im sooooooooooooooo stressed about christmas

[starshaker]

just need to moan cos dp dosent seem to think it matters. ive recently stopped working to go to college and am now on a bursery. normally we manage just but at christmas because we are off for 2 weeks we only get a bursery for 2 weeks which halfs the amount i get. i have managed to get all dds presents but none for any neices and nephew or any1 else for that matter. dp says just dont give to any1 else but my family will all buy for dd and i will feel so crap about it all. he only has his sister and mum and dad so thats not a problem for him (we normally buy for our own families)

has any1 got any ideas what i can do so that i dont look like a tight sod who cant be bothered to buy anything.

Tell them the truth? Or promise to bake cakes/do their ironing/ take them to the park (delete as age-appropriate!) instead of giving trad presents. I hope you feel better soon.

thing is i dont get to see my neices as they live in cornwall and im up in scotland and tbh i dont think my nephew would even notice its my neices im worried about cos they wake up on b-day and xmas and the first thing they say is what did auntie starshaker get us cos i always really make an effort so i know they would notice. they are 4 and 8 so dont know if they would get that i couldnt cos im skint.

i normally make the xmas cake for my mum so thats not a prob and buy a family box of sweets for the rest of them. (my wee sisters know the situation so they will be fine and ill just get them something later in the year)

Could you make them fairy costumes or something (few yards of pink organza and some glitter)? I know I couldn't so I don't know how crafty you are! Or what about making them a treasure box each with lots of little (cheap or free!) bits like tubes of glitter and stickers and lipglosee and stuff that they can keep opening throughout the day. Can you tell I have a three-year-old who's obbessed with glitter?

How about a homemade voucher to take them to the cinema or bowling or wahtever the next time you see them? No cost now, and hopefully by the time you see them you will have saved enough money to be able to pay for the treat.

Can you get access to a camcorder? You could make a silly film with your family, doing party pieces etc.
If not, make a personalised book starring their family and yours, lots of photos, drawings, silly poems, glitter and don't forget to scent it!
Send a Scootergirl's treasure box too as they will be inspired to make you a book in return.