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

Fruball

UnderPressure wrote: »

Oh BTW just to stop me getting a complex

She is actually a HE :eek:

ahh... i did wonder... but someone else said 'she' so i thought they knew

cyclura

we certainly do not spend more than £50 on our DD.............in fact this year I have not even topped £20 yet (but still have a way to go) thats only because I have been watching my charity shop like a hawk and have been picking cheap second hand items up for her and cleaning them up if need be. If you look at my sig I am trying to get us out of debt so I do believe I am doing the right thing for my family and shes more interested in the wrapping paper and boxes anyway :j

Everyone is different but this works for us.

the_cat

It does depend on the age of your children. I have in the past spent less/bought from boot sales and charity shops for my kids but being realistic, the sort of things that they want.... trendy clothes,games consoles and new release games etc are not available from those sources. I buy extras from ebay or bootsales etc where I can still and my kids are grateful for everything they get

I am lucky to have a choice in how much I spend. I have no debt and budget an amount I feel is appropriate in cash saved through the year. I could spend more and I could spend less, but it is an amount which doesn't make me feel that either my kids are being 'spoilt rotten' or that I am being mean.

That is what IMO we should all strive for... the individual amount will vary wildly between us depending on how much we can afford and where our own 'comfort' level is

LannyLee

the_cat wrote: »

It does depend on the age of your children. I have in the past spent less/bought from boot sales and charity shops for my kids but being realistic, the sort of things that they want.... trendy clothes,games consoles and new release games etc are not available from those sources. I buy extras from ebay or bootsales etc where I can still and my kids are grateful for everything they get

I am lucky to have a choice in how much I spend. I have no debt and budget an amount I feel is appropriate in cash saved through the year. I could spend more and I could spend less, but it is an amount which doesn't make me feel that either my kids are being 'spoilt rotten' or that I am being mean.

That is what IMO we should all strive for... the individual amount will vary wildly between us depending on how much we can afford and where our own 'comfort' level is

Exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn't word properly

I don't have children (yet) but have seen our friends spend upwards of £500 on their children & still be paying it off by the time next Xmas comes around.

IMO even if we had the money I think that 1 big present & a stocking is enough, whether that be a new bike, iP0d etc, but I do agree that if you're children are say under 5 you can get away with spending not very much as their toys/presents are so much cheaper & the ones they enjouy the most are usually the ones you play with them ie. jigsaws, board games, dress up etc.

katiegizmo

I'm still ploughing through this thread catching up - page 86 now no less!

I just wanted to come on and have a really quick moan, well a rant really!!! why does my office insist on doing secret santa??? Am I a scrooge? I hate being told to buy an extra present - I don't want one for myself from someone else, I just want to keep my money for myself! A couple of years ago I refused to do it as I was in the process of moving house and was stressed and no money - wasn't buying for my family so I refused to buy for others -, and I had a complaint made against me! said I was not a team player so I don't dare refuse again as I was made to feel awful! GRRRRR!!!! not much money, I prob can spare it I just don't want to GRRRR!!!!!

LannyLee

katiegizmo wrote: »

I'm still ploughing through this thread catching up - page 86 now no less!

I just wanted to come on and have a really quick moan, well a rant really!!! why does my office insist on doing secret santa??? Am I a scrooge? I hate being told to buy an extra present - I don't want one for myself from someone else, I just want to keep my money for myself! A couple of years ago I refused to do it as I was in the process of moving house and was stressed and no money - wasn't buying for my family so I refused to buy for others -, and I had a complaint made against me! said I was not a team player so I don't dare refuse again as I was made to feel awful! GRRRRR!!!! not much money, I prob can spare it I just don't want to GRRRR!!!!!

Argh, this is a bone of contention with me, as I love Xmas & think that a fiver isn't too much to spare for a bit of fun , however it should be down to the individual & no-one should feel pressured, let alone have a complaint made about them, that it not on at all & if that was me I'd be inclined to not take part just out of principle. :mad:

But I do LOVE Xmas & am usually the one who organises our Secret Santa, so maybe I am a bit biased

gailey_2

Well eldest came home saw apile of clothes and toys from cupboard and asked if I was selling them. she knoews that i sometimes sell old clothes ,toys to fund newstuff and seems happy with that but scary how 4yearold knows me so well!:rotfl:

I was thinking earlier about her dolls house which is currently complete mess think we can decorate it together as little project think she will enjoy it.

My uncle brought my aunt dolls house as he constantly got fed up of her decorating the house.

Well bad news in gailey house.
Hubby got home at 4 no news so I said ring.

hes not got the job:(god knows when they were going to tell him!
Hes been going through process since july and 1st intereveiw.
Nothing else in pipeline.
told him to ring few recruitment agencies next week
start new search although not much happens this close to xmas.
Hes gutted feels hes let family down and really needed the extra money.

I feel gutted for him and done my best not to sit here and cry!
trying to think its fate wasent meant to be we still got lovley family and boy on the way.

we going to have sit down look at finances , see what we can switch and cut.

His mam keeps mentioning iva or dmp.
But dont really wnat to go down that route if we can help it want debt gone sooner than later!

Im going to take bus to blooming santander tommorow and pay off huge chunk of his credit card, hes missed a few payments so min payment shocking 378quid:eek:He has been communicating with them saying hes struggling and paying less than min each month but basically they come back and said they dont care he would need to go cab and set up dmp as hes got other creditors!

want to get all out bills and min payments uptodate before xmas day.
will do my best with xmas on limited budget and hopefully have a nice time.

I wont be able to relax until we sort out where we are and realistic plan of action.

katiegizmo

thanks - I just get annoyed at being told what to do... I love Christmas too, probably to an unhealthy extent! I'm the one who decorates the tree in the office and helps organise the lunch, the carol service etc

I did do it last year, and I've even organised it before in my old job, I just don't expect these things to be mandatory that's all. Plus alot of people spend more than the sggested fiver so some gifts look distinctly less value than others when they're all being opened in front of everyone, lol, witnessed a big row last year when someone said someone else's gift was cheap and last minute (it was scratch cards which I would be happy enough to receive) and really upset the giver!

LannyLee

katiegizmo wrote: »

thanks - I just get annoyed at being told what to do... I love Christmas too, probably to an unhealthy extent! I'm the one who decorates the tree in the office and helps organise the lunch, the carol service etc

I did do it last year, and I've even organised it before in my old job, I just don't expect these things to be mandatory that's all. Plus alot of people spend more than the sggested fiver so some gifts look distinctly less value than others when they're all being opened in front of everyone, lol, witnessed a big row last year when someone said someone else's gift was cheap and last minute (it was scratch cards which I would be happy enough to receive) and really upset the giver!

I completely agree, we're quite strict in our office & 99% of the time the prezzies are jokes anyway. Eg one year someone who is quite often late got an alarm clock & a big Spurs fan got an Arsenal mug etc, so it really is a bit of fun. But for someone to complain about their present, that is appalling & I can see why you feel a bit miffed at being MADE to take part.

jackieglasgow

Gailey you can do a DMP without going to the CAB - you are a capable woman, I'm sure you would manage it yourself. Why not get over to the DebtFreeWannabe Board and ask for some suggestions over there to help? I'd also be putting my foot down very firmly about stepson's Christmas present, he may not be your child, but if providing him with an unnecessary expensive toy leaves you with less money to feed your other children, its very much your business. He doesn't need it, and his behaviour, no matter how mixed up he is, certainly doesn't warrant another expensive gift. Shame about the job, but fortunately OH does have a job at the moment, but at least you know where the money is coming from atm. Chin up pet, you have lots to be thankful for and that lovely wee boy inside you needs you to be A1.