Great "How to have a cheap Xmas if you've kids" Hunt

triage999

capn_nikko wrote: »

Here's the traditional Scottish Method, as frequently expounded by my Scottish father in law:
1. Go into the garden late on Christmas Eve and fire off a gun.
2. Come back in and tell the kids Santa's committed suicide.

Absolutely brilliant!!!

2boysmum

capn_nikko wrote: »

Here's the traditional Scottish Method, as frequently expounded by my Scottish father in law:
1. Go into the garden late on Christmas Eve and fire off a gun.
2. Come back in and tell the kids Santa's committed suicide.

Thank you! I was feeling a bit down today but your post made me laugh out loud and i'm scottish!!!

Sharon

triage999

I have a 16 year old daughter who has asked for a few expensive things such as a certain tracksuit from JD sports with Nike trainers to match! so just for those two is around £100! but with her age group and not wanting much else barring makeup, perfume and CD's I cannot skimp on that really......

Her 16th birthday was 2 days ago and she got the mobile she wanted for that but that was it from me, so not spoilt.

My youngest little girl i 9, she is dead easy, she is a perfect little tom boy and just wants lego, skateboard, fingerboard, Liverpool football jacket, trainers and clothes for 'Harvey' her build a bear workshop bear that she loves to death!

Me and their dad split after 13 years together back in July, it has been tough going and they understand, but I still cannot help feel guilty!

treesrgreen_2

My two girls have always understood that the stockings are from Santa and anything else is from mummy and daddy. This year they have got several 'shared' presents to unwrap this christmas including a lovely new CD player/radio for their bedroom, their old one died a couple of months ago - bargain on e-bay which has also provided 2 christmas party dresses and 2 pairs of sparkly party shoes for less than £20. I have been very careful in my purchases ensuring that the prices were thoroughly checked on-line in all the various retailers comparing post and packing as well as the purchase price. I started my christmas gift buying about 5 months ago setting myself a very strict monthly budget and not going over it. My girls understand that me and their dad work hard for what we earn and that whilst we are not rich financially they have what they need and sometimes what they want. Most important of all they understand the difference between 'need' and 'want'. My youngest was devastated when we cashed in our change jar (which was full) and announced at school the day after that we were poor now because we had no money left in the pot. She was only happy when the change started to reappear in the jar.

JimmyTheWig

Not present related, but a great, free Christmas activity for young kids... Christmas light spotting.
I took our three (nearly 5, 2 and a half, nearly 1) out yesterday evening for a walk around our local streets. We found 38 houses with Christmas lights up.
The littley fell asleep, but the other two were really eager to spot the next house with lights up. Was also great counting practice.

Kandipandi

A few weeks ago we were explaining to the children that there is a budget this year and that although we would love for them to get everything they wanted it was not always possible, to which our DS 9 said - well if there is anything you cant afford to buy us don't worry about it because Santa will just bring it......... we were struck dumb!

Superfast_Gran

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Not present related, but a great, free Christmas activity for young kids... Christmas light spotting.
I took our three (nearly 5, 2 and a half, nearly 1) out yesterday evening for a walk around our local streets. We found 38 houses with Christmas lights up.
The littley fell asleep, but the other two were really eager to spot the next house with lights up. Was also great counting practice.

I do this every year with my Grandkids - only difference is we go in the car, which is not free - having MS I can't walk far enough, but it does mean I still get to hear all the "WOW's" and giggles of delight, so it's for the fuel cost for that :j

Superfast_Gran

jellyhead wrote: »

My friend has joined betterware instead - you get your own exclusive territory and there's no outlay. No offence to kleeneze, but an exclusive territory and no outlay seemed like a better idea to my friend.

That's part of the "intelligence test" though - can your friend progress up to the stage where they earn in excess of £35K PER MONTH? I think not! Mind you, to get to that level does take work and commitment, but not bad for only a £75 set up fee which includes £30 of the stuff that actually goes through people letterboxes!

PS took me so long to answer this quote because I've been too busy earning lots of dosh for minimal effort and, frankly, forgot all about the blinkered view until someone else posted and I actually looked in

JimmyTheWig

Superfast_Gran wrote: »

too busy ... minimal effort

Which is it?

Superfast_Gran

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Which is it?

The minimal effort is Kleeneze!

Too busy is 4 grandchildren aged 5 and under who absolutely adore their Granny and love spending time with her, racing about helping family bring home shopping - Christmas and otherwise, helping Mum - who also has MS - with mailing and retrieving OU degree course assignments as she only has use of one hand, Christmas lunches & parties - mainly with Kleeneze colleagues, coffee with friends, reading - novels as well as self help books, charity work, yada yada yada - need I go on more - I could!!

Most of the above, if not all, I might not have the energy for (that's my worst MS symptom- although falling downstairs frequently doesn't help) if I had a "proper" job!

Anything else?