To decline this invitation for Christmas lunch

[cantaffordsmokedsalmon]

A school mum has invited me to join them and I know she means well but it's in that really pushy 'won't take no for an answer way!'

I don't want to go! Can't afford presents for her or her children and can't really afford a bottle of wine. Plus I hate turkey. And it's just the embarrassment of it all!

How do you decline? I know I shouldn't have opened my mouth but I have and I need to wriggle out of it now.

lets agree to disagree

absolutely not

Seriously

Why not just explain you are not looking forward to Christmas without your children, but being with her family will just remind you they are not there?
Or volunteer at a soup kitchen. (Although I hear they are all full now)

I totally agree with what paintedhandprints suggested to say - I don't have my kids this year & would find it very difficult to be with another family.

I don't understand this idea that being on your own at Christmas is a fate worse than death. I would love it, tbh. Christmas is something I do for other people. I'd love to be able to totally ignore the whole thing.
Sorry OP, you are just going to have to say 'no' very firmly, and then just not turn up. It's her own fault if she chooses not to listen to you.
There's no need to make excuses up either, remember an invitation is just that, not a summons or an order.

Just be firm or invent another invite that you couldn't possibly turn down, aged aunt or something. She'll feel better she's asked and that you aren't in own! I invited a friend over but my feelings weren't entirely altruistic, wanted someone to dilute husbands family a bit....she declined.

So maybe she genuinely wants someone else there!

If all else fails invent a lurgy she wont want you round if you have a hacking cough or runny bum

Agree with forcibly saying no and in future avoid moaning about being alone at Christmas because someone inviting you is pretty inevitable.

That's a good point made by 2rebecca. It's kind of like when someone offers you a lift and you keep saying no,because they don't seem to understand that you might just prefer walking. Best just to keep your mouth shut sometimes.

i wouldn't worry too much - you're entitled to a moan, and you're entitled to say a firm but polite no, too. Nothing you've said doesn't make sense, you're not looking forward to being without the DC, and being with someone else's family in a potentially awkward social situation isn't preferable. Makes sense, sure your friend will understand. I may be a bossy, teacher type myself who would invite a lonely friend at the drop of a hat but your reasons for refusing make sense.

Tell her you have volunteered in a soup kitchen so can't make it now.
Job done!
Or you could actually do that as others have suggested.