Office Christmas lunch

londoner1998

Hello All

there we go again. My office is planning the Christmas lunch and given these frugal times, there is no allowance for this (for the past two years my employer, a very well known coporation has tighten the belt big time and there is no allowance per head for this). Now, my boss sent a meeting request and this morning, there were all talking about it. The most affordable place was not considered 'because it is predictable' (I like it and it is always good- cheap and consistent in quality) and the price tag of pretty much every restaurant aroudn our building is a miimum of £25.00, which for me is a lot of money.

I wanted to go just to have the chance to socialise a bit (I am the newest and often feel a bit of the odd one out) and mainly because of my two bosses, I really like them... but now all this nonsense of 'is boring', 'I don't like Italian' and "I prefer Chinese' , plus the hefty price tag has put me off. I just find it very hard to justify the expense- I am not in dire ciscumstances, but my pay cheque is already earmarked and all the money accounted for. Please, suggestions as to how to get out of this one, because I know that if I go, I am going to regret it...I hadn't budgeted for this and already said to OH that I wouldn't go to his dad's for Boxing day because of the train fare...which is around £25.00 too...I don't want to feel like a wet blanket though...

Buddingblonde

My preference would be to be all up for it until the day and then create a reason to get out of it - once everyone is focused on the meal they wont notice if you are missing.

The problem is that you only have one amount of money - and you can only spend it once.

donquine

Buddingblonde wrote: »

My preference would be to be all up for it until the day and then create a reason to get out of it - once everyone is focused on the meal they wont notice if you are missing.

Being a Christmas meal, the OP is likely to have to pay a non-refundable deposit.

Lunch is also likely to be on a workday, so the OP won't be able to get out of it without taking the day off (and the OP may not have any annual leave left to take).

If anyone has a good way to get out of Christmas lunch, please let me know and I'll use it next year!

eamon

Console yourself with the thought that at least its during the working day and not in your time. At my place of work we are also going for lunch as opposed to the usual farce & fiasco of organising a night out. Think we are going to a local Toby carvery or similar, £10 xmas lunch and we have already paid the deposit of £5.

If you are really lucky you may well find out that all the local eateries are already booked up and your problem is solved.

lostinrates

Personally,and probably unpopular, but I'd speak quietly to one of the bosses and say it how it is. If the employing company has to cut back,which is understandable and prefereble to cut back on lunch than jobs, then they must understand the employees might too. I'm sure you are not the only person thinking £25 would be better spent elsewhere at this time of year and perhaps having an alternative suggestion to sho its not you are not wanting to be part of the office (in fact I'd express what you said about fitting in vehemently to them) but that it is hard right now.

A bring a dish in office party might be better (people can buy food or make it and each bring something in,that way there is enough to go round) or even an alternative activity: an afternoon spent volunteering for a local charity (good publicity for employer) or anything thats cheaper and bonding.


I don't anymore but I'm relieved DH's office shindig has been cancelled as a nod to the times. I think they are doing something in the office or canteen ...

codemonkey

just be honest about it. I'm not going to our office Christmas lunch this year, partly because I have no money, and partly cause the last one I went to was so dire I ended up just getting drunk.

Anyway, I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings or take the day off so this is what I said

"Sorry, I'd love to come but I have loads of Christmas presents to buy and a wedding to pay for, and sadly, I just can't afford it this year."

Nobody has started treating me like a pauper yet.

freakyogre

Personally I would just be honest (and have been!)

I've only been in my current job for 2 months and have been invited to the Christmas meal. I did initially agree as thought it was just a standard carvery (at a standard carvery price), but then changed my mind and cancelled when I realised it is just a carvery, with a £20 price tag attached. Plus very few people are actually going, so what could have been a good chance to get to know them, wouldn't happen anyway.

Not to mention I spent £25 on a Christmas meal out on Friday with my old work colleagues (I worked with them for over a year, so know them all a lot better). Just to add, my new work colleagues knew about this so it's not like I was sneaky about it.

LillythePink

Be honest (if you can)......I know that some people just don't take no for an answer!

I was in your position last year - luckily for me (in one respect) I had to have a wisdom tooth out - so whilst it was more expensive than the meal, I just couldn't be bothered to go out with them so used that as an excuse and had the afternoon off instead.

This year I'm not going either, I just said that I wasn't going with no reasons as to why.

Owain_Moneysaver

If it's already confirmed date and time then you'll just have to say "i'll come along for one drink but then I've got a dental appointment and you know what they're like to try and rearrange and I daren't leave this filling till after Xmas"

And you can have a soft drink if you're going to the dentist afterwards because of the analgesic.

Another idea - you've got to go for a blood sugar test after work and have to fast for 8 hour beforehand. Just make sure no-one catches you piggin' on choccie bars in the stationery cupboard!!

Just make sure you don't get iveigled into something where you have to pay even if you end up not going.

Or go on a strict no-lunch diet for the whole of December.

Alcmene

I'm not going to mine, I have lots of food allergies so paying x amount for a set meal that I cannot eat half of does not appeal to me. I told them it was too much money and I wasn't going.

Loopy_Girl

Hmmm...tricky one..

I can see what you are meaning about the £25 but on the other hand, if you are still newish and trying to 'fit in' to the team then there is nothing better than being away from office surroundings and everyone has had a wee glass of wine...it does make a huge difference and you can really network and have a laugh with your colleagues and let your personality shine through.

No one really 'digs' the office lunch/night out whatever but I find you do tend to get gossiped about if you don't go (unless you have a reason like the poster said about allergies or if you don't celebrate Christmas etc)

Maybe you could just suck up the £25 but then you will reap the benefits of being more in with your colleagues?