How do you cope with Christmas Social Events?

Drea

I'm not usually on these boards but just wanted to reply. I had the same problem with my work day out being on Wednesday and I really needed a new outfit (it is super posh, black tie type do). Tesco saved the day I managed to get a full outfit for £25. It was only £10 for a pair of trousers and top!

catkins

Well I'm not the best person to give advice on works' do's cos I hate them! In 24 years of working I have only been to 4 Christmas parties (when I have worked in small places and known everyone!) I am not good at socialising with people I don't know that well. Also I have problems eating out unless it is with OH or people I am close to (silly I know but I just cannot seem to get over it). So I just don't go - sometimes I have made excuses other times I have been honest and said that I don't want to go.

Anyway if you want to go then what about places like Tesco, Primark, Asda, New Look for an outfit? How posh is it? You could get a decent pair of black trousers which you can wear again and again and just a nice top for not a lot of money. Or do you have some black trousers or a nice skirt and then you just need to get a top.

Anyway if you do go I hope you enjoy yourself. At least you will have your OH with you - all the places I have ever worked bar one have never let you bring anyone else.

Burlesque_Babe

pity I didn't see this before - I'm in Poole and am rather larger than all my friends, but have 2 wardrobes you could have rummaged through, from sizes 18 wayyyyyyyyyyy upwards (quite a few bits with tags etc on - ahem)

Plus sizes in charity shops are either non-existent or a crimpelene throw back to the 70s that someone of around 70 would wear. Tesco in Poole seem to have stopped their plus size range sadly and the Primark in Poole doesn't seem to do much above a 20. M+S in the Dolphin Centre have some bits but nothing fantastic.

PM me if you see this in time, I might be able to lend you something.

bathgatebuyer

In all honesty? I just don't go to them. The hassle I have had of late for not going is unbelievable particularly when there were 3 call-offs so I could ahve had a free ticket.

It was first mentioned some months back that we have a Xmas dinner costing £40. Now, £40 to some people might not be much but to me as an MSEr and DFW is about a fortnights worth of groceries, so a lot of money. You then have to throw in the fact that I don't have anything to wear (I have 3 worksuits, about 8 or 9 pairs of jogging / tracksuit / cycling bottoms, 3 pairs of jeans and that's it, no dresses or skirts, no plain black trousers, 50 pairs of trainers - yep, FIFTY! - one pair of workshoes and 3 pair of steel toe capped safety boots). Clearly nothing suitable for a black tie. So, it would have been another £50 or so to buy even a relatively cheap dress, plus shoes for the sake of one night out with people I work with everyday anyway!!!

Anyhow, the amount that has been said about it really miffs me off.

"You must have a dress" Why must I? I have never liked wearing dresses.
"But you must have something like a nice glittery top to wear?" What for? Sitting at the football on a Saturday?
"But you're meant to be a girl - why don't you own high heels?" Eh, I am a girl, just with more comfortable feet that you.

Cheeky patronising gobsh...................

Kaz2904

I don't ever go to my work do anymore and every year I am quizzed about why not. In fact thinking back to when I qualified I've not been to one.
The first year I didn't know about it and was then worried I couldn't afford it (only started the job September) so was honest and said I couldn't really afford it because I was a month short on wages. The following year I was on maternity leave so wasn't around. Ever since then I've found that I just can't spend the time or the money in December as I have so many family birthdays + christmas + new year to factor in. So even if I can afford the money- I can't afford the time.
When I explain it to my colleagues they are ok ish but TBH I don't give a to55. When I was challenged quite harshly once I turned around and said why should I put a night out with my colleagues for me ABOVE christmas presents and food for my children?
I don't get !!!!!! anymore!

mbaz

Hiya!

Luckily mine and OH's do's are funded by the company and we're taking it in turns to drive so we don't have to pay for a taxi.

Looking forward to them as we never go out any other time!

Batfink

I've never been a big fan of work-related social gatherings. It might sound bad, but really the people I work with are not my friends, and the time I spend with this is more than enough. Few a few years I felt duty bound to attend and always ended up wishing I hadn't bothered.

For the past year really - when I get invited somewhere I just immediately say no, politely but firmly. A couple of people have taken the hump but the rest have just appreciated my honesty. The Christmas party always seems to be on an assumed attendance basis, so when the list came round to select which food you wished to order (like I know in October what I might fancy just before Christmas) I just crossed out my name and no-one was even surprised.

I'm not saying 'don't go' - just that there is an option.
x

frugallass

if your budget doesn't stretch to anything new how about wearing all black and dressing it up with sparkly bets, brooches, hair slides and shoes - even if you don't have any of these items you can pick them up from charity shops or your friends my have things lurking in their jewellery boxes

if you can't afford a taxi, do you have a friend that can come and pick you up