to be dreading Christmas already?

[FatAssPantaloons]

I know we've not even had Halloween yet but I find myself thinking of Christmas and dreading the cost of it. Money is so tight for our family & I can't see how we could give the DC even a very very modest Christmas without getting further into debt. Plus all the ads will be starting on TV soon for toys etc, ramming down our throats all the things we can't have.

Firstly, I am sure the reason I was only allowed to watch the BBC when I was little was because there were no ads.

Secondly, at the moment, Argos have a 3-4-2 on toys and the major supermarkets often have pre-Christmas deals. It's more aggro than just one Christmas shop, but you can save loads that way.

In my wider family, we have lists of what we would like, so money for a gift isn't wasted, and we often all chip in to a bigger present. It takes a bit of organising, but it can really make it special. I remember, in the early days of our marriage when money was incredibly tight, looking forward to Christmas as the time I would get things I wanted but didn't need (books, music, etc.) and, if I am honest, being rather sad at the realisation of what my PiL must have spent on me on stuff I didn't really want ....

Even now, I still keep a look out in charity shop/NCT sales/even Ebay for bargains and have no problem gicing second-hand bits to them.

Tbh, I tell mine if what they want is too expensive or if it'll mean one present from everyone. I don't want to crush them, but I am simply not going to spend what some people seem to.

Meant to add: it's tough, but good luck!

YANBU Christmas can be such an expensive time and I think lots of people feel pressured by adverts showing 'must haves' and 'perfect christmases'

How many children do you have and how old are they?

If they are very young it should be quite easy to get a couple of smaller things for them as they will probably just love the unwrapping. Plus you can do things like leaving a pie for santa and carrot for rudolph.

If they are older then hopefully you can talk to them and explain that they can't have lots of expensive presents because of xyz. Also you can still get things like books, bath things etc quite cheaply and wrap them up along side a main present so they have more to open

Again simple things like watching christmas films as a family, decorating the house, going for a nice walk together can be nice.

Do you have relatives who buy your dc presents as well?

Christmas dinner can be done fairly cheaply and you could all have a go at making things like biscuits or a cake together?

I would also not buy extended family presents if you normally do - just explain that money is a bit tight at the moment.

Try to plan nice, free/inexpensive things to do as a family and I'm sure you can enjoy without getting into debt x

YANBU! I'm worried as well. We don't have any spare money at all. DD2 still believes in santa, doubt she would believe he was having financial problems! Santa doesn't need money he makes everything, don't you know!

Boots also have 3 for 2 on toys just now. When I was young my mum used to wrap up tins of deodorant and hairspray etc, just silly little things but we loved opening them!

Get over to the Christmas bargain thread it will help with getting 'stuff'

But Christmas isn't about how much you spend it's about having fun with loved ones. There's always free stuff to do

Come on you can do it

Do you have old toys & baby equipment that you could sell through ebay & nearly new sales to fund Christmas? All the the ideas above are good, you dont need to buy expensive plastic tat, just concentrate on building meaningful experiences.

• xmas light switch on
• activities in the local museum free or cheap
• walks in the local woods collecting greenery/fir cones
• baking *stringing popcorn on tree
• making paperchains & decorations
• making chocolate truffles/coconut ice/peppermint creams to give as gifts

These are all fairly inexpensive activities that you could do with your kids to make it special for them. I remember helping my mum with the festive cooking more than the gifts that I recieved for Eid.

How old are your DC?

Mine was young enough to get away with not asking her what she wanted!

The year before last I got her a whole lion king set from freecyle there must have been 40 figures and a snow white dress from a car boot sale. she had other bits but her favourites by FAR were those too and as the set cost me nothing, the dress was about £1.00!!

Cost doesn't equate with what they will enjoy, do you have car boots, table top sales, ads in local papers etc...TK Max, Homesense.....

If yours are much older, that may not be so easy but perhaps old enough to explain that xmas will be lean>?

Charity shops are also AMAZING now, they have all kinds of things in there.....

Not in our house, the pink ocelot. I send money to father Christmas. There are so many children in the world today that he can only make presents for very poor children with no family.

Amazon for stuff too...ebay..

This year we have a mix of lots of things from all sorts of places but I have bowed to Barbie, however, the barbie I got was 24 in tesco and not much cheaper on line, I found her for a tenner in sainsburies!

As far as food goes are you near any supermarkets? Its a gamble but xmas eve all the supermarkets are slashing prices. we got a M and S turkey for 12 quid from over 50 !!!

Would it help to 'break' the TV and pop it into the loft?

eBay, NCT Sales, Jack & Jill Markets for second hand?

We use this rhyme for birthdays/Christmas:

Something you want,
Something you need,
Something to wear,
And, something to read.

I put the four gifts into a really big box (talk to Currys, supermarkets, etc.) and wrap it in brown paper with ribbon. DCs get a box too

What about an activity Advent? A chocolate and an activity everyday? Get involved in the local church advent/nativity activities. Christmas DVD movie night every Dec Fri? Winter treasure hunts for natural materials? Are you on Pinterest? Lots of great ideas there!

Try to keep the focus on Jesus/Christianity rather than consumerism?

I know exactly how you feel. We have the same problems every year. I get round some of it by using many of the suggestions already made on this thread.

Also, we say to the grandparents etc. that my husband and I do not want presents for ourselves, but suggest that they buy for the children.

It is getting somewhat easier these days, as my "children", if you can still call alll of them that, will be aged 18, 15 and 11 by Christmas this year, so we don't buy as much as we did when they were younger. They all still love a stocking filled with cheap and fun trash though.

Moaning aside (and I am more of a Christmas humbug every year, just doing it for the kids), I do actually enjoy Christmas when it is here. It is the run-up I can't stand.

Perhaps Christmas should be every other year, not yearly. I say that because time flies, and it never seems five minutes since the last one.

How old are the children?

how old are your dc i think how you go about Christmas all depends on their ages. with my young dd s i just say yes to what ever they ask for in the adverts they instantly forget and its easier than explaining that they cant have something. older dc can understand that money is tight and will value time and effort over how much something costs.

as already said sales, e bay charity shops try your local fb page for things there should be loads being sold as people have clear outs either for space or to have money for new things.

all my dc love the thrill of the surprise the unwrapping i get plenty of stocking fillers to bulk out the pile these will be things they need socks deodorant bobbles clips etc.

i have already started my Christmas shopping some things that were on sale and a few stocking fillers here and there.

i find it makes it much more manageable and it does build up. also what about having a change jar to help save for things that might cost a bit more.

If they are young they will just love the experience of opening pressies and not care too much about the price. I have found for my 2 that they love the cheap party bag type gifts that don't cost too much - bubbles, bouncy balls, balloons etc.

If they are slightly older then maybe have chat to them about money and get them one good quality but not too expensive item each. If they understand money you could give them a budget so they can choose or give them say a choice of 3 things. Or you could try homemade vouchers for things like a pjyama day and film, or tidying their room for them etc.

For extended family I would just explain you are not doing gifts this year or you could bake everyone some gingerbread biscuits or do a secret santa so just one pressie per person.

For events to go to many churches and schools have Christmas fetes that are free or cost very little to get into. Lots of garden centres have grottos again either free or cheap. You can go to watch the switching on of your town's christmas lights or head to the park/woods with a flask of hot choc and some marshmallows. All cuddle up under a duvet and watch an old black and white festive movie. Also local amateur dramatics groups often put on pantos that are much cheaper than professional shows (and good fun too).

For a cheaper xmas dinner ditch the ridiculously overpriced turkey and have a nice roast chicken or gammon. Much cheaper and just as nice.

Pound shop is your friend. Young children just need lots to open and you can get loads of little presents from there for not much.

Start looking for second hand things in the free ads or on the cards in shop windows. Use eBay or free cycle.

For people in your wider family, agree to pick one name out of a hat and buy one present up to an agreed amount.

Give vouchers for your time to friends or family eg manicures, baking, help round the house, babysitting. These will be really well received.

Give vouchers to the kids for picnics, or other cheap things that you may do anyway eg swimming. For older ones wrap a box with a DVD and popcorn for "a special night in"

Don't spend what you can't afford but you can spend what money you do have, carefully. Use your imagination.

Hope you have a lovely cheap christmas.

Great minds think alike avery. I've just basically repeated your post.

Here is the link to the bargain thread that someone mentioned upthread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/1873273--Why-do-I-find-myself-needing-an-inflatable-penguin-sledge-christmas-bargain-thread

Plus all the ads will be starting on TV soon

A problem that can be trivially solved.

Thanks all, really helpful suggestions. DC are 8 & 9.

I also agree about experiences. I never had a big Christmas or activities especially with being an only child. I look back now and dont remember the presentsbut feel regret that I never had a prproper magical Christmas.

Now im older I don't care about the presents o just want the experience of xmas eve movies, new pjs, bath stuff and board games.

I know your DCs are still young but it is something to remember.

Ive bought most of my gifts already...as i bought them on offer and from.ebay and amazon.I start early and bargain shop literally everything.For little kids they dont need big expensive things,id buy a couple of things they really want and just get bits and bats from.pound shops or things that are on offer.You could get little arty sets,as long as it a gift they can spend some time on theyll be happy and youll be happy.Im letting my ds make gifts for family from him such as salt dough decorations he can paint and put glitter on and snow globes made from upside down jars.He will get joy from making them and family will be chuffed he made it.cost next to nothing x

Are you in a habit of spending lots.on them? It is possible to have a low key, low cost Christmas with a gift from Santa, a gift from parents and a stocking. However kids who have been given lots over the years may be disappointed with that. In our house, christmas is as above, and 'big' read more expensive gifts are for birthdays.