To ask for help on how to get through Christmas

[Notevenclosetoabeggingthread]

I am spending Christmas alone.

Yesterday I needed to fork out nearly £1000 (ouch)

The long and short of it is that I have no money. I’ve bought presents already, it’s not a begging thread. I just don’t know how I can get through two full weeks alone and broke

Pretty much yes. Just having a miserable moment, ignore me

@Notevenclosetoabeggingthread

You are asking for sympathy and attention

Loads of others have posted helpful comments already do what is your plan. Are you going to volunteer or just keep feeling sorry for oneself?

So!

Are you volunteering?

If you volunteer, you should have any out of pocket expenses paid.

Or as PP have stated, telly, duvet and let it pass.

I think Sarah Millican has a thread at Christmas on twitter for people who are alone. It's a great thread and while you feel alone. You're not alone in being alone.

Honestly thank you but it’s not for me at this time. Thank you though.

If getting to the gym is difficult then how about planning a couple of runs? Park run in your local park may be a way of meeting people.
My friend volunteers on chrudaycat a homeless shelter and the organisers collect her and take her home afterwards. You could look into that perhaps?
Use this time to have a major clean/tidy/sort out. Go through your wardrobe and drawers and then tackle other cupboards throughout the house. List things on eBay or take to charity shops.

Be thankful for your health then op

as there are so so many who are unwell in our hospitals and would love nothing more than to be able to leave hospital at Xmas.

Yes it’s about keeping busy chocolate which is harder to do with no money or company!

It is a difficult time of year if you're on your own and you are absolutely allowed to feel miserable and sorry for yourself. You are also allowed to wallow in misery and not do anything.

It's a bit annoying how single people are always being told that they must volunteer - why? It can be hard work and depressing and nit how a lot of people want to spend their Christmas Day.

The other point is that it only solves Christmas Day when I have two full weeks!

Be thankful for your health then op

Er, I’m not sure that’s necessarily going to make much difference to the op.

I’d try and plan to get out of the house every day. Walk around the local area. Go to the library, that sort of thing.

Many churches will have free carol events.

That sounds horrible. How come you had such a huge bill? Could you get a small overdraft from the bank?

I wouldn't volunteer so won't advise you to. I'd just savour peace and quiet, light candles, eat basic food and read, watch telly and listen to music. But then I'm very unsociable.

Because it is British to want to help others

and not ask online for sympathy for being inhumane to those less fortunate

op clearly stated they have enough free time to go out and help others but don't want to

I don’t want to be deleted for troll hunting but I think mum is best ignored: read into that what you will

Do you live near a pub? Could you offer to work behind the bar over Christmas? Gets you a bit more money and you wouldn't be alone. Plus it's busy and they might need people

If you arent already in debt id be tempted to stick a couple.of hundred on an overdraught / interest free credit card.

Then you can fill the car with petrol and buy a few, tasty edibles

Yeah I'd do that @BabySharkAteMyHamster

OP, if you’re feeling properly down, and I suspect you might be, some of the hearty “just volunteer!!” responses on this thread might be a little hard to take.

I volunteered for Crisis (homeless charity) for a Christmas Day years ago when I was going to be alone and it was one of the best things I ever did. It did take a bit of organisation and trouble shooting around transport as I’m in London without a car.

I will be alone this year and I’m not quite in a head space where I can get it together to volunteer. Hmmm, though now wondering if I can. Anyway, I’ll probably be taking the duvet and films option. My work will be closed, too. You’re definitely not the only one. x

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have be thankful for what you do have. To most people around the planet you are rich and privileged

Cool. Ignore me

because I have zero sympathy for someone with enough time to volunteer at Xmas yet who refuses to

but then goes online asking for sympathy for oneself

How very uncharitable

I would spend Xmas day and Boxing Day eating treat food and phoning family, watching rubbish tv.

The rest of the time, I would go for a walk,
Read books, sort my house out, Mumsnet for company, do a little project.

because I have zero sympathy for someone with enough time to volunteer at Xmas yet who refuses to

Volunteering isn’t compulsory. There’s a clue right there in the word “volunteer”.

Honestly large, I used to volunteer but it got to the point where it was impacting on my own well-being.

I was tired, run down and frankly depressed by other people’s misery.

I’m not suicidal. Yet if I could choose to not exist, I would. I am saying I suppose I am not strong enough at the moment.

Plus it’s a day in any case. It’s when the days become weeks and months and years that’s a problem.