I’m dreading Christmas Day as my dc have barely and gifts

[Bluebellberry]

Things have been finically dreadful for us.
I normally love Christmas but this year I am dreading it.
We are struggling so badly we only have a couple of very, very small low cost gifts for each child. I am so deeply ashamed.I am dreading seeing their faces on Christmas morning. They only asked for 2 small things bless them but I still feel an absolute failure.
I have absolutely nothing to give to my siblings or parents.
I have nobody to talk too irl as close friends and family don’t have money issues.
Is anyone else in this position?

Look on gumtree, lots of free toys on there. If you give a rough idea of your location you will get ideas of local organisations.

With your parents and siblings just be honest and say sorry we don't have much spare cash this year. Buy them a box of chocolates. Ask them not to buy you anything and instead buy a little more for your children if they can afford it. That way your children get more presents and you don't get stuff you didn't need in any case.
I would check out charity shops for board games, clothes, toys etc. for your children. If your children are young they won't even notice.

I wouldn't stress it tbh. 2 presents is loads for the kids. I certainly wouldn't be buying for parents and siblings if I was struggling, actually lots of people don't buy outside their own little family.

Lots of brilliant suggestions here, so many great ideas and most free too.

Once you all have some food in your belly and happy kids, this is plenty.

Good suggestion re balloons - get some modelling balloons and watch some videos on how to make various animals, flowers etc. The kids will love it!

@CentrepieceOfDoom the balloon idea sounds fabulous!!! 🎈

Op have you gone?

@Bluebellberry If you go down the modelling balloon route {Great idea, Pickles} buy the ''Branded'' ones..I saw a video on you tube where cheaper and pricier ones were compared, and the more expensive ones were better to model with and more satisfactory, but they were being reviewed by a professional balloon modeller..
Loads of tips on YT as to how to make great shapes with modelling balloons.

I remember games played by family with nostalgia.. simple Ludo and snakes and ladders &c, You really don't need expensive gifts for children.

Tub of sweets, bowl of popcorn, a movie on the TV.

They’d love it.

My best memories are of doing fun things with my family like waterfights/creating disappearing magic acts on my dad's video camera/bike rides etc. You could do Christmas versions. Tiktok has a lot of trends for example everyone sits on the stairs and you have to sing a line of a song without cracking up, or "slap with a wrap" or a game tipping water in buckets to the person behind you in the garden and someone inevitably getting drenched. These are the sort of things that are truly fun and get you to feel togetherness. There's no shame in having money issues most things in life involve luck and are half chance anyway. It says nothing about who you are as a person.

Sorry you're in this position. It's hard but don't blame yourself.

A friend of mine whose family were skint for a time when he was young has fond memories of when his mum made him a 'space suit' from cardboard and tinfoil. Not saying that's what you should be doing, but rather that he, as a grownup, understood his mum's position and respected how she'd dealt with it.

I'd take the above advice about trying local fb groups and similar.

Heck, I'd love it, and haven't been a kid for decades!😆
Get a balloon pump, though..Modelling balloons are almost impossible to inflate by mouth power.

Honestly second hand presents!!!! They can have so much more, it’s better for the environment, your wallet, them

2nd hand all the way it’s saved me. How old are they? If they’re young they wouldn’t have a clue and no bloody annoying boxes to throw away.

I can’t stress enough how much it’s the right thing to do xxxx

This is a lovely, fun idea for some families, but if you add up the cost of the balloons and the chocolates and a few £5 notes and pound coins, this is likely to cost around £20.

That’s not really doable for OP.

Another lovely suggestion, but it’s frustrating that people are still suggesting activities that cost ££.

A few years ago I saw an article about a survey of children (perhaps in South America?) where the researchers asked them what they wanted from Father Christmas. They named all the big ticket items that you'd expect. Then the researchers asked what do you want from your parent(s) and what they wanted was attention. They wanted their parents to play with them, read to them, cook with them, go on walks with them, do jigsaws and colouring with them. Be (the) present.

Thank you everybody for your lovely suggestions. Sorry I haven’t replied individually yet I just got a bit teary.
My dc are older children - aged 10 & 15. The 10 year old still believes in Santa so I’m worried they will think they must have done something “naughty” when they only have 1 Santa gift.
I think some of the simple activities ideas on here are lovely.

So many great suggestions on here. I would say just have a chat with the kids before the day (if you feel they will be expecting a bigger pile of presents and this year will be different to what they have had in the past). Could you ‘pad out’ the kids pressies with chocolate/sweets? Its amazing how much kids love something like a selection box and they are in the supermarket for £1 or £2. You could make a special Xmas home cinema for them if you are able to-duvets, hot choc, popcorn and snacks? I hope next Xmas is easier for you but kids really just want a safe, loving home and im sure thats exactly what you give them.

lots of lovely suggestions by Hellybelly84. Agree buy them chocolates and popcorn and watch a cosy movie!

Speak with your local foodbank they will do some sort of toybank or things for teenagers. The kids will be delighted with whatever they’ve got and a healthy happy family

Can you leave a note from santa to 10yo to say he has been good so he knows thats not the reason? And maybe explaining hes had to cut back this year.

When I think back of Xmas as a child, I absolutely loved it. But I dont remember the presents I got, I remember the atmosphere - the family being together, seeing santa in the sky on xmas eve, dancing to christmas songs etc.

Ooh, another thing we are doing is a ‘gifts of time’ sort of thing. Vouchers for a movie night, board games with mum, special dinner etc. it’s stuff that you can do at another time, and means spending time with you, which they’ll appreciate :) alternatively, do stuff like unlimited screen time, stay up late one night, even a get out of jail (grounding!) free one?

My DC would love this.

Perfect age for doing the suggestion above of writing things on a piece of paper, like pick favourite movie, dinner etc

what have you bought?

These are some cheap things I think are festive and fun, but whatever you do is enough…
a book of bingo cards is usually less than a pound, there are bingo calling games on YouTube to play as a family , give everyone a pen and enjoy. No need for prizes , the game is just fun.
Balloons, as everyone said are always good.
silly string and spray snow available in poundland.
Things like a bottle of value coke or cherryade served in glasses for brekkie, things that aren’t usually allowed .
sachets of micro popcorn for stockings, one box usually has four sachets.
Rearranging furniture , eg putting a tent up in the lounge with some fairy lights , that kind of thing is quite magical.

In this situation, I have asked not to exchange family gifts.
It might be too late to stop them buying you gifts (unless you know they’re last minute shoppers), even so have a conversation about your situation this year.
As many people are in the same situation due to dire state of the U.K. (assuming that’s your base), people are at least a bit more aware than other years.
DC have been very appreciative of any presents no matter how small and grown up aware of the value of money, so while it’s not nice to struggle, this has been a big plus.
It seems like it’s much more your concern than theirs, from your post.