How important is the annual visit to see Father Christmas? skint and feeling guilty

[merrylissiemas]

i was made redundant recently and work took all off my travel expenses back off me in my last pay cheque. we are waiting for paperwork to come through for benefits but its unlikely i will get any money before xmas. dh is ft student and wont get his grant until jan. i have tried looking for another job but my deprssion has returned with a vengence and my weight is lower than it has been for years. add to that the physical health issues (rickets and low immune system) and you hardly have a model applicant.

we were supposed to go to see santa yesterday, but cant afford it. its £10.50 per adult! an every other place is roughly the sameprice. the cash we have in the bank has to ast us til new year. but i feel so guilty about ds (3.5) not doing anything for xmas. i feel like i have ruined his first proper xmas. please reassure methat seeing FC isnt that important!

dont worry! he wont even remember...i have no idea which years i saw santa!

do you have a local town fayre or school christmas fayre, theses usually have a cheaper santa.

We don't go and see Father Christmas with our three. I don't see the point, and we also try and keep the 'mystery' of FC only coming on Christmas Eve.

Wander round a garden centre instead, they usually have lovely displays and you can have a hot chocolate in the cafe for a couple of quid.

Don't worry, it won't make a jot of difference. He won't be bothered at all.

Why did work not pay your expenses? Do they owe you money?

thanks all. work paid me back my travel expenses but then when i left they took it all back (was only there 3m)

They can't do that if it is money owed to you. Have you submitted a grievance?

FC i thjink is a complete waste of time they know it's not HIM.

lla, unfortunately i signed their expenses policy stating that they could take back expenses if i left the co for whatever reason within 6m.

i did say to dh that didnt want ds seeing loads of different FC's this year, to keep the mystery...

Don't worry about it-mine were always a bit scared of him at that age anyway. I think Sidge is right about a garden centre, there is one near us that has rooms of Christmas trees and decorations and snow scene with moving animals-all free.

Hmm. Wasn't your choice to leave though, was it? Personally I'd pursue it.

I cannot IMAGINE who would pay £10.50 to see Santa, along with everything else this time of year. How are they doing any business at all???
Sorry if that isn't helpful. Although I love Christmas and go all teary seeing little 'uns when they meet a Santa, that is just greedy.

So my suggestions are these:

Do free things on the internet;

this video link was posted on another thread and it is really, really good.

elf yourself If you do a MN search I think someone posted about an improved site for this.

Ihaven't checked CBeebies website but probably seasonal fun on there

Try your local library; borrow loads of Christmassy books to read together, and there might be free Christmassy activities going on.

Is you local paper organising a free Santa? Ours did a drive round on an open topped bus draped with lights.

Have a look at local free attractions - eg museums, National TRust if you or grandparents happen to be a member - often crafty/decoration/ free things going on there.

Do an evening walk or drive round, it is dark by 5.30, to look at other people's lights on their houses.

See if you can pick up a Christmassy video from charity shop or Freecycle.

That's a great idea Sidge.

Ds ( 5 ) isn't fussed about visiting Father Christmas, though he is looking forward to him coming on Christmas eve.

We're watching Christmas movies ( back to back) such as Raymond Briggs - Snowman and Father Christmas.
That and glitter seem to be exciting ds the most.

Wow, you guys type fast!

i will look into it lla!

thank you all, feel a bit better now. we are taking the dog for a walk in a min.

sidge, thats a lovely idea!

dusty, its a v popular museum by us. all the prices re about the same!

We never go to see Father Christmas and it's nothing to do with money, I just think it's too much hype.

re your expenses; this link might be helpful:

BERR

It really doesn't sound right that you should lose your expenses if you are made redundant. Worth getting advice on that, I would think.

are these expenses as in money you have spent on work stuff - travel to meetings/events (rather than the office itself), meals, equipment? Because if it's merely money you have spent and are entitled to claim back, they can't take it out of your wages - that's theft.

If it's a season ticket loan or something of that nature they can claim it back, obviously.

you do have the option of buying a FC suit..dh just bought one for £2.99 in homebargins..lol

I've never taken my 4 to see Santa. Sometimes he's been at toddlers or something but we've never made a special trip. Overpriced if you ask me.

edam, they were travel expenses. i had to travel to a different store every day for 10w by train.

Sounds like it's reimbursement of expenses incurred at work so it's YOUR money, not theirs. Unless your contract of employment said 'you have to work at any location we choose' and it's your responsibility to pay the fares. But if they paid the expenses in the first place, the latter sounds unlikely.

I'd call ACAS (look up their website) to check this out, then write them a formal letter pointing out this is an unlawful deduction, that they owe you the money and you want it back PDQ. Cheeky gits!

thank you. i thought that because i signed the expense policy i didnt have a leg to stand on.

what did the expense policy say? Compare it to the law and see if it stands up - companies can't just make up their own rules if they conflict with the law!

Also worth looking at www.tiger.gov.uk - they used to have an easy guide to employment law on there.

thank you. this has really hit us hard