Worried

ZarZar1990

Also Shelldean, fantastic idea, would really work well for little'uns, I'm going to put all this amazing ideas to the back of my mind and save them for when I have kids
xxx

poppy_f1

last year i done a hamper for my mum which i included all the things she would use both toiletry wise bit also got things like the coffee she likes and stuff like oatcakes

ilovecheese

Hello

I have to ask the question why bother with Christmas presents? I have not brought Christmas presents for at least the last 5-6 years. Where is the pressure coming from to spend money you don't have on presents most people dont want. I just do not understand it!

The advertising drives me crazy! spend spend spend, all the shops make out they are doing you a huge favour with offers and buy two get one free, but they are not! they are still making huge profits.

My family and friends call me bar-humbug because I refuse to be drawn in to this spending frenzy, no-one should feel under pressure to spend money just because it is Christmas, if i was in charge I would cancel the whole thing. Total waste of time and money.

Jacks_xxx

ilovecheese wrote: »

Hello

I have to ask the question why bother with Christmas presents? I have not brought Christmas presents for at least the last 5-6 years. Where is the pressure coming from to spend money you don't have on presents most people dont want. I just do not understand it!

The advertising drives me crazy! spend spend spend, all the shops make out they are doing you a huge favour with offers and buy two get one free, but they are not! they are still making huge profits.

My family and friends call me bar-humbug because I refuse to be drawn in to this spending frenzy, no-one should feel under pressure to spend money just because it is Christmas, if i was in charge I would cancel the whole thing. Total waste of time and money.

I tried to cancel Christmas in 2006, 2007 and 2008 - and just buy for my own kids, but I failed miserably.

My hubby is usually very even tempered and unemotional but he was absolutely distraught at the thought of having to tell his rellies that we weren't buying for them, and his Mum just kept repeating things like "Well you don't have to go mad - just a voucher and something to open" and "Well I'll just have my voucher as usual then" whenever we tried to talk to her about it.

On my side of the family my Mum was upset about it too - so we soldiered on. We set the strictest limit we could get away with though.. My parents, grandparents, three nieces / nephews and two god-daughters cost less than Hubbys Mum, bruv and nephew did but the amount we spend has been steadily decreasing so that's good.

There's a massive pressure to buy people nice presents and I think you are very very lucky if you don't feel it.

Love Jacks xxx

BeautyandtheBeast_3

go to a small farm shop and for approx £10 you can get a hamper with preserves, clotted cream biscuits, fudge etc, general nice things that most other people wouldnt think about. Go to garden centres pick up a nice garden ornament - a wooden duck, pig etc £9.00 - cute as a button and different from your normal stuff

vyvyan_2

I've ended up with 'pressie stash' of things I've bought over the years.

I went through it today and mentally allocated all but two gift for my family out of this. No-one's getting anything lavish or special. So the cost to me seems like nothing ~ but I did buy them in the first place lol. That's including 4 birthdays.

Now I've worked it all out, all that I need to buy is one birthday prezzie and one Christmas pressie. :T

Shelldean

vyvyan wrote: »

I've ended up with 'pressie stash' of things I've bought over the years.

I went through it today and mentally allocated all but two gift for my family out of this. No-one's getting anything lavish or special. So the cost to me seems like nothing ~ but I did buy them in the first place lol. That's including 4 birthdays.

Now I've worked it all out, all that I need to buy is one birthday prezzie and one Christmas pressie. :T

Glad it's not just me with the pressie stash LOL. I buy bits and pieces as and when i see them ( usually on special offer) and just stor them. I keep an eye out for gifts just above my four kids age ranges so if they get invited to a party it's sorted. Mostly buy toiletries etc which can be dished out to anyone as a last min gift tho must add DD keeps nicking things for her mates as she 'forgets' to get them anything till its too late, this is a habit I will have to stop!!!

cdsmiler

Hope this might help some people. When I want to get a specific DVD, CD, Game or Book for someone for Christmas or birthday, I always check the following sites to see which retailer is selling it at it's cheapest at the moment. I've never had a problem with ANY of the retailers they list, and has saved money!!

www.find-dvd.co.uk
www.find-cd.co.uk
www.find-book.co.uk
www.find-games.co.uk

HTH!

C xxx

firesidemaid

those find..... seach websites are my mecca - then i go back to quidco to get the cheapest plus cashback!

hotukdeals website is also excellent for sharing those bargains with everyone else and vice versa.

you can still spend £50 RRP on people, its just it doesn't have to actually cost you that much.

magazine subs (be organised and be prepared to cancel in time if you do by d/debit or pay by card) through sites on quidco have some great deals - often there is a free gift too to use as another great pressie plus cashback! or use your tesco points/deals vouchers for these.

book people is great too for books(just visit hotukdeals to grab a free delivery code etc)

too_much_debt

I used to buy my Aunts and Uncles a tin of sweets or biscuits between them, just a token present, I don't bother anymore, I only buy for my 3 kids, OH, my mum and dad, one Uncle and my brother and his new wife.