Is Anyone Else Going to have a No Presents Christmas?

MissKJ

I think Christmas would be far nicer if EVERY-ONE had a cheap Christmas, not juts us DFW's. I hate seeing crowded shops and over indulgence. This year, we are reviving some of my late Grans traditions for the evening. Even down to the same buffet. Tin of ham, tinned salmon, sausage rolls, soft Barms, boiled ribs, and home made apple pie. I cant wait to see if my cousins notice it is what gran used to do. I am looking for some old fashioned second hand tacky decorations to stick on the ceiling. Then on with the old fashioned games. I don't think our kids will have ever heard of "nelsons eye" and such like. She even had a box of silly noses and eyebrows that everyone wore, I can't wait! It is like a trip down memory lane.

LOUBY28

I have just read this from start to finish and feel ever so slightly sick.

I have spent a fair bit on my two boys, and although I have not gone mad, I could have probably halved the amount I have bought them. I have got caught up in the comercial side of christmas. My youngest is so excited to see all the lights in peoples houses...all the pressies are exessive.

So although my OH has a good job, in the current financial climate it think there are better things I could have done with this money....so tomorrow I shall be returning a few pressies to the shops!!!

My OH and I , don't spend much on each other, usually a book or CD, and we have got a family pic for the parents., sister in law and Nanna of the kis,.so not to exessive there. I was going to top this up with the usual wine, smellies etc....but I have now decided that I wont. My mother in law lives alone and I know she has lots of jobs in her house that need doing, and she does not ever ask...so she will have a voucher for decorating and gutter cleaning etc from us......OH will then be despatched in his ten off!! And sister in law and hubby ...will get a night alone voucher...and we will have are goreous nephew and nice to stay for the evening....

In reading this It has made me appreciate what is "real" christmas. My heart goes out to all those of you that have lost jobs, and especially those that have lost loved ones.

My OH , is not at work this christmas, usually he does some days depending on his shift, so that will be the main focus, us all being together. x Thanks for this lovely thread, I have seen the light!!

Paige

We are both self employed and feeling the pinch. Things are OK at the moment but next years looking very grim. We still have 19K worth of cc debts to pay off but we have made massive headway with our other debts this year.
We have cut out all pressies except for the Kids and our parents. So only had to buy for 6 instead of 16. This has been hard as we have been very extravagant in the past (hence the debt) We are cooking christmas lunch this year but the groceries have been split between us and both sets of parents. We have lost a couple of friends along the way, we have told them we cant afford to go out for the usual festivities. These people were not the friends we thought they were, other friends have invited us to their house for meals and drinks or we are having a bring a plate supper.
It has made me very sad this christmas to have fallen out with 2 friends but also very angry as I have realised that they have taken advantage of our open house every holiday and not given anything in return.
I am looking forward to the holidays, our decorations from the loft, lots of homebaking and christmas music and being thankful that I will be with my wonderful husband and beautiful daughters. Thats the best present of all.
Paige X

RAS

halight wrote: »

Hi all,
.
The twins are 5 months old now so my wife has not worked in 5 months. so we have a lot less money coming in.

If you are dealing with doting GPs, one cheap preseent that will probably be treasured is a set of hand or footprints from the twins. A sheet of clean paper, some poster paint and a pawprint from each child, in a cheapish frame. Given to each set of GPs from the twins.

halight wrote: »

We also are not going to buy the twin anything as only being 5 months old thay wont notice!!!! Plus the Granparnts seem to be buying them stuff on a weekley bacies at the moment and our thinking is that thay are going to be given that many prents by everyone else that we wont know what to do with evrything!!!

Totally agree. Once they get less doting, try to get them to give the children longer lasting gifts.

Walshyboy84

My OH and I are in a similar boat. I'm going to buy Christmas presents this year but I'm not going to go the whole hog.

Me and the OH are strictly saying no to each other and it's ok. We buy stuff when we want it and do not need to focus on one day to do this merriment thing...

If only to persuade my sister the same thing... :rolleyes:

RAS

meerkat2007 wrote: »

So now, it's Christmas cards to friends and neighbours, and those members of the family who haven't taken umbrage at our lack of largesse.

Sad that your family are less than generous in spirit but totally agree with you. It seems that some parents think their child is the centre of the universe.

meerkat2007 wrote: »

The decorations are ones we've had for years - we have a matching pair of "candles" made from tinsel-like material that were the pride and joy of my maternal grandmother, and she passed away over 26 years ago, but these decorations are still like new. There are others that aren't quite as old, but are getting there - again, they are in excellent condition, so why buy more?

My heirloom was made in the 2nd World War and comprises some glass beads, and a few baubles, extended with home made balls of silver paper and little silver bells made out of sections of egg box, silver paper on top and white painted inside, all strung on button thread. If that goes up, then it is Christmas for me, whatever else happens.

Cazzdevil

My OH and I are having a no presents Christmas along with my parents and my brother & his wife. It was a mutual agreement between everyone since we're all feeling the pinch so we've agreed that our gift to eachother is to have a bloody good knees up family get together; something which we'll all enjoy far more than a few presents.

OH and I, instead of BUYing things for eachother have decided to DO things for eachother instead. By this I mean, OH has promised to have a go at giving me a pedicure and I've promised to give him back massages etc. Nice things for eachother which don't cost anything but mean more than bought presents.

This is gonna be a good but cheap Christmas

MrsPorridge

I haven't read through all the posts on this topic so apologies if it's already been mentioned, but I just heard this on the news tonight and wanted to pass it on. Similar to your idea Cazzdevil and that is give IOUs to people e.g. an IOU to mow someones lawn or an IOU to do someone's ironinng, or wash someones car. I think that's a really good idea and perhaps more in line with what Christmas should be about - that is thinking about the person and not just going out and buying any old thing, but actually doing something for the person.

paybacktime2008

Kind of related to the thread. This weekend me and bro were visiting my mum. Over the christmas hols we are going to have lots of 70's retro dinners ..... very old style......corned beef hash, cheese and potato pie etc. I think it will be lovely to have all of us together, reliving our childhood 70s christmases albeit foodwise.

Do some people actually buy all new decorations every year? Crazy. Mum still has all our homemade efforts. We are 37,41,44! Myself I have my DS treasures, and just buy one new bauble every year. Part of the fun for me is remembering where and when you bought the different decorations.

Presents wise....kids in the family and mum only. Have a good one whatever you find yourself doing.

purpleivy

We have a tree, already had all the decs for it.
We're still paying off credit card debt (this was planned, result of a new extension last year, but is taking longer than expected, because things keep happening!) so DH have decided that we won't buy each other gifts this Christmas at all, as we would prefer to see the debt reduced more quickly. Have spent less on the children this year, but they have both got things that they want and need, so no probs there.

It means far more to me to be spending the time off work with my loved ones and having a lovely time. Family for Christmas and friends for New Year.