Anyone not doing christmas?

carefullycautious

Don't have a lot of family but told them all that we were no longer going to be buying presents about 2 years ago. Best decision we ever made.

Never enjoyed the whole stress of what to buy, and always gave away all presents received as I had no need for them which caused me no end of guilt.

Will put decorations up and send cards plus raise a toast and enjoy our Christmas meal.

bossymoo

I am doing Xmas albeit on a budget. But the "doing Xmas" bit means time with family to me. I have my mum and stepdad and my inlaws staying over for a couple of nights, and my dad will pop by too. I lost my dh just over a year ago, so we just all want to be together and help each other through it, and enjoy the children's excitement.

We will be having a nice meal, and Santa will visit for my little ones, but we have agreed not to buy gifts for the adults. I've also persuaded friends not to buy for me or the children and we've cancelled our secret Santa in favour of a takeaway evening together, and a kiddies trip to the local steam railway for the Santa express.

So, Xmas is "on" here but without the mindless spending.

ska_lover

I've got some issues with trying to get christmassy this year and the thoughts I have had in the run up to xmas. Normally I am the first on the road to have the decorations up and am buying presents and getting organised all year round.

But this year, just feels 'fake' to me. We aren't religious so we are just (in every sense of the word) buying into a commercial excercise because it is 'expected' somehow.....and it has just occured to me..................that I can just say NO.

Xmas is much reduced this year and I have explained to family and friends this, so don't buy for me etc..If they do, I won't feel the guilt we are supposed to...(or will i? eek)

tesuhoha

I've just found out that we are doing Christmas less than I thought. The extended family who we usually visit are going away this year. They live miles away so it means I won't have to buy presents for any of them and that is an enormous saving.:T

It will be sad not to see them but we can't really afford that luxury this year.:(

dorsetlady

I'm not bothering much with Christmas again this year. I'll have a Christmas dinner and get my adult children a present but apart from that I won't bother. I stopped exchanging gifts with other family years ago, I don't send cards and I haven't put a tree up for the past few years. I really can't see any point in Christmas - I'm not a Christian and even if I was buying presents and eating too much has nothing to do with Christ's birth! I could afford to spend on Christmas but would rather save my money for other things. I am so happy not to have the stress that so many people seem to endure regarding Christmas.

I've also chosen to work on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day (I'm a hospital nursing auxiliary).

BritAbroad

I'm semi bailing out of Christmas this year. I won't see any family or old friends as I'm not going to the UK this Christmas. I will send some gifts but only little things as postage costs a fortune from here.

I normally love Christmas so I do feel a bit down about it. Seriously contemplating not putting the tree up. There's no way we'll do a turkey dinner for just the two of us - neither of us would have the first clue where to start with it, so I think we'll just pull something out of the freezer on the day.

System

I shant be buying as much food as i did last year as most of it got thrown out.

peachyprice

Stephb1986 wrote: »

We went to Egypt last year for christmas, the decorations were there but it was like any other normal day bit weird sunbathing on christmas day. Doesn't feel like we've had a christmas for ages.

Steph xx

See, that would suit me, Christmas every 2 years sounds perfect. The way it is now there's no enjoyment, no sooner is one over than then the next one is looming, and TBH, I really can't be @rsed.

nickyhutch

I've been fed up of Christmas for years, as it's been a massive big hype, a house full of crap and a week of visiting, having visitors, collecting and picking up etc. etc. etc.

I said last year (not seriously, as we're permanently skint) "right, I'm going away next year" then had my Dad in Spain moaning about having to fag over here to the cold and wet with his hip and his knee (yawn) to see everyone and a lightbulb went off in my head. We're going to stay by him for 5 days and balls to everything else!

alyth

As a single woman I don't do christmas at all - my brother tells me what to get for his children, I order it and that's it. It's just another day to me, no cards, presents, I don't even think about it to be honest.

My ex made such a fuss about it, I remember going around all the supermarkets in my local area one Christmas Eve as Christmas would be ruined if we didn't have pickled walnuts. When we split 4 years ago I made a conscious decision not to celebrate it, and it's fantastic, there is so much pressure on people to do the right thing, spend so much money, I just absolutely ignore it in the same way I do with birthdays or any other celebration, I don't watch tv so I've never seen any christmas ads, but it is easy for me as I have no dependents.