Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just a gentle reminder that it's only 4 pay days away

94 replies

Doingtheboxerbeat · 19/08/2025 17:57

...For most people.
This is for the folk who say it's only August , but at the same time are surprised to find that Christmas has just crept up on them.
Also, spare a thought for those poor January born children who will have a lifetime of not being celebrated as much as because people are always too disorganised skint on their birthdays .
No excuses 🫵 😠.

OP posts:
privatenonamegiven · 19/08/2025 19:34

Arlanymor · 19/08/2025 19:29

My mum’s is on 23 December and she hates it, my dad is at the beginning of December. I actually think it should be illegal for people with birthdays in December to have children together because it ridiculously expensive for their offspring!

Show quote history

Love that idea!! 😂. My mother had a thing for December babies my sister is 14th and her other half is the 26!!

Catpiece · 19/08/2025 19:31

Can’t wait for Christmas. Always loved it. 1st January birthday here x

privatenonamegiven · 19/08/2025 19:30

RedNine · 19/08/2025 18:59

Why a gentle reminder? What's wrong with a normal one?

Agree, messages that start with just a gentle reminder kind of irritate me makes me want to forget more 😂

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 19/08/2025 19:29

ilovesooty · 19/08/2025 19:07

My friend's birthday is 5 days before mine and we go out for a joint birthday meal. It's something to look forward to while enduring the Christmas crap and the build up to it.

Show quote history

Is this an invitation? It feels like an invitation.

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 19/08/2025 19:29

StarlightRobot · 19/08/2025 19:25

But I do buy for my Jan born DD and think it’s great. How is it possible that no toys are left..?

Show quote history

I'm not sure how old your DD is but when my DS got old enough to ask for a particular present, I had to buy it in early December or risk it being sold out.

You'll be fine if she never asks for anything in particular and always leaves it up to you.

IHaveRunOutOfIdeas · 19/08/2025 19:29

wominzy · 19/08/2025 19:13

@IHaveRunOutOfIdeas Oh god you made me laugh a bit there about the tiny pressies for Mum. That's a lovely idea, although I'm not the best at present buying since the adults in our families don't exchange and I give cash to the rest (or to their parents for the kiddies). AND we leg it out of Blighty mid December and back mid January, enjoying the sun somewhere nice. Retired and deserve it I say!

Anyway, here are some ideas for little gifts for Advent stocking for Mum -

Funny eggcup
Shot glass
Free from a neighbour's garden -be quick! small dried lavender bunch tied with ribbon saved from something else.
Packet of tissues (lol) for the colds and sniffles
Packet of paracetemol - same
Mini kit kat or similar
Candle
Long handled battery lighter (for said candle when it gets low in the holder..)
LED light that attaches to a key ring, so she can find the keyhole after drinking the shots
Hand bag size puzzle book to ward off dementia
Diary - to help remember, see above
Chain or cord for spectacles
Light up earrings for Christmas Day
Santa Hat

Well that's a start... 😂

These are great, thank you!

Arlanymor · 19/08/2025 19:29

privatenonamegiven · 19/08/2025 19:27

Agree I have two friends with birthdays on Boxing Day and mine is on the 22nd of December. Growing up no one was ever around for birthday parties, presents were often rubbish and joint with Christmas.

Show quote history

My mum’s is on 23 December and she hates it, my dad is at the beginning of December. I actually think it should be illegal for people with birthdays in December to have children together because it ridiculously expensive for their offspring!

CatherineHowardsad · 19/08/2025 19:27

Both my DP’s have January birthdays and they are in their 80’s and was shit when they were younger and still shit when they are adults.
I’m going to start wrapping earlier.

privatenonamegiven · 19/08/2025 19:27

x2boys · 19/08/2025 18:41

Not as bad as Xmas birthdays my son wss born on Boxing day.

Show quote history

Agree I have two friends with birthdays on Boxing Day and mine is on the 22nd of December. Growing up no one was ever around for birthday parties, presents were often rubbish and joint with Christmas.

Arlanymor · 19/08/2025 19:27

CatherineHowardsad · 19/08/2025 19:24

I get paid after Christmas, I wouldn’t want to be paid early. January is long enough!

Show quote history

Everywhere I have ever worked has paid me early and I do know what you mean. I put a chunk into an alternative bank account that is ‘January money’.

KOALABEAR12 · 19/08/2025 19:27

Doingtheboxerbeat · 19/08/2025 17:57

...For most people.
This is for the folk who say it's only August , but at the same time are surprised to find that Christmas has just crept up on them.
Also, spare a thought for those poor January born children who will have a lifetime of not being celebrated as much as because people are always too disorganised skint on their birthdays .
No excuses 🫵 😠.

Five!
August
September
October
November &

December

StarlightRobot · 19/08/2025 19:25

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 19/08/2025 19:17

Nah, still shit especially when you're buying for kids as there's often nothing great left.

Show quote history

But I do buy for my Jan born DD and think it’s great. How is it possible that no toys are left..?

sunights · 19/08/2025 19:25

Thanks for giving me an excuse to feel smug about giving DS his main xmas gift 5 months early!

Done as he'll get more out of it over the summer holidays.

But if we could move Xmas to late July (or all move to Australia!) life would be soon much easier....

CatherineHowardsad · 19/08/2025 19:24

Arlanymor · 19/08/2025 18:30

Five paydays for most people I would have thought, because most people get paid earlier in December. So that’s only one payday short of being six months, which is a half a year. I feel better now!

I get paid after Christmas, I wouldn’t want to be paid early. January is long enough!

nothingbeats · 19/08/2025 19:22

I have a two dc in November and one in January. I never know what to get them or too skint before and after Xmas lol should have planned them better.

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 19/08/2025 19:17

StarlightRobot · 19/08/2025 19:15

January birthdays are awesome because of the sales!

Nah, still shit especially when you're buying for kids as there's often nothing great left.

Original poster
Doingtheboxerbeat · 19/08/2025 19:16

RedNine · 19/08/2025 18:59

Why a gentle reminder? What's wrong with a normal one?

Just for you get your shit together , is that better? 😉

OP posts:
AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 19/08/2025 19:16

3luckystars · 19/08/2025 19:06

Great, you have 4 times as long as the op to prepare.

Show quote history

19 paydays for DH which takes him up to Xmas Eve.

I can't believe I just sat and worked that out 😁

StarlightRobot · 19/08/2025 19:15

January birthdays are awesome because of the sales!

Gettingbysomehow · 19/08/2025 19:15

Go away. Im cancelling everyone who says the C word in August 😐

SunnyPrague · 19/08/2025 19:13

I’m a budgeting nerd. I save £x per month in a separate account to pay for Christmas. It’s really comforting to know that you’ve got the money set aside to do it.

wominzy · 19/08/2025 19:13

@IHaveRunOutOfIdeas Oh god you made me laugh a bit there about the tiny pressies for Mum. That's a lovely idea, although I'm not the best at present buying since the adults in our families don't exchange and I give cash to the rest (or to their parents for the kiddies). AND we leg it out of Blighty mid December and back mid January, enjoying the sun somewhere nice. Retired and deserve it I say!

Anyway, here are some ideas for little gifts for Advent stocking for Mum -

Funny eggcup
Shot glass
Free from a neighbour's garden -be quick! small dried lavender bunch tied with ribbon saved from something else.
Packet of tissues (lol) for the colds and sniffles
Packet of paracetemol - same
Mini kit kat or similar
Candle
Long handled battery lighter (for said candle when it gets low in the holder..)
LED light that attaches to a key ring, so she can find the keyhole after drinking the shots
Hand bag size puzzle book to ward off dementia
Diary - to help remember, see above
Chain or cord for spectacles
Light up earrings for Christmas Day
Santa Hat

Well that's a start... 😂

Elle771 · 19/08/2025 19:10

Doingtheboxerbeat · 19/08/2025 18:11

Thank you 😊. I only mentioned it to my friend the other day when she was complaining about the Christmas merchandise in B&M and she said she hadn't thought of it like that.

Show quote history

I'm one of these weirdos who is actually looking forward to having christmas stuff in shops soon just so I can spread the costs across the next 4 months a bit 😅😅🙈🙈

privatenonamegiven · 19/08/2025 19:10

Try having a birthday at Christmas - that really is sh*tty. Got plenty of joint birthday and Christmas presents...but yes January isn't great either.

SmegFridge · 19/08/2025 19:09

Katemax82 · 19/08/2025 18:08

Well thats a hard pill to swallow!

I read this as "well that's a hard pillow" and thought there's a new idiom that I'd never heard before. 🙈🙈