In tears ( how can I manage it all)

[OopsDearyMe]

I am so stressed and sad , I have no way to pay for the kids presents until wed and Fri this week! Its all going out of stock and I am so terrified that I won't be able to get them. What they want. I so want it to magical and feel so pressured. I spent £150 just yesterday on what was meant to be a Christmas shop and whenever anyone eats anything I am terrified that I'm gonna have to choose between toys and food. No one else cares about them and they are so amazing, they deal with everything so well and really deserve a good Christmas. They have no other family and their dad has just cancelled seeing them on boxing day. Its not what I wanted for them.
Someone help me please.

sorry I may have missed this but how old are they?

Oops just seen this has been suggested already

Have you looked at the Our Generation aisles in Smyths? They are not going to sell out any time soon! They are packed.

I have bought some of the snack type foods for Christmas, but have them in an Aldi bag in the loft . I'd never be able to afford to replace everything if it was being eaten by the DCs as quickly as I bought it.

I have a lot of things (food, drink, crackers, Christmas essentials etc.) on an online order with Sainsburys for delivery on Thursday. Ideally, I would have them in the house by now, but need to wait until I am paid on Thursday to afford them. I think it's the same for a lot of people TBH.

Sorry, I didn't notice if you said how old your DCs were? Is the eldest old enough to be left "in charge" of the younger DCs in the car while you pop into Smyths? If you don't drive, is there anyone with a car who could drive you & wait in the car with the DCs? A friend maybe?

I know it's stressful but please try not to worry. Anything that is out of stock Santa could give an IOU for - I know that sounds a bit crap, but I had to do it with something for DS1 one year & he didn't mind at all. The toy came back into stock in mid-January and DS1 loved getting a "late" present.

With money being tight, I would just buy one main present for each DC and pad it out with a few very cheap items - stationary, felt pens, colouring books etc. always go down really well here and are available really cheaply at Wilkos, B&M or the £ shops.

If you're going to the shops on Wednesday and you know exactly what you want could you call in advance, explain your issue that you have no childcare and you don't want them to see and ask them to pop the stuff in a bag and you just need to go in and collect and pay. If you need a reason to go in you could go and grab some small stocking fillers so they see you pick something off the shelves.

I know how stressful this is Op, am in a similar situation myself.

Pay day isn't until Thurs for me, and I'm working until Fri (and taking dc to onside childcare via public transport), so have no childfree time before Xmas to gift shop.

I'm just going to bodge it as best I can. The one gift i'm most bothered about is the one from 'father Xmas', as others could wait until after Xmas if desperate (Had a huge unexpected drop in tax credits in October so things have been tight and dc aren't oblivious).

Take a deep breath, they will have a lovely Xmas regardless of the number of presents under the tree. Honestly.

If you really can't get a main present before the day do what I did and make an IOU card with a picture of what's coming soon.

DD was perfectly happy with this.

Thanks so much help, I feel better now tbh. I have signed up to the PayPal thing which is good. I can't hide anything, not got a loft or garage or shed. I did last year in the top of the airing cupboard only little sods found em who!e trying to build a camp and opened them. I'm in slough thank you for the offer to watch my kids, normally my neighbour does so b she's just left for Australia for christmas with her kids. I think its the fact its so close to Christmas that the money is clearing its panicked me. Then I was just adding to it all with oh no Argos won't reserve and Friday is too late for delivery as its the day before Christmas eve. With just me to do it all its freaked me out.

You guys are great 🎉🎊🎆

I find that saying santa only brings the v cheap stocking gifts and I get the rest which helps manage their expectations- and also makes them realise that I have to order/pick up stuff. Maybe worth thinking about for next year

Santa brings little stocking presents, surely? Not the big things? (If he hasn't done previously, maybe this year is the time to start?)

I agree Santa brings bits and bobs at the end of the bed this includes useful stuff such as pants, socks and toothbrushes.

I provide the main present and as they've got older they have an idea of the budget for this present and the IOU can easily be explained by no stock in the shops.

so how old are the children?

ps OP has " stuff" made you happy....will it make kids happy?

I'm sorry you're so worried. I'm local but we're going away Thursday morning, otherwise I'd have offered to either go do your shopping or look after the children for you.

Are they old enough to stay in the car if you park right by the door? Just as pre warning, Smyths don't seem to put things in bags, so go in with a black bag so they can't see.

Hi OP
I'm glad weve been of some help to you.

Let us know how it goes and what plan you decide on xx

Can you not ask another mum, couple of mums for playdates. If you explain, I am sure they will be willing to help out, especially if you offer to repay the favour.

Christmas (poundland) film with chocolate popcorn. Microwave popcorn and melt a bar of basics chocolate over the top of it.

A few years back I asked my three if they wanted a small present on Christmas day and then money to go shopping in the sales where they could get more for there money. They said yes and we've been doing this ever since. They are in there early 20‘s so a bit older.

Hi all

We do advise all our members to be aware that not everyone on t'internet is who they say they are, and that, although we're awed daily by the astonishing support our members give each other through life's trickier twists and turns, we'd always caution anyone never to give more of themselves to another poster, emotionally or financially, than they can afford to spare.

op mine are under bed in black bin bags with random boring stuff covering them.

anyway hope you get sorted, whittle down to one special gift each, and aim for that. notes for other stuff after xmas,...

Smyths don't seem to put things in bags, so go in with a black bag so they can't see

they do if you ask and explain to them, I had to do this - had dc outside and needed gifts, and asked them to triple bag but should have taken my own

I hide all the snacks and presents in suitcases which are dotted around the house. One is in my son's room and I stored his wrapped b'day gifts in there and he didn't twig at all. Just put a little padlock on it and don't lose the key! Hiding in plain sight works sometimes as the kids don't expect it, they are looking for secret hidey holes.

Is there anything you can sell on Facebook selling site/gum tree as collection only for a bit of cash. I know Christmas is only a week away but some people are still buying and looking for bargain.

Tomorrow spend some time connecting with your kids doing something that you all love, be it baking, DVD, crafts, decorating whatever. I did a mini treasure hunt last week around the house and in the garden for my kids and a few friends. They loved it and made me realise that I don't have to spend money as it's all about creating the memories and having fun. Btw I used stuff from old party bags, sweets and toys they already had but didn't play with as prizes so it cost me absolutely nothing.

Have a cuppa, grab a pad & pen and write a plan for each day of the holidays, games, activities, shopping lists whatever. If I see a structured plan I'm less likely to panic, it doesn't matter if you don't follow everything it's just there to as a guideline.

It's true that some of the best bits of Christmas are free. Looking at the lights, going to a carol or Christingle service, going for a frosty walk on Christmas or Boxing Day.
And some of the rest is so cheap - having cocoa in front of a Christmas film on TV, playing board games or charades, putting out a carrot for Rudolph.
Do you have a tree? if not, get onto Freecycle. You might get an artificial tree on there. And some Christmas decorations.

You could also request some toys on Freecycle. they won't be this year's latest craze, but when DC were younger and I didn't work, I used it a lot. We got (and gave away) amazing stuff - musical instruments, bikes, brand new pots of playdough, dressing up clothes, a brand new skateboard, art easel etc. Just put a call out locally (you'd need to collect it yourself, so may need to ask for things to be wrapped in bin bags, but it's Christmas. People will help.

I keep my presents in the boot of my car. The only hiding place my DC can't get to! Been driving around for a week now with them in there.

so how old are they?