Xmas dilemma

Aryndeneth

Reading this thread, it has just occured to me that one of my strongest and most cherished Christmas memories is making home-made paper chains with my brother and mum. I couldn't tell you what the presents were I got that year but I remember every detail of sitting with paper and glue and having a lovely, fun time.

claire1a

I dont have children myself but this year Christmas has been scaled down for the whole family.

I have really enjoyed making homemade decorations, food (Oils (Chilli and herb oils, chutneys, christmas biscuits, fudge, Dry Soup mixes (g**gle it), dry cake mixes, and cordials), mulled wine pouches, heat bags and lavender teddies to go in draws!!!

I can honestly not remember much of the gifts I recieved..
Again as others have mentioned some of my fav memories are baking cakes, making decorations, singing to xmas Tapes (back in the day) and playing board games!!

This year my mum has just come out of hospital so i'm cooking the dinner but everything has been picked up cheap or on offer and instead of buying enough to feed 20 for 3 weeks i've brought enough for the family for the week (shops do open after Christmas).

As was mentioned before, homemade food is not only cheaper but tastier and as i'm off work a few days before Christmas, I will be starting the old family traditions up again (and as im cooking the family have no choice but to eat what I make!!!)

I reckon these days we are becoming to consumer led. I think maybe its best to start our own family traditions that are based on spending time together and appreciating each other with time and love rather then pounds!!!!

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas and remember its not what to buy, how much you buy but about being together!

worried48

Ah, we don't do it (OK we have no children, which does make it easier). No presents, no tree, no Christmas dinner (I mean it will just be a normal meal), not sending a single card. Getting an ASDA gift card from my parents (no idea why they get me this every year but they do, also a bottle of Advocaat even though I haven't really liked that since I was about 18, but with lemondae it's drinkable) Husband will be getting a small amount of money from my parents. We are getting them nothing (usually do but this year they insisted we shouldn't).

I will be seeing friends and parents on Christmas eve as part of a tradition going back some 30 years, but no presents involved. Church on Christmas morning just because I go every time it's open, then home to do the cats and then I might manage a couple of hours sleep in the afternoon which will be very welcome after a busy day the day before, then after boxing day it's all back to normal and I breathe a sigh of relief until next year.

Ebenezer.

StarMeKitten

Lilian... you can totally make this work when he is older My parents did the same with myself and my brother. They always told us that Santa just delivers the presents. We grew up believing Mum and Dad picked the presents (with us) and then, by magic, Santa got them and delivered them. We never thought to question it and it felt magical and special every year. The stockings were pillow cases that Santa put at the ends of our beds and contained small things and always a book or 2 and always a satsuma and an apple. Eating the satsuma was the most magical bit and I was convinced it tasted different to any satsuma any other day.

Also for everyone out there, it is quite possible to teach kids about money, even young kids to some level. My parents were always straight with us when they didn't have much money. They used to reassure us so we wouldn't worry, (they would always say we'll have food etc), but used to explain if they couldn't afford "luxuries". They would tell us there are people poorer than us in the world and people richer, so we would have some perspective. I remember looking in the Argos catalogue in the store with them as a kid before Xmas: they would explain what price to look for and we enjoyed the game of find the right present at the right price. We didn't have everything under the sun but it always felt special and we always knew they loved us. If we wanted something bigger, as someone has suggested, we'd get it from all the family together. We'd also save pocket money for a long time toward things and it felt like quite an achievement when I bought a demin jacket as a kid, (took me ages so was extra special). If I ever have kids I will bring them up in a similar way. I am in my early 30s now and look back and feel utterly blessed to have had my parents. I also see spoilt kids everywhere now and often feel sorry for them. They are usually not happy, often have behavioural issues, usually lack their parent(s)' time (even if they have gifts every week). They are not lucky in my eyes and rarely appreciate what they have.

mumtomolandroo

it's your presence that's important, not the presents wishing you all a very merry christmas xx

clairey_em

Hello

We have 2 small boys, 5 and nearly 2 and at least half of their presents, more for the little one, are hand me downs from other relatives, charity shop or from a pre loved selling group on face book.
I got fed up really early on with my eldest when he was tiny, not liking presents I'd bought new that cost lots of money, so I stopped doing it and always try to get them second hand now. That way obviously they were cheaper and I dont get annoyed if I'd spent decent money on something he didn't play with. Lucky for me my dh is a boot fair king and always comes back with amazing bargains.

We have scaled back this Christmas as we have had a few house problems which have eaten into our spare cash and most of the adults our age whose children we buy for aren't getting presents, something we all agreed on. We also found that a few of our nephews and nieces got so many presents anyway, by the time they came to open our presents they didn't glance twice at them and didn't even say thank you. So it's a token selection box that was on offer for each of them this year.

I will however be making more of an effort with our finances again after Christmas now our household issues are sorted (had to have a new boiler fitted and still trying to make good) so we can get back on top. I'll also be planning Christmas more in advance next year and will definitely be making more decorations and presents with my boys. My eldest makes his cards for his teachers.

At least this year I didn't by any new decorations! That's quite a big thing for me

I did make mince pies and our traditional family Christmas biscuits, am so glad my baking mojo has come back after having my second son!