available.

https://www.hippychick.com

FabFunky launch 2023 Christmas Cushion collection

A design house which is famed and renowned for its quirky animal-related homewares has unveiled a fantastic new collection of Festive Christmas Cushions for 2023.

FabFunky, an interiors brand specialising in cushions, lampshades and art prints, has released a range of festive cushions which are absolutely jam-packed packed with personality.

They feature FabFunky’s signature anthropomorphic animals getting into spots of mischief, this time with a festive take, obviously!

From dogs destroying the Christmas tree and owls sledging to cats in Christmas hats and penguins hiding in snow globes, these cushions will add plenty of cheer to Christmas décor for your home or the homes of those you choose to gift them to.

Kelly Stevens-McLaughlan, who is the founder of FabFunky, said: “Whether you're looking to add a little Christmas magic to sofas or festive-up a guest room with some new scatter cushions, these Christmas cushions will add plenty of character.

“They are fun and quirky and they can't be accused of taking themselves too seriously! But they do have a real festive charm that adds a sprinkle of Christmas magic wherever they're placed.”

The Christmas cushion collection is available online now from fabfunky.co.uk with prices starting from £62.

Bin looking for quirky Christmas presents? Must Have Bins have you covered!

Looking for a Christmas gift that not only looks gorgeous but also serves a very useful, practical purpose? 

Then you really should take a look into independent home accessories brand Must Have Bins!

They specialise in beautiful-handcrafted wastepaper bins, tissue boxes, drinks trays and umbrella stands. And Must Have Bins offer statement homewares to complete the most stunning of interior schemes.

Whether you are looking for a present for your partner, a gift for a loved one or maybe a little treat for yourself, here is Must Have Bins’ ultimate Christmas gift guide.

Available now from musthavebins.co.uk

Jan Constantine launches new cushions for Christmas 2023

Highly-skilled artisanal textile designer Jan Constantine has revealed her Christmas Cushion Collection for Christmas 2023.

Inspired by Alpine dreams, snowy mountains and edelweiss flowers, the collection is made from felt wool, before being appliqued and then hand-embroidered.

The collection features vibrant and stunning shades of crimson, duck egg and classic white and is adorned with robins, doves and wreaths. All exude that signature Jan Constantine charm for which she is justifiably renowned.

Jan Constantine, who is the founder of the eponymous textile brand, said: “I love creating new designs for the festive period and this year’s cushion collection is really special.

“It brings together traditional festive colours with a smattering of duck egg blue to add a contemporary feel, while florals, birds and other woodland creatures all add character, too.

“Cushions are a great way to add festive feels throughout the home, including the bedroom and living areas. You can also use them to style occasional seating and office furniture to give the entire home a subtle Christmas update.”

Shop the collection now at janconstantine.com

Prices start at £132.

The Coast of Christmas Present with XV Stripes

Always one for a clever pun, I appreciate the tagline employed by XV Stripes, as it harks back to the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Charles Dickens classic tale of Christmas time, A Christmas Carol. 

Are you looking for Christmas gifts that draws their inspiration from the coast? Then XV Stripes, the luxury interiors retailer, will have you covered in more ways than one. 

No matter what you're looking to purchase for spouses, friends, family members or for something for a little bit of indulgent self-gifting, from accessory bags and candles to cushions and delightful lamps, XV Stripes (very carefully) specially curated collection of homeware products are perfect for those who love life by the sea. Whether they live 70 metres or 70 miles from the coast. 

Izzey Hung, who is the founder of XV Stripes, said: "These pieces bring a touch of coastal charm and we believe they are absolutely perfect for those whose happy place is by the sea."

Inspired by life on and off the water, XV Stripes' collection of gifts offers a taste of sustainable luxe, with each piece created to not only appeal on an aesthetic level but on an environmental level, too.

XV Stripes Christmas gifts are available now from xvstripes.com

Luxury Christmas Gifting from DukesHill

Seeking out highest-quality gifts for friends and family this Christmas? Then look no further! Because luxury artisan food supplier and Royal Warrant holder DukesHill has Christmas gifting wrapped up for all fine food lovers.

Highlights for the festive season include two new indulgent chocolate products, Luxury Christmas Truffles and the Luxury Hot Chocolate Gift Box containing the secret to making the smoothest, most velvety hot chocolate, and DukesHill's Whisky Cask Cider Savoury Hamper, the perfect companion on a bracing Boxing Day or New Year's Day walk this winter. 

Full of the finest food and flavours, DukesHill's Christmas collection celebrates the very best artisan producers creating gifts of quality, taste and exceptional provenance.

Whisky Cask Cider Savoury Hamper - £70

10 items 14” wicker hamper with leather straps 

The perfect gift for all whisky, cider and cheese lovers, this hamper is beautifully presented in a leather-strapped DukesHill wicker basket. In it you'll find the very best savoury selection from Isle of Mull cheddar cheese to the finest charcuterie including bresaola, sliced lomo, porchetta and pastrami, Fig Chutney, Multi Seed Crackers and three bottles of Whisky Cask Cider. Matured for six months in single malt scotch whisky casks, this smooth, dry cider is handcrafted in small batches using real fruit that produces warm notes of vanilla, oak and honey.

Luxury Hot Chocolate Gift Box - £45

The Luxury Hot Chocolate Gift Box is a stylish Christmas gift, containing delicious artisan chocolate and an ingenious Hot Chocolate Shaker - the secret to making the smoothest, most velvety hot chocolate. Shaking creates the right amount of friction to perfectly bind chocolate to warm milk or water which can't be achieved with stirring alone. By shaking a hot liquid in an airtight container, the air inside the container heats and expands, causing a hot chocolate taste explosion. This ingenious, can't-live-without hot chocolate shaker has a lid that pops to accommodate the increased pressure as the air expands. A chic gift box to give, it also contains two bags of artisan chocolates, Milk Chocolate Drops and Dark Chocolate Orange, for the very best tasting hot chocolate.

Luxury Christmas Truffles - £25 (160g)

Box of 16 truffles

Beautifully presented in a box tied with a striking red ribbon, this selection of handmade artisan chocolate truffles come in stylish Christmas colours of red, white and green. Delicious and decadent, they're made fresh using milk, dark and white chocolate, cream, butter, real fruits, herbs and spices.

Port & Stilton Gift Box - £50 

A classic combination, this elegant DukesHill gift box has the finest handmade Blue Stilton Cheese from Cropwell Bishop Creamery, potted in a striking cream and red ceramic jar. It's paired with a 75ml bottle of Tanners Patrono Fine Ruby Port Fonesca.

Traditional Scottish Shortbread - £14.50 (475g), £21 (725g)

Presented in a beautiful floral keepsake tin and handmade in Loch Lomond exclusively for DukesHill, this traditional all-butter Scottish Shortbread uses the finest possible ingredients resulting in a delicious melt-in-the-mouth, crumbly texture.  A delicious and thoughtful gift idea when visiting family or friends this Christmas.

The DukesHill Christmas gift range will be available from 31st September at: dukeshill.co.uk 

An advance preview of the DukesHill Christmas brochure 2023 will be available to view from 14th September. 

Instagram: @dukeshill

Plan ahead for Christmas and save money!

It's often difficult buying what you need for Christmas, the food and drink, presents, decorations, etc.

However, with the current economic situation, things might be a bit tighter than usual, this Christmas.

Some people will flex the plastic or even take out expensive loans and then face a New Year of penury and hardship as a result.

But it doesn't have to be like that at all! Here is the simple That's Christmas Plan Ahead for Christmas Programme!

1) If your shop or supermarket has a savings club, sign up for it and save a small amount of money for Christmas.

2) If you see an item that would make an ideal Christmas present for a family member, buy it when you see it (so long as the price is keen) and put it away for Christmas.

3) Rather than buying a large amount of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) at Christmas and risking buying more than you'll need, add a bottle or two to your weekly shops between now and Christmas. If you find you need more you can always pop out to the shops when you need to.

4) Bearing in mind use by and best before dates, stock up on foods for Christmas well before the Christmas season. And avoid any potential pre-Christmas price rises that might occur!

5) Get crafting! You might be surprised at how good you can be with making special bespoke Christmas gifts for friends and family members. Also, why not try your hand at making unique Christmas decorations? Hobby Craft, Home Bargains, Poundland, Rymans and The Works all stock craft items and art items.

6) Shop around! You'll be pleasantly surprised to find the item you wanted to buy at a much lower price in a discount shop. 

7) Check out local/regional Christmas Markets to see of there are any you'll be able to get to. However, if you are looking out for genuine Continental Christmas products/produce then the German discount stores Aldi and Lidl are both well worth checking out. 

https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk

https://www.poundland.co.uk

https://home.bargains

https://www.bmstores.co.uk

https://www.ryman.co.uk

https://www.theworks.co.uk

https://www.lidl.co.uk

https://www.aldi.co.uk

(Image courtesy of Jan Vašek from Pixabay)

Over the next few months That's Christmas will come out of hibernation

Yes, over the next few months That's Christmas will come out of hibernation and we will be bringing our readers all the latest news on Christmas gifting ideas, plus how to source items for delightful homemade Christmas gifts and trinkets.

That's Christmas will also be carrying news and features on Christmas season foods and drinks, plus Christmas-related foods and special seasonal drinks.

So please, watch this space!

And if you have news of a Christmas-related product or service that you would like to share with our readers, please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com