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Original poster

is this a good idea or me being tight..........

38 replies

Titania · 29/10/2004 09:22

ok.....as well as everything else I've got to worry about at the moment, we are severely in debt......by over £25,000.....I have no idea how we are going to afford christmas......so this is what me and DH were thinking....

Let the family buy the kids their xmas presents and we buy them one each as well....then go to the sales straight after and buy the kids the rest of their presents for new year instead......they get 2 celebrations then as well?

I feel really tight even thinking about it but we really can't see any other way around it..... unless any of you lovely ladies can think of another way (or give me the winning lottery numbers!!! )

Please don't lynch me!!!!

OP posts:
Skate · 29/10/2004 09:25

Titania - why would anyone lynch you? This is what I hate about Xmas - the struggle some people face financially.

I think what you've suggested is perfectly sensible - we say it every year. It seems ridiculous to spend so much money when it's all half price 2 days after Xmas. Certainly when we were older, our parents used to give us money so we could buy clothes etc in the sales.

I know your kids are little but they are going to get something from relatives and a gift from you and regardless of affordability, that's presents enough IMO.

Please don't stress about it and please don't overspend - you and your kids can enjoy it without spending lots of money.

xx

jampot · 29/10/2004 09:25

i understand where you're coming from titania but i think it depends on how old your kids are and what they want in reality. Sometimes there are brill bargains to be had before xmas. Why not put a list on this thread and we can all find the products are cheap prices!

Original poster
Titania · 29/10/2004 09:26

my kids will be 5, 3 and 10 months.

OP posts:
gothicmama · 29/10/2004 09:26

sounds agood plan - have you been to CAB to start debt management this may help

miranda2 · 29/10/2004 09:26

To be honest, I wouldnt' bother with the one full price present from you for Christmas - let them just have rellies gifts on the day, and yours from the sales. OR, if you are determined to get them one on the day, don't get others in the sales as well. My kids only get one present from us at Christmas - why do they need more??!!

MummyToSteven · 29/10/2004 09:26

sounds very sensible to me. I would even go one further and suggest:

1)boot sales/second hand shops
2)that ds1 (who is too young to really appreciate it) gets stuff from the older kids

other places with reduced kids stuff:
1)home & bargain chain
2)TK Max
3)Boots - has a 3 for 2 offer on certain kids toys atm!

Original poster
Titania · 29/10/2004 09:27

ds1 is into ninja turtles in a BIG way

dd is VERY into my little pony, and disney priness type stuff

ds2 is too little to be into anything really but will be crawling

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 29/10/2004 09:28

Makes perfect sense to me - in fact I woudn't even bother getting them more in the sales - why would you? - Its only you that feels guilty (and you shouldn't) I'll bet my boots your kids will be thrilled with what they DO get! (anyway they might get into the habit of expecting 2 christmases!!! )

Happy Christmas

Skate · 29/10/2004 09:28

BTW - I wouldn't even bother buying more in the sales. They will get enough won't they?

You probably buy them the odd thing during the year anyway - don't forget there are spring, summer and autumn sales too where you could buy them a small treat. In fact, I got some of the kids Xmas pres for this year in the ELC summer sale! I'm not struggling for cash but why pay more than you have to?!

And remember noone likes a spoilt child!!

throckenholt · 29/10/2004 09:28

I don't think it is tight - I think people give way too many presents at Christmas - I am dreading it as our house is already full of too much stuff !

childmindersam · 29/10/2004 09:28

We have NEW YEAR presents too! Am buying ds a dvd player (£23 from asda) and downloading dvds off internet (all legal, paid £9 sub!) that will be his xmas pressie and he will have more at new year! also filled a large stocking with small items individually wrapped ie bubble bath, pound shop puzzles and toys, bubbles, crayons etc...

cab · 29/10/2004 09:28

You're not being tight at all Titania. Just don't tell the kids that YOU'RE worried it's not enough - because then they will too. (p.s. e-bay for the one present each cos you hate shopping just now?).
You could maybe help them make special things for each other too?

gothicmama · 29/10/2004 09:29

Tesco have good priced turtles and pony stuff in attthe mo

Original poster
Titania · 29/10/2004 09:29

yes gothicmama we have....so we are on a very very strict buget now....so we can't overspend even if we wanted to!

OP posts:
Chuffed · 29/10/2004 09:29

A friend has a large extended family and they get two allocated people each to buy presents for and receive from. Obviously the young kids still get Santa presents as well. That might be a way of being able to give and receive without breaking the bank. They have a limit on the total spend as well.

Original poster
Titania · 29/10/2004 09:31

I have bought ds1 and dd a bag each....ds1s has got a ninja turtles dvd and all the turtles masks in. dds has got barbie rapunzel dvd in and a tiara and wand. They were 14.99 each from woolworths. for ds1 i got a set of 10 baby einstein dvds from ebay. So we have got them one present each now. But we can't afford anymore....especially when we have bought for the family as well (chocolates all round i think though!)

OP posts:
Skate · 29/10/2004 09:33

Titania - your kids are still really very small. My parents had NO money at all when we were little (Dad was still a student when me and brother were born and Mum didn't work) and I don't remember feeling deprived. I just remember being chuffed with everything I got because I didn't get spoilt the rest of the year.

One year, Dad tells me now, he got a big box of lego from a mate at work and he and mum scrubbed each brick clean before wrapping it up for Xmas. I remember that lego - I loved it and had no idea it wasn't new.

Skate · 29/10/2004 09:34

Titania - why do you buy for all the adults? We don't do that - we focus on the kids now. We do Secret Santa for adults so everyone just buys for one other and everyone just gets one present.

cab · 29/10/2004 09:35

Titania have you got any play dough moulds that you could make chocolate figurines out of for them?

helsi · 29/10/2004 09:36

I know that when I was small Santa bought me all my presents so I wouldn't know if I got one from mum and dad anyway. I don't know how old your kids are but maybe that one would work.

Jimjams · 29/10/2004 09:38

How old are your children? We're pretty much in debt and I'm buying them next to nothing this year. DS1 won't realise as he's autistic and ds2 is only 2 so will be happy with any old rubbish. It's too much for ds1 anyway- took him 3 days to open everything (from the rest of the family) last year.

have a look in the local paper as well- some real bargains there. Lots of my presents as a kid were second hand and I never realised....

Original poster
Titania · 29/10/2004 09:39

they will be 5, 3 and 10 months

OP posts:
Chuffed · 29/10/2004 09:45

A gift is a gift, second hand or not...even from the youngest age it is the thought that counts remember.
Do a secret santa style thing for the adults. So many of my gifts were second hand when I was a kid and I was so happy to get them that it didn't matter.

nutcracker · 29/10/2004 09:47

Titania - Asda do a set with a big pony in and loads of bits and bobs, they are really lovely and are 7 quid.

Marina · 29/10/2004 09:48

The way you can present it to the five year old is that he is getting "money" from you for Christmas and he can spend it in the sales with your help - if you think he is likely to be at all bothered by your wise and sensible solution. I feel like I'm staring down the barrel of a gun where Christmas is concerned, good in a sad sort of way to know we're not the only ones on here who basically can't afford to do much this year

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