I need a loan but dont work help please

brightonman123

dont get into debt, just for xmas..

check out £1 shop heaven!

Hoof_Hearted

I am sure it's not just me, but I feel the whole Christmas thing has got completely out of hand. We eat too much, receive presents we probably don't want, and overspend. A nice meal on Chritmas day, cold Turkey on Boxing Day, a pair of socks and some games with the family would do me fine. I understand kids wanting what their friends have but they will understand the world better if they have a budget. Younger ones are happy with pretty much anything because they have imagination. My son's first bike came out of a skip -- a bit of Ford Escort spray paint and a new saddle and he was pleased as punch with it. It was unique.

As an atheist, I don't believe in the "true spirit" of Christmas bit, but we do need to get back to something simpler than the consumption-obsessed festival we are lumbered with now. I do my best to restrain the wife's spending, but it's often a losing battle. However, even she does not spend £500.

Kimitatsu

mishca_loves_a_bargain wrote: »

Hi, my kids are 13 and 10 years old. I dont have many good friends in my life, and i dont have or get much help from anyone else. Their Dad doesn't help out at all and he doesnt see them.

Mishca

My kids are pretty much the same age as yours, and although we have not been through a year like yours (done the whole ex thing myself) what kids REALLY want at Christmas is to know they are loved and safe and wanted.

Christmas should not be about having the latest gadget/phone/pair of trainers, its about being around the ones you love and enjoying the family you have not putting yourself into a huge amount of debt that you cant afford to pay back.

My sons have already been told that this Christmas will be smaller than previous years, they have foreign school trips to pay for and they understand that there is only so much money in the pot - and that they have to choose what they want to spend it on. How will you feel if they come home with a letter for a trip they really want and you cant let them go because they had a good Christmas?

As has been said it is entirely up to you, but there are people such as the Salvation Army who do food hampers for those in need and you can always put aside a small amount of money to go shopping in the sales. Having something to open on Christmas day with a cuddle and a day spent in front of the telly with a tin of chocolates is actually what most kids of that age want - your time rather than the expensive gift.

Take care of yourself.

gedebage

Christmas is about being withn your loved ones. A simple time at home with your family is better than struggling to feed them for months after, if you borrow £500 at high interest.

Don't let the commercialism of Christmas get you down. You do not have to ' keep up with the Jones's'.

myothercarisaferrari

I didnt mean for my post to sound harsh but how can you get a loan when you cant pay it back?

Wannabedebtfree

Mischa

Please don't go for a provident loan, my sister had one and it snowballed, she was in a similar situation to you and wanted to do everything herself and it was the ruin of her.

To give you an idea of what this will cost in the long run
"Loan example: If you borrow £300, you will pay back £10.50 over 52 weeks, which adds up to £546.Typical 272.2% APR" :eek:

Without sounding cheeky, how much can you afford to spend on christmas (both food and gifts) without getting a loan and what sort of things are your kids into?

Let us know and I'm sure that some of us can come up with some cracking ideas for you. :j

zippybungle

Sorry if this is off topic, but if you have a Homebargains, B&M Bargains and £1 Shops near you, they have some great bargains for Xmas prezzies.

As someone else already mentioned, Iceland Magazine had a good priced Xmas Dinner for 4 people for a good price.

Good Luck, and try to avoid the loan sharks. Maybe next year it would be a good idea to save a few £1's a week in a sealed money box, which you can't open till December for your Xmas Shopping (the £1 shops tell tin money boxes which you have to open with a tin opener when full).

Hope I haven't sounded patronising - as that was not what I intended, just trying to help :A

Merry Xmas.

Zippy x

DGJsaver

This thread explains why places like Poundland and Poundstretcher thrive...get down there op with £20

Job done

ALIBOBSY

Whilst I understand exactly where the OP is coming from, I think the whole media frenzy over Christmas pushes the idea that its all about commercialism.
For us some of the nicest bits about Christmas are the Nativity play at school (off to see DD1 at 2pm today yay!), Church services (I realise not everyone is religeous, but that sense of community and "goodwill to all" can be appreciated by anyone). Generally the "free" bits not the commercialism.

We have 3 children (and one bump on the way) age 11,6 and 2. OH is in IT so we have a reasonable income (with child benefits etc around 30k) so we could spend a fortune, but lessons learnt in earlier MUCH leaner years (and new years spent paying off Christmas debt) have taught us the value of Christmas. I doubt even with pressies for each other the kids, the rest of our family, food, etc for the whole christmas period we will spend £500.

The most important thing is to be together as a family, one thing we do is wrap up as a family and have a Christmas walk after the "big meal". We walk down to the local river and give the duckies a Christmas lunch, all the kids love this and it burns off the calories lol. Christmas lucnch can be done very cheaply, look over on the old style boards for inspiration. I will cook virtually everything from scratch with all the family helping out, again more "free" Christmas fun for the kids-mine love peeling the sprouts .

I start buying stuff from early on in the year, but even starting in October helps spread out the costs and you can jump on those supermarket bargains as and when they come up. I agree about the bargain shops and also worth checking out prices online. My eldest has asked for fewer pressies and wants some cash instead from us and the rest of the family. He will save it all together for the new year when he says he can get more for his money in the sales (good lad). I also save Morrisons stamps when I go-£2 per week for 48 wks(plus £1 in the 49th week) gives you £100 for the Christmas shop as you only need £97 and they top it up to £100. All the supermarkets do simular schemes.

Next years can be more planned (see above start shopping early), but this year just work out an accurate budget and stick to it. Personally I wouldn't buy pressies for anyone but the kids (good friends and family will understand) and just make a simple cooked dinner. Aldi and Lidl do some nice choccies or just get one big tin between you all.

Try to plan some "free" or cheap family events such as-
As above a lovely winter walk (fingers crossed for snow- which then could also be snowmen/snowball time).
We like to play some family games together-charades, I spy, singing (get any instruments out and have fun), cards-most people have.
Make some of your own decorations-newspaper santas, garlands etc-look for a bit of holly on your walk lol.
Baking and preparing the Christmas food together.
We sit down with a tv guide (free ones in some newspapers in the run up to crimbo) ,and spot those crimbo treats to watch together-white Christmas, Elf, Its a wonderful life, the great escape etc etc.
Drive (or walk) around you local area spotting Christmas lights-my kids love this. Makes you feel really Christmassy.
Hot choc and marshmellows on crimbo eve.
Etc etc.


God I sound like I was born in the 50's :rotfl:, but you get the idea. You know what your kids would enjoy, spend time together enjoying the chance to relax as a family-that is what Christmas really means and is worth far more than a bunch of gifts you will be paying for, for months. They are old enough to be explainned to about the situation, but spin it by saying its a chance for you all to spend time together. They may have some ideas of stuff you can do together.

Merry Christmas
Ali x

BTW try to think of free or cheap pressies such as with older ones a handmade voucher for a sleepover for a friend in the new year, or a trip out to the seaside for a wlak and a bag of chips on the front, or mum to play their favorite game for a whole evening etc etc.

fabforty

I wondered if you have discussed this with your children yet? They are at an age where they probably understand the position you are in - and especially considering the crappy time you have had this year - I suspect thay are conscious of the fact that money will be tight and might be worrying about how you will manage. Why not broach the subject with them now - I think you will be surprised by their response. If they react as I think they will, (i.e positively)you can all just relax and enjoy the run up to christmas.

To other forum members - I don't have children so I'm clueless, but for those of you that do, it might be helpful for the OP if you could suggest cheap gifts/presents which might be suitable for her childrens ages, or ideas for making the day special at relatively low cost.