When I say ‘Christmas survival kit’, I’m not talking here about Kendal mint cake, stout boots or water purification tablets, I’m talking about the things you need to survive Christmas, like foil, ibuprofen, and emergency gifts for the people you’d forgotten were coming over.
(Not that that ever happens to me.)
This particular survival kit has been generously put together for us by a retailer called HiHouse. HiHouse sells all of those non-glamorous but nonetheless essential things like bin liners and kitchen cleaners – the kind of thing you try to remember to go to a town centre discount shop for, but never quite get round to because you can’t be bothered to lug it all home.
HiHouse offers an alternative – great value prices on essentials, but delivered to your door, so that you don’t have to drag a nine pack of toilet paper around town with you.
(Not a sexy look.)
HiHouse has written some fun product descriptions too, which goes a long way to making boring shopping more fun. It’s worth having a browse just for those.
Win a £125 Christmas survival kit
The kit that HiHouse has put together is a really generous prize, worth over £125, with all the things that you can see in the picture at the top. There’s really too much to mention, but there is a full list here if you want to have a proper look through.
To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me what essential you’d include in your Christmas survival kit. Register your comment in the Rafflecopter widget below to make it count and unlock a whole heap of bonus entries. The competition will close at midnight on November 30th 2016.
Good luck!
In association with HiHouse
In my Christmas survival kit my essential is Calpol! Nothing worse than a poorly child on Christmas day
ear plugs someone always my son something that is way too noisy.
A bottle of wine and batteries would be a must!
Washing powder, cling film, foil and wine.
I would include a disposable razor or some sort. Maybe the Gillette Venus It would come in useful for those shock horror moments in the bath or shower when you realise that you’ve not shaved your armpits or kegs!
Cocktail sticks, I always seem to forget them!
i would have coffee & lots of it!!!
Hot chocolate and marshmallows x
I would include a torch lol x
Earplugs would have to be top of my list, oh, and a large bar of Galaxy all to my self!
Fabulous prize.
I always forget ibuprofen etc lol
Can.des because of power cuts, Prosecco, chocs, kindling for my fire, cup a soups
Ferrero Rocher – my sister swears it isn’t Christmas without them.
Stacking plastic tubs with airtight lids to store leftovers in the fridge and crisps/nuts etc. They’re also great for storing small bits of toys, crayons and batteries!
I’d add some ready made roast potatoes. Because everything is made instantly more sophisticated with roasties and yes ready made because it’s easier. leftovers plus roasties = yum.
Definitely batteries because there’s always a toy that needs them or the remote on the tv!
Def Paracetamol so i don’t get a headache,from all the noisy gifts xx
batteries for sure , chocolate and wine
Quality Street.It’s not Xmas til they come out :-)
A bottle of Sancerre.
My Christmas survival kit would include chocolate, de-caff tea because I don’t drink alcohol, tissues just in case anyone has the sniffles, chocolate, a clean up kit for spillages, a good book, chocolate, a first aid kit which would include cold survival items, some treats to keep the dog happy, chocolate, a new CD of relaxing music, bubble bath, a face mask or two and a huge pack of batteries to keep my daughters new toys in action until at least January. Oh and did I mention chocolate?
Hand gel, one that I could carry about in my bag. There are so many germs flying around this time of year like colds and flu that it is essential to keep the hands clean
Oh god, tin foil! Why do we always forget tin foil?! I’d have to have some prosecco and paracetemol in there, too.
Batteries for a the kids toys, calpol because at least one of them will be poorly and a Terrys Chocolate Orange for the grown-ups once little ones are in bed!
Andrews – always good when you over indulge or you get indigestion :)
It would include christmas flavoured vodka that I make at home!
Mini screwdriver set to open packs of toys, always stressful in my house when kids want to try their toys and you cannot open the back to put batteries in
I’d include a voucher for a massage so I could escape the new toys buzzing,new music playing,and ease my sore back after all the shopping,wrapping presents,food shopping,cooking,baking cookies for Santa and pretending to be Santa trying to get presents under the tree quietly after some medicinal champagne!
Amontillado sherry! You can officially drink it at 10.30am in our house on Christmas day (a rule my parents used to have!)
batteries wine mince pies
A nice bottle of Baileys
Batteries, Paracetamol, Baileys, and baby wipes,
Ear plugs so I can escape to my “happy place”….this does not make me a bad person!
Chocolates and a bottle of Tia Maria will be my essentials in my Christmas survival kit.
Wine and choc!!
Batteries and indigestion remedies!
Batteries as not all toys come with them, screw driver set to undo packs of toys, chocolate is essential and also a voucher would be nice as a treat after the Christmas mayhem
I my Xmas kit would include loads of. Chocolate
I would include tin foil we always need that at Christmas
Cash for petrol because our local cashpoint machines always seem to run out
Lots of Christmas jokes!!! Love Christmas!!!
Christmas survival kit is extra loo roll, medicine, and some essential cleaning products in case of accidents or drunken incidents lol!
Batteries, they’re always running out here. Also, indigestion tablets.
Batteries, a mini screwdriver set for the toys because you know you can never find one when you need one and spare phone charger/battery pack for your phone for when you or the kids need a timeout! And lots of wine and chocolate too!
Coffee and wine, not necessarily in that order. Oh, and pigs in blankets and brie, you can never have too much of that.
batteries for sure
batteries + Champagne + Paracetamol = all three sound perfect x
I’d definitely have batteries nothing worse than the kids having a present they can’t use because you can’t find any batteries that fit it!
My Christmas survival pack would include Baileys (running out would be a DISASTER!), tin foil (i always forget), spare selection boxes/grown up gifts (for last minute unexpected invasions!), extra bin bags (as we go through a lot of paper anyway and this year we’re wrapping bikes! eeeps!), paracetamol (as they’re making me work on Boxing day!) and possibly prosecco, again for the same reasons as the Baileys!
Cling film, calpol, lip balm, and dentastix for my dog! Great prize though
batteries, wipes
Calpol – it’s a lifesaver as allows my little ones to enjoy the winter and festive period
Sellotape – You always think you have enough, Then you have to eck it out trying to wrap something enormous.
Batteries and more batteries, all shapes and sizes.
Batteries are a MUST ! There’s always that one toy that needs batteries. Or worse still, the batteries in the tv remote die.
Tin of Quality Street, red wine, cheese and crackers, antacid tablets (to combat the indigestion caused by the chocs, wine and cheese) and paracetamol to use for inevitable hangover the next day.
Turkey sized foil, indigestion tablets and a hangover cure for me! lol
Mine would include antibacterial wipes for those inevitable spills, thick socks for when I’ve run out to the bin without putting shoes on .. i get such cold feet and a bottle opener for when the ones I KNOW I have all seem to have gone missing.
Batteries as there are always toys that come with out them, some prosecco or champagne to keep us watered and lots of Christmasy snacks chocolate and crisps
100% Batteries! Something you really need xmas day. Something I always forget!!
I would include emergency presents for unexpected guests
Batteries definitely, oh and extra packets of Bread Sauce
A charger, headphones and some booze.
For me it has to be tinfoil and gravey mix …christmas is a nono without them .
Some good quality kitchen rolls and lip balms
A good supply of Sprite lemonade
tin foil, batteries – all types!, baby wipes, black bin bags, scissors for opening the presents! Wine!!
Heartburn tablets :)
Tissues and batteries
As long as I have alcohol and chocolate, I would be fine! :D
Teabags would be top of my Christmas Survival Kit
Earplugs!
lots and lots of chocolate!
Coffee….milk and cake
My must-have is Maltesers – I honestly think I’d cry if I ran out over Christmas!
Last Christmas my hubby was in dire pain with toothache and so this year i will make sure i don’t forget to store in my medical cupboard a bottle of ‘Oil of Cloves’ .. Lifesaver until you can get to the dentist :D
It would have to be red wine and some luxury dark chocolates, thanks.x
Calpol and a selection of batteries for christmas toys.
Batteries
Paracetamol, batteries and ear plugs (combine the noise f the spinning and whirring, noisy toys and deaf relations and it’s a noisy day
Sellotape, scissors, spare wrapping paper, batteries
A bottle of Baileys and some batteries!
batteries, chocolates, pringles and wine! x
Extra Christmas crackers, Prosecco, indigestion tablets!
Batteries!!! They are always needed on Christmas Day!
batteries for sure! chocolate, fun family games, mint jelly and red grape jam mmmmmmmmm
an apron for in the kitchen. i always get in a mess
A nice bath bomb or bubble bar to help relax for a bit.
Betteries and toilet paper
Ear plugs and paracetamol :)
Paracetamol, washing up liquid, loo roll, foil, batteries, paper hankies
I just make sure I have plenty of black sacks for the rubbishy. Oh, and a wrapped box of chocolates with a blank label just in case!
I would include some chocolate and bubble bath, to relax with as Christmas is such a busy time.
Spare boxes of chocs and bottles of wine for unexpected guests, a torch and some matches for power cuts, cornflour, gravy granules and some frozen roasties for dinner and liver salts and paracetemol for me!
a hiding place and a good book ready for when the in laws visit!
Batteries the more obscure the better nothing worse than having to explain the wait till shops open
Definitely batteries for all the kids stuff.
Some gin and a tiny screwdriver for those toys that need one to get into batteries
a big bottle of wine for once all the children are in bed and all cleaning is done :D x
Alkaseltzer for the hangover
Sausage eggs and bacon for breakfast – another hangover cure :-)
Sleep mask for the afternoon snooze!
Indigestion tablets, an eye mask and sore throat medicine – someone always come down with a sore throat over Christmas in our house!
I’m due me second daughter in the next few weeks so coffee to try and help with the tiredness x
Definitely paracetamol for all of them noisy toys!! Oh and maybe a bottle of vodka hahaha
ear plugs and plasters and maybe some paracetamol
baileys! without it i would be screwed on xmas day lol
I would include coffee
emergency chocolate, batteries, and a pack of cards for an emergency game.
Gaviscon, Sellotape, batteries, kitchen roll, tealights, playing cards and a swiss army knife would all be useful additions.
Paracetamol, batteries, tissues…plus booze and chocolates for me to sneak off and enjoy in peace!
Batteries and earplugs for when the kids are arguing!
A bottle of brandy
Duracell batteries and praline chocolates
Extra bottles of wine :D
Paracetamol, Champagne, tissues, apron, wipes, and paxo as l always forget it
Batteries! of every sort, can guarantee the one I need is the one I forgot!
I would have batteries, and butter
a hot water bottle for if the heating fails
Paracetamol, batteries, red wine and chocolate
Coffee – wine – bubble bath – paracetamol – sellotape – Dettol antiseptic cream ( I always somehow manage to get a papercut wrapping up gifts :)
salt for (possible) snow and ice, beer and DVDs!
I would have calpol, a truckload of batteries, and dvd’s for the kids…..ibuprofen, prosecco and a never ending kitchen roll for the adults!
Ear plugs, headache tablets and strong coffee xx
Wet wipes! They do everything… but I did manage to forget tin foil last year
In my Christmas survival kit my essential items would be Antacid Tablets and Kitchen Foil
Batteries, ear plugs and champagne
A tick list of things I need to take with me as we head off to the relatives! I ALWAYS forget something! Alternatively and IOU pad for the person whose present I have forgotten!
Batteries, bread, wine and toilet roll !!!! haha :)
Cold sore cream/patches – I always seem to break out with cold and stress and it will always be at the most inconvenient time with no treatment in the house and no chemist open!
vodka and very spicy/chilli crisps
Batteries, alcohol, tea and lots of healthy foods, which suddenly seem to be in short supply at Christmas gatherings.
Plasters and Paracetamol, for those late nights out.
Batteries and tea, I couldn’t cope with all the madness of Christmas without a cuppa lol.
keys to the motorhome so we could disappear whenever we needed to!!
Definately batteries andcwine for emergencies
Definitely ear plugs. Partly because you might have family over that snore terribly. Partly for people like me- I have autism and have real issues when things are getting far too noisy and overwhelming. I find chilling out with some earplugs in really soothing. Kind of weird I know but it’s quite relaxing hearing *no* noise for a few hours. :)
I would have batteries, sellotape and paracetomol
A teeny screwdriver , spare chairs, lots of wine and a bit more patience!
A roll of paper towels, great for spillages, wiping mucky faces, cleaning up etc
wine would definitely be included
Batteries and paracetemol
We always forget tin foil at Christmas. Year after year! x
Diluted Squash, BlackcurrantRachel etc. Tissues, strepsils etc :- recently had cold and sore throat, and winter is the time for these viruses. Washing up liquid, toothpaste. Bread and butter for some sandwiches. Soup :- Chicken is delicious and soothing when have a cold etc.
Sometimes do need the cupboards stocked, as more difficult to get out in the winter. Especially if become unwell.
Baileys, paracetamol and an eye mask
Prosecco, chocolates, food and movies
Bottled of water as a way to clear out all the over indulgence over the holidays
Some bored games in case you run of things to talk abou,t like cludo or scrabble
I would have a torch and batteries! Last year the power went out on Christmas Eve so a torch is a must have is a survival kit!
One of those lovely frying pans that have sections to cook all your food at once – brilliant for Christmas morning
sherry
Batteries! – a must have for Children’s toys! Maybe some candles too.
Headache tablets,chocolate and wine
My Christmas survival kit would batteries and bin liners
Earplugs and a bottle of booze:-)
Chocolate and lots of it for when it all gets to much for me
A Blanket, a Book and a Bottle of Prosecco
Hello! First of all, thank you for doing this.
Definitely paracetamol, batteries, plasters and lightbulbs. And fuses! (and condoms and sanitary products!)
:D
Batteries, bin bags and wine
In a word? Alcohol :)
Batteries for all the children’s toys
washing up liquid – there’s a lot of washing up to do after the big meal!
motillium /alka-seltzer/ Dioralyte / anti-histimines / air plugs/ eyemask and lavender essential oils… would be my special kit to add :)
For my survival kit this year, It has to be Klenex tissues as this is the first Christmas without my mum :-(
Batteries, paracetomol and ear plugs for when i want some peace and quiet x
My Christmas survival kit essentials are Elastoplast, Chamomile tea (in case anyone over-indulges) and Manuka Honey (wonderful for sore throats and all kinds of viruses).
GREAT SITE, CAN’T BELIEVE I’VE ONLY JUST FOUND IT!
painkillers, chocolate and fluffy slippers
i would have:
a pint of milk
bread
cheese
ibuprofen
berocca
wine and a teddy bear!
you always need batteries at christmas, and choclate
A chilled bottle of rose wine!
fluffy socks, blanket, ibrufen ,hand cream , orange lucozade and candles
Tin foil, and paper plates
I take Gaviscon all year round, I`m always petrified i`ll run out, so I`d add these to my survival kit, just incase.
Paracetamol for my son who seems to be ill every single Christmas! Earplugs for my fella who just doesn’t like Christmas and champers, chocolate (toffifee or quality Street – it’s not Christmas unless you have these on the coffee table!) and German biscuits :-)
Great prize. I would include batteries, binbags, kitchen roll and wet wipes
Indigestion relief
chewing gum, mints,paracetamols
Wet wipes for all those chocolatey hands and faces.
a pair of slippers for the restful times!
I would include batteries because there’s nothing worse than getting a toy or a present and not being able to use it because the batteries were not included. Thanks for running this prize draw.
Gravy Granules, just in case whatever I’m cooking goes wrong and I need to cover the taste!
batteries, paracetamol, chocolate
Am I allowed to say wine…. And maybe some earplugs for those bloody noisy toys that seems like a great idea on a cold Saturday in November but by 10am on Christmas morning have you climbing the walls!!!!
candles and wine
Batteries of all sizes, every year the kids end up with a toy needing some strange sized battery we haven’t got
Wine
With my family? Gin. Lots and lots of gin.
Chocolate and a good book
Alka seltzer, calpol, tin foil, batteries
Quality Street and bubble bath for a treat after all the cooking.
Definitely batteries! Also calpol, tissues, a book of stamps and some matches.
paracetamol, wine and pringles
Mince pies
most definitely co-codamol and cough mixture
Batteries for the tv remote!
Mince pies,
Cocktails
Paracetamol
Tissues. And lemsips I always get a cold at xmas!
Great pack! For me, it’s definitely chocolate!
Wrapping paper and tags
A bottle of wine
I think that you have got it spot on – batteries, paracetamol and champagne, but I would add crusty bread for turkey sandwiches.
An Aerosol Fire Horn to hush people when they start arguing! It’s inevitable really!
I’d include a selection of batteries. I never seem to have enough for all the new Christmas toys.
A bottle of cava
I’d probably choose cider to get me through it!
Definitely batteries every year as a child my mum would buy me the most amazing toys for Christmas but would always forget to buy me batteries so could never play with them until the shops reopened and they could buy the batteries
pringles! only ever seem to eat these at Christmas xx
Batteries for kids toys, paracetomol for the headaches, vodka for the stress, chocolate for the stress, ice cream for the stress…you can see where I am going with this lol
A Willy Wonka style everlasting bar of chocolate
I know this will sound facetious, but a little alcohol would be in mine.
Earplugs and paracetamol! There are going to be two excited nieces around!
Batteries and lots of wine!
I LOVE the descriptions! Wine is my Xmas must have. Predictable but I just couldn’t do it again without wine. During one pregnancy was bad enough!
I would include some wire snippers to help remove those annoying twisty bits of wire that hold toys inside cardboard packaging.
Bin liners – ready for all the wrapping paper and packaging!
Paracetamol, Batteries, Champagne, Turkey Foil
Fizz, batteries, foil!
What a super prize! W’re really looking forward to Christmas this year!
Wine and chocolate!
Batteries, spicy food as I always start to crave it, and paracetamol.
Definitely a tub of Quality Street and a glass of martini asti!
Pack of tissues ,Pack of chocolate biscuits ,bottle of mineral water
chocolates, christmas pjs, slippers, christmas dvd and some novels
Washing up liquid and kitchen roll are essentials in our house!
Candles!
Definitely paracetamol
Plasters, lip balm, chocolate and a small bottle of Baileys
Baileys
Migraine tablets and batteries.
batteries, scissors, ear defenders, chocolate and indigestion tablet!s
I would love a bottle of red wine and some nice chocolates!
bin bag!! a big roll of them, fresh orange juice for the hang overs, bacon! free netflix subscription, and a masseuse!
Paracetamol is very much needed in our house with 4 children. Chocolate is very much needed to calm the nerves
milk and bread as that is what is always forgotten amongst the stocking up of Christmas treats
Scented Candle and Emergency Chocolate Bar
Alka Seltzer!
Candles and matches incase of a power cut,indigestion tablets and painkillers.
Batteries, wet wipes and more practical items like chocolate, brandy and fizz (adult and children versions)
Prosecco and Paracetamol!
Batteries, Paracetamol, and a bottle opener!
Batteries and chocolate
Wine and a box of chocolates would need to be in my kit
Indigestion tablets and paracetamol for those moments of. overindulgence. Also some comfy pjs and slipper socks for lounging around getting over the festivities.
tea bags and plenty of chocolate biscuits i will need something to chill with , oh and bubble bath
A 2017 calendar so I can keep checking when the kids go back to school!
Maybe an emergency bottle of wine or box of chocolates for the random person who buys you a gift you aren’t expecting.
Ibuprofen in case I got ill, decaf tea, sanitary products and toilet paper
cranberry sauce because we forgot it once and to me christmas was ruined!
Bucks Fizz, Proseco, Chocolate, Paracetamol, ear plugs
Batteries for the toys. Headache tablets for the grown up’s. A bottle of wine in case the tablets don’t work!
I would have some champagne and chocolates and some games to play with the family
Bin bags / Recycling bags – so much card and plastic over Christmas. Plus carpet stain remover, kids or no kids something always goes over.
Red Bull – to get through the early mornings with over-excitable kids!!
diarrhea tabs
A pen and notebook for those last minute plans
Green Tea and Batteries Thank you for chance Fingers crossed
A couple of bottles of wine ( how can you survive Christmas without??)
Calpol & Bonjela – just in case !
I’d have loads of the cello tape packs that go on the wrist dispenser as there is never enough on Xmas eve it runs out and it’s too late then
Batteries! Always needed
Bottles of water to dilute the alcohol!!
Champagne and a tin of quality street
cakes and chocolates
I would include fizzy water to keep rehydrated and some fruit.
A foil dish big enough for the Turkey to cook in
Tea bags and batteries
Champagne, orange juice, pain killers, ear plus, eye mask and ipod
Tin foil! I always forget
Spare Christmas pressies for any unexpected but welcome visitors, Buck’s Fizz and defo some batteries!
Headache medication for sure, wine and chocolate wouldn’t go amiss either :)
foil cooking trays ….saves on the washing up and decent quality paper plates, fab for those buffets and again no washing up :)
Paracetemol, batteries, coffee and kitchen roll
My essential items would be a game that gets the children problem solving that could be bought out when they’re reaching that moment before arguments begin. At Christmas we usually have approximately 15 kids under the age of 11 so need to have lots of activities for them. X
I’d need to include some Parcetamol
Chocolate, a woolly jumper and indigestion tablets!
A white loaf in order to make a dirty roast turkey and ALL the trimmings sandwich at about 10pm on Xmas day….nom nom
In my emergency kit, some chamomile tea bags, make the tea, use bags for small burns, tired eyes, squeeze last drop out dilute this can be used for eye irritation and finally into the compost to make next years Brussel Sprouts!
Loo roll,tea bags,batteries,bread and milk
My Christmas survival kit would be a supply of batteries and a few bottles of wine
Matchsticks! To help keep my eyes open on Christmas Day after being woken up at ‘silly o’clock’ by my little girl
Maybe one of those pocket sized bottles of squash – always handy to have.
Always batteries! And not just the AA ones either! I bet we’ve all been caught out by stocking up on those, only to find out too late that the longed-for just-opened gadget requires triple A instead!
And I’d add a ‘Super smoothie’ or 2, to keep those lurgies at bay!
Coffee so that I can keep up with my granddaughters,!
Baileys, lots of it plus plenty of polo mints in case of hangovers!
Alcohol has to be top of my Christmas survival list – along with paracetamol, batteries and cocktail sticks (never seem to have any when I need them). Oh and let’s not forget the chocolate :D
Sloe gin, delicious.
Something that actually opens all those packages, particularly the plastic ones, without destroying them or you. Does such a mythic item exist?
Batteries
Bin bags and a duvet!
My Christmas survival kit would include: a bottle of nice wine as everything is less stressful with a nice glass of wine, lots if fresh air and games for the kids so they are early in bed, a Christmas book and some champagne truffkes ☺ Bliss
I’d have Bucks Fizz and paracetamol. I once got struck down with horrendous toothache on Christmas day and it was all that got me through! x
In my Christmas survival kit, I’d include plenty of chocolate nibbles (maybe some for the kids, but mainly for myself and my husband to munch on when the kidsr have gone to bed!
Kitchen roll! Hundreds of uses especially if we have colds! And batteries..mini mince pies for nibbling..
I would include some indigestion/upset stomach tablets, incase of accidental over indulgence!
batteries
A really good stain remover (all that damn chocolate and the dodgy looking smears it leaves!), sausage rolls (the only foolproof, loved by all, guest food I’ve ever found – they don’t even realise I’m serving vegetarian ones!), large sheet of bubble wrap (amuses children far longer than any present) and a litre of a really nice gin for me when it all gets too much!
Lots of coffee and chocolate, my fleece blanket and ear plugs, then I can survive just about anything x
Loads of different sized batteries as never seem to be enough over Xmas
Anti-allergy medication, wet wipes and tissues make up my Christmas essentials
coffee, champagne, chocolate – the mummy essentials
Family cinema or bowling tickets to get us out of the house in the bad weather seem like a good idea.
I would include scissors, the question “where’s the scissors?” seems to be asked every 5 min on xmas day in my house!
Walnut whips and silver skin tiny pickled onions – I can’t survive Christmas without those!
Amazing goodies
Alcohol, chocolate and perhaps ear plugs to drown out the noisy toys ;)
Batteries, nothing worse than gifts that need batteries.
I would love the medicine as every winter everyone in the house gets sick… costs a fortune on medicine.
paracetamol and water, too much prosecco!!! every time!!
coffee, tea and wine!
Gin and board games
In my experience as a parent always have batteries and a spare dummy! i once walked 3 miles on Boxing day with a screaming toddler trying to find a shop that sold dummies!
Definitely paracetamol and kitchen towel!
Christmas is huge need so much, Chocolate, Wine, Cheese & Biscuits in case of surprize guests, Pop, Crisps, Cakes and Sweets if they bring the kids.
Champagne and a big box of chocolates
Needs to be batteries you can never have enough of all different sizes
I definitely think batteries would be right up there, always need them and never have them around!
A big bar of chocolate
Batteries and head ache tablets
Baileys preferably a bottle, chocolate as a runner up
My survival kit would include a bottle of gin and some tonic (for obvious reasons) a gift card and a couple of christmas cards (for last minute gifts) a gift bag (I never have a gift bag when I need one…) and plenty of vitamins so keep me healthy in the run up.
Batteries, indigestion tablets, and something to help you relax.
I’d include sellotape, spare batteries, gravy granules and a bottle of wine.
pain killers, all types of bug aiding tablets and some headphones
My must have would be Andrew’s liver salts and orange ice lollies, they work great for an upset tummy.
I’d include tea bags,coffee,sugar,milk,pop,biscuits,batteries,paracetamol,washing powder & fabric conditioner
Some alone time to wind down after the stress of family time and LOUD children! Oh and white lindor which I can never find in the shops!
Miniature screwdrivers that can be used to fix broken glasses and also open up some of the battery compartments that are on toys as some of them are tiny
Batteries all sizes, tin foil and paracetamol are essential for christmas survival lol.
I would include earmuffs, batteries for the toys, emergency mince pie snack and warm gloves and hat for the traditional Christmas day walk xx
i would add tin foil :)
A very large full wine glass please
Batteries and plenty of rubbish bags
a soupmaker gadget
Would have to be batteries…. doesn’t matter how organised I think I am (or attempt to be) there is always more toys requiring batteries than the number of batteries I have!!! ….. failing that….Wine!!!!!
Indigestion tablets , I always vow I won’t eat too much , but always do
Calpol, paracetamol, upset tummy remedies, all just in case. Mince pies for unexpected visitors and a few wrapped boxes of chocolates for the same. Bread in the freezer.
It would have to be a bottle of Baileys and some tin foil. It’s not christmas till you’ve had a Baileys and I always forget tin foil!
A turkey roasting bag and some cooking oil
CHAMPAGNE AND BAILEYS
Tomato juice as it reminds me of Christmas, but is healthy too and keeps you fresh.
I’d have to say some antiacid tablets after all the lovely food,
Prosecco and paracetamol
Batteries,Alka Seltzer, and Coffee
always have to have batteries, sugar and chocolates
Definitely a few bottles of champagne, not fussed on anything else ;)
i would pop in some mojitos, water, bubble bath and a good book
Definitely prosecco and definitely painkillers!
Tissues, candles and a pack of cards
Baileys ,walnuts ,chocs,mince pies ,paracetamol,and Alka Seltzer !
I’d include ibuprofen, champagne and foil! :-)
I would say toilet roll!
Batteries for the kids toys and black bags for all the rubbish wrapping and packaging
Ear plugs, batteries, tissues and some keep me awake tablets
It would definitely be paracetamol as its no fun having poorly children over Xmas plus it helps with lots of other ailments toothache, headache etc xxx
Bath salts, Chamomile tea, peppermints, Panadol, Sticky tape and batteries
Batteries, heart burn remedy, paracetomol and wine.
My sensible side says Calpol and toilet rolls , my unsensible just because its not christmas without them side says terrys chocolate orange and pigs in blankets oooh yum !
My little boy suffers with bad coughs thoughout the winter which dont seem to shift until it gets warmer. The only thing that helps him get some sleep is the calpol vapour plug in so they are a must for us or were up all night!
Mine is definitely batteries and scissors. There’s nothing worse than not being able to open up some packaging!
Extra wrapping paper – I always run out!!
Definitely batteries, some ear plugs!
I would put a bottle of wine in my survival.kit and some baby wipes
Definitely batteries, a miracle hangover cure and some easy to cook food for the kids when they are screaming and you are knackered!
Mints, cherry coke, ibuprofen and batteries
Wine, tea, plenty of cake, baby wipes.
I would include chocolate and wine
Sleeping pills lol
all sorts – especially headache tablets
Batteries :D xx
Painkillers for the both the bigs and smalls, batteries, milk, fresh bread, couple of spare pressies and plenty wine and chocolate. Good to go!
Selotape and washing up liquid
Extra pigs in blankets. Everyone always wants extras!
Rubbish bags and antacid!
Batteries in every size as I always forget to check what I need, and plenty of wine!
Toilet roll -we never seem to have enough!? And children’s cough medicine/Capol my three always seem poorly at Christmas :(
Batteries, plasters, paracetamol and a christmassy candle of cinnamon and apple!
Batteries for the toys, Calpol for when they get the headache from getting up too early and some Mulled Wine for me when I can finally sit down!
ear plugs!
A jar of strong coffee lol
Batteries are a must ….. a small first aid kit (someone always gets a hurt!) …. earplugs (for those noisy toys) … wine (for mum) … a few spare gifts (selection boxes, bath sets and chocolates) and a box of christmas cards just incase you get unexected visitors … drawing pins (the decs generally start to fall down by now) …Cranberry sauce (Dad loves it and I generally forget it) ….Paracetamol/calpol….. anti sickness tablets/medicine …. anti diarrhea tablets…. (the last two are definite essentials or it would be a messy Christmas)
A lovely hot chocolate for the evening.
Definitely a variety of batteries!
Champagne for the merriment, earplugs for when the volume gets too loud, Rennie’s for the over-indulgence!
Definitely batteries of every size. We were caught out last year with a toy that took the one size of battery I didn’t have in the drawer! I had to explain to a very disappointed 5 year old that she’d have to wait to play with it : (
Wipes and lots of them
Definitely batteries, Calpol, indigestion tablets (nothing to do with my cooking lol) and Alka Seltza
Paracetamol, Chocolate and an extra bottle of milk. So I don’t have to dash to the shops when they reopen !
Batteries and chocolate
A must in my Christmas survival kit my essential has to be a bottle of Calpol
Hot chocolate, so relaxing and keeps everyone quiet for a while
I would say kitchen roll and lots of it!
(Although, I had a friend who would say loo roll – she forgot one year and ran out with 5 members of her extended family staying with her for a few days, while all the shops were shut – she still has nightmares about it and she never has less than 30 rolls in her house at one time!)
Would have to be batteries. I always forget them!
dishwasher tablets and coffee
Definitely paracetamol
Prosecco needs to be in there and a stash of chocolate.
Washing up liquid, kitchen roll and toilet paper
Black bin liners to bin all the rubbish and left overs
babywipes xoxo
Wine, ear plugs and chocolate
understanding loved ones.
Tissues as we all seem to get a cold at Christmas
Drinking mulled wine while I am baking :)
some fizz and some sellotape – I am that mum that has wrapped with masking tape, elastic bands and even hair bobbles!
Batteries, Irn Bru (for hangovers lol) Tissues for the colds we always have at Christmas and some Ribena
Batteries in different sizes, lots of them. Kids often get gifts they can’t use leading to tears and tantrums. Another essential is lots of wine used to cope with tears and tantrums
A Terry’s chocolate orange!
A big bottle of Jack Daniels, a huge Eton Mess, one spoon (for me) and some lovely bubbles and candles
Baby wipes, batteries, tin of chocs as a spare present.
extra strong black bin bags for all the extra rubbish
bottle of wine and batteries.
Ibuprofen is essential
I would include some lovely bubble bath for relaxing after a long Christmas day cooking!
A large bar of fruit and nut chocolate and wet wipes for when the grandchildren drop by
I would put in mince pies and chocolate so I could sneak off and hide from everyone and have a sneaky treat.
pain killers, wd40 and ductape :)
vodka lol
Cling film and silver foil – I always seem to run out at the most inconvenient time :)
I’d have teabags, painkillers and cake in my kit!
Batteries for sure.
Some prossecco (there’s never enough)!
Bin liners, toilet paper, chocolates, nibbles and wine
Milk thistle…gotta protect the liver :from festive over-indulgence :)
Got to be batteries, tissues, calpol. Never have enough batteries and we all seem to get coughs and colds in December. x
Batteries – always. I’ve learnt my lesson there. I’d include a cinnamon scented candle as I love cinnamon and it always makes me feel nice and calm. A roll of bin bags wouldn’t go a miss either.
A large glass of wine.
Batteries and prosecco and cheese is all I need!
Coffee and champagne – my two essentials!
Baileys, earplugs, paracetamol and a bacon sarnie
I would include earplugs, paracetamol and a camera.
a face mask, pain killers, a bath bomb, and some herbel stress relief
ear plugs and paracetamol
Batteries absolutely!
Batteries & Baileys
Champagne and paracetamol!
Red Bull and Vodka
moist toilet paper for emergency stops after loads of road trips to see family.
batteries , rennies and black bin bags
Definitely painkillers and some rum to slip nonchalantly into the hot chocolate being passed around!
A glass of ginger wine to help the meal preparation!
My number one essential in my Christmas survival kit are ‘Grandparents’ ;) ..I think you need a break from the kids for a couple of hours just to keep yourself grounded and sane over the holidays and if you’re still lucky enough to have willing and able family to help out it’s an incredible bonus. x
I’d include washing up liquid as the dishes never seem to stop . Paper plates anyone
batteries, tons of them in all sizes!
I would say batteries for the kids toys as u never have enough and definitely paracetmol/gaviscon for the adults lol
lots of champagne! x
Baby wipes and kitchen roll, there’s usually little accidents
yes batteries! Of all varieties
batteries and ear plugs!
Red wine and coffee for me!
Paracetamol and tissues
Ear plugs for the snoring relatives visiting!
A mobile phone. This is just in case the wifi dies. All my recipes for the day are online and if the wifi isn’t working, I’m stuck without the data access on my phone!
Batteries and a screwdriver/Allen key set for the thing that needs to be put together but you never have the right size tool!
Paracetamol, anti diarrhea tablets, bicarbonate of soda, toilet rolls, disposable oven/roasting trays and cat litter.
Night nurse to sleep it all off
Wine and more wine for the people that your hubby invites over…. its always more & more every year!
DEfo a large bottle of fairy washing up liquid as we have lots of visitors and the dishwasher is overflowing so washing up is needed.
Lots of wine, chocs and headache and bad tummy tablets
A selection of batteries, apron and a bottle of Baileys!
A box of matches for lighting candles and the Christmas pud
Ear Plugs, Paracetamol, Batteries and Chocolate.
batteries – mine usually run down – so some good strong coffee too.
definitely loo roll – my son uses loads of it when he comes home to visit lol
nutcracker and batteries
A big comfy throw, for an afternoon nap after all the excitement!
batteries, tea bags, paracetamol and bubble bath
toilet roll, alcohol and crisps
celloptape and wine, I always run out of both !!!!
Nuts & nut crackers
a little first aid kit, everyone comes tome for plasters creams etc,
batteries and gravy granules the 2 most common forgotten items!
Definitely batteries for all of the toys santa brings :)
Fresh ground coffee for Christmas morning!
Hangover and indigestion remedies. Plus an extra bottle of wine, hidden away just for me, for the quiet moments after the guests leave!
Bottle of wine, always needed to help to destress
A chef and a cleaner…. failing that… foil roasting trays to save at least a little washing up!
Tea and chocolate!
Bread, cheese and milk.
You always end up running out of one or the other
Paracetamol, Chocolate and a full tank of Petrol in the car!
Gourmet chocolates, all for me!
pringles, wine and beer for surprise guests and me!
Kitchen foil! I always forget it!!
Batteries, tin foil, coffee, kitchen roll, wet wipes
batteries, i always forget them
Prosecco, chocolate, cling film, dishwasher tablets
Alka Seltzer and Heartburn pills
Glad to see tin foil is in there, and my partner says, a spare remote control as her parents are coming.
Milk! Coffee is needed even more on the busiest day of the year!
cold and flu remedies
Earplugs and emergency chairs!
Batteries earplugs & vodka!
I would have to include some nice bubblebath to escape to the bathroom, lock the door and relax in lots of bubbles
Coffee, candles & matches, Rennie’s, imodium, batteries, loo roll, cranberry sauce,ligtbulbs and some cleaning wipes. All practical and really useful for that one day all the shops are closed lol
Matches for lighting Christmassy candles of course. Also, branston pickle. Lots of it. Must have have leftover turkey sandwiches!
Indigestion tablets
batteries, bin bags and I love the previous suggestion of Calpol as I agree, such a shame for any poorly children on Christmas day.
Batteries, headache tablets and a couple of spare gifts in case you forget anyone
A little book of mantras to say under my breath, a bucket full of peace and goodwill to deal with the Bah Humbugs, and a sprig of mistletoe because who doesn’t love a hug and a kiss at Christmas. Everything else is just gravy ;-)
chocolate, wine, and batteries. oh, and from a practical point of view, foil!
Paracetamol (one big headache after all the stress), bottle of sherry for my Christmas Eve tot to get me in the mood, bottle of Asti ( can never have enough), single cream ( always run out), a good book and some headphones for my partner to watch TV so I can read my book in peace.
Mulled wine kit!
would be batteries and a good old hangover cure :)
Definitely Chocolate, Indegestion Tablets, Oh …. and A Huge Bottle of Baileys
Beer, earplugs and a good book
100% would include quality street and wine. Gets me through every Christmas.
Mulled Wine, tub of chocolates and music
Prosecco and cake :)
Kitchen roll and port
I think I’d include in my Christmas survival kit, batteries of all descriptions for the toys that invariably come with the dreaded words ‘batteries not included’ (especially the rectangle shaped ones that nobody ever seems to have) and also ear plugs, to cope with the noise of all the toys that require the batteries…
Definitely batteries, something always needs the one size you don’t have
Vodka
A pen and paper to leave ” Rescue Me ” notes everywhere
a bottle of prosecco
Tea Bags, Coffee & kettle, plus large packet of choc digestives – maybe some Gaviscon !
Bin bags for all the rubbish!
Batteries, different size screwdrivers, a large bottle of red and a secret Terrys chocolate orange
Bubble bath, a magazine, tea bags and a bathroom lock. Then I could have some time to myself. …….well a girl can dream
eye mask and ear plugs lol
batteries
Alcohol, chocolate and a TV guide!
Prosecco, a fun family card game & batteries
Cranberry sauce. Mother-in-law forgot it once, and it just wasn’t the same, so we always make sure we have some.
a crossword book – to calm me down
a bath bomb and some hot chocolate
Bottle of wine
Chocolate!
A bottle of mulled wine for sure! Along with a large amount of chocolate
hmmmm… Wine!!!
Do I spy rubber gloves
On a boring note Kitchen Roll for spillages…and then maybe Gin and Tonic, so you don’t care about the spillages :-)
Ear Plugs !!
Definitely batteries! We always forget batteries!
I would include batteries, pain killers, wet wipes, paper cups, plates, disinfectant and cloths.
Tin foil
Batteries are a must, along with chocolate.
In my Christmas survival kit I would have battery screwdriver earplugs a bottle of wine and cheese and a good dvd
a bottle of wine
Wine and Chocolates
Wine, wine, wine and more wine … did I mention wine?!
Batteries, a screwdriver and some scissors! Getting into kid’s toys are a mission now!
Bottle of gin, binbags & chocolate
Batteries is a must, but also some wine and chocs :)li
Batteries are top of the list as Santa always forgets those but others have said that so for me it has to be a bottle of Baileys and my camera to capture the day
My christmas survival kit would include some nice chocolates – everyone always loves them after a meal, even if you are really full!
Champagne and orange juice for present opening time then bin bags to collect all the wrapping paper after
Champagne and orange juice for present opening time then bin bags to collect all the wrapping paper after ☺️
Good coffee and plenty of bread and butter
kitchen roll, batteries and some evaporated milk or long life milk
It would have to be an energy drink to keep me awake by the end of Christmas day
Has to be alka seltzer!
Booze and Bin Bags, mum;s Christmas day essentials lol
cocktail kit, tea, biscuits, flu capsules
definately wine and chocolates
Maybe some earplugs lol
Earplugs and alcohol
JUST WINE XXX
Batteries in various sizes, and a hot chocolate mug kit with a miniature of brandy – essential for relaxing.
As a bit of a Christmas novice (just married, expecting our first baby) this would be an amazing prize! my essential Christmas item will be my list of timings for dinner so I don’t miss anything! Then a good book and bar of chocolate that I can snuggle up in front of the fire with once the family has gone home for the night!!
Definitely freezer party food. For the unexpected guests.
Stress relaxing bubble bath for Christmas eve and non-chocolate candies like raffael by Ferrero rocher
A good book, in the hope I can steal a few minutes peace!
I’d include a scented candle and matches perfect for a relaxing evening
Kitchen foil, sellotape, batteries, extra box of chocs and a large bottle of wine!
Oh God definitely Bailey’s…..
Definitly batteries. And coffee is a must!
Ibuprofen for sore heads!!
Alcohol, crisps and paracetamol ;)
Capol for the kiddies Hedex for the adults!
paracetamol for the boxing day headache
Whisky xx
Batteries and chocolate
A few bottles of Coca Cola
Chocolate, baileys, vitamin C
a pair of ear plugs ,a sleeping tablet, bottle of wine ,and my car keys so i can go and hide
Posh soft drinks – a way of saying cheers to the drivers!
Orange juice, chocolate and aspirins
a new –debt free credit card
my Xmas survival kit includes non-perishable groceries such as over the counter medicines for headaches, colds, etc., loo roll and toothpaste, spare toothbrushes for those guests who inevitably forget theirs, and either long life or frozen versions of various foodstuffs. My husband (the main cook in our household) invariably needs more butter / cream / eggs etc. than he has purchased, so I keep backups of them as well.
paracetamol and a few sherbet dib dabs
Sellotape – you can never find it when wrapping those last minute emergency presents!
Some paracetamol and chocolate.
Indigestion tablets, lemsip, a fruit smoothie…plus a few chocolates to console myself with ;) !
I can hear my electric box beeping as i type. as a single parent any less stress or help would be amazing!
Cocktail sticks – pivotal for party food!
wine and a good book for when everyone snoozes in front of the tv!!
Paracetamol – always come in handy after the champagne has been drunk and the batteries have gone in all the toys
Batteries! And maybe a clock so the kids will see that it is 3 am and not time to get up yet sorry!
Prosecco is a must have in my eyes!
Batteries, Cling Film and bin bags
Alcohol
A relaxation cd and ear plugs
a maid? is that allowed? or a spa day to relax haha x
earplugs
When it comes to some of my relatives in a water bottle. They are long, long days. Believe it or not my 70 year old day steals most of it and he doesn’t even drink vodka.
Books, candles and a cozy blanket!
A screw driver to undo all those tiny screws that toys seem to be screwed in to their packaging with nowadays
Baby wipes for all the cleaning up of cake and other food from my son’s face and the walls etc. :)
A huge duvet, boxset & fried breakfast lol
A chef & a personal shopper.
Alka seltzer, water, fruit and some headphones!
Bacon and rolls – a quick but yummy breakfast for the whole family so you can get on with cooking the dinner!
Bin bags for all the discarded paper x
My Christmas survival kit would include a book, hot water bottle, cup of tea, Ferrero Rocher and paracetamol.
Washing powder / stain remover as with all the kids, some nice new clothes are bound to need washing from spills. Infant paracetamol/Ibuprofen as I’ve been caught out looking for the only chemist open in the entire borough (or county when I was staying near my parents) for a child with a fever. Black bags and recycling bags for all the Christmas garbage and a DVD for all the kids to unwind at the end of the day.
It would have to be headache tablets for the inevitable morning after the night before hangover :-)
fab giveaway which looks quite comprehensive, my essentials would be chocolate and coffee
Batteries, rennies, washing up liquid, chocolate and mulled wine xx
The only thing I need to survive is mulled wine and Lindt chocolate
Batteries, toilette roll, dish washer tablets and miracle on 34th street on dvd
Batteries because I never to seem to have enough
One wrapped up spare present in case someone was left out!
I’d definitely include paracetamol as I always manage to give myself a stress headache every year from trying to get everything done!
A Baileys! And make it a large one! ;-D
i would include baby wipes:)
Batteries, a box of chocolates and some wine
Got to be Wine :) .x
Rechargable batteries!
Every Single Battery size going – you just know its going to use the one size you never have!
Serviettes and batteries I always run out of both..
Batteries and that tiny screwdriver set from last year’s crackers.
Batteries, chocolate, wine.
Christmas music :)
Things like gravy granuels, tea bags, foil the simple stuff that can ruin the big day plus a lovely drink for the evening
Batteries, Plastic Tie Cutters, Soundproof Hearphones and Chocolate :)
two things i always need sometimes forget are crackers for dinner table and batteries always need them for kids toys
Anti Diahorrea medication….after all that food lol!
Bucks fizz for breakfast, bin bags for the rubbish and headphones for when it all gets a bit to noisy.
Hand Cream for my poor hands after doing all the extra washing up on Christmas day.
Migraine patches, Baileys, slipper socks and tangerines.
Gaviscon!!
Merlot, a fluffy rug, the TV remote, aspirins and a good friend on the end of a phone to cheer me up when I have completely run out of energy and inspiration.
PROSECCO!!
Batteries, wet wipes, a spare gift for unexpected callers, and prosecco!!
Batteries are a must. Think I might buy some more.
Batteries, and Rennies,
earplugs, beer and crisps
a bottle of prosecco
Batteries and plasters!
Antacid tablets, migraine tablets, ear plugs, footstool
Lager aspirin and sleeping tablet
Good christmas songs, quality christmas DVDs and a big pot of mulled wine!
A book to escape into :)
Alka seltzer, stuffing mix, and ice cubes and toothpicks
paracetamol, batteries, screwdriver and chocolate
recycling sacks for all the wrapping paper!
Alcohol, paracetemol, batteries, chocolate, SD card for cameras, scissors & DVD’s for when everyone is worn out & stuffed!
Chocolate and rose wine
washing up liquid, gaviscon and a sleeping pills
I would include batteries, spare christmas crackers as we always end up short. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, batteries, a disposable camera, thankyou cards and a bottle of vodka
Definitely lots of batteries, a small screwdriver as toys these days are always screwed to the box!, and a box of luxury chocolates for yummy mummy’s
Very boring, but batteries to avoid disasters when the inevitable happens and the new battery operated toy or gadget comes with flat batteries or doesn’t include them at all when you thought it did!
Definitely batteries as the kids toys always seem to take more batteries than I realise and blankets for snuggling on the sofa on boxing day! x
Definitely Wine, lot’s and lots of wine!
Sparkly mineral water
Tiny screwdrivers for the impossibly small screws that are right at the bottom of deep tubes – bane of my life!
deffo batteries and some vodka for me!
chocolate and wine would be in my survival kit!
batteries, sellotape, scissors
Chocolates, alcohol, batteries, Craft things to keep the kids happy