4 all those bit down right now

cady

hi ive just popped in to see how this thread is doing and think its wonderful how people have different traditions and none of them are money related i thought id share mine .... when we were younger my mama and dad had very little money and EVERYTHING got wrapped up seperatly so it looked like we had huge piles of suff and you would open things and some would be toys and things and others would be socks (wrapped seperatly lol) or knickers and 10p mix ups and magazines and we sit in a circle an unwrap one at a time and it would take us hours to unwrap our stuff and we would laugh at the randon things wrapped up and its one of the only times of year we all sit down lik ethat and i love it even though were all older and my mam and dad have a lot more money we still get presents like that as it wouldnt be christmas with out it!!!

Merry Chistmas

Cady x

gailey_2

That sounds lovley anyone else got any debt free cheap ideas our traditions for xmas?
My great aunt used to make a snowman and when u took off his had think was jar covered on cotton wool paper mache head everyone had tiny cheap presents inside!

gailey_2

Having tough day trying to be positive as teh xmas food specilas keep depressing me as we have hardly any tasty xmas treats and no turkey as yet so me and oh feeling bit sorry for ourselves tonight.
Im listing on ebay like mad but its gone quiet on selling front.
Only light on horizion was free pressie in additions sale as i had credit with them from last xmas hwere they gave me refund and i dident know what 2 spend on so just left itcame in handy this year!

Im stressing now that we not got enough food or enough presents but have tried to love to our means pay my debts and bills but got few bills coming up end of dec/jan im stressing about plus high ebay fees!

dolly_day_dream

gailey wrote: »

Having tough day trying to be positive as teh xmas food specilas keep depressing me as we have hardly any tasty xmas treats and no turkey as yet so me and oh feeling bit sorry for ourselves tonight.
Im listing on ebay like mad but its gone quiet on selling front.
Only light on horizion was free pressie in additions sale as i had credit with them from last xmas hwere they gave me refund and i dident know what 2 spend on so just left itcame in handy this year!

Im stressing now that we not got enough food or enough presents but have tried to love to our means pay my debts and bills but got few bills coming up end of dec/jan im stressing about plus high ebay fees!

Gailey I don't know how many you are feeding- if it is you and OH then have you considered buying a smaller cut - I don't often advocate them but Sainsbury's do a turkey roast for about £4.49 which will easily serve two of you. If it is for a family have you considered cooking a larger chicken? There are no rules that say that you have to have turkey - what matters is who you have around you and your attitude towards it all.

You are doing really great to try and live within your means - that will pay huge dividends later when you don't have huge stresses about unpaid bills. Presents don't have to cost money. You could make presents or give vouchers - the Christmas and festivities board has lots of very low cost ideas. The people who matter will not want you to get into debt buying presents and those who do want you to do not matter.

I am sending you hugs and hope that things get much better for you soon

Dolly

gailey_2

Thanks dolly I have been quite postive and kept within budgets for presnts and making stuff. Proba overspend on daughetr but been buying cheap 2nd hand since july and sold stuff.
Its teh grocery budget depressing me this month as food seems to have shot upcan never remeber turkeys being this expensive!
May have to consider your idea as ounds best as allwows me to get other things too.
Its all the estra treats and trimmings like cakeschocs and alchol plus more meat than usual all adds up.

RAS

Gailey
We almost never have turkey. Last year it was pheasant (very local and cheap), which I much prefer. Always used to do them when there were only two of us for Christmas. Not sure yet for this Christmas.

debtdesperado

It's lovely to read everyone's thoughts on this thread!

My suggestion for a cheap xmas idea is to buy the cheapest possible crackers, and then carefully put a scratch card inside each one - they will still be cheaper than 'luxury' crackers, and much more exciting with the possibility that you could win loads of cash!:j