General Chat

DetEcTive, I totally abhor POST Christmas Supernarket runs, so I always guage my shopping PRE Christmas, to avoid this.

Anyway, never any left overs at this houseLOL. I know how to Rechaufe (sp) In fact, I am a past master at this LOL

Julia in Derbyshire

Grocery shopping after Christmas for a few weeks is usally bread/milk/butter/fruit and veg.

As to spending at Christmas - I have - ever since I got married all those moons ago saved a sum each month - has increased over years as we could afford it and come end November - there it is and no bills after Christmas.

Chris

what a good idea!


we do charge items to our credit cards ................ but the money is there in the bank, and we pay it all off as soon as the bills come in.

Sometimes, in the past, it has been a bit short commons after Christmas, but the bills have always been paid off immediately.

I find that works, as I don't like to carry too much cash around with me ...... having had my wallet stolen one day with around £250 or so in it, most of which I had been saving up for something special. :-(




sylvia

Coffee Creams with Dark Chocolate - yummy

Where can they be bought???

any idea's Rambling Rose

Hi GinaS , they had some last year in Poundland, but i like them with milk chocolate

this comes up on google
http://www.confectionaffection.net/whitakers-plain-chocolate-coffee-cremes-200g-656-p.asp

What about Thorntons? Half price either Tesco/Sainsburys

my brother used to love coffee creams, and then I got a taste for them as well :-D

It used to be an effort to find them for Christmas!


we have a local chocolaterie here in Vancouver, and they make the most wonderful chocolates, including coffee creams

and not too expensive either.

but I can't eat them any more (dairy intolerant)


instead I buy their crystallized ginger coated in dark chocolate ....... yummy!



sylvia

I am definitely cutting back, haven't got the message through to my one granddaughter who has asked for "puppy, laptop, guitar" not necessarily in that order. She is more likely to get clothes from me!! 3 of the grandkids are still having to do Christmas gifts for their teachers, and having spoken to a few teachers about what they prefer to receive, this year the g'kids and I are together making "gifts in a jar" ie cookie mix or soup mix, layered in a canning jar with a pretty ribbon and instructions for completing the recipe. No more teacher ornaments, they like consumables such as things to eat or notelets etc.
I am knitting a few gifts (Jean Greenhowe clowns), but not baking up a storm as I usually do, just too expensive. A big turkey doesn't last long when feeding 7 people daily, but leftovers and turkey stock will go into the freezer for later use. I make up a tray of goodies for neighbours, or a pie.
My daughter's job is ending on Dec 15th, which has also influenced our decision to be as frugal as possible, we will have some strays for Christmas dinner, hate to think of anyone being alone that day if we can fit more in, "throw an extra spud in the pot" as my Dad used to say.
Mary

oooH Sylvia are you talking about Purdy's chocs? How fortunate you are to live close to them. When I worked iun a home for the aged, I had a patient whose family lived in Vancouver and every year they sent us (the staff a big box of Purdy's, oh gosh I can taste them now, please enjoy one for me!!!!!
Mary
:-)

Mary

I am indeed talking about Purdy's!

They have the most wonderful "new" chocolate, developed about 18 moinths ago ...... at least I'm told they're good


milk or dark covered caramels with pink Himalayan salt crystals sprinkled on the top.

Daughter thinks "they are to die for" ........... and we now have to take them over to Nova Scotia whenever we go. I have to take 2 boxes, one for each of them, otherwise they get into discussions about who ate more than the other


Honestly, one would think they were 10 years old, instead of close to 40!




sylvia