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

Primrose

Our rather battered artificial Christmas tree (over 20 years old now) will be making another appearance from our attic this year, and to be honest, it's now become a tradition in it's own right, along with the rather elderly decorations. I find the old and familiar rather comforting in an age of constant change - and certainly don't want to cut short the life of real Christmas trees that could be helping the environment, instead of spending 12 days in an overheated house, losing their needles and dying a needless death. As a child we always had the same elderly, much battered Christmas tree decorations every year - they were part of our Christmas tradition.

NualaBuala

I can see I have a full day's work ahead of me catching up on this thread!

Hi Youngmummy, you've come to the right place, everyone is so nice and helpful here.:)

Primrose wrote: »

In some ways, I won't be sorry if the spending cuts review has an impact on Christmas. For far too long it has just been treated as one great commercial opportunity for the retail trade to cash in and make as much money as possible, and many people have been caught up in a competitive race to spend as much as possible because they are frightened of being thought "mean" if their spending on presents doesn't match other peoples' expectations. People have often spent beyond their means and ended up in debt.

If tightened economic conditions means that families review their spending and get back to celebrating the real meaning of Christmas without all the commercialism, I will not be sorry. When you look at the enormous amount of rubbish on sale on which people in the past have been tempted to waste their money, putting the expense on credit cards to rachet up debt for months ahead, perhaps some element of common sense will now return.

I agree Primrose, I just was thinking something along those lines. Martin's email with his Money Mantra really struck home with me and the bit about making Christmas (and other occasions) fit your budget not the other way around. So if you can spare £20, then see how much you can get for that even if it means cutting things out that you wanted. I can't understand why people go into debt or hardship to buy presents (particularly for adults). I'm not a Christian any more but I think it's so sad that Christmas just seems to have lost its true meaning and people have been made to feel they should have every material thing they could want, that it has to be "perfect" and the way to achieve that is spend, spend, spend. We can show our love and appreciation for people in other ways (just look at Sammy Kaye and her kindness to her neighbour - it's not the fact that she's giving her things, it's the thoughtfulness that is so valuable. We need more of that! :T

*steps down off her soapbox* Back to catching up on the rest of this now!

flowertotmum

northwest1965 wrote: »

Wow, I've only been away for a short while ( we eloped to get married) and so much has changed!!
Theres a lot that need hugs right now so here's one to all of you that do.
I'm not much of a Christmas decoration person either. Last year I didnt even send cards, just emailed evryone and told them I would make a donation to 2 charities of my choice instead. It felt good

WOW congratulations,have a long and happy marriage...

flowertotmum

mardatha wrote: »

and had 3 babies one after the other..he used to sell them to the local butcher...for extra pennies.
****************
Oh dear. I hope you got a good price for them.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:...i meant the rabbits..but then again maybe i should have sold them 3 as well...my life would be much quieter and stress free....only joking...really should check my post before i post it...

flowertotmum

Primrose wrote: »

Our rather battered artificial Christmas tree (over 20 years old now) will be making another appearance from our attic this year, and to be honest, it's now become a tradition in it's own right, along with the rather elderly decorations. I find the old and familiar rather comforting in an age of constant change - and certainly don't want to cut short the life of real Christmas trees that could be helping the environment, instead of spending 12 days in an overheated house, losing their needles and dying a needless death. As a child we always had the same elderly, much battered Christmas tree decorations every year - they were part of our Christmas tradition.

Yes our tree is about 20 yrs old too...bit battered but when covered in tinsel and bits you cant really see it anyway..i have lots of baubles that belonged to my gran so they are very much looked forward to every yr...we have had the same fairy for 24 yrs now..her halo has slipped,dress a bit worn but the older girls love her and won't let me get a new one..i used to move her slightly every night in the run up to cmas and tell them that she had been to report to father cmas about them being good girls or bad girls...crafty but it worked..going to do it again with the 2 little ones now they big enough to know whats what....

NualaBuala

mardatha wrote: »

and had 3 babies one after the other..he used to sell them to the local butcher...for extra pennies.
****************
Oh dear. I hope you got a good price for them.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
I thought the same thing!

Youngmummy, have you tried Freecycle (or similar) for a tree and decorations? I gave away of a load of Christmas stuff in perfect condtion and I think I remember seeing more advertised.

Congratulations Northwest! I wish you and your beloved a lifetime of love and happiness. :heart2:

flowertotmum

NualaBuala wrote: »

I can see I have a full day's work ahead of me catching up on this thread!

Hi Youngmummy, you've come to the right place, everyone is so nice and helpful here.:)


I agree Primrose, I just was thinking something along those lines. Martin's email with his Money Mantra really struck home with me and the bit about making Christmas (and other occasions) fit your budget not the other way around. So if you can spare £20, then see how much you can get for that even if it means cutting things out that you wanted. I can't understand why people go into debt or hardship to buy presents (particularly for adults). I'm not a Christian any more but I think it's so sad that Christmas just seems to have lost its true meaning and people have been made to feel they should have every material thing they could want, that it has to be "perfect" and the way to achieve that is spend, spend, spend. We can show our love and appreciation for people in other ways (just look at Sammy Kaye and her kindness to her neighbour - it's not the fact that she's giving her things, it's the thoughtfulness that is so valuable. We need more of that! :T

*steps down off her soapbox* Back to catching up on the rest of this now!

I totally agree with that sentiment...kindness and thoughtfulness are missing in today's society..i never really noticed before but on certain tv adverts they are showing tv's,pc's for cmas presents..i think thats way too much..this yr its going to be a more family orientated cmas..spending time and having a laugh is much more important to me than a new tv...also i think it puts untold pressure on parents to give the children the expensive things...when in reality they would much rather have the paper or a box...your right cmas has lost its true meaning(not a christian)..its about the giving and it doesn't have to be a gift..it could be the thoughtfulness that sammy kaye is showing her neighbour,a food parcel for a struggling family...etc...anything that helps is a real gift...material things are ok but they break and never last..but the thoughtfulness of a kind act will last forever...i always say you should treat others how you want to be treated...it comes back tenfold in the long run....

Lindy_-_Loo

Frugal and kath, hope things are better today. xx

Our christmas tree was fond in the loft when we moved here 4 years ago, its pretty old but its huge and we use the stand of the fan so its secure. It looks great with our poundland and boys school decorations on!

This xmas lunch we have mum, sis and 2 grown up neices as mum and dad used to host xmas lunch and this is the first year without him. Mum is cooking the meat at hers and im doing the normal pots and veg we have with a roast - nothing different. Only added expense is the £5 dinner service from argos as we dont have enough plates, mum and dad bought us cutlery for xmas last year as we had family over new years day and we didnt have enough forks! We used the boys plastic plates that day but want 'proper ones ' for xmas day.

Am doing my monlthy on line shop and havent been in a supermarket for 4 weeks - my word the prices have hiked up, I knew it was coming but its worse than I thought. Hoping to be able to add extra to shoping this month and next and maybe only need 3 weeks shop in december so we can buy us some treats.

Boys xmas is all done and sorted, not many left to get and we still have enough HSGV to pay for it.

Dentist in the morning, had check up last week and new dentist insists I need a filling replaced even though its not bothering me. I HATE the dentist felt sick before the check up, dread tomorrow

goodgodthatonesevenbigger

i agree whole heartedly with the sentiments re Xmas, i remember my mum and dad always used to make up hampers for family and close friends. in them would be my mums home made jam, my dads home made wine, a home made xmas cake and a cheap present tailored to the person who was recieving the gift. This year i'm going to be doing something along those lines, homemade xmas cake, a homemade spiced tea loaf, some photos of the kids in a nice but cheap album and a token pressie, should save me a fortune and will give me hours of joy baking.

flowertotmum

goodgodthatonesevenbigger wrote: »

i agree whole heartedly with the sentiments re Xmas, i remember my mum and dad always used to make up hampers for family and close friends. in them would be my mums home made jam, my dads home made wine, a home made xmas cake and a cheap present tailored to the person who was recieving the gift. This year i'm going to be doing something along those lines, homemade xmas cake, a homemade spiced tea loaf, some photos of the kids in a nice but cheap album and a token pressie, should save me a fortune and will give me hours of joy baking.

Agreed i would love to recieve a hamper of hm goodies...its so much more thoughtful than a bought present i think anyway...