Oh SHIT. I went overboard on Xmas presents for family and now I am skint!

[FruitCakey]

Shit, Shit, Shit!!!
DH works, I don't. We have 1 DC.
DH doesn't get a great wage. (23,000 a year) I went over board and spent too much on family for Xmas this month. We're 2 days after payday. I have £110 to last just under 3 weeks. I have a kitchen full of food, did all my food and toiletries shop yesterday. Am I silly? Can we live off this? Am I being over dramatic? Eeeek! I am worried. Tips to make the money stretch? Thank you.

DH already knows, I told him as soon as I checked the bank. He has money put to a side for his Christmas do (£ 40) next Fri. (not out of the £ 110 budget.)

Get the bus, go to the town and take stuff back. It's do-able.

Can you make a determined effort to ensure that you have 3 or 4 days a week that are NSD's - no spend days.

There's a thread about it and it seems to work.

MrsReagan I will try from memory now.

2x bread.
2x milk.
2x grated cheese.
1x packet of 500g mince.
1x packet of diced beef.
1x packet of sliced chicken.
1x packet of 6 chicken breast.
1x packet of 6 sausages.
2x chips.
Breaded fish (4 pack)
Lots of veg, frozen and chilled.
Bananas, apples, strawberries and grapes.
2x packets of pre-rolled puff pastry.
Ham for sarnies.
Chicken for sarnies.
Mushrooms.
2x soft cheese.
Fromage Frais.
Bacon.
1x tuna.
1 bag of potatoes. (big pack)
6x frozen pizza dough balls.
Fish fingers.
Frozen fish.
5x beans.
5x tins of chopped tomatoes.
Most herbs and spices etc.
Graveys,
Loads of chicken, beef and veg stock.
Packed white sauce and chedder cheese sauces.
Spag bol sauce.
Chilli Con Carne sauce.
Caesar sauce.
2x boxes of passata.
Lasagne sheets.
Chicken pasta bake sauce.
Biscuits.
SR and Plain flour.
Loads of cereal.
Dumpling mix.
Pasta.
Spaghetti.
Rice.
Risotto rice.
A whole chicken.
15 free range eggs.
Stew pack.
Mayo.

Can't think of much more.

Oh and there's only 3 of us to feed. Me, DS and DH.

Did you really not buy anything at all that can be taken back? Nothing?

Taking things back would mean at least an 8 hour round trip.

You'll be fine.Others can list meals (I'm on my phone and it's not really my thing!) but what you have will last a while and you still have some money.Don't panic

MrsRaegan ** Sorry for the spelling mistake.

Definitely cannot get on a bus to return the items. It isn't doable at all. A bus wouldn't travel from here to where I bought the gifts and to travel 4x hours away on a bus would cost a fortune. I think it's fairly obvious that I am not in a position to pay such money if it was infact possible - which it isn't.

I do a pasta dish that we take camping with us. Its made with Corned Beef, Onion, Tomato, Garlic, Curry powder, Turmeric.

Saute the onion and garlic, add the spices, add chopped tomato and simmer away till you have a nice sauce. Add the corn beef, stir around a bit, then add it to cooked pasta.

It my have been rude, but it was what everyone is thinking...

Atticusclaw, it would cost a fortune to travel back to the shops I bought them from otherwise it would have been my first priority!

Good grief - what you have there will last ages with only three of you to feed! I thought by all the panicking you were going to say that you had half a loaf of bread and two onions or something but you seem to have enough to feed a small army.

Its not what I was thinking Jeffery so you weren't talking for me.

Jeffery, I appreciate you pointing out the obvious, but I am now struggling to figure out what exactly you're now trying to bring to this thread?

I was reckless in my spending. I know

Lebearpolar - Your reply made me breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you.

You'll be fine. I don't see why people are having a go at you. If you are very, very careful it'll last you. You had the forethought to pay your Sil. You now have presents. You have food and toiletries. Don't panic. He'll get paid again in January.

cariadsdarling Thank you for being so kind.

Where on earth do you live?

Fruity, plenty of food there! Does your dh get paid again before Xmas? Or maybe tax credits/child benefit?
I think the food and cash you have now is fine but I would personally want abit more to carry over Xmas/ new year. I know you have the £100 saved for Xmas but if your going out or taking little one to attractions etc then I don't think that will last long!

What shops did you buy from? Might you be able to post them back?

I guess people are just wondering how all the presents you bought are shop specific.
Are they all having Harrods chocolates or something? Even your DC's presents?

Anyway, I think that you should be able to manage if you have all the food and presents already. I would be encouraging your DH to spend £25 rather than £40 though at his Christmas party.

I have counted at least 15 main meals out of the stuff you have listed there so I think you'll be fine

If there is more money to come before christmas I don't see any reason to return any presents?

Atticusclaw why can't the husband spend what he'd budgeted for? It wasn't his fault.Also, depending on what sort of a night out it is £25 might not be enough.i would be might pissed off if my husband spent too much and then " encouraged" me to spend less to make up for it