Christmas debt - will you go deeper into debt?

margaretclare

elona wrote:

Best of luck for 1st of December and I am sure I will only be one of many who will be thinking of you.

Thank you very very much - your kind thoughts and wishes are much appreciated, I can't tell you how much. I am NOT looking forward to this, but I really don't have any alternative.

With best wishes

Aunty Margaret

ms_london

It saddens me when people get into debt over Christmas, it really does. And then spend the next year paying it off, ready for the next Christmas.

It can be done "on the cheap", there's only so much you can eat/drink, so no need to go overboard.

MrsMW

Aunty Margaret, I totally agree with Elona. If you are kind enough to invite someone to share Christmas Day with you they have to fit in with your plans.
We have decided to go out for Christmas lunch, I've always thought it was too expensive but MrW has put his foot down because he knows that I'm not really well enough to cook for us and two big sons. I could suggest that they cook but I don't think the results would be edible!
Best wishes for your operation and make sure you look after yourself.

margaretclare

Hi MrsMW

Thank you very much for your good wishes.

It's a pretty good idea to go out for Christmas Day lunch. I've done it before in the past. There is no law which states you have to spend all Christmas morning in the kitchen producing all those 'trimmings' that Elona described yesterday.

I think we will be OK - I've made quite clear to B that we will do our own thing. Christmas Day tea-time isn't going to be very impressive - maybe turkey and pickle sandwiches. And if it's too late, too dark to go down to the shore to see winter visitors, the waders, migrant birds, we think we'll go along the sea-front and look at the Christmas lights. If B's friend wants to come with us, she's welcome. If not, she can stay here and watch TV, or go home if that's what she prefers.

I talked to another friend this morning - she's not as assertive as we are! And she says that year after year she's had a 'groaning table' for Christmas tea-time and after lunch with all those 'trimmings', nobody has wanted anything! But they 'pick' just because it's there. I've also read that an average of 2 pounds in weight will be gained per man, woman and child in the UK over the Christmas weekend. Given that our friend buys Slimfast meals or drinks, she wouldn't thank us for providing that 'groaning table', which we're not going to anyway.

Best wishes

Aunty Margaret

elona

Aunty Margaret

I have just had a horrible thought - when I mentioned the "trimmings" - I meant the stuff that some people expect because it is so heavily advertised.

I will not be doing all that lot as I would like to lose weight and even if I did not I think that a Groaning table is almost obscene.

We might have smoked salmon or prawn cocktail for starters, and chicken or turkey crown with lots of veg and some roast potatoes, stuffing balls and maybe a few little sausages.

Prefer ice cream to follow unless anyone is desperate for Christmas pudding then I buy a small one.

Table is nicely set and we have christmas crackers and just enjoy being together as a family.

margaretclare

Yes, I agree, it's obscene! But maybe, that's the explanation for the fact that the supermarkets will be absolutely mobbed for the last day or 2 before Christmas, and people will be lining up to repeat the process the day after.

Not for us!

Aunty Margaret

skintchick

I've had all my presents, cards etc bought since the beginning of this month *looks smug*
I buy things all year so that I don;t have to face the scrum in the shops - thing is now I am having to stop myself from grabbing pretty, shiny things as I don;t need to buy anything else (but they're so pretty!)

I go to my parents' so I don;t have to buy any food, although I have to buy petrol to get there and have money for going out (all budgetted for).

I have decorations from past years but am such a Scrooge won't put them up as I won't be there, and nor will my housemate!

fruityslh

I've been buying pressies throughout this year for Xmas during the sales/offers etc, I have a spreadsheet with what I've bought (so I don't forget who it's for), what I've spent (so I can transfer from my Xmas saving account that has £30 a month put in )and how much I've saved from buying at full price (pure money saving smugness).

For 20 people I have spent £240, had I bought these items at full price I would have spent £370. Everything was wrapped by the beginning of November, (I buy wrapping paper that can be used for Christmas/bdays/weddings when on special offer in Jan and save) my Xmas food spending will basically be the cost of the Turkey and the beer (my hubby gets free wines & spirits through work), other items (mincemeat / Cranberry sauces etc) have been stockpiling since September through my normal shopping budget.

As the wise man says Christmas is December 25th every year, it's not exactly a surprise is it, what's so wrong with planning ahead? My family think I'm mad, however my Mum is now starting to do the same (since being put on disability and a severe drop in income) and has admitted that I'm not as barmy as she thought, she's even reducing the amount of gifts she's buying my niece this year as she gets so much, she never gets round to using everything and even gets duplicate gifts.

moonbeam682

margaretclare wrote:

Yes, I agree, it's obscene! But maybe, that's the explanation for the fact that the supermarkets will be absolutely mobbed for the last day or 2 before Christmas, and people will be lining up to repeat the process the day after.

Not for us!

Aunty Margaret

those iceland ads on TV make me feel really disgusted :mad:

Have you seen how much food is on their table? _pale_

No wonder children have such high expectations of Christmas

got most of my shopping done now, not perfect as I am still a novice moneysaver but a definate improvement on last year.

Next year will be soooo different will start saving from Jan & stick to it! I'm sure you'll all keep me on track!

elona

What about the Marks and Spencer food adverts - "It is not just ....."

I hate to think how much it must cost.