To not do a Christmas food shop?

[ChristmasLightss]

I don’t have much money (£50 until I get paid on Friday) this is our first Christmas without my ex husband, we have been split for 6 months. My mum and dad have told me not worry as they are doing Christmas dinner and have lots of food in for us. I just feel like I should do a Christmas food shop. I am not feeling this Christmas at all it all feels really strange.

A bag of toblerone minis or similar are £2.50, Pringles £1.50, box of crackers £3, some cheese £3, 3 for £8 party selection including a ton of chicken bits.

But display it nicely if you have Christmas crockery, or buy some red / Christmas paper bowls and plates. Or just eat you normal food like that, a bag of crisps in a christmasy bowl feels very different to just eating it out of its packet

It will be novel, around £20 and fun, Christmas film on or Just Dance Christmas on YouTube.

We haven't decorated this year as DD is at her dad's and then we open our presents at my parents, I'm feeling very I christmasy but we'll still have a good day. I Have a few picky Christmas bits in the fridge but no giant shop, there's two of us that would be a bit daft.. But I help out and contribute at my parents house, run them around in the car as they don't drive.

Am I missing something.
You are being paid on Friday and have dinner on Xmas day sorted.
Surely fifty quid is enough to cover some food for two children and adults for barely three days

We are at family Christmas and Boxing Day so I've just done my normal food shop. No point buying stuff for the sake of it

I know, can somebody give me a shake please

I wouldn't worry about it. I haven't done a big food shop because we're away for Christmas day. You've got Christmas day sorted with your parents, and you have everything ready for your kids. That's great! You're doing a good job!

If you want nice things for the holiday after Christmas, I'm you'll be able to get what you want. Don't stress about it.

It's bound to feel weird this year. Get a few treats in though - Tesco do really nice own brand popcorn for 99p a bag for a movie afternoon 😋 and Aldi Lidl do some really nice chocolate.

Could you go to a Poundland or B&M or something? You'll be able to get a bunch of biscuits/sweets/multipack things for £15 that will last a few days in bowls :-)

What would you normally buy for Christmas? I wonder if it’s feeling different because you’re on your own this year and things you’d usually have bought and shared don’t appeal in the same way? I’d use that £50 to buy something for you - whether that’s a food treat, a bottle of whatever. You’ve done really well to sort the kids out, now it’s your turn.

From my armchair I can diagnose a severe case of mum-guilt. I promise you you have done extremely well and Christmas is going to be great. You do NOT need to buy your children’s love because they already adore you. I can prescribe an internet hug and the backing of many women on this thread.

Merry Christmas angel. ❤️

For one reason or another we've not really done a big shop and I've got to say i found it quite liberating

OP you could try Iceland, they had some bargains on there and they can do free delivery but if not it is OK.

You will probably be able to get Christmas food cheaper after the event so your money will go further.

What are you wanting to buy?

I shouldn't imagine your kids are bothered by a full fridge.

I've cut right back the last few years, buying a load of food just because it's Christmas. I just buy the roast essentials, a few chocolates and a couple of tubes of pringles. If we want anything else I can buy it after Christmas

I just feel like all I have in my fridge is some strawberries, cheese, blueberries and some pate 🤣🤣

I don't know why posters are cajoling OP to go to home bargains etc and buy loads of shite? It's not necessary! OPJust ask your folks if you can bring anything on the day and get that ( wine/ chocolates whatever).
Save your money!

I have beans, soup etc in the cupboard, crisps, biscuits

Give yourself a break. As long as there’s so food in.
You could spend 10-20 on snacks bits if you feel the need.

Here you go...

You are insane to "have got them everything they want from Santa and spent an absolute fortune"

And what's with the Christmas Eve boxes........ totally unnecessary.

If these £50 are burning a whole in your pocket, buy yourself something nice, for yourself, or invest in Premium Bonds.

If you just want to make the fridge look full, Waitrose (other supermarkets also I expect) are doing a whole rangeof veg at £0.30 a bag. So potatoes, carrots, parsnips, sprouts. They’ll keep until the weekend or longer anyway. That’s a couple of pounds for a couple of bags of each. Cheap bit of gammon, probably reduced, tomorrow for £6 or £7, and some apple sauce and / or mustard and you’ll spend around £10. The fridge will look full, you’ll have enough for roast gammon, potatoes, veg etc at the weekend. Enough vegetables to make soup, cold gammon for a few sandwiches - just buy a crusty loaf on the 27th. Have the rest with the soup :)

IMO better than spending it on rubbish from B&M or wherever. Some chocolate and eggs, raspberries and cream or cherries (assuming you already have a little flour and sugar) and you could even make a pseudo Black Forest gateaux as well. And you’d still be under £20, with food for the weekend :)

4 and 7 year olds won't care less what food you have on Boxing Day - they will be too busy playing with their new toys.
I wouldn't spend £15 on crap - spend it on something tasty for Boxing Day dinner, and get the kids a selection box each (£1.50 in Tesco with a club card) and a bar of lovely chocolate for yourself.
Be kind to yourself - it's bound to feel odd this year but it sounds like you've done a great job (and if your parents are anything like mine, they will send you home with a fridge full of leftovers!)

The right thing to do is not spend money you don’t need to spend. Your parents are feeding you on Christmas Day. Don’t waste time worrying about what you think you ‘should have’ , you have more than many with your loving family. Happy Christmas.

Christmas is so over rated, especially when it comes to the amount we are expected to spend on Christmas presents and Christmas food - just for one day! Please don’t feel bad. Not religious at all, but seemingly Christmas is now about making multi million and multi billion businesses, incrementally richer and richer. Businesses that convince us to spend so much of our money, for that one day. Save your £50, for something else, something better.