Cant afford to get my parents a gift for Christmas

[hl8]

I have an 8yo daughter and have brought her quite allot of presents this year. Moneys been really tight but still managed to get her pretty much everything she wanted, but that meant I ran out of money and I don’t get paid again until Boxing Day. I feel like maybe I shouldn’t have brought her so much and feeling really guilty that I can’t buy my parents a gift.

Is anyone else in the same situation where they can’t buy someone they love a gift this year?

I’m well aware of the origins of Christmas and Yule thank you. Just because America has commercialised the gift giving industry does not mean Christmas is only about children. Most posters on here aren’t even American. It’s very ignorant to keep harping on about it being only for children, as if people without children don’t matter.

Apply for an overdraft if you've got none, usually you get approved instantly? Is there a savings pot you can dip into a replace on payday?

It doesn't have to be anything expensive, does it? 20-40 quid is surely sufficient? It's the thought that counts.

Not advising to get into debt over Christmas, but your parents are also important. AND having access to some kind of emrgency funding like an overdraft or a small credit card, sa savings pot for a rainy day, is actually important, so maybe this is an opportunity to look into that.

I don't go overdrawn but I know that if there was a real emergency, I have an overdraft, a credit card and savings that I can access. In addition, using credit in low amounts and paying it back is good for your credit worthiness.

Moneysavingexpert is a good place to wise up on options.

Like I said, if you get paid a regular salary, your own bank will likely approve a small OD for you in minutes. And you get paid on Boxing Day.

You might find some ideas on this thread. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5463041-free-present-ideas?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

I think it's sensible to avoid credit if you've got limited funds.

I think it’s unlikely that anyone with limited funds would be unaware of these options.

I note that the OP has not moved an inch towards any of the suggestions which might enable her to give her parents a little something - eg bake a cake, frame a photo, take back one of the present pile to free up a little cash.

Nor has she answered the obvious query about whether she will be paid on the 24th given that most salaries are transferred before a bank holiday.

Perhaps she was looking for validation that it’s okay to turn up at her parents empty handed. It’s really not.

We honestly could not give a fig about recieving a christmas gift from our adult dgd, its not been a good year at all for them financially. However they did suprise me with an early gift, a bauble from a local place that we have visited and is wrapped in happy family memories. I love it, it will have pride of place every year on my tree from now on, dd knows each ornament on my tree has meaning. So there was love and thought went into it, it was under £8 but priceless.

So you have received a lovely thoughtful present @FountainofTruthand it’s made you feel loved and a part of something bigger.

But it was a Christmas gift , and it was small and gorgeous and there was love and thought put into it. Priceless indeed . It does not have to even cost more than a few bucks . That’s what op should be doing.

@VanillaIceIceBaby That is so true!

Even something like a box of shortbread for them to share at least its something

really? ive spent 430 on my 8yo DD, and 620 on my 13yo DS. and i still dont think theyve actually got a lot of stuff. 200 really doesnt go far. that would of been just 3 of her presents, and a couple bits of chocolate

Presumably you didn’t spend your last penny, leaving you with nothing to bring the people hosting you for Christmas Day? Because op has.

not quite, though im not being hosted. i am hosting.

i also started shopping in august like op, actually dont have a lot of money due to being on disability benefits, so christmas shopping didnt leave me alot left.

ill be the one hosting my MIL on christmas day, and my DDs dad will come on boxing day evening to see the kids. both of which will turn up empty handed. wont see my mum, she doesnt enjoy christmas. she'll be dropping my kids presents off tomorrow, no present for me, and i dont have anything to give her

if i invite someone, i dont expect them to bring me something.

Yeah I’ve no idea what the op wanted from this thread 🙄. I suspect validation too.

Think OP could and should do better than a Christmas card

Well you can think what you want, it's not up to you.

As other suggested, you can do plenty of things that would be free or almost free for you, like baking a cake, cookies or biscuits, you can make a heartfelt video card with photos and music (here are some examples) or a family photo calendar and print it a bit later, or plan some games for the Christmas eve if you're celebrating together, etc. At the very least you can say the gift is still in delivery and get them something a bit later! Or just explain the situation and get a gift a little bit later as well, they'll understand, I'm sure.

I'd also suggest changing your approach to gift planning and budgeting next year so that the situation doesn't repeat itself. Take this as a lesson and learn from it!

I don't think my parents would be offended at getting no gifts due to money being tight but I also know I wouldn't want to show up empty handed and would at least offer my help with cooking or cleaning, etc. Could you do the same?

Plenty of OPs don't come back to answer all the questions or react to suggestions though, doesn't mean they don't care entirely 🤔well, maybe I'm just projecting as I really want to believe OP follows some advice and does at least anything, guess I really don't want to think it's a validation seeking thread.

Ideas ..

A photo of you and your child is what they would love.
Have one printed and buy a cheap frame later next week to add to the photo. Shop at an Op shop.

Make some shortbread for them.

Pick some flowers from another person's garden.

Have them over for a meal.

Do you have something stashed away?
A gift for DD that can go to them - like a card game?

I could not imagine turning up to my mums house with nothing, like you know when Christmas is, it doesn’t change 🤣

Maybe OP realized she needed to find a way to rustle something up, and is out doing it.

Indeed …

Pick some flowers from another person's garden
What is wrong with you?!