Frugal frump to Fab - Astonishing Autum Exquinox to Wondrous Winter Solstice

lessonlearned

Maman - I absolutely adore Christmas and my OH was also a real Christmas person. I'm afraid that for 3 weeks each year our normally tastefully decorated home became Santa's Grotto at Woolworths - all courtesy of the £1 shop and Wilkinsons...

However we never spent serious amounts of money on presents etc. I am totally in agreement with you on this. I am often appalled at the obscene amounts of money that some people spend on children - all on worthless garish plastic rubbish and gimcrack toys that break and disappoint. Bad for children and bad for the planet.

My husband's parents discussed this with us and we came to a lovely compromise. For both Christmas and birthdays they would buy the children just one small gift to open on the day - usually something very traditional like a board game or jigsaw or a "making and doing" kit. Their main present was a National Savings Certificate.

Although the certificates matured when the child was 18, there was a bonus if you kept them until they were 21. DS1 used the money to help fund his Masters degree and DS2 bought himself an all singing and all dancing Apple computer. Very expensive but he still uses it now, especially for his photography and film editing.

Another friend of ours had a grandfather who refused to waste money and he bought his grandson £100 of shares for each birthday and Christmas. He had a nice nest egg when he reached 21.

I will definitely do something similar for my grandchildren - if the boys ever do the decent thing.:rotfl: I think a lot of children get far too much and I don't think it does them any favours. Maybe I'm old fashioned though.

Bitsy_Beans

Thanks for the offer LL, will PM you when it's sorted
It's funny you mentioned Lizzie becoming a decorator as I thought the same

Hewie29

Hi all, just thought I'd give you an update on my mum, cant believe that its only been 2 weeks since we found out her diagnosis.

She now can't talk, only speaking one or two words and then getting confused and she has lost the use of her right side. She had a seizure in the early hours of tuesday morning and was rushed to hosp (I think my dad thought that it was time). So she is now in hosp and they are trying to make her comfortable. Dad is having someone round the house to make it usable for mum in the hope that she will be out next week. He will need carers in as he is not well himself and can't cope with her all the time on his own. I am not able to help as much as I'd like as I have 2 kids and a hubby who does shift work and I also work full time, but I will do what I can and what dad will allow.

I really miss having chats on the phone with mum, she used to call on a sat morning when she knew I'd be doing my housework and just keep me talking so that I didn't have to do it. And I feel that everytime I see her she is less of the mum I know, feel like I am in mourning already.

On the plus side I can't believe how many people care for all of us and are ringing and texting and popping round to see how we are. I feel like we are being wrapped up in a massive big hug.

Ayway I hope that you are all well, and busy getting ready for christmas.

have a good evening xxx

WelshWoofer

Just had a mini-blitz of me - defuzzed, body scrubbed, toenails painted, fingernails filed, face scrub and slathered in night and eye cream.
Have also just been through my make up bag and cleaned it out and sharpened all of the eye pencils and gave the lipsticks all a good wipe down.
Got clothes out ready for tomorrow and have made a packed lunch - don't know what's come over me - I suddenly had a streak of organising surface in me!:rotfl:

WelshWoofer

Hewie - our posts crossed. Hope you're bearing up as well as you can do. It must be a very difficult time. So good to hear that friends and family are rallying round. Take care xx

Bitsy_Beans

Hewie sorry to hear about your mums difficulties. I love your description of being wrapped in one big hug, really glad it's helping. Much love to you all xxx

pamsdish

Right off to do some yoga, come on Pam - time to get started

sorry lessonlearned got involved and still didn`t do it ,I did hoover through so that might count ???

podperson

Hewie - I'm so sorry about your mum, sending you *hugs* and thinking of you. I'm glad people are rallying round for you and your family. Are you in touch with anyone from Marie Curie, or perhaps similar in your area, a friend of mine had them for her mum a few years ago and she said they were really good, not only for emotional support, but for helping to get the practical things arranged like extra care help and minor home adaptations - anything to make things easier for your mum so she can get home.

lessonlearned

Hewie - so sorry to hear about your mum.

Good to hear that you getting help and support. Lots of love and my most sincere best wishes to you.

evilsquid1603

Hewie - im glad to hear you are all being looked after, lots of love xx

well done pod! x

hope you feel better soon WW! xx

Lizzie i know how you feel, the whole system is flawed. someone i know has 4 part time jobs and would currently be better off on JSA with the amount she's left with after paying for her transport to get to the 4 jobs. another friend with cancer was told she cant have any disability benefits because the chemo and radiotherapy only completely floors her for a few days and she can technically work in the days in between.

fedupandskint wrote: »

It's just a day afterall.

i wish it was just a day, xmas started round here in october! we hadn't even got halloween out of the way before the xmas stuff was in supermarkets round here!

i agree with you all, i think cards can sometimes be a waste of paper and the sentiment just isnt there. half the cards we get from neighbours are just addressed to "everyone at number 1" and my parents wait to get one so they can at least use their sign off "from Joe Bloggs at number 10" to reply back. gone are the days when you knew everyone on your street! people have kind of lost touch with the idea of xmas being a time to get together with those you love and spend a day in each others company and I agree with Martin's blog post on gift giving having just gone mental. this year, i really cant afford to spend money on people just to receive tat back or even just something i don't need, i actually need that money to spend on things that i genuinely do need like food!