Skint at Christmas

[Soyouare2faced]

As the subject states, had a good year over all but due to a few weeks of REALLY crap luck we are totally skint, and it's making me miserable and hate Christmas, I feel like throwing my remote at the tele at allllll the advert, hate going out and seeing everyone jolly AF and spending away, My mood is totally low and I just want Christmas to F off, AIBU to be a misery guts??

I absolutely concur that the memory making activities and experiences arête things that stick. You could craft together and make simple decorations as pressies. Baker Ross online are great for kits if you're not confident DIY'ing and always have decent discounts/voucher codes knocking about. They also have a clearance section where you'll find cheap and cheerful stocking fillers and crafty gift ideas.

Lookout for carol concerts, Christingle services etc. in the churches around you. Find the prettiest or most atmospheric option and make an event of going. Let your daughter wear her favourite dress, makes show of wrapping yourselves up warm and have hot chocolate and mince pies waiting when you come home. Only you will know if you've bought single sachets for 20p or value pies. The magic will be what stays with your child.

I can understand you feeling frazzled, and it's certainly sobering to think that even with good salaries you can find the financial rug pulled from under your feet. There has been good advice for you on how to be festive on a shoestring - and remember that most people probably aren't having the sort of OTT shindig you see in the ads. Remember as well that Christmas was traditionally celebrated over 12 days - there will still be fun things to do after Christmas day - and festive bargains! Re your DH, sit him down and spell out what is bothering you and get him to help.....in fact why not get him to suggest to his DM that she hosts Christmas!!!

(Forgive all the errors, speedily typing out of shouldn't be on here when I have a deadline guilt!)

James speaks sense OP. Forget crafting, Dr Mojo will see you right.

Yeah anyone can hit financial problems, think some people have only part read the thread, that income will come at the end of Jan so just the last struggle now.
It's hard for some aswell if getting paid at the end of Jan making sure there's enough money left to last

Christmas adverts, painting perfect family pictures, make me laugh, these "families" have never met before, they just actors, not even wearing their own clothes, probably bar their own undies. I'm not a big Jamie Oliver fan but he was on The Graham Norton Show the other day and he said christmas can be stressful, thinking of all his perfect instagram snaps of his idylic life and I thought, yeah it can be for everyone, no matter how well off you are, no matter how prepared you are, it can be stressful - especially for mums. Add finding finances stretched, which many of us do if we're honest, at this time of year, doesn't help. Also, sometimes you can plan for the perfect christmas and it's crap or the other way, think it's going to be rubbish and you end up enjoying it. Hope this is the case for you.

Annnnd as if by magic I actually had a Baker Ross Christmad clearance sale email waiting in my inbox. Here's the page it linked to: www.bakerross.co.uk/christmas--sale?dir=asc&order=sequence&utm_source=SubscribersList&utm_medium=email&utm_content=161206_DEC16clearance_AH&utm_campaign=161206_DEC16clearance

(If using Dr Mojo doesn't work out, obvs.)

Darling Dr Mojo can you fix cars, oil every where and my friend says prob crack in gasket how final and rude that sounds. Anyway, total value of car less than £400 so obviously don't want to spend much (anything in fact) please dm me if you will do it for less than a fiver and how can I get the oil off? Thanks, Stars

Dr mojo's post has gone, what will we do now ??

I was in very much this situation last year - DH had not worked for months, I could not work as I was a carer for my DS & things were just generally very tight. At least it sounds like things will get better soon for you.

Some tips for affording Christmas:

• Buy presents from Gumtree, FB local sales pages, Ebay, preloved & charity shops. Also Christmas Fayres sometimes come up trumps with goodies & they are fun to attend too

• Enter competitions! I entered loads last year & won a scarf knitting pack which went to somebody as a present plus £250 in vouchers to spend at a retail park

• Sell any bits you have lying around. Any toys that have not been played with much, clothes that are no longer useful. If clothes don't sell online, take them to a cash for clothes place, you don't get much but it's all helpful.

• Go shopping late at night & get reduced bargains.

• Do some online surveys. I've spent a couple of hours doing that this week & got £15 to spend on Amazon (Valued Opinions) & around £3 in Paypal (Qmee). You can also get Nectar Points on Nectar Canvass

• Don't send Christmas cards, an ecard will do nicely

I have managed to get some gorgeous presents for £1.50 and under for my children's stockings. Sparkly marshmallow stars from Waitrose, Shower gel, and socks. My children, who are older, still love the presents in the stockings best (they have convinced me). I'm buying a new house so money is tight. I got some gorgeous chocolates and biscuits for a great price there as well. It feels luxurious, I know they will appreciate it.

My daughters want a good hair cut, so I got their presents from the top hairdresser in the town by way of tokens. We all get new pjs. My son just wants new clothes.

They will have presents to open. It will take less time to open them. We are decorating the house this Saturday, the last time in this house they have lived in for 16 years. They are really looking forward to it.

Christmas is about the excitement and the memories. I got very cheap crackers from Aldi, we love our crackers!

My parents were absolutely skint and it didn't matter. We still had a wonderful time at Christmas. Looking back the gifts they got us were pound shop quality but I don't ever remember feeling like I'd been cheated in any way. My favourite memory is of us playing a card game around the fire. Lots of board games, family fun, that sort of thing endures. I feel sorry for you though OP, this time of the year really sucks ass if you're skint.

Op, Hawkins Bazaar do brilliant ready made stockings for £20. Age and gender selections available and honestly we have loved them. Rather than trek round trying to eke out money to get a stocking I'd just buy one: fun for you too as you are surprised on Christmas morning.

www.hawkin.com/girl-stocking-8-plus