Sorry but it's another present one - Christmas and birthdays though. How do I tell my family that this is the last year?

[DBN1]

I live outside of the UK. Can't work. Husband works just above minimum wage job (£270 p/m at today's exchange rate). We live month to month.
In the past I had a lot more money, always treated my family well with expensive presents (think £200 minimum for my son and at least £80/90 per parent).
Obviously I can't do this anymore and over the last 2-3 years I have reduced the spending a bit (even though I feel really mean) but this Christmas has taken me down to a credit of only £5 in my bank account, after I cancelled 2 direct debits. If I hadn't cancelled them I'd have been overdrawn.
I realise this can't carry on. I have zero personal income, my husband can't afford to subsidise me for this and, to be totally honest, I don't see why I should keep spending money that's for my future.
To explain: I sold my UK property, split the proceeds between my son and myself. He bought a HTB property with his half, I bought a property here and kept some money in the bank. Half I put into an ISA, half stayed in my current account. That's the one that's almost empty.
Two weeks ago I asked my son what he wanted for Christmas but told him I couldn't afford what I normally would have spent. He asked for something that was £65 so I agreed. With delivery and taxes it came to £98.
I ordered a couple of things for my parents that came to around the same amount. So now my account is very light (!!) and I just don't want to carry on doing this.
How do I tell them (after Christmas) that I just can't do it anymore?
Also, I send Mother's & Father's Day presents too so, in all, it's eight lots of gifts throughout the year. On no income.

LyraLieIn we're not in the same country (or continent) so homemade is out. Also, I used to do that years back but it was always as "fillers" because I knew it wouldn't be enough.

pantyclaws that's just about perfect, thank you so much

I’m not driven by presents or ‘things’ so if I was the parent in this situation I would completely understand if one of my children was having financial difficulties and wanted to stop exchanging gifts. It’s very sad that your parents are making you feel guilty about not wanting to send gifts OP.

That's nice to hear CantWaitToRetire. The thing is, they have everything they could need/want so anything I buy, to me, is just toot (garden stuff this year) or I send money. It's all a waste and I just cant afford to go through the motions any more.

Pantyclaws has nailed it!

I'd be completely ok with this if it came from my parents, so I can't imagine I'd be any less so if it was I was the parent!

I’m the same cant, the more people who say let’s stop doing gifts the better.
I don’t need or want anything and I would rather people spent the money on something they need for themselves than exchanging tat that neither party can afford.

What AuntMarch said.
Quite frankly, I'd have stopped when I moved abroad. It''s just not practical when you have to think so far in advance and post stuff, and you don't see the people regularly. That's even without the money situation.
If that isn't a typo, that you and your dh are living on £270pm, then clearly you haven't got the wherewithal to be sending anyone presents. If they can't understand that, it is them with the problem, not you!
Your ds has already had his presents for the next 30 years if you have gifted him 1/2 the proceeds from a house!

Your ds has already had his presents for the next 30 years if you have gifted him 1/2 the proceeds from a house! I never looked at it like that, in my mind it's him having his inheritance early.

I think your anxiety may be making you overthink this! Am sure no one could get mad at their own child over Christmas presents?! They know gifts aren’t given to be received right? If you were my child I would send you a massive hug and set up a small direct debit to your account tbh!

Aside from the present issue you really need to up your income!
There must be something you could do -cleaning, tutoring, babysitting, dog walking, baking and selling, house sitting???

ASundayWellSpent They do treat me when they come out to visit twice a year (1 drink out costs as much as my daily housekeeping budget so it's a real treat for me) although I do cook for them as much as they want me to.
I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting money from them though.
You sound lovely, not like my mum at all!

*There must be something you could do -cleaning, tutoring, babysitting, dog walking, baking and selling, house sitting???

• There really aren't many options here for foreigners plus I'm still going through treatment for breast cancer so I'm not really up to doing much. We live ok, I just can't afford to buy gifts anymore.

I quite agree that presents should stop, but your circumstances don't seem good at all.

Can anything change there?

Can anything change there? In 2 years time I'll be able to apply gor citizenship here. If that's granted then I'll be able to legally work, I'm not sure what I'll be able to do but at least it will be legal.
My husband will be a pensioner in 8 years time, he's entitled to a fairly good pension - more than he earns now.