to not to want to buy my team christmas presents?

[jnmum]

I am a joint manager of a small team at work and the tradition is we buy the team presents. Last year it was a bottle of champagne each. But even though I am a manager and therefore earn a bit more, I only work part time and am a single parent. I don't have any spare money and am going to struggle to buy my family and my son presents this year.

Last year we went on a Christmas meal and we will this year which costs me a fortune in a babysitter (as well as the meal).

I hardly ever go out and am not sure what to do.

I don't want to come across as mean but just don't know what to do...

any advice

sorry I accidently posted that twice!

You really have my sympathy. Not sure how you'll get round this tbh except to be brutally honest with everyone. That's what I've done with my family and friends alike. I know it's not the same situation as yours, but if you're anything like me, it'll be a case of sink or swim financially, so something you'll need to deal with.
Good luck.

And no YANBU.

Would it be possible to cut down and give a more token present. e.g. nice bottle of wine (look out for a good offer) rather than champagne?

Other than that be honest as SOLO has said.

We have been honest with people, only one friend was a bit off with me.

thing is if I say anything to the other manager he will just get the same expensive presents and make sure they know that they are just from him which makes me look really mean.

springs to my mind...maybe...brutal honesty, up front in person in advance of any expectations getting raised. to each person at the time you'd normally give presents, a personal and thoughtful note in a xmas card saying something you enjoy about them as a person (as opposed to how they perform at work). or bake something all can share and laugh and say it's the credit crunch cake, etc?

My Team got Choccies from Aldi last year - they like them

He sounds really horrible jnmum. If he is going to do that, then perhaps you could do something as an alternative. e.g. occasionally I take a home made cake into work, or you could do mince pies or whatever. Just say very very cheerfully and lightheartedly that it is to do with the credit crunch but you wanted to make an effort and show people that despite not having money for champagne you would like to wish them a Happy Christmas.

Sorry if that is a rubbish idea, not sure what line of work you are in.

hellyberry spooky x-post!

thank you, think I'm going to have to explain to the other manager and say either we get something cheaper or we get something ourselves each and just have a look out for a bargain. Maybe if I get a crate of wine I can get a cheap one for lots of bottles and use some for my family's presents too...

oh if your colleagues are nice they are not going to expect you to be forking out for champagne bottles tbh, and they'd probably be just as pleased with a home made cake. I would.

In some of the supermarkets they do 3 bottles for £10 (usually £5 per bottle type wine) or a percentage off if you buy 6 bottles.

Another option is a Secret Santa - some people love that kind of thing.

line of work is that I am a low level manager for the council. would be on a good wage if it was full time but I only work 18 and a half hours a week so that I can pick up my son from school. Nearly all my wages are spent on my morgage.

I would be pleased with any token gesture from my manager just to show that i am appreciated ...but then i'm easily pleased

if you feel you have to buy a present for each person on the team, i would get some form of cheap fizzy stuff from aldi/lidl/similar.....or go for the home made cake type option.

in our office there are very wide salary differences, which are not entirely based no status, hence we just do a secret santa, with a max of £5 to be spent - it works well & means no-one has to spend more than that - and to be honest you could even spend less, i doubt anyone would notice.