Cutting down on xams presents

vesper

We stopped doing xmas presents in my family a couple of years ago, but we are all grown up, as it seems such a waste of money. I still get my Grannie something (Baileys- she loves it), and tend up make up some mini xmas cakes for members of the family, as always make too many for at home.
We've cut down with my FIL, but get him a hamper with biscuits and stuff in, but to tell the truth he's happier getting a bottle of Port to share with OH. And with my friends we are doing secret santa this year otherwise it gets far too expensive.

mumto2loves

notechno wrote: »

It's so difficult isn't it. I tried a few years ago, suggested that we just concentrate on all the children :-)

See I really don't like this. ITS NOT FAIR! Over the last 2 years everybody has decided they need to cut back and we will all just buy for the kids and not the adults! WHY!? the kids get enough presents off of bloomin father christmas I WANT PRESENTS:mad:! If we all need to cut back, fine, but cut back on the kids :rotfl:
:rotfl::p
My oh and I have both said we are going to have to go a little bit mad this year with presents for each other as now these are the ONLY presents we will get:(

I am joking btw (kind of)

balletshoes

mumto2loves wrote: »

See I really don't like this. ITS NOT FAIR! Over the last 2 years everybody has decided they need to cut back and we will all just buy for the kids and not the adults! WHY!? the kids get enough presents off of bloomin father christmas I WANT PRESENTS:mad:! If we all need to cut back, fine, but cut back on the kids :rotfl:
:rotfl::p
My oh and I have both said we are going to have to go a little bit mad this year with presents for each other as now these are the ONLY presents we will get:(

I am joking btw (kind of)

it works really well for us, but all my siblings and I have children. When 3 of us had kids and one didn't (my brother), he would buy for our kids and not us, and we would buy for him. That seemed fair for all of us. My mum still buys for all of us adults (plus the kids, plus the neighbours kids, plus my cousin's kids etc etc etc) so I do get something to open on Christmas Day, but its just a token, and thats fine with me .

onlyroz

Sounds like a round of charity goats is in order for some of these people.

victory

mumto2loves wrote: »

See I really don't like this. ITS NOT FAIR! Over the last 2 years everybody has decided they need to cut back and we will all just buy for the kids and not the adults! WHY!? the kids get enough presents off of bloomin father christmas I WANT PRESENTS:mad:! If we all need to cut back, fine, but cut back on the kids :rotfl:
:rotfl::p
My oh and I have both said we are going to have to go a little bit mad this year with presents for each other as now these are the ONLY presents we will get:(

I am joking btw (kind of)

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: glad you put the last bit in:rotfl::rotfl:

kingfisherblue

I'm happy as long as I get some new slippers - I know I'm boring, but I don't want a pile of stuff that will get shoved into a cupboard and eventually shipped off to the school fair. I know my friend is buying me some sanctuary stuff from Boots, with which I will be delighted, and my mum has bought me a cross stitch kit that I was going to treat myself to, but otherwise I would be quite happy with 'charity' style presents as onlyroz has mentioned.

For my 40th, I requested that if anybody wanted to buy me a gift, could they make a donation to the local special school that my son attends. I was delighted to pass the donations to the school, and they were happy to receive some money towards specialist play equipment.

ultimatedingbat

I'm a sod at xmas as well! I love buying for my friends and my family. Each year now though I've knocked a few people off my list. I used to buy for my cousins kids but I had to stop. My Nan I like to bbuy something little, like this year I goth er a cambridge teatowel from ebay for £2.00. Ebay shopping is awesome

Invernesschick

My husband is not working at the mo and we have had to drastically cut down our whole way of living and I am pretending Xmas is not happening this year. My 3 kids are getting wee bits and bobs in a stocking as usual but that's it. The usual vouchers/cash (they are all 17 or older) is just not viable this year.
As for others well it's a no no. I had to opt out of the secret Santa at work to the calls of "surely you can spare a fiver?". Well no I can't because I'd rather feed my family than buy you something you won't appreciate you selfish mare. Xmas is always a nightmare we can only do our best.
Good luck to all trying their best in these trying times.
R xx

floss2

We buy for OH's elderly parents, family children - until they are 21 then they fall off the present list for Christmas & birthdays - and I make Christmas cakes for my 3 brothers. Since my mum died, these are the only gifts that 2 of them receive (no partners, no kids).

coffeebeen

My husband and I are really cutting down on presents for each other this year. I love buying and wrapping presents, but we don't really need anything and don't have much space. So, we're doing £15 stockings instead and it has been a lot of fun thinking how to stretch that out!

Luckily, my family aren't too bothered about value of presents and we don't have many children in our family yet. It just gets so expensive and sort of mental buying loads of stuff for everyone, just because it's Christmas!