I can't afford Xmas

[sleepdeprivedma]

They really single mum to a 9 month old dear beat dad UC basically covers my rent and priority bills I had to leave work as I don't have anyone to look after LO not sure what I want out this thread but I'm just feeling very sorry for myself tonight

As a single parent you should be entitled towards a good amount of help with childcare costs. Try to look at the bigger picture. Your baby won't even be aware of how much you spend on Christmas so there is absolutely no point in worrying about that. Focus on next year and finding a job or retraining.

Luckily yours a babe still. Won't even know it's Christmas. Sending hugs it will get better one you are able to work I hope

As others have said, babies don't need gifts. You could go to the library, borrow a few baby board books, wrap them up for baby to open, enjoy reading them together over the Christmas season and then return them. Then you get the fun of opening presents and enjoying something new together, but zero cost.

Hand me downs are fine for a 9 month old, my dd had nothing new her first Christmas. Make sure you are warm and fed, reach out to family, friends or charities if needed

Also uc pay most of your child care costs

Christmas doesn't have to cost more than you can afford @sleepdeprivedma . It's something that costs as much as you spend on it. Your LO is too young to know what's going on anyway.

There are things like community meals on that are free or donation only.

@sleepdeprivedma also try vinted, my DD similar age to yours and she loves puppets. We got brand new puppet company ones for £2.50 on there. Also local Facebook groups often have bargains. Look at your local library for some free festive activities too we have some rhyme and story classes. Hope things get better for you

This is a horrible post. What are you - some kind of Mumsnet armchair detective? Have a heart. Honestly.

Charity shops have lots of cheap Christmas decorations and toys, even little Christmas trees.

There might also be local charities that can support single parents. Or maybe a local church.

Your child won't even know it is Christmas though so don't be too hard on your yourself.

Volunteer to work in a local charity shop for a couple of weeks where I'm sure your baby would be welcome. I knew someone in your position who did this. They left with loads of toys and clothes & she was gifted with M&S food vouchers from the staff. Sometimes by giving you get far more back.

When my son was 9 month old he couldn't have given a shit about Christmas. In fact he's 4 and I think this year is the first year he's clocked it is Christmas.

At 9 month my son loved getting snuggly in his pram and looking at the Christmas lights and decs people had on our evening walks.

Sensory stimulation is the best thing for babies at this age and that's all they care about.

Please do not worry about Xmas. Go for walks, take a hot choc or coffee and enjoy a nice cosy stroll.

You're not a failure as a mum. It won't help for this year but after Christmas look out for people selling decorations or plastic fake trees on FB so you'll have something for next year.

For this year make paper chains or make snowflakes by folding paper in half and cutting bits out of it. That's a bad explanation but there's probably a YouTube video somewhere.

Go food shopping Christmas Eve for discounted treat food.

Go to a charity shop for some DVDs of Christmas films or perhaps there will be some on TV anyway?

Go for a walk to your local park on Christmas Day, half the population of the UK will be doing this so you'll be no different to anyone else.

Go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve or another church service locally.

Put the radio on, some channel will be playing Christmas tunes.

You're feeling it worse at the moment because you've just had a breakup. You can still have a Christmas of some sort though. If you want company, think of who else you know without family around and invite them over. Not for dinner if you can't afford to feed them but just to watch a film or something or to join you on the walk.

Op get on the ‘free to good home’ Facebook pages and also contact your local charities for help/support. Talk to friends and family (if you can consider moving in with some just for a while so will have heating etc) Hope you get sorted.

Er, @SutWytTi they are probably aware of folk who scam for money on these sites. Don't be a dic

Heya- lots of family hubs/ children’s centres are doing free Xmas activities and ‘meet Santa’ type things at the moment. Might be worth contacting your local children’s centre to see what’s on as you might find attending some sessions with your little one gives you some lovely memories and Christmassy feeling without the added price tag?

dont think the cold weather helps,as people have said a baby wont know its xmas. we were quite poor growing up had small things remember them,bubbles/the charity shops have good stuff or the pound shops .some local charties roiund here give hampers out,contact any local charities round table the church ,salvation army,every one wants to support people at xmas,take care

This is so true, my little fella was 6 months old for his first Christmas & honestly he couldn't have cared less, he liked the lights etc but beyond that it was "business as usual" even his (very generous) grandparents took a step back because honestly it's so wasteful.. you'll have so many more "proper" Christmases, it's only the last year or two he's been in any way excited & he's 6 now, & by then things won't seem so bleak so please don't feel bad about yourself or think of it as a failing x So many great suggestions on here & I'm raging I never thought of the handprints decoration.. might give it a go this year actually so thanks to whoever suggested that 👏

Think of it as time to relax a bit and watch good tv, not a a huge £ burden. On Boxing Day look round the sales, there will be heaps of turkeys and reduced food on offer. Fill your freezer up if you can. Enjoy a few reduced price treats after Xmas. The charity shops will fill up with goodies in the new year. It doesn’t all have to happen on Xmas day - and as long as you love, keep baby safe and warm and enjoy them - that’s all you need

It is just one day.

My dd is 13 months old at Christmas and we have wrapped up some toys we got for free from marketplace.

For her birthday we got her a box of kleenex which she loved pulling the tissues out of! Extended family bought her things.

They don't care at that age!

Just get through Christmas and everything will be ok.

Charity shops and free stuff on marketplace are your friends!

14th of October op made a thread:
basically that. I'm
Looking for 2 seated like combs tickets for Monday 16th October at ovo hydro in Glasgow I've been serching for a year and haven't had any luck as sold out with in 30 seconds.
I really want to surprise my pregnant best friend with the tickets so I'm turning to mums net as a last resort I've I've posted on Facebook and twitter it's all scammers I've also already lost £300 to scammers as the faked everything right down to the ticketmaster you're in page so if anyone is in the area and has any of sale it would be much appreciated.

if OP can’t afford Christmas it’s because of this

Do you feel better now?

Not sure who you're on about but that wasn't us.

I don’t understand the frenzy people work themselves up into around this time of year because they can’t put presents under a tree. Honestly! It seems more and more it’s a terrible idea to even start the tradition of expectation!

I hate it.

When you say you can’t afford Christmas, what do you mean??