Anyone else due in December and stressing about Christmas?

[everythinghippie29]

Ok, so I know there are literally a million other things to worry about at the moment but today I'm stressing about Xmas. LO is due at the beginning of Dec, I don't start Mat leave until mid Nov and then am away for a week for my sisters wedding.

I was made redundant shortly before finding out I was pregnant, I got a new job but we struggled for a month or two and I didn't get any job seekers or anything so finances went a bit haywire. Having only started my new job in July, I don't qualify for SMP so will just be on Maternity Allowance when he gets here. I mention this as obviously our funds aren't great still and we have had to pay out for some baby related things. Because of this I've not managed to put my usual Xmas savings aside and certainly don't have the energy to do my usual bargin mega shop. My family don't live near me at all so need to factor in getting and posting all presents to them as I don't think I will have a chance or the budget to get everything bought before I go up for the wedding!

Sorry for the rant, does anyone else feel they are in a similar position/ have any ideas or tips on getting Xmas ready for both sides of the family with a tiny budget, no transport and an already huge, cumbersome pregnancy belly?!

Thanks!

Yes, me!! We are due on 19th dec, and if this baby doesn't arrive on Christmas Day it will be a miracle!
We are completely stressed about money as it is, pretty much broke but that's another story!

With regards to presents, we have just told our families to expect vouchers from us this year! And to expect slightly less than normal and they are completely understanding!

Sorry to hear about your redundancy . My suggestion is sending them vouchers from their favourite shops and put them in the Xmas cards. It will save you on postage and will help you budget better. Job done . I'm sure they will understand.

I'm in a similar sitaution...baby due 5th Dec, finances awful and no maternity pay ahead. We're going to handmake most presents, eg. chutneys etc. But we are lucky in that they all live fairly closw by. I'm stressing more about what to do on xmas day, different family members pulling us every which way when we'll probably want to stay home! urgh!

Buy presents on Amazon or somewhere, pay the extra for them to be giftwrapped, and send directly to the person they are for!

I've already had the talk about Christmas with my parents and the ILs. We've said we'll be doing token presents that we'll send out so they have them in time for Christmas and that unless things are going amazingly well we probably won't see them much until January. Anyone that kicks up a fuss just ignore, you can't do much about baby's due date or how much spare cash you have.
We are very lucky that the ILs live only 10 miles away and have promised to cook dinner for us, bring it over when we are ready and then go home and leave us alone as our present
We have the added problem that my Step Dad's birthday is 21st, Mum's 27th and Dad's 30th! But they've all been very understanding and I think as this will be the first grandchild for all they're more than happy with that as a present.
I am looking forward to getting settled with the new baby though so we can have late Christmas and birthday celebrations with everyone.

I'm due mid November with twins and am worrying about Xmas! DP and I have told all family members that we are staying at home for Xmas and if they want to see us and the babies they will have to pop in but not to expect an amazing Xmas meal like I normally do. I will be putting a gammon in the slow cooker over night and doing some roast pots and veg, that's it. If they don't let us know they are popping in then they get gammon sarnies as there won't be enough to go round! Re presents we have said that we will concentrate of the children in the family and everyone will just have to make do we are giving them grandchildren/niece/nephew. Everyone has been so understanding and just can't wait to meet the new arrivals!

Just the visits really. Due on 27th and SIL keeps banging on about us going over there for Christmas Day. And DM is determined that she will be staying over the holiday period to 'help out'.
I get all twitchy just thinking about them trying to organise us. Makes me go all clenchy fisted.

Ladymalfoy I totally understand!
I am due end nov and am already panicking about my DH family trying to dictate what happens over x Mas time. He himself doesn't understand that I want a very quiet Xmas with my first baby that will only be a few weeks old- he has the attitude 'will be will fine- your such a hypochondriac!' It drives me potty as I know he is expecting us to go to his family Xmas that has 30 people there when I sooooo won't be in the mood! It's stressing me out already! They all live in Dorset which means for us having to go for a few days when what I actually want is quiet time! And then there is the step son to take into the equation! Stress!!!!! Rant over :)

I am due boxing day, we are postponing christmas and told people we are not doing presents this year. We will of course give something to immediate family, but not getting in a pickle.

Also, we have saved loads of money buying second hand and using freecycle.

If people want to buy us anything, we are asking for things like nappies, kiddicare vouchers etc.

BTW if your are due in December, come join our thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1868609-December-2013-waddling-slowly-onwards

Oh yes!

EDD 16th Dec but I have a fiver on Christmas day!

I also went through redundancy last year - ended up staying at the same place in a different role but will probably only get stat mat pay so not happy about that and worried about being skint. DP luckily has enough so will have to lean on him for a bit.

I'm planning Christmas as normal in the sense that we will do the shopping in November and make sure everyone has their vouchers (no pressies) ready to go by the start of December. My biggest worry is that DP's family (parents and 30 year old brother) live 140 miles away so they will come and stay in our house once LO arrives and I don't think we have that much room. They may want to come over the Christmas period too depending when LO arrives and I feel totally overwhelmed by it all. We aren't going to anyone else's though so if people want to visit they can - my only provisio is that they have to not expect me or DP to run around after them as we expect to be knackered!

I don't have much family myself and as they are about 15 miles away can pop in for an afternoon or so and in that case there's no worries about them.

It just seems like everything will be sooooo busy and overwhelming for me that I worry I won't have time to settle into being a parent.

I am due 15 Dec and we are similarly skint. My tip is: take the pressure off yourself! None of the people you love (and who love you) are going to go 'OMG, what a selfish bitch, I mean I know she's just had a baby but where's my lavish gift/3 course meal?' And tbh if they do they can swivel.

I am planning gifts that take more thought than money - things like framed photos, or homemade bits. I am also thinking about gift amnesties with some people who I know are also struggling. I am NOT planning to be tromping round Oxford St in a mad panic in early Dec all fat and pregnant and stressed.

I hadn't thought muchness about Christmas (due 3rd Nov), but reckon maybe a plans in order now. Making gifts sound's ideal - foodie things maybe in little baskets. Without a baby pic haha
Plan

I'm due early January and have told family Christmas is cancelled! Nieces and nephews will get presents but everyone se we would normally buy for is getting something home made like cookies or fudge. We live about 30miles away from both sets of parents and it looks like my mum will be away this year so will likely stay at her house and either go to my inlaws for Xmas dinner or see them for a few hours in the morning, get a Chinese for dinner and have some old friends round in the evening for a final,baby free catch up (first in our group of hometown friends to have kids!)

I'm due on the 15th December and decided very early on to be super organised this year. The thought of shopping with a massive bump just wasn't appealing and whilst money isn't a huge issue at the moment spreading the cost always helps! I have stuck to my plan and have bought, wrapped and delivered a fair number of my presents already, just got DH and brother to go really. What I am worried about is where we will be on Christmas day, as the first grandchild on both sides everyone wants to be there on baby's 1st Christmas but everyone is super conscious about putting the other side out, with about 200 miles between the in laws its not like we can just pop round and see everyone! Who knows baby might not be here anyway (although my midwife did inform me that yes the hospital does book inductions on Christmas Day!!!).

One way to keep costs down is to do a secret santa style Christmas. We started doing this a few years ago in my family so we have a set budget and buy for one person, although we also buy the nieces and nephews something each too. But it cuts down on time and money. Might be worth suggesting to your families. It works really well for us and everyone is happy with the arrangement. Although it sometimes becomes the not so secret santa if you get someone and you're not sure what to buy them so end up roping in their other half e.g. when I get my brother-in-law!!