I officially hate christmas.

[flamesparrow]

Everything costs too f*cking much.

I either end up feeling shit because I give cheap crap presents when people are giving my family decent stuff.

Or I feel like shit because I have gotten myself into debt giving me even more money worries trying to make people happy.

No. People don't understand when you give them a small piece of crap when they have spent a fortune on you, especially not children.

Plus there is the cost of going away, school xmas parties and god knows what else.

its all just crap and I don't want to worry anymore.

...

Can you not find any bargains? I have a rule that I spend £5 only on everyone except my own DS.

My mum, grandparents, sister and her bf, aunty and uncle got china cup or cocktail glass sets from Debenhams. They were meant to be £18 but had 70% off. My cousin got a photo frame from pier. It was meant to be £12 but had 50% off. My 3 younger cousins got a knex set and one of those iron on bead sets (3 for 2 woolies) and a cow milkshake maker half price in the locla kitchenware shop cos the packaging was ever so slightly damaged. Got 3 boxes of chocs for £5 in debenhams as token gifts and a couple of wine bottle foil cutter thingys for £3 which were 70% off in Debenhams aswell.

So as you can see I have spent very little but it looks more than it is. However to get all these bargains I did have all of my shopping done by the end of October. That's not to say all is lost. If you have a Debehams they still have loads of the stuff I bought left. The make is V&A. They had photo frames, notebooks and paperweights too.

Sorry 3 boxes of chocs from Marks not debenhams.

Whenever I seem to go I just seem to get so overwhelmed by it all I can't see any good stuff in amongst the stuff that is reduced because no-one else wants it (does that make sense??). I think I have gotten so pulled down with it all that I go into that panicked haze where you are so frantic to get it sorted that you get nothing sorted.

i saw these jewellery rolls yesterday if that's any good to you. the book people are fab for cheap books. loads for around £7 and less for adults and even cheaper for kids.

Don't forget 3 for 2 in Boots and M&S. M&S also got further 20% off some things. Some woolworths have got some fab offers atm have you tried there?

i have decided that it's kids only this year.
my family are all in the same boat so have agreed.

I'm not quite at the 'hating' stage yet but feel pretty grim today. We've had a not so good year, especially healthwise. Money is practically non-existent for things like presents, entertaining, etc. I don't feel like decorating, making Xmas cake, playing carols, etc. I've been buying gifts on ebay which is depressing, for some reason. I've got a stack of cards sitting beside me that I should be writing & posting, xmas lights I should be putting up outside but just can't be bothered. I wish Christmas was over. This is the first time I can remember ever feeling like this! (sad)

Thank you for the links - I'm going to try again on Thurs probably.

I think my other issue is that we are going PILs, I don't wanna go and it is making everything that much

I hate it too. I hate that Christmas is just a spend-fest (this year to re-boost the economy , and the meaning and purpose has been forgotten (or seems to be).

We have no family in the country, so every years it's like we miss out,and we are going away on the 19th, not back till after the 25th, so it's like it's going to pass us by (again - we were away last year too...)

I am always so glad when it's the 26th!

I know I am miserable, I want to get into it, but I hate the pressure to spend so much money!

mm2bbys - don't give in to the pressure - i don't and no one seems to mind.

Last year I made jams, marmalades and chutneys and also bought some cos i ran out of time, put them in lovely wicker baskets, wrapped them in cellophane and tied ribbon around them. Didn't cost much at all but similar things were being sold at craft fairs for about £7. Really shows the true meaning of xmas aswell - giving and sharing not spending and getting stressed.

this Christmas is hard, i feel we are being stingy and inhospitable rather than quiet and sensible .

Looking forward to roast dinner though as we have not had an oven for 3 months.

is there anyone who can help you with presents? maybe your mum, your partner? I know what you mean about the panic haze. maybe if someone else bought presents for a couple of people you would feel a bit more on top of it.

we do kids only too, have done for a couple of years, the lack of presents coming to us makes it easier tbh.