The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

decogecko

Hello all

Hope you don't mind me posting (I can normally be found on the flylady thread, but am no domestic goddess!). I do struggle to keep up with you all.

Thank you for sharing your views on Christmas, I too hate the commercialism and the fact it seems to start earlier and earlier. I've always enjoyed spending Christmas with my family and have always looked forward to boxing day as that's when I get to see my cousins, aunts & uncles. But really finished the materialistic Christmas for me was when my OH passed away in 2010. It made me take stock and realise that 'things' are just 'things'.

Possessions do not maketh the man. Late OH was a terrible hoarder and what was left was a garage packed to the rafters of 'stuff'.

Until I'd read others posting on this thread I thought it was just me being a bah humbug.

MrsLW thank you for explaining 'bringing in the green'. I'd not heard of it before but I will try to do this on Christmas eve.
Fuddle I hang my wet washing in my sun room (a glorified lean too but a great utility room) which this time of year never seems to get warm. I've recently discovered that by lighting a large candle placed in a hurricane lamp, helps to warm the room up. It takes the chill off and prevents condensation forming on the windows. HTH.

Hope all of you have a very lovely Christmas

Deco x

monnagran

Have just written a long post and it all disappeared except the last line.
Not doing it all again now.

YAY for us and our sensible take on Christmas. It's about time we ruled the world.

SQ and LL: My heart goes out to you and your children - it's why I ran a school for children who didn't like school.

Fuddle: You? A pagan? Don't talk rubbish. You live a more Christian life than most churchgoers I know. And I know far too many.

x

Cheapskate

Another one here with a hatred of rampant commercialism! I don't let our watch tv channels with adverts, but sometimes they sneakily do, and DD, in particular, will be of the "I want" brigade! :mad:

We put up some little bits a couple of weeks before the day, but most trimmings go up just a couple of days before - I used to do it Christmas Eve, 12 days and all that, but that day got so hectic I do it 22nd or 23rd now. We do 'bringing in the green' too, make a wreath with some, trail it across picture rails and on top of bookcases, looks smashing.

DH and I aren't really buying for each other this time, just stocking fillers, instead we've been looking for a charity close to our hearts to give the money to instead. Dithering between RNLI and Sally Ann, will probably share. We don't have much, but so many others have a lot less, and DH has surprised, and touched me, by asking for us to do this. I often give to RNLI and a local charity, but he's not that type, so it means more that it's his decision.

A xo

Possession

Glad you're settling in well Fuddle.
Christmas shopping pretty much done here thank goodness, except for FIL who is always a bit tricky. I'm hoping inspiration will strike.
DH was actually offered a temp 4-6 week contract yesterday, but it was looking extremely stressful likely to be working weekends and over Christmas too, so given his anxiety issues and the fact he has other interviews booked and we are going away at Christmas, he turned it down. It was hard to turn down work, but it's only 6 months since his breakdown and it didn't seem a healthy atmosphere to be going into. He has an interview on Friday for a job he'd really like, a permanent one, so fingers crossed.
I am selling stuff like mad (to pay for aforementioned presents) and having a lot of luck with my local Facebook selling sites. Yesterday I made 5 separate transactions so it gets a bit confusing, I have to write it all down! The children have sold a few bits and pieces too which will help make a bit of room soon to be filled again.

PRINCESSX87

Morning all.

Spent 2 hours last new getting some presents wrapped and writing out the Christmas cards. Just a few small bits to get now and we’re done. Then I can turn my attention on OH & baby niece.
I’m so proud of us, We had a budget of £100 for Christmas presents & so far we’re at £67! However I do feel quite bad, Because we’ve have recycled many of the gifts. This is something I’ve never done before and cant help feeling bad, But it was a win - win for us, Because we de-cluttered & saved money at the same time.

I know I might go slightly over budget with OH because there is quite a lot of small things he needs. But after speaking last night we have decided to wait until the sales for clothing, underwear & socks. Rather than biting the bullet now and paying extra.

Now, it’s a waiting game for the postie. He never comes around the same time each day therefore I normally have to wait in all day before he arrives, Which is fine by me because I have a fear of going out, But not so nice that there is only so much you can do to kill time.

For anyone who is looking to buy tinned or box biscuits for Christmas £strecher has some luxury shortbread ones on offer for £1.89. Ideal if your like me a cant cook / bake!

(I would burn salad that‘s how awful I am!!)

Today’s plan is to potter. I’m sure there is things that need doing that I have forgotten. I am holding off defrosting the freezer and cleaning the fridge until Friday, Because we’re off to do our shop on Saturday.

Anyways speak soon all x

fuddle

Yey! I warned you all my camping table and chairs are up in my living room (tiny corner space opposite the stairs. Family meals are now in our reach. I have to say that youngest DD's table manners are not the best because we haven't had table and chairs since the damp house so it's a necessity really.

My bringing in the green will be decorating it for Christmas Day.

It has dawned on me that I may be working on Christmas Day. If it does happen I'm feeling ok about it. We'll arrange our day around it while I hopefully add to someone else's day that maybe a little lonely? it's a nice feeling to have. I start my training tomorrow I'm really very excited about getting out of the house and doing something useful.

The school run, roads and parking went wentout a hitch but I feel like I've worked a shift already! Council transport are to contact me about petrol subsidy as youngest DD is more than an acceptable distance for her age. I think it's only 13p per mile. They were offering a taxi ride to and from school but I declined - I need to see my children through those doors, I just wouldn't have been able to cope.

All is good! First day alone in the house. More bathroom cleaning needed then a walk into the town to get mayo and tomatoes for sandwiches. I've either the coop or waitros* locally to choose from, neither very cheap but with waitros* I think I can get a free coffee if I'm a member so will look into that too.

Lidl rocks here but it's not worth the petrol going just to pick up some odds and ends. Apparently we have an indoor market here that sells food stuffs cheaply but yet to find it.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Wash is out. It is grey today, but humidity is low so hoping the worst of it will be dry before I bring it in.

PrincessWell done on the budget! I don't really have a problem with recycling gifts, although I know some people do. My grandmother used to get all sorts of things at work and I know she sometimes included some of them in my xmas box. Once it was a really lovely candle that is just burned down now. I enjoyed it and my grandmother has lots of candles so I don't see anything wrong with it. I don't think the lady who gave it to her would mind particularly either as it was more about the sentiment of thinking of her. My OH and I will probably be waiting for the sales as well. He has agreed to give me some money towards the sewing machine I've been saving for, as have my mum and dad. I'll probably go in January so I can look at some demos and hopefully get a discount. Still not quite sure about OH's gift. I think he might like the surprise.


Fuddle I'm so excited you have the table set up! Your girls are going to remember these meals fondly. I also think that is a lovely way of looking at working over Christmas.


It looks like I'll be seeing my parents over the holiday this year which I'm excited about. There is a possibility I might see my brother as well, although we're still waiting to find out if he will get time off work. He works in the restaurant industry in the states and thinks it is unlikely that he'll get enough time off to fly to Germany. Because of the cost I haven't seen him since xmas four years ago, and I think its been about 7 years since the whole family was together at all so it would be really very nice. There isn't much money in the coffers for gifts, and since OH and I are flying low cost we only have carry ons but it will be so lovely to see everyone.:T:j:D Furthermore, although we won't be away exactly on xmas (it was way too expensive) OH's family has been lovely about sparing him over the holidays so I could spend some time with my family.

kidcat

Morning toughies

well done fuddle you seem so organised already

FPK - wonderful that you get to spend some time with your family

Possession - I think that is a very wise and sensible decision

I am mid declutter as well, I spent the day yesterday culling toys, have sorted playsets out and started listing on the bay of E, all bagged an labelled so that as they sell they can be pulled from loft and posted. It means I have taken two small toy boxes and two large toy boxes and reduced it to two small boxes.
Today I plan on attacking DD7 bedroom with the same gusto and clearing alot more. I havent done this for a few Christmas and it really needs doing, unfortunately its hard with the boys as part of their autism means change and letting go is incredibly hard. As such we keep things way past their age needs - but I am hopeful that doing this while they are in school means they wont notice as much going!!

kezlou

morning all!

fpk enjoy your chirstmas family holiday!!

fuddle sounds like your all organised and ready to go

princess don't worry about regifting, i've done it before with my sister, we both swapped our presssies over. No one will know. your doing really well keeping with your budget.

so far today i've applied for new bank accounts, just waiting to hear from the co-op and hsbc. Can't access my bank account online or cash machine yet agin, stupid natwest. Isn't scary how one major bank can screw everything up so badly.

I've also scared the sh!te out of the neighbours dog by coughing (more like barking) :rotfl: honestly never seen a dog jump so high i was bad laughing.
Now i'm off upstairs to sort clothes out. the lads won't part with anything, so i'm going to try and do it while they not here. DS2 is the worst he's so attached to everything.

Feel like carp though blurghh
Can you hear that silence only me in the house yay!!!

Possession

Kidcat your post just made me chuckle as when DS was small he had a tool bench, huge thing, loved it. Then he stopped playing with it really and when he was just starting school we gave it to his nursery. We were really worried he'd be upset - to this day he has never even noticed it was gone! He is a hoarder though and finds it hard to give things up, consequently DD has made about £30 selling her stuff and he has made £3 ...

kidcat wrote: »

Morning toughies

well done fuddle you seem so organised already

FPK - wonderful that you get to spend some time with your family

Possession - I think that is a very wise and sensible decision

I am mid declutter as well, I spent the day yesterday culling toys, have sorted playsets out and started listing on the bay of E, all bagged an labelled so that as they sell they can be pulled from loft and posted. It means I have taken two small toy boxes and two large toy boxes and reduced it to two small boxes.
Today I plan on attacking DD7 bedroom with the same gusto and clearing alot more. I havent done this for a few Christmas and it really needs doing, unfortunately its hard with the boys as part of their autism means change and letting go is incredibly hard. As such we keep things way past their age needs - but I am hopeful that doing this while they are in school means they wont notice as much going!!