Sorry, I mention Xmas in this message

bathgatebuyer

This is a bit of a rant, ignore me if you must!

But. at work today we had the vote about who was getting the Xmas party venue and who was going. The price was working out at about £40 a head for a meal and entertainment and I got so much stick today for saying, "Sorry, can't afford it". The hassle I got from people who earn more than me has peeved me off. This is an optional event and I'm opting to spend that £40 on essentials such as feeding myself for a fortnight (my weekly shopping budget is about £20) and spend the rest on important stuff over the Winter rather than one dinner and a dodgy disco. The guys at work know about my debts - I'm not shy - and yet still went on and on about me not going. (And it's not as if the £40 is the final sum as I'd need to enter the 'secret santa' and deal with transport, not to mention buy something to wear and I don't want to spend money on something I'm going to wear once in the next year)

A few years back my previous employer said to me, "You're not really part of the team unless you come out drinking with us" despite me living a 3 hour journey away from the workplace :mad:

Is anyone else hacked off with the spend, spend, spend attitudes when it comes to Xmas?

SarahNeedle1872

Yes! And collections at work, and raffle tickets etc! I got a ribbing at work because I didn't want any raffle tickets to win a tv..... we already have a tv thank you, and that £1 could be put to much better use!

I'm also on a mission to convince the family to do a Secret Santa this year with the adults to save money (mainly because my Xmas savings are in an Icesave account - Doh!)

Buzzbox

I would be peeved off as well if I was you. People never seem to think twice that someone else's situation might not be as great as yours, especially around the work place. We luckily get our christmas party paid for by the company and I don't intend on buying anything to wear!

bathgatebuyer

Thanks! I'm glad it's not just me being deemed an 'Old Scrooge' I'm totally blunt with the guys as to why I don't go to the monthly meals and things, and thankfully I'm too bloodyminded not to be bullied into spending £100 or thereabouts just to fill their table! Good luck to them - they can spend on their credit cards if they like, but those days are long gone for me. Come the night of the Xmas party, I'll be on here or sitting on my spreadsheets working out my budgtes for 09!

(Amusingly, they also refuse to believe I don't have anything to wear for a black tie dinner :rotfl:I last bought - and wore- a dress was in 2001 so I'm definitely not spending cash on something that's so uneconomical!)

[P.S. My Mum would be sooooo proud of that last statement!]

jenjade

yeah it is a hell of a lot of money on all the different stuff about x mas and they forget the meaning and the fact it is only ONE day!!

SunderlandBlackCat

It bugs the hell out of me. :mad:

It's always miles away from where I live & in the current job the bosses are quite fond of rural castles that have been converted into country clubs where rooms cost £100+ per night & a taxi home wouldn't be too much less.

They of course stay over & put it on expenses while we're expected to pay ourselves.

Ironically though the sheep who just accepted it, forked out & gave me loads of grief for refusing to go & being a miseryguts have all been made redundant.

Jacks_xxx

It was the same in my last job hon, but once I'd worked out that 1/6 of my take home went on enforced work socialising (and 1/2 on childcare, plus 1/6 on running a second car to get me there....etc :eek: ) I was just so peed off about it and determined to get out that people stopped inviting me!

Tell then they're being grossly insensitive.

if the credit crunch, rampant inflation, banking crisis and mortgage situation is not having any effect on them then you're happy for them (wooooo!! :rolleyes: ) but you can't justify spending that money on something so frivolous.

The way things are going some of those people could be out of a job come New Year and they might wish they'd hung onto some of their last few pay packets.

Love Jacks xxx

Doomcow

hail hail bathgatebuyer - im in *exactly* the same boat (near enough)...

amazing how all these folk thing i worry about money at work when i do 5x the work for 1.3 of their pay.

idiots.. them and their herbal teas...

beanielou

Agree hun~Im opting out of everything this year as Im trying really hard to get this debt down.
Party pooper me!

MissKJ

Lets have an "OPT OUT OF CHRISTMAS" thread! We are having token gestures only with family. Kids a bit harder though.

I am not going to the starts at £40" do either. Thats one lesS headache to worry about!

dubgirl

Hi, I also totally understand that xmas work do is £38 just for the ticket that it without transport ie taxi, something decent to wear and some money for drinks, easily looking at £100. I'm not going, having been on works do for years now as ridiculous prices. What gets me is that the main bods that organise and chose venue, cost etc are the very same oneswho are also telling everyone that they are broke!