Diary of a Poor Person aged 46 1/2

GDB2222

Christmas? bah! Humbug!

Seriously, who needs all the tinselly stuff? You can be quite happy together with the basics. As kids, we used to be really pleased with a comic annual at this time of year. I guess that costs £5-10.

mrscmr

one pressie for each child and thats ur lot! no xmas here.... just makes me sad i cant do what i would like to do for them oh well

GDB2222

What would you like to do for them, and why? Do they really need a whole lot of prezzies? Or are they better off with one prezzy that's been chosen carefully and with love?

Happytogetdebtfree

I think what is meant is that compared to previous xmas's this xmas will be noticably different for kids to recognise a difference? Christmas is def an expensive affair i may forgo trimming up im not spending undue cash i know its bah humbuggy but for it to be taken down and thrown next year no thanks lol oh on the other hand may go ahead and buy trimmings galore he likes his xmas decs lol x

mrscmr

well it will be 1 pressie each child - £20 max whereas years ago it would be about £1000 in pressie cost! shocking! no xmas cards, food from lidl, and not heaps of food that we throw away. no going out at all, no new christmas day outfits! no sunshine holiday immediately after xmas as in the past. its fine - its just sometimes i think of our old life and feel sad.
i see people in the street who are living the life i used to live, u know,in the fancy shops ... buying whatever they need, laden down with shopping, not a care in the world. infact im surrounded by people who live that life, always at parties, out to dinner, treating the kids to this and that... and then there is us ... ummm stop the happy xmas music... queue the tumble weed... anyway one day it will be over.
yes i know u all think im silly and need to get a grip but sometimes i would just like to buy something nice without counting pennies every hour of every day of my life.
the End!

beanielou

mrscmr wrote: »

well it will be 1 pressie each child - £20 max whereas years ago it would be about £1000 in pressie cost! shocking! no xmas cards, food from lidl, and not heaps of food that we throw away. no going out at all, no new christmas day outfits! no sunshine holiday immediately after xmas as in the past. its fine - its just sometimes i think of our old life and feel sad.
i see people in the street who are living the life i used to live, u know,in the fancy shops ... buying whatever they need, laden down with shopping, not a care in the world. infact im surrounded by people who live that life, always at parties, out to dinner, treating the kids to this and that... and then there is us ... ummm stop the happy xmas music... queue the tumble weed... anyway one day it will be over.
yes i know u all think im silly and need to get a grip but sometimes i would just like to buy something nice without counting pennies every hour of every day of my life.
the End!

So would I TBH but hey ho (Or ho ho).

Happytogetdebtfree

Chin up mrs cmr its a ahrd life when we are in the budget sheet everytime we look at something be ita pint of milk or a bar of choc it has to be accounted for :O but we will get there, people never openly admit financially difficulty not everyone has troubles but i know what you mean we long for the day we can buy something without looking at the darn spreadsheet xxx

boredofbeingathome

mrscmr wrote: »

well it will be 1 pressie each child - £20 max whereas years ago it would be about £1000 in pressie cost! shocking! no xmas cards, food from lidl, and not heaps of food that we throw away. no going out at all, no new christmas day outfits! no sunshine holiday immediately after xmas as in the past. its fine - its just sometimes i think of our old life and feel sad.
i see people in the street who are living the life i used to live, u know,in the fancy shops ... buying whatever they need, laden down with shopping, not a care in the world. infact im surrounded by people who live that life, always at parties, out to dinner, treating the kids to this and that... and then there is us ... ummm stop the happy xmas music... queue the tumble weed... anyway one day it will be over.
yes i know u all think im silly and need to get a grip but sometimes i would just like to buy something nice without counting pennies every hour of every day of my life.
the End!

I know what you mean Mrsmc-those days for me are long gone.

But in all honesty, i wouldn't want to go and splurge out on pressies- ever. No one remembers them, they get trashed, and does it really mean anything other than you have spent a fortune and can say so? I used to love seeing the children's faces at Christmas and the excitement is definitely in just the show and the fact that there are presents and they enjoyed the little run ups to Christmas- school parties, Father Christmas and when they were older the disco's and others excitement. The anticipation was always sweeter than the day itself. No matter what present they had:D
I have also been away for Christmas and New Year a few times, and i enjoy taking less with me!- as the holiday is the present. So i suppose for me, Christmas really is about spending time with my family no matter where it is and just enjoying the moment for what it is- a special time with the family. Having a good old laugh at what trash is on telly or being sentimental about fav games as a child or even old tv progs.

Think of memories and treasure them, you have lots to look forward to and you know that it is only one day- no pressure at all;) It is really a celebration of winter more than anything and the bright lights keep the winter at bay. Make them sparkle, stick a smile on and make sure you get your £5 off the lidl shop voucher:rotfl::rotfl:- after all nothing tastes sweeter than knowing it is all paid for and you won't have big bills in the New Year.:T

Martin's new e mail also has hotel deals in them- so if i were you, i would spend even less on the relatives children ( by canny use of discount codes) and treat you and hubby to a night away somewhere with the dosh saved. Perfick:D

Bob x

GDB2222

mrscmr wrote: »

i see people in the street who are living the life i used to live, u know,in the fancy shops ... buying whatever they need, laden down with shopping,

Forgive me if I point out the contradictions in that. Since when do you find what you NEED in a fancy shop? Perhaps I'm a skinflint, but you don't need any of that stuff.

And then you say that they are burdened with their shopping.... Too bloody right! It's not necessary and it doesn't bring happiness.

Having said that (and there's a definite mean streak in my family!), if you've been money-saving for the last 2 years, maybe you deserve a treat. You need a bit of a break from scrimping, sometimes. It's like going on a holiday to recharge the batteries. After all, you've paid off over £90k of debts, and hubby spent £300 on a night out not that long ago. I just don't regard it as a treat to be in the habit of shopping for fancy stuff you don't actually need.

Happytogetdebtfree

Two pieces of good advice that made total sense xx