To, um, cancel Christmas?

[teahousecandle]

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.)

Free cycle is very good. I'd much rather donate stuff to a family who would use it than some who want to collect everything they could lay their hands on just to sell it.

Charity shops are great for this. I saw some lovely match box cars in ours the other day for 20p each. Books from 10p. If you look at several locally I'm sure you could make a lovely stocking for £2 each.
Things like satsumas etc add in stocking. Can buy a whole bag for £1 and so will have some for fruit bowl also

I got some wonderful children's books from a charity shop- they had never been read! 3 for £1 and they would have cost me nearly £15 had I been into a book shop.

Try to spare a pound or two for some crackers - when I was a child they were the most single exciting thing about Christmas for me. Pulling them, the noise & the mess. Seeing all the adults in silly hats, daft tiny presents & stupid jokes.

I still love them at 60+.

And, I've just remembered, at the big meal on Christmas day, there were always a couple of wee bowls with sweets in them & we were allowed to eat the even before our food had come to the table!!!

'Luckily' they won't have Christmas itself with me. So it's really just the presents.

My 2 love those party popper things! Really cheap and they have fun with them. Bit messy though :)

Consider asking for a Kindle fire on Freecycle.

We received many gifts as kids (we were the only grandchildren) and to be honest the main one I remember, I was about 9 and my uncle's girlfriend, an art teacher, gave us a box filled with crayons, paper, colored pencils, a pair of scissors, string, glue, that sort of thing. It probably was a cheap gift (she was young) but our eyes bugged out and seriously it is the one gift that stands out from my childhood. Maybe you could assemble something similar.

If you have flour & salt in the house you could make a batch of DIY play-dough - surely a neighbor or friend would be able to lend you a few drops of food coloring - pack it in ziploc bags or whatever you have. If you can get some cookie-cutters on Freecycle or at a charity shop she can rolle out the dough, cut out shapes and make tree ornaments for next year whatever. The dough can be decorated with glitter, etc. and baked - just punch a hole for string.

Another cheap but high-impact gift is a dress-up box (maybe she is a bit old for it? I dont' know but suggestion might help someone else) - your own discarded garments, jewelry, scarves etc. - ask friends and family to contribute.

Good luck; don't go into debt for Christmas; have fun as best you can. How about reading aloud from A Christmas Carol or Little Women (first chapter takes place at Christmas) or other library book, with hot chocolate and popcorn? She'll remember something like that for a long time.

You're being pretty sensible, not at all unreasonable. Good luck and Merry Christmas.

My DS loved the birthday when he was the same age when he got a load of outdoor toys from pound land! I spent £20 on him that year as was broke.

Church jumble sales always have some great bargains and often some are new or new looking.

How about putting out a small sock on his bed for a stocking and filling it with some fart putty (pound land) and chocolates etc?

Thank you. They won't wake up here which I'm about - will see them for a couple hours Christmas Day but does relieve me of pressure!

I think you're being really sensible. We've cut back loads this year on gifts, especially for DD. She'll get lots from other people so won't miss it. DS is too small to know, so he's got a bath toy, some cars and a city streets playmat (all in the ELC 50% off sale).

We're also having our usual Sunday roast chicken dinner on Christmas Day (none of us really want turkey) but we'll have pigs in blankets. All meat is in the freezer so just veg to get nearer the time, but we'll mostly have peas, carrots and roast potatoes, I'm not going crazy with extras we won't eat.

They'll get a nice Christmas dinner at dads.

Sorry i pressed post by accident, I meant to add, so I don't need to worry about buying extra food in or anything it's just the presents.

You sound very sensible, and obviously want the best for your children, it's lovely. If you are going to be on your own on Xmas day, try to give yourself a little treat too!

Thank you, I don't mind being alone although I will miss the children but it's best for them!

Have you got an ok local Facebook selling group? You could sell a few bits on there and use the proceeds to buy some presents on there. I know the 18mo won't notice not having anything but her big sister would notice that, so if you can get a small second hand toy to wrap up for the younger one it would be nice.

Thanks, I don't really do Facebook and am not aware of local selling groups

Hopefully you can find a little trinket gift for the little one in a pound or charity shop?

I think you're very sensible not going overboard on gifts. As a PP said, treat yourself to a nice Christmas Day- a bubble bath, old cheesy movie and hot chocolate don't cost much but are lovely. Or just snuggle under a blanket and read a book.

For your youngest have a look on EBay, type in toddler toy bundle. Under auction there are loads of bundles often listed for low price, if you can find a collection only one near you.

Also Gumtree for bundles too.

Free cycle is very good.

TBH at 18 months old they won't really be aware of much. My 23 month old spent ages with a box of cat food cans the other day taking them out, stacking them and putting them back in.

If you want to get crafty:

A box with toilet roll binoculars/kitchen roll telescope, different pasta shapes that you can paint together in different size plastic containers, a plastic bottle with water and glitter with food dye in it (glue on lid threads so it stays on tightly), shakers made with dried beans, unpopped popcorn, pennies in a bottle (again lid glued on), make your own post box with cardboard letters in different colours for little one to post then take out through a door in the front (your 9 year old could help you make it, squares of different kinds of material in an old tissue box, pans and spoons for drums. Little one will have so much fun they won't have a clue you didn't buy them anything.

OurFrugal thread is a good place to be for support, ideas and encouragement if money is tight. Not for Christmas particularly but all year round.

I think that you're being really sensible and actually it's a good thing that children learn that sometimes life isn't alwYs easy and you don't always get everything on a plate. My DSS is 18 at Xmas and our business is struggling. We had promised him a trip to New York but have had to shelf that for a while to make sure we can keep the household going if it all does go tits up. He's being very understanding and I'm proud of him.

£30 is a bloody big present!!

kids need food, shelter, education, clothing, love. AFAIK sparkly-tat is not enshrined in the UN rights of the child list.

Could you make a book of vouchers for each month for Kindle books? If you can get some recommendations for free downloads and pre load it with good free stuff then it'll be good.

She will get presents from dad so she's not going without but obviously do want her to have something nice from me

Yes to check if you have any Tesco Clubcard points you can double up. Also, check if you have any nectar points. I think I had an email from Nectar last month about a 'double your points' event last month. Do you have a boots card with any points on it?

A Kindle is a lovely present for your DD (and your 18mo will be happy to play with the wrapping paper!)