Bankruptcy and christmas

RichesToRags

MicheH wrote: »

Actually i'm sure you can spend them in wilkinsons

Yeah Miche you can, I used to love spending them in woolies but alas no more...

Lost2

When I went BR in March, I joined the sealed pot thread.
It's where you have a home made money box, and you drop in any money that you have spare. I usually put the money I have left at the end of the week from my shopping money and at the end of the month I put all the change I have left from my purse. We are going to have are big count up on December 1st so it will be interesting to see what is in my pot & money box.

tigerfeet2006

Lets try that again then

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=101

seven-day-weekend

skibadee wrote: »

I was declared BR nearly 3 wks ago and am panicing as to how Im going to afford christmas this year......obviously I'm glad I no longer have credit...and never want it again.
How have others coped with this time of years costs?

Just have a roast dinner like you usually do with some home-made paper chains. Don't buy any presents. Buy your children one thing or preferably make them. They'll have plenty from other people.

Chrisatmas doesn't need to cost a fortune and I don't know why everybody goes over the top.

We gave our son an IOU once because the thing he wanted would be cheaper in the January sales. He had some presents on Christmas day from other people so he didn't lose out.

seven-day-weekend

lee316 wrote: »

Just a thought, but why is it necessary to give presents at Xmas?
There is other ways to show love and appreciation, is there not?
We have wondered about Xmas as well, and than it hit us, and it was kinda liberating. When I think how much we use to spend on presents, and had a good look around the house, our kids always got what they wanted, they've got mobiles, game consoles, laptops, what is that teaching them about value of money and hard work? And what posibly could they want, or more need?
So this year they will get nothing, and they know it. Instead, they will get things that they need when they need it, not just because it's Xmas.
We have been honest and upfront with them about our predicament, and used it as a lesson for them to learn from.
I don't feel that we are being mean, if anything I regret spending last 14 and 16 years of their life teaching them that they can have everything they want just because they want it, without giving it a thought to how they get it.

I really wish I could thank you more than once.

Madmonk

My 3 angels who are now 20,19 and 17 prefer to have a stocking each filled with silly, daft and thoughtful presents rather than a mountain of expensive ones. I have always started collecting bits and bobs from Jan onwards for their stockings. It really is amazing what you can buy from charity shops and poundshops. You just have to think ahead, I already have 2 drawers full of bits and bobs ready to wrap and stuff in their stockings - when I suggested back in the summer they were too old for stockings this year, and maybe they would prefer some cash instead all 3 were up in arms! Their stockings were the best bit of christmas - so it looks like I'll still be doing it for a few years to come - :j:j:j - I love finding silly bits and pieces for 20p 0r 30p knowing that one of my angels will love it! Sad or what!!! (Oh and by the way they all wake up at around 4am on christmas morning just to delve into their stockings arghhhh!!!!!!!)!:D:D:D

RichesToRags

Madmonk

Not sad at all, I love doing the stockings, its always more personal than the other gifts.

I thought it was just me who had a 20 year old who still loved the stocking, I did the same as you a couple of years ago and tried saying she was too old for it but she was having none of it. She's also the first one up on christmas day and the one who wakes the others up to come and dive on me in bed.

They bring their stockings into my room and get in bed with me to empty them and even if its 4 in the morning, I love it and love the fact that they haven't grown out of it yet, helps make my christmas.

Madmonk

Thanks R2R's I was beginning to think I must have the weirdest kids in the world? Last year I made the mistake of putting party poppers in their stockings - arghh the whole of our street must have heard the 3 of them yelling and screaming and popping the damn things! Oh and we even wait until they are asleep to sneak in to their rooms and put them on the ends of their beds - we must be quite mad!!!!!

RichesToRags

Hahaha so do I, I've been caught once or twice by the eldest though!

skylight

I do online surveys in return for Amazon vouchers. As I leave these on account and start spending them June ish, or whenever a good deal at Amazon comes up (ie, Hannah Montana promotion some months back, I got a shoe bag at £2, a large handbag for £3 and a free alarm clock; paid via vouchers from surveys.

I earn about £100 a year from the surveys and at least its the stocking fillers sorted for the kids. It means that I can include in my budget either a small amount to save or spend each month.

I think that the key really is not to see Christmas as a December thing but to shop all year for it. If I had the space I would be getting the cards/wrapping paper etc in the Jan sales, but I have no where to store it.