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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To, um, cancel Christmas?

109 replies

teahousecandle · 04/12/2015 18:15

Obviously not entirely!

Just the same, I'm more broke than the Ten Commandments and I keep reading that you should never prioritise Christmas or other events over basic payments that need to be made.

So - WIBU to buy my eldest (9) a small gift (under £30) and make that it? It's about the spirit right? (PS not a begging thread.)

OP posts:

MumofAAndE · 04/12/2015 18:59

You're being very sensible. Get the older child the Kindle - sounds like she will really appreciate it, probably a lot more for not being swamped with lots of other stuff.I agree, there's no way an 18 month old has a clue so don't feel bad about not getting him/her anything beyond a free big empty box. Hope things get better next year

GlitteryShoes · 04/12/2015 19:01

I think you can do a lovely Christmas with that budget - a £10 stocking, then some creative presents - eg pack of playing cards with handwritten game rules to go with it, a bag of popcorn kernels with a popcorn making recipe etc

Maybe make more of the rest of the month to add to the 'magic' so it's not all about presents? I have done a Christmas word search with a word to find each day and a hidden message which leads to a prize on Christmas Eve ( all printed off computer for free). The kids are also doing a picture every day and putting it in the window as an advent calendar for the street - things like this really can help the magic. Definitely look in charity shops too. Christmas dinner could just be a normal roast dinner with a jar of cranberry sauce :)

northender · 04/12/2015 19:02

Please, please don't spend any more than you can afford. You are doing the right thing and you can still make it special for your dd. Agree with other posters you could still make up a fab stocking with say £10 and spend £20 on some bigger bits to open. Would she like a stocking and then money to start saving for a Kindle? You're not being unreasonable and you most definitely are doing the right thing.

Original poster

teahousecandle · 04/12/2015 19:03

Thanks, I am sure they will. Thank for Amazon bargains hehe!

(I know it's meant kindly but please could people stop sending me PMs offering me money or stuff? I will be frank and say part of the reason we are in this mess is bad money management on my part, so please don't think we are worthy poor or something as we're not and its me )

OP posts:

Senpai · 04/12/2015 19:03

I remember more of baking cookies together, singing carols, and eating breakfast at Christmas more than I remember Christmas itself.

Can you do coupons for DD? Those are a fun novelty, especially the ones that bend rules like dessert before dinner, or watch a movie in a blanket fort. You could wrap them in those poppers (crackers?) and let her open them. Maybe label them to have 3 or so per month so they last all year. Those were my family's go to when they were broke, and we had a lot of fun with them all year.

What about DIYs? Are you crafty? Pinterest has all sorts of inexpensive things you can make.

Senpai · 04/12/2015 19:04

more than I remember the Christmas presents themselves.

AppleAndBlackberry · 04/12/2015 19:05

Kindle Fire sounds good if that's what she really wants but is she going to be upset not to get a stocking? You might be able to do a mini stocking for a pound or two with things like 10p sweets, satsuma, Lidl or Aldi chocolate coins etc.

murmuration · 04/12/2015 19:05

That's not cancelling Christmas. Get the eldest what she wants, wrap up some plastic ceps/boxes/tissues/etc for the 18mo, have last year's decorations or homemade stuff, and whatever the yummiest food your budget allows and it will be lovely. Christmas is about the celebration, not the presents and material worth.

Original poster

teahousecandle · 04/12/2015 19:07

I don't think she'll mind not having a stocking?

OP posts:

Greengardenpixie · 04/12/2015 19:14

Well it depends largely upon her expectations. I suppose these will be built upon the previous years she has had presents. Does she still believe? I think thats the hardest part. My dd is coming up for 9 and still believes or pretends too and i have given her too much over the last few years. She would put a brave face on it but i know she would be disappointed esp if you cant reason and say its not santa, you just cannot afford it.
I would get her something that she wants and get some good second hand toys from ebay or charity shops. My children have all enjoyed getting secon hand toys without a thought.

Greengardenpixie · 04/12/2015 19:15

Second hand toys for your youngest i mean. You could even find some things for your older girl!

Badders123 · 04/12/2015 19:16

Stop beating yourself up!
We all make mistakes X

regenerationfez · 04/12/2015 19:17

What does she want the kindle for? if its just for books, can you get her an old model from ebay, or not a kindle, but a different e reader?

ShabbyNat · 04/12/2015 19:19

I second Freecycle, you can see what`s on offer or make requests to see if people can gift them to you
Christmas is all about family & friends anyway, so make memories with your children as well, paper chains have been mentioned, I bet newspaper chains look brill & newspaper wrapping paper
Hoping you have a happy Christmas

nokidshere · 04/12/2015 19:25

When my boys were under 2 I used to just wrap up toys we already had for them 😄 They aren't bothered once they have ripped the paper off!

Also I found this if it's any help!

BrianButterfield · 04/12/2015 19:26

Do you have any unspent Tesco clubcard points? Do you shop at Morrison's and might be due a £5 cashback voucher? Do you have any Boots points? Any unused ends of gift vouchers? I do loads of my 'shopping' with these sorts of things and got DS's bike last year for free!

supersop60 · 04/12/2015 19:27

One particularly bad year I got all the dcs presents from Charity shops etc. They like having things to open (especially when they're younger) and they won't know if it is cheap or not brand new. Good luck with the budgeting!

Dowser · 04/12/2015 19:28

My dad when he retired volunteered as a driver for the wrvs.every year he used to deliver people who were struggling a big sack of second hand ( good quality) toys.

Give them a ring...see if they still do this service.

Original poster

teahousecandle · 04/12/2015 19:31

We have never done Santa or Father Christmas so that's good. She wanted the kindle fire so that's fine, it's ordered and paid for but I can't really afford anything else without getting us into trouble.

OP posts:

Dowser · 04/12/2015 19:32

The salvation army seems to do this service.mtry them op.

OllyBJolly · 04/12/2015 19:33

I remember one Christmas where I was skint and not paid until after 28th. I was a single parent and kids were young. I bought all sorts of crap and wrapped it up and it was just as good - and they were just as delighted - as they were when I spent loads.

I agree with other posters - it's the unwrapping and excitement that makes Christmas - not the actual gifts.

Happy Christmas!
x

Original poster

teahousecandle · 04/12/2015 19:33

Thanks. I definitely won't use a charity but the main thing is children are happy with gifts

OP posts:

Cleo81 · 04/12/2015 19:34

I ve got lots of ds stocking presents on local Facebook selling pages some of which is boxes and brand new. Bargains. Try that

fuzzpig · 04/12/2015 19:36

I hope you have a fab Christmas don't beat yourself up about it.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 04/12/2015 19:40

You're probably right teahouse - you know your DD and how your Christmas usually is more than we do, regarding stocking
BTW We always have a pretty simple Christmas lunch but the DC, especially DS, are excited because we have roasties and veggie sausages instead of the usual pasta

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