Scaling down Christmas as in emergency b&b accommodation

[Mascarponeandwine]

Do you think it would be reasonable for me to suggest that we only do a few presents for our children and maybe a couple for each other?

For context, we have had a house fire a few days ago, noones fault, but the house is a mess and the insurers are saying we can’t go back til February. So we’re bouncing about in emergency b&b accommodation.

I know I’ve got bigger things to worry about, but Xmas is only what, 7 to 8 weeks away. I have no address for amazon to send things to, no scissors or sellotape. I imagine the Xmas decs are smoke damaged. No idea what Xmas dinner will look like.

Do you think it would be reasonable to tell relatives no presents this year (only for the kids if they really wanted to)? I’ve just got enough on my plate trying to wash uniforms and work out who can rustle up the next dinner.

I’m not robust enough to post on Aibu at the moment hence posting here.

That’s awful thank goodness everyone is ok. Of course you’re not being unreasonable.

Oh poor you. Of course you're not being unreasonable. How old are the children? If they still believe in Santa Claus then you might want to do a stocking with a note from Santa saying the big present is coming when you are back in your home. I know hiding stockings/presents will be impossible in emergency accommodation but do you have a friend who would be happy to keep stuff at their house until Christmas Eve?

If the kids are old enough not to worry about Santa then explain the situation and have a late Christmas once you're back home.

I hope you get everything sorted shortly

Sobsorry op , what an absolute nightmare. How old are your dc?

Will the insurers find you a 4 month short term let rather than an emergency b&b?

Agree re contacting the insurers about something better for you.
Tell your inlaws what you need. Do you want to go to theirs for Christmas? Or your parebts if they are around?

Is a B&B really cheaper than, say, an Airbnb let of a flat OP? Something more private and homely?

How about looking on Gumtree and Freecycle type websites to see if someone is giving away some decorations?

Is that a possibility?

We’re taking a breather from the chaos this weekend and going to start again on Monday with the accommodation search.

The insurers have been brilliant. The issue with Airbnb and similar is that they are already booked for Xmas and new year, and odd weekends. so we’ll be turned out for 2 weeks. We live in a rural town so not heaps of choice.

6 month tenancies would be in the private rental sector - deposits, inventories, insurance and all that. I can’t face it at the moment.

What we need is a citadines aparthotel but none near here.

3 Kids between 8 and 13.

I had to clear out of my house due to flooding over Christmas two years ago. A short term let was the easiest thing. The insurance company were brilliant. The inventory stuff was easy and the only hassle was ensuring it was clean enough at the end for the deposit to be returned. The insurance issued cash up front for the whole tenancy. It was cheaper for them than temporary accommodation too. It's worth a look if you can. Good luck. It's so unsettling to turfed out of your home at no notice. We had a Christmas picnic!

If I was your relative, I’d really want to buy you presents this year especially the children to replace what they’ve lost. And I would more than understand and expect that you wouldn’t be up for buying for extended family. So yes YANBU, but definitely let them buy for the kids.

Similar happened to a friend of mine (house fire and emergency B&B) with four children. They decided to delay Christmas until they moved back into their home - the children were old enough to understand (youngest was about 8 I believe) and it made moving home an extra special celebration. You could perhaps consider doing that and on the day itself go out for a meal / have a takeaway / have a picnic and play games etc.

So sorry you're going through this. Of course you aren't being unreasonable. If anyone thinks you are, they are extremely selfish people and I wouldn't speak to them again.