Help with Christmas advice needed

[HBC2020]

Hiya.

im struggling more than ever this year and usually I try and get a couple of things a month so Christmas can be enjoyed.

does anybody know of any charities or organisations that help? I’ve tried googling but to registered for things like that it seems like social services need to be aware and that’s shocked me.

My child is not flagged with SS and doesn’t need to be as she has a great life it’s just simply that I don’t have it spare anymore and cant keep up but she’s fed and clothed, it’s just the extravagance of Christmas I need help with.

thank you x

Why does Christmas need to be extravagant. You’ve said you bought a few things. How old is your child?

Buy a little something every week?

Look around on your local Facebook pages from last November/December to see what activities/schemes might have been going on last year, perhaps? One of our local councillors did some sort of Christmas appeal for toys and food donations and was then distributing to families flagged up to her via local primary schools.

What sort of things do you specifically need help with? Or is it the overall occasion/costs?

I don't think there are charities set up to help children who have a great life and are satisfactorily fed and clothed to have an 'extravagant' Christmas.

If you swap your bank account, you can get a £200 bonus, that would pay for quite a lot of extras if it's just you and her. That comes from Moneysaving Expert who give a lot of advice about making your money go further. Can make a huge difference over time.

Charities should be using their finite resources in cases of genuine need, not to cover the extravagance (your words) of one day.

My advice would be to de-influence yourself, touch grass, comparison is the theif of joy and any other irritating, but true clichés . Post for advice on doing Christmas on a budget instead.

What is it you cannot afford?

I would be very surprised if any charity would give you a donation to spend on Christmas gifts. No one "needs" extravagances or even inexpensive presents for Christmas to be enjoyed. If you are currently keeping your head above water financially but don't have anything spare, that's your and your DC's reality. Obviously you don't want to jeopardise your home or stop feeding yourselves in order to "do Christmas" in some preconceived way. Depending on how old your DC is, I'd be explaining why Christmas this year is going to be a bit toned down. Perhaps suggest that you all give each other gifts that don't cost anything (or cost very little) -- homemade things and things purchased from charity shops or promissary notes to do things for each other. Make your child's Christmas a time when they got to spend time with you doing something special or making special food to share, rather than focusing on having a big pile of crap waiting under a tree. It will be a good life lesson that there are more valuable things in life than those consumer goods capitalism keeps trying to convince us we "need".

My local free giving Facebook page has the most amazing things.
Honestly, just ask - everyone has too much stuff. The trick is knowing what kids like. If it’s all superficial stuff you are in trouble.

Can you just bring in some extra by selling stuff, or working extra hours? Ask a relative to have DD and do a few sessions of babysitting to earn a few quid?

Where i live an unbelievable amount of good stuff is given away free.

Or look at gifts that involve a monthly subscription where the first one arrives for christmas but you spread the cost.

Eg bike from bike club!

The only type of charity I can think of would be a local food pantry (aimed at reducing food waste and open to everyone, specifically not a food bank). If you can do a few pantry shops you can put your usual grocery budget towards Christmas.

But how old is your child? It is more difficult with teens, but younger kids generally don't give a hoot if things are second hand. Christmas can be done well inexpensively!

And I agree with the bank account switching idea for some free money.

I give to many charities. Woukd not be interested in donating where it covers extravagance. We can't always have what we want' even as adults this is true

What sort of things were you hoping to get for Christmas and how much spare do you currently have in your budget?

How old is the child?

Unless I was approaching a deficit budget I would be avoiding looking at charitable options but would be looking at ways to put regular small amounts away and finding ways to make money spread further.

Is this drop in buying ability a short or long term problem?

Iceland & Food Warehouse
Bonus app
For every £20, you receuve £1 back

Plus
Look at their Christmas Bonus scheme
Add £100, receive £15 back

https://www.iceland.co.uk/christmas-bonus

https://escapes.cinematik.app/

Free cinema tickets for certain films for everyone, every month

I have used these & I have seen some good films

I'm rather puzzled by this. Your main concern seems to be that you want Christmas to be enjoyable, you already seem to have got some items in..? As someone who has worked in various charitable organisations over the last 15 years, signposting/access to support like this is usually literally for those who are in really difficult circumstances ie not managing to afford basics, or where a parent has become very unwell or been lost, also where children are in temporary circumstances due to DV. Exactly what is it you feel will be missing from your Christmas and why?

https://babybankalliance.org/

I dont know how old your child is

Suggest join your local library for FREE access to borrow books, music, toys & events

To clarify I have nothing purchased I was just looking for some advice/support on places to grab things but I seem to have got nothing but hate.
I literally live day to day and when my Dad passed away without a funeral plan or will it ruined me both mentally and of course financially. These comments are very degrading and I won’t bother anyone on this site again.

You are not alone OP. You have not said how old your child is. If they are quite young, then the charity shops, are a very good place to pick up some bits, for not too much money. If they are old enough to understand that things are a bit tight, then they can have their expectations managed in time. Christmas is more than just a lot of presents, and that should not be the main focus, imo.

No one is trying to degrade you I don't think. My Dad passed away last year leaving me exactly the same mess and I'm still paying the debt. 10 years before that he'd cancelled my Mums life insurance so I went into debt for that too.

What people are mainly trying to explain is that charitable availability or organisations that help out are very limited on who they can help. Several posters made practical suggestions. Your original post said you usually try to get a couple of things a month, it wasn't clear at all if you had or hadn't done that this year.
I don't think hate has appeared in all honesty.
You could consider going forward joining your local credit union if you have one to access a save and borrow loan for next year, many of my friends with children do this and I did when I was bringing up my kids.

Try Vinted & eBay

Not hate and degradation. Questions and suggestions. Your post was a little vague, what exactly are you looking for, people might be able to help if you specify.

None of my post were unhelpful or degrading

Yes, now is the time to do this to get bonus in time to shop ahead of Xmas. Also nothing wrong with buying things pre used in good condition. Do not go into debt over Xmas. I know it's tempting to do so but be strict with yourself. Loads of stuff on market place.