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Is Anyone Else Going to have a No Presents Christmas?

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  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    tesuhoha wrote: »
    Thank you so much. You have brought a tear to my eye.

    My best wishes to you and yours for the coming year.

    Although it seems hard now I'm sure your austere approach to Christmas, and the age of your kids, will show you just how much you can enjoy it without breaking the bank.

    Spend what you can afford and let FREEVIEW give you a party.:D
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    tesuhoha wrote: »
    I'm off to bed now but will be back tomorrow.

    Or not, as the case may be.
  • TDQO
    TDQO Posts: 807 Forumite
    There will be very limited presents this year as my sister is the only one out of 6 of us earning a decent wage! My mum has said she cant afford presents and i'm relieved because even if we did have loads of money i'd rather spend it on doing up the house to sell or paying off debts than silly presents we really don't need.
    The size of a glory hole in an open pit should not be greater than the cross-section of the haul trucks that dump into it. Otherwise, you are bound to lose a truck, sooner or later. Source: Sergio Cha

    I'm sorry for the demon I've become but you should be sorry for the angel you are not.
  • taxi73
    taxi73 Posts: 20,815 Forumite
    Sorry to hear about your OH losing his job.We are sort of having a present free christmas as in yes people are getting presents but they have all been bought out of vouchers earnt from surveys and points.
    We are not having a christmas dinner as I will work the day and DH will work the night so it will be whatever we have in.
    I agree though that it's harder when you have young children.
    I'm sure you will still enjoy it as you won't have all the added pressure.There will be loads of families all in the same situation I guess.
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    mandi wrote: »
    What a lovely thing to say Landy :j

    OMG:eek: . Your Avatar fancies me:eek: :D:D:D:D .
  • chevalier
    chevalier Posts: 7,937 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    sorry to be a bit dense but how is having no decorations up going to help your mood? Or do you mean that you aren't having any because you haven't got any?

    I would have thought having a bit of festivity would be helpful, but on the other hand maybe it would remind you too much of what you haven't got.

    Dang i have confused myself now
    sorry
    chev
    I want a job that is less than an hour driving away from my house! Are you listening universe?
  • whatatwit
    whatatwit Posts: 5,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    We haven't bothered with presents for a few years now. Only a small family (9 including relations) and we usually eat together and split the cost. Mum and I buy a small table present for each person and this is included in the cost.

    Reading this has got me thinking about Christmas cards, I'm sure that last year I put a note in the cards I sent that in 2008 I wouldn't be doing cards, but making a charitable donation instead. As we are both self employed, think that charity could be us this year :(
    Official DFW Nerd Club - Member no: 203.
  • Dizzie77
    Dizzie77 Posts: 2,206 Forumite
    whatatwit wrote: »
    We haven't bothered with presents for a few years now. Only a small family (9 including relations) and we usually eat together and split the cost. Mum and I buy a small table present for each person and this is included in the cost.

    Reading this has got me thinking about Christmas cards, I'm sure that last year I put a note in the cards I sent that in 2008 I wouldn't be doing cards, but making a charitable donation instead. As we are both self employed, think that charity could be us this year :(

    For the last couple of years, I've sent "E-cards" at Christmas - either charity ones if you have a bit of cash, or just general ones, which are free....
    Most of my friends are on e-mail (Those who aren't still get a card - which is only about 5 people).
    They only get put in the recycling bin a couple of weeks later anyway.....

    And I always buy my Christmas cards and wrapping paper in the january sales (along with a couple of presents, usually....!!) and put them away in the attic until December.....they don't go off...!!

    In relation to christmas presents.....why not give vouchers? Not for high street shops, but to cash in for favours....I did this when my friend gave birth to her first baby - I couldn't afford a gift, but I gave them vouchers for two hours' worth of ironing, two hours worth of housework, a meal for two.....things that are actually useful when you have a new baby!! (and even better, you can make the vouchers yourself.....:T )
    Why does nobody say Thank You anymore??:mad:
    Debt Free as of September 2011 :j
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  • tesuhoha
    tesuhoha Posts: 17,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    chevalier wrote: »
    sorry to be a bit dense but how is having no decorations up going to help your mood? Or do you mean that you aren't having any because you haven't got any?

    I would have thought having a bit of festivity would be helpful, but on the other hand maybe it would remind you too much of what you haven't got.

    Dang i have confused myself now
    sorry
    chev

    The only decoration we normally have is a large real Christmas tree. As this usually sets us back about £20-£30 we won't have that, or the Christmas candles I normally light, or the Christmas Crackers. I suppose I could put up some tinsel and some baubles that normally go on the tree. We do have some Christmas tree lights but not sure if there is anywhere they can go.
    The forest would be very silent if no birds sang except for the birds that sang the best






  • tesuhoha
    tesuhoha Posts: 17,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    I can't give favour vouchers as most of my family live 50 miles away apart from one brother in law who we only see on Christmas Eve and he wouldnt want anything like that as he is well off with no children.
    The forest would be very silent if no birds sang except for the birds that sang the best






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