Blood, sweat & tinsel..

[cornflakecrunchie]

I know it's only just October.. but I have a lot to buy. I've started already & am so stressed out. Trying to think what to get, spending hours online, send for stuff & the doorbell's going all the time, then the wrapping, OMG, the WRAPPING.. my back's hurting, there's paper, sellotape & scissors everywhere, nowhere to put anything, mostly stuffed in a huge cardboard box in the lounge.
Remembering to pop receipts in, as there's always SOMEONE who wants to return gifts, the expense of posting everything as it gets nearer the time.. it seems to get more taxing every year.
Anyone else? Please say it's not just me..

The same as anyone else does for Christmas?
Shopping, wrapping, etc..

You mean to say that since starting this thread you have purchased and wrapped all your Christmas presents?!

Op why don’t you try something like secret Santa with a budget set for older relatives I understand that unfortunately we can’t do that with our own kids etc but I would consider that for older teens/adults budget set amount on what everyone can afford comfortably then people send ideas of what they would like within that budget you won’t have the stress of keeping hold of receipts or ungrateful people trying to return presents. You can do it online with an app so you each get someone from the list and what they have chosen etc.
This is what my family have now done for past two Christmas’s budget set to £30 takes the financial stress off of everyone.

You have sorted all this by the 6th October?

When I read this thread - I am glad we stopped presents for the adults and stopped at 18 for children.

Secret Santa for my family, secret santa for DH family, so 2 presents in total. Spend money to be saved on a pre-Christmas short break - present to each other. Job done.

@Toobloomeasy
No, it's still going!

Oh… you did say it was “under control”

so you’re wrapping Christmas presents?

@Toobloomeasy
Browsing, ordering, wrapping, finding places to store them.. much less stressed now though!

Heavens! I look forward to your threads closer to the time!

@Rooit14 I shall be THE Goddess of Christmas prep! ;-)

Well you’d have had enough time.

This. Do adults really need more tat brought into their homes? My children are now adults so I give them money and they can do what they want with it. Last year we all gathered a few days before Xmas day and I then enjoyed the actual day stress free by myself + dogs. Great 😊

Why kind of gifts have you bought already op?

@Rooit14 The usual.. clothes, jewellery. toys.. NOT tat, as mentioned above! Not money either though, it was a bit pointless us all transferring money to each other!

You’ve already bought clothes? What happens if you see nicer clothing closer to Christmas? Do you return and buy?

and toys…. If anything like mine, they change their minds as they get closer to Christmas as they hear about what others are asking for

do you wrap them now and then put away? Do you live with anyone?

No, I don't change the clothes, I'm happy with what I buy, I spend ages choosing, once they are got, that's it!
Toys aren't for my own kids, sadly they are now older & more expensive. Oh, the joy of giving masses of fun, cheap (at the time) toddler toys!

Grandchildren ?
And/ or nieces / nephews?

do you live alone?

Sorry I’m fascinated how someone retired with adult children is getting so worked up and treating it like such a mammoth task.

how many people do you host in Christmas Day?

And you’re on a tight budget mainly state pension?

I imagine this contributes to most of the stress.

OP, I’m sure your family don’t want you to spend all this on them when you’re far from flush yourself.

OP has made no mention of income or being worried about finances, she also states that some children are still at home and she has had some health issues. It sounds like whilst she may have retired from paid work, that there is still a lot going on.

@cornflakecrunchie I suspect that regardless of age, that a lot of people at some point will feel overwhelmed re what they are doing/have to do for Christmas. I am getting a bit twitchy as I am waiting from suggestions as to what my DC’s family would like so I feel as if I have come to a grinding halt. Due to health I can’t just go dashing out especially in crowds and everything needs to be organised around my health. At least you appear to be ahead of the game and once done will be in a position to enjoy the festive season as the hard work etc will be behind you.

On another thread I’m on with the op
op talks a lot about struggles on living off state pension

I tell my adult children the budget in October, then they choose to have the money, tell me what they want, or leave it to me. They have to do that by end of November. Same with their partners. I usually pay my daughter to wrap everything. I hate wrapping. Obviously I wrap hers up 🙂

@Allthings
Thank you for your lovely insightful post, spot on with everything!

My siblings are the same as you, waiting for Christmas present ideas from family - much gnashing of teeth!
I hope you soon find out what they would like. Good luck with the shopping & I hope your health plays ball.. hugs.

If this is true OP, then it probably stresses your family out to see you going to such lengths that you can ill afford.

Do you host and buy all the food? Or are you a guest at one of your adult children’s?