to be depressed about having no money?

[need2vent]

I have three children, it is nearly christmas and am broke with a massive overdraft. Boohoo.

Of course YANBU.
How old are your children? Mine are only 2 and 3 and their presents have cost me about £50 altogether, including overpriced peppa pig tent thing. Most of it came from the charity shop and is nice stuff. DH is getting a box of homemade sweets that he doesn't have to share.
It doesn't need to cost loads, it's just other people spending shiteloads means that we think it does.
My tree is fake and I have no new lights/decorations etc this year, so that's no money spent.

But yes, it sucks. sorry, went into advice mode instead of

They are 8,5 and a baby. Thanks for the advice.

Same here. My presents budget is £50 for both DC. I agree with JTHWBOH, charity shops are great. Ive had some great finds this month as a lot of people are having a de-clutter ready for Christmas!

YANBU btw.

depends on how you got into the situation ie whether you work and how you got your overdraft

sorry I'm in a grim mood
there are people on here seriously ill or recently bereaved.

so maybe you should think yourself lucky

I don't work and have an overdraft, I know I am lucky that we are all healthy and alive, but doesn;t mean we can't have a gripe about it, surely.

Although I do know what you mean ohdear.

I know there are people worse off than me (are'nt there always?). No I don't work but my DH does.

I'm not sure while I have an overdraft, am totally crap with money. Food is bloody expensive!

Don't get depressed about it really it isn't worth it
do like Jck and find inventive ways with a toilet roll inner and sticky backed plastic instead

sorry Jack

make a list
get inventive with pasta and baked potatoes

there are loads of good budgeting threads on here

We have been overusing the glitter this year.
Have made decorations out of saltdough, glue, paint and glitter. Oh how the girls love them, oh how hideous they are. and paper chains out of magazines and selotape.
That's an afternoon activity sorted.

When I was small we were given a tenner each and had to buy all our presents out of it. there were 5 kids in my family.
We got most of our stuff from the poundshop and used to compete for the funniest gift. I still havea china chicken my friend got me when I continued the tradition at uni

Plus the baby doesn't need anything. Wrap up a toy you already have so she has somethign to open, that's what we did for DD2

ohdear is right though, you can get depressed about it, and I regularly am tempted to, but I have had depression and force myself out of it as much as I can.
There is no way out of it for us at the moment so getting down will only make it worse.

(wasn't remotely offended ohdear)

ohdearwhathappened - I'm seriously ill at the moment, and recently bereaved, and I'm very worried about where the money's going to come from to fund Christmas - it's a completely different sort of worry though.
There is always someone in a worse situation, but it doesn't mean that individuals can't stress about the things that are worrying them

oh dear fox

hope things improve for you in 2010

I'm the same - we both work, but have debt due to DH's studies, so we're constantly broke. There's never any money spare (at the moment I'm too busy trying to scrape money from every which place to pay DS's nursery fees to even think about Christmas presents) and it's miserable.

Of course there are people worse off than me, but it doesn't stop me worrying or wishing we could have a treat once in a while.

YANBU...I feel the same, work part time as am a single mum and unable to work full time at the mo and up to eyeballs in debt (in debt management) and ex is refusing to go halves this year, instead the competitive present giving has commenced. DD has come back telling me all about the massive presents he has brought her brothers

At this rate they will be lucky if they get a DVD each on the actual day, and then will go to their dads and his bitch girlfriends and get showered with expensive gifts.

My worst nightmare, I am dreading it, I can't wait for it to be over and I usually love it

I'm the same.....overdraft and no money 9 times out of 10 I remind myself I am lucky 3 beautiful children and a mostly wonderful dh but occasionlly i wollow. Saw your thread and am enjoying a perfectly good wollow.

Poor me boooooooooooo hoooooooooooo

Ok all better now hope you feel better soon

YANBU
Next month is my final payment from one of my graduate loan. That will free up £55 a month {phew}. At some point I will get some inheritance to pay off my credit cards. I am so grateful to my aunt for doing that {rest in peace lovely aunt} and although I wish with all my heart she was still here and I was mired in CC debt for the next 20 years it is a light at the end of the tunnel. I know how wearing it is. And I have only myself to blame. DH has a CC (maxed) but the majority is mine from pre DC, working full time cheap easy credit years. What a twat. I know it's shit, even when it's your own fault

YANBU
Me too!

Does everyone else around you seem to have there Christmas pretty much sorted too? That seems to make you feel worse!

oh same here, my DP is a builder and works for himself, we had a client let us down last week and they had four weeks worht of work for DP. So, no jobs and not much chance of getting jobs.

We are in debt and likely to lose our house - but you know what, lol, ive done the depressed about having no money etc and i just can't be arsed anymore - what will be will be. We have covered this months mortgage - next month? well, lets see what next month brings.

Alot of our debt is our own fault, a lot of it isn't - i am not going to beat myself up over it. I am a SAHM although looking for work now DD started school - i took a lot of shit on here because i made that choice, but looking back, twas the right choice for US.

You have every right to feel depressed about it, but you just need to make the best of it - its pants, but it is only money at the end of the day. Bricks and mortar, its material stuff - its not important.

What is important is that you love your children and they know this - dont let it spoil your xmas, its a challenge, make it fun - economise where you can and fuck the overdraft!!