Is anyone else not doing Christmas this year for financial reasons.

[carernotasaint]

Is anyone else not doing Christmas this year for financial reasons.
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carernotasaintTue 07-Aug-12 00:16:57

DH and i have decided not to do presents this year due to financial changes. Got a letter today outlining the council tax changes for next year. What with that and other changes and cuts we just cant do it. So DH and i wont be contributing to the retail economy in the run up to this Christmas. We are also sending less cards due to stamps shooting up earlier this year. We are basically doing cards for family and my best friend and thats basically it.
Sorry Mr Cameron but dont look to us to contribute towards the retail figures this Christmas. You cant have it both ways.

DP and I aren't exchanging gifts this year. Loads of couples don't, or just exchange token items.

I love and adore Christmas, but I don't adore dragging myself round the shops, desperately trying to find something for fussy DP. He's quite capable of buying his own stuff, and so am I.

There are so many ways to celebrate Christmas at little or no cost.

Got distracted by my being all bah humbug so forgot to add that my brother and his wife had £20 each to spend on their 2 young DC's one particularly lean year.

SIL went to the £ shop and picked up 40 little presents, books, crayons, water pistols, bat and ball etc etc etc.

My brother still maintains it was one of their best Christmases.

What milk says.

Christmas is what you make it. I adore Christmas, but for me it's not about expensive presents, it's about the twinkling tree, the carols, some cheep crackers -stuffing my face on twigletts-- a few extra chocolates and a nice long meal with family. DH and I don't really do presents for each other, and adults family just do token gifts for each other.

I am too disorganised to write cards, so I pretend I don't do them because I'm being eco friendly.

But yes, you are right, Mr Cameron can't have it both ways, and we certainly won't be contributing towards the retail figures to any large degree this year.

I'm sorry for your situation, OP. But Christmas needn't be all about money.

Send people e-cards; it's greener as well as cheaper and people just chuck cards after Christmas anyway.

Make nice things as presents. There's nothing as beautiful to receive as a present made specially for you, with love and care especially if it's food

For yourselves, get on the mailing list for free tickets to BBC recordings; you could be in the audience to watch things like carol services being recorded.

And write to your MP/David Cameron and let them know exactly how tax and other changes are affecting you.

You can have a lovely Christmas, whatever you do and whatever the money situation.

I save nectar points and use them in the half price sainsburys toy sale.
This involves a week of fretting about missing it (it isn't announced till the night before) and getting up very early.
But one year I got £700 worth of toys for £150
Not exactly a frugal Christmas but a pretty good saving!
We don't spend a lt of money on food, it's just a big roast dinner. We don't buy adult presents apart from my close family. We have a £10 limit for them.

DH and I very rarely buy for each other. We do buy for the DCs but I pick up bits throughout the year to keep the cost down. This year I shall once again be suggesting to the adults in the family that we don't exchange gifts and shall once again meet resistance. My DM just doesn't understand and I'm met with "but it's Christmas of course we will be getting you presents" great mum thanks so now I also have to get you both presents too.

I'm on maternity leave this year so Xmas won't be the expensive present buying fest it usually is.
However being at home means I am going to try and make things for people, I have a load of pretty material offcuts in the loft so a going to try and make cushions or a nice pinny for my granny and bake cake/biscuits make chutney etc for hampers. Truffles, that's a good idea. Must start saving jars now.
Also have a load of slates left over from renovations so am going to try making them into things too like key hooks or signs or clocks.
Phew am going to be busy!!

You could do a Chriscringle with whomever you're spending Xmas day with?

I think we are going to be having a very much scaled down Christmas this year. Last year my eldest DD deserately wanted a Blackberry, now she is bored of it and wants something that will sing and dance as well as make phone calls. My two younger DCs wanted nintendo DSs and they don't play with them. I am due to finish paying for these items at the end of this month. My house is full of toys and games, they really don't need much more. They love dress up, so I have bought some second hand, they won't know the difference. Clothes will be gratefully recieved (or not, but thats what they are having) and a couple of toys each. My eldest can have clothes vouchers.

We aren't going mad this year as we have a new baby and are buying our first house which needs a lot of work doing. The only worry for me is dc1 who is used to a rather more lavish Christmas, but grandparents will still treat her etc. I am spending ten pounds max per person and we only buy for DH mum and dad, bil and SIL, his gm, my two remaining grandparents and two of my brothers. Auntie and uncle get a box of chocs or wine. We usually buy each other a small pressie like a new dressing gown or a small cheap aftershave/perfume and then treat each other in the sales to something. DH family always give the children money in addition to presents, which I have taken to paying for dd1s swimming lessons for the year with, saves us a fortune and is a good healthy present!

One of my friends knotted me a snood for Christmas. Something similar in a shop for around the 30-35 quid mark. It's nice to get hand made things (in my case I was even allowed to choose the colour)

Last year I gave DH sex for Christmas

This year I doubt I will feel like having sex after DC2 is born (2nd Oct)- I'll go to my parents/in-laws and nick something from their kitchen... like a box of chocolates/biscuits etc :P

As for DS, his gift shall be a trip to see the Christmas lights with DH :) DS will only be 21 months so I doubt he even knows what presents are.

I buy loads for the stockings, but i buy socks, knickers, hairbNds, bubblebath, new toothbrushes, stickers, pens, pencils...basically stuff i would need to buy during the year.
I find stocking are the main even for little ones anyway. I wrap it all in tissue to string it out. I'm also buying bits and bobs and stashing away.

I buy a few bits for friends kids but again i've mostly bough them now, sticker books from aldi this week (£1.49)

Family get a token gift and the kids make them loads of tat. Last year we did clay tree decs ( cost 3.99) we have been making gifts for years now.

I think thats what it is about really not spending lots.

£3.99 for about 30 decs :-) not each

If you have no children, what's the issue? Surely that's where most people go absolutely nuts on spending.
Are you staying at home for the 25th? Or going to a relative's?

And why does your niece's 18th make a huge difference...how much are you planning to spend on her?

We have very low key Christmasses..only buy for 2 dcs and sporadically each other.

Thanks everyone. Its just i was actually feeling a bit morose about things last night. Sorry. Feeling a bit better about it today. Ive bought books from charity shops for my niece in the past. (not always for Christmas. she loves to read and likes Sophie Kinsella and anything with vampires in it) but my mum can be very snobby about things bought in charity shops (well she has been in the past) and that kind of spoils it) i cant understand it. Ive come across some great finds in charity shops. And theres pressure like "dont forget to buy so and so a present. I could understand if they were kids.
But apart from my niece they are all over 25. I was thinking of getting my niece the next Morganvilles vampire book which is out in November and a Simple skincare set. And maybe making other gifts or looking in charity shops to see what i can find.

Its very fashionable to do the homemade Christmas now with the new wave of "make do and mend"

There are tons of gorgoeus craft blogs out there with ideas for really stunning crafts, that are really sophisticated. Maybe start with a site like craftgawker and see what takes your fancy.

You could even learn to make your own alcohol out of fruit you can forage- blackberry wine is delicious for example.

If you do Christmas dinner in the end dont bother with a turkey- its dry and a hassle to cook. Just get some chicken.

Dont cancel Christmas! Think of it as time to challenge yourself creatively

Also, if you are in or near affluent areas make a trip to visit the areas charity shops. You will be amazed at what rich people give away!

Please don't let your mum spoil things! That's not a nice attitude.

Glad you are feeling better, OP. I did a homemade christmas last year (have massive family, getting more expensive) - it was a great excuse to learn or practice some more skills (knitting, inc a bag made out of recycled plastic bag yarn that I really loved, crochet, felt beads etc - you can pick up yarn bargains in charity shops quite a lot). I also did a hamper of food stuffs for my dad which I will definitely do again. I got so much more satisfaction from giving homemade things and am starting to think about it all again this year. As my dcs get older, they will certainly be helping make biscuits etc for their friends!

Hopefully you can use this as an opportunity for a lovely traditional Christmas - it could be really great! It does take a lot of effort though, throwing money at presents is a lot easier in some ways.

I'm sorry things are shit, my DH has been off work for 2 years and I am sick now, and I'll lose a lot of pay when I take time off for his upcoming operation. It puts such a strain on things. Hope things improve for you

Have reported the thread BTW - not in a horrible way, just think you'll get more help and advice in the Xmas topic so maybe MN will move it :)

seeing the flowers at the bottm of FP's post has reminded me..

if you have a chance plant some hyacinth bulbs now.. they will be a gorgeous gift by christmas!!

We don't do presents for adults in my family either. The ILs do, but DH takes care of presents for them - it all seems a bit of a pointless exercise to me but I'm happy to let them get on with it if they want to.

Cards are completely unnecessary and outdated IMO, I never send them for any occasion.

If you don't have children who would be disappointed not to get big heaps of toys, I can't see there's any need to spend much at all. You and DH could do homemade/token gifts if you want to do something. You don't even have to go crazy spending on food, most people end up buying far more than they need or really want anyway.

One of my best Christmases was in the middle of nowhere, there were no decorations (someone found a pretty branch and hung shells off it) and all that happened was we ate a roast and sang songs around said branch. It was amazing. I did have a single present as the post ended up arriving a month late. (was really remote!)

Honestly, there are so many ways to make it special without spending money. Lots of things you can make yourself, and lots of charities who'd love volunteers on that day if you want to spread some goodwill. Check out Pinterest in particular for home made ideas. (paper decorations, presents, etc.)

I absolutely agree there is way too much hype and far too many people left feeling bad because they're either lonely or can't afford to participate in the way they want to, with lots of expensive presents for people.