To not do anything for my 40th birthday?

[Sundaycoffee]

It's in January. I'm not into doing a big party. I would love to go on holiday but anywhere warm enough at that time of year (outside of Europe realistically) is unaffordable for me. Even going on a UK break in January feels a bit pointless when the weather is no doubt going to be too hideous for nice country walks. All you winter babies, how did you celebrate your big birthdays? Any ideas of what i could do or where I could go that won't be affected by the weather?

Also 40 in January but I’m single, no kids and don’t have the type of friendship circles where we’d go away together. I’m already feeling pretty rubbish about it!

How about just celebrating your birthday the same as you would for any other year, and not falling for the nonsense of so-called big birthdays. An idea promoted to get you to spend more money, nothing else, except perhaps your 18th birthday when you legally become an adult.

Don't feel rubbish about not having some expensive outing/holiday etc for your birthday.

Another January 40th birthday here! Im
having some friends and family round but our house is quite small so not sure how that will go... thought about a small gathering at a pub etc but felt that was extra stress. Least in summer we could be outside or have a marquee sort of thing in garden. Going away a weekend with friends a bit later in the year too when the weather is hopefully a bit nicer/warmer!

Wow there's a lot of great ideas on here.
Unfortunately I'm not a winter baby, so I can't give you any personal ideas.
And, I have never felt the urge to celebrate a big birthday (even though I've got a really big one coming up in about half a year.)

I like the idea of a spa treatment in the day, and maybe meeting friends for a pub event in the evening if it doesn't get too out of control (don't want to drink too much and undo all the good from your relaxing spa experience)

It's a little early but, happy birthday!

Another January baby (and a particularly crap date in January too!). For my 40th we had about 8 friends over for a lovely, long, lazy lunch. I had a relatively tiny baby (about 2 months old) and a toddler at the time, so wasn't up for anything more raucous and expect I was in bed by about 8pm.

And I completely hear you OP on the response to 'just celebrate in the summer', etc. That's all well and good, but still doesn't solve the problem of what to do on your actual birthday. But equally, if you don't want to do anything, you don't have do. DH isn't fussed about his birthday so he'll treat it like any other day and we might go out for a low key meal.

I'm January too and for my 30th I spent it in Iceland with DH. It was magical and brilliant to be fair. Yes it was ridiculously cold but then you know to expect that.

That’s a shame, Feb is a great month for a birthday and having something to look forward to eliminates any January blues.

How about booking a show, shopping trip, go somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit, spa, concert, gallery etc?

Please celebrate it OP you will look back with regret otherwise. UK in January can be wonderful if you pick a good place but a few days away somewhere warmer might be amazing.

I've never celebrated an 0 birthday without my mum having a bigger 0 one and the same month. 40 was 70, my bro suggested we take mum and dad to Venice. It was a fortnight before my birthday. DH and I had a lovely trip to London - gallery, show, meal and he bought me a special piece of jewellery.

I didn't do anything special for my 40th. I had a normal nice day with a bit of cake. I don't feel like I've missed out. If I want to do something I do it, I dont wait for a big birthday to give myself permission to go away or have a glass of champagne or whatever. Do what makes you happy, not what your friends and neighbours think you "should" do because you are X age.

My fortieth was in January during covid times and we booked a lovely lodge with a hot tub for the four of us, and took lots of delicious food and wine and had a great time. So good that we've done it every year since and it's great to have something to look forward to in the depths of winter.

I think it’s a terrible month for a birthday! It’s freezing usually, everyone still skint from Christmas. Too cold to have a party in the garden at home and my house isn’t big enough for a party fully inside. Which means having it in a restaurant or bar, which is too expensive.

I might do something in June instead, at home, when the weather is better, but it feels a bit silly marking my 50th 4 months after the fact.

A retreat thing? Most people go to them alone