Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

juliethemuse

does anyone know what i can get my 23 year old for xmas? he lives alone since his GF left him, everything i have bought him in the past either gets sold or chucked in a cupboard, one year they (when still together) threw xmas prezzies in a cupboard without even opening them! i was a bit peeved with the 2 of them,
i have just been reading through loads of pages on here and catching up with news, sammy_kaye - congratulations on a fantastic win,
we have just returned from a weekend in NYC, it was like stepping into another world, back to reality lol, and meal planning for the next week,
thats after i have finished all the washing, the lazy lot didnt even put the machine on whilst we were gone, and were jumping over a huge pile of washing in the kitchen rather than actually do something about it

Margaret54

Hi I remember many years ago, I was on a bus going into town, and in front of me were two young w"omen discussing Christmas presents for their children. I was sat behind them but could hear their conversation. I was shocked to hear one of them say" well my wee girl is only 2 and we will be getting her all the latest stuff, no matter what it costs. She knows all her labels and is very fussy about what she wears and will not go out the front door if she doesn't have her designer gear on" at 2 yeras old. What a load of nonsence. It is what she the mother wanted to dress the child in thinking it made herself look good I thought. She then went on to tell the other woman that she is still paying for last years Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!
Then yesterday coming home near where we live I noticed a house with all the christmas decorations up and a flashing tree santa on the roof complete with reindeers in November.:) madness.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

I'll second what squeaky just said!

I felt a bit guilty advocating building up a reserve because I know it seems like and impossible task, it took me years to do it and only now am I getting where I want to be, this month is still tight for various reasons but I have lots of food in the cupboard and freezer built up on bulk buys so its a comfort. The company I worked for last year closed dowwn overnight and I had to find a job, I didn't get anything as I was agency but I had reserves of food and ssome money saved up which helped to tide me over the bad times.

Start today! this time next year you will have a years supply of reserves to fall back on.

redlady_1

Frugal wrote: »

I've not dared to make them yet... but feel the time is a'comin

Twinks hob nobs are like the Borg, off star trek. Resistance is futile!!! :rotfl:

stiltwalker

Kidcat, I don't think you're being unduly hard, your family should not go without to sub someone elses. By the time I was 16 (and I was still at school not working full time) things like birthday presents for my friends came out of my allowance or out of my earnings (the stiltwalker moniker comes from this time! so not your standard paper round but even so).

ifonlyitwaseasier

redlady_1 wrote: »

Twinks hob nobs are like the Borg, off star trek. Resistance is futile!!! :rotfl:

LMAO!!! that is so true, i daren't make any more just yet, having worked out the WW points for them i know i'd have to survive on fruit and veg for the rest of the day!!

dollydaydream07

i have decided it's time to bite the bullet and will be heading off over to DFW and posting on there - the quicker we can pay off our debt the better!!!

so hopefully from doing my own store cupboard challenge for the rest of this month and posting over on DFW i can save us some cash to pay off some bits

LJM

we are trying hard to cut back so we can try to put money aside have managed to cut down grocery shopping,have bought and sold on ebay clothes etc christmas is the worst time of year for me for spending although i do love xmas i will be glad when its over and back to normal

Primrose

Margaret54 wrote: »

Then yesterday coming home near where we live I noticed a house with all the christmas decorations up and a flashing tree santa on the roof complete with reindeers in November.:) madness.

It's only the middle of November and already the Christmas season has been in full swing for ages. No wonder we're all feeling depressed!

mustbemad68

Kidcat
I know how hard it is as I also have a DD16 who has friends whos parents earn an awful lot more than we do and there have abeen a few sticky situations.
I agree with stiltwalker that your family shouldn't have to go without so that someone else can have a party.
I'm sure your daughter understands but is just upset at not being able to contribute. I just recently had to tell my DD16 that she can't go on the Africa trip that her friends are going on as we can't afford it and she was upset even though she totally understood and accepted what I had to say.
Is there any way your daughter can get a weekend job?