Office Christmas lunch

scottishminnie

I've always managed to avoid the dreaded Christmas lunch/night out by booking a days holiday the Friday before Christma. thankfully my department is fairly predictable in terms of dates so I can pre-empt it.

It's better than my colleague who when asked if they were attending a night out replied "absolutely not, just beacuse I work with you people certainly doesn't mean I have to socialise with you". Now that's complete honesty:)

Gavin83

Am I the only person know actually likes the people he works with? I'd happily socialize with any of them.

londoner1998

I do like my colleagues, especially my bosses... but I also like to be able to reach the month with a decent balance (ie, at least not overdrawn) and I could certainly do without seeing them blind drunk at the end of the meal, as I know it will happen. I have a really tight schedule out of the office and although I like my colleagues, I have never liked to socialise with them beyond a certain level. I like to keep my personal and profesional time separate. In the end, this has become a 25 quid meal, with a 10 pounds deposit (before pay day, we get paid on the 15th) AND drinks in a club, as one of the designers wants to celebrate her upcoming birthday beforehand...

I also don't feel comfortable paying that amount of money for a lunch in a working day. Call me stupid, but I am pretty frugal and I feel uncomfortable spending that amount of money when I know it can be done cheaply and also we don't know if we will be here after January..

At the moment, I don't think I have a choice anymore- I went to a concert yesterday, for which I had a 'merchandise' budget, as my OH called it... and I blew it. I had such a good time and it was the end of a tour, I spent it all... but the difference is that this was budgeted for in advance.

I think I will join a collegue who might not make it either due to childcare arragements...

A

thorsoak

Just be straight - say that you would love to join in with them to celebrate your colleague's birthday/Christmas etc - but that this year you are financially strapped and just cannot afford to do it - and that you would hate to sponge off everybody else and that hopefully next year, when you have been able to save a bit more (thanks to working for them etc ) you will be in a position to do so!

Added: I always used to say that I wouldn't drink with them - as my mouth could sometimes outrun my brain - and I'd hate to think that I might say something that would make me cringe afterwards ......I would only subject my closest friends/family to such doings

tara747

londoner1998 wrote: »

I do like my colleagues, especially my bosses... but I also like to be able to reach the month with a decent balance (ie, at least not overdrawn) and I could certainly do without seeing them blind drunk at the end of the meal, as I know it will happen. I have a really tight schedule out of the office and although I like my colleagues, I have never liked to socialise with them beyond a certain level. I like to keep my personal and profesional time separate. In the end, this has become a 25 quid meal, with a 10 pounds deposit (before pay day, we get paid on the 15th) AND drinks in a club, as one of the designers wants to celebrate her upcoming birthday beforehand...

I also don't feel comfortable paying that amount of money for a lunch in a working day. Call me stupid, but I am pretty frugal and I feel uncomfortable spending that amount of money when I know it can be done cheaply...

+1

My sentiments exactly. I like most of my colleagues but the amount of money it costs really bothers me, I have other priorities and kind of resent the cost of the office Christmas do.

When I have kids I will never go to them again lol! They're really the perfect excuse.

FakeIrish

There are times when I cannot understand why such frivolous questions are asked and this is a prime example. A question asking for excuses to get out of a Xmas lunch? Are some people these days incapable of making decisions, excuses or being truthful?

BillTrac

My company always do a theme evening, and they pay. But as they are paying, you always get the greedy ones who want as much as they can. This year it's an Arabian Knights evening.

But OP I feel your discomfort. My previous company, a large national, used to send a cheque to each branch for the Christmas bash. But the cheque only ever covered the cost of approximately 30 people. And when 200+ worked at my local branch it caused problems. The woman who dealt with the do always made sure her closest friends/colleagues knew before anyone else the moment the cheque arrived. Only after they had put their names down was the list put up for others. And after the list was full you could still go, but had to pay!! Certainly got some backs up.

As others have said be honest. Tell them you can't afford it. I have done that before. Mind you, one time it backfired. Didn't want to socialise with the people I worked with, said I couldn't afford it....and the blooming boss paid for me to go.:rotfl:

londoner1998

SVM wrote: »

There are times when I cannot understand why such frivolous questions are asked and this is a prime example. A question asking for excuses to get out of a Xmas lunch? Are some people these days incapable of making decisions, excuses or being truthful?

I'm sorry it offended you you SVM, but I didn't ask for excuses- my point in posting was:

A) to vent (like many other people do with similarly trivial financial issues), as this was annoying me when it came up and my budget is not unlimited
get the opinion of people who are or might have been in the same situation. After all, this is a money issue so I can't see how is such a crime to post.


And no, I am not incapable of making decisions, excuses, or being truthful. I am a grown up and make my decisions accordingly, thank you very muich
You don't have to like it, but you don't need to be offensive either.

londoner1998

[As others have said be honest. Tell them you can't afford it. I have done that before. Mind you, one time it backfired. Didn't want to socialise with the people I worked with, said I couldn't afford it....and the blooming boss paid for me to go.:rotfl:[/QUOTE]

Did you read my mind, Billtrak? My line manager is lovely and I know that if I said I am aving trouble paying for it, she and her boss would put their hands in their pockets and I wouldn't want them to do it. As Tara said, I have different priorities and I need to catch up , not just with the money, but with my studies, so I am better off out of it altogether…
Thank you all for your suggestions.
Ax

FakeIrish

londoner1998 wrote: »

but I didn't ask for excuses

Yes you did - see below.

londoner1998 wrote: »

Please, suggestions as to how to get out of this one, because I know that if I go, I am going to regret it...

londoner1998 wrote: »

You don't have to like it, but you don't need to be offensive either.

Was I being offensive? That wasn't my intention.