I am really struggling with christmas

Moonbean

I got paid yesterday and once all my bills get taken off I will have £100 left out of £920 because I spent £150 yesterday on christmas presents. I have 10+ other people to buy for but I won't have enough. I do only have £138 in my savings but I am willing to use that in order to get this season over and done with...

I feel so depressed about it all and am starting to panic as I am running out of money.
What do I do?!

whitewing

sweets http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=285000587

Can you group any people?

Give us a list of people you need gifts for..

IrishRose12

Give us a list of who you need to buy for and I'm sure some of us will try to help you out. I know I'll try and help you anyway.

Try to think, do you HAVE to buy 10+ people to buy for or do you WANT to buy for them? Can a token gift do or does it have to be an expensive gift?

Kim_kim

Just buy for children.
I'm sure the adults wouldn't want you to go without to buy them a present. You need to eat & live.

powerwin

Just buy for the children. Tell the adults you usually buy for that you can't afford it this year and tell them not to buy you anything in return. I'm sure they'll understand.

Nargleblast

Stop panicking and step back from the situation. Are all your bills covered until you next get paid? Have you sufficient food in stock until payday? These are the really important things.

Now, these 10 people. Who are they and do you really have to buy each one a gift? If say, 4 of them are a family group, think about a huge tin of biscuits or a home made food hamper between them, rather than separate presents. Think about charity shops, sometimes they have really good quality stuff, and not all of it is second hand. It might be some of those people are also worrying about the financial pressure, and might be happy to agree to limit present giving to children only, or maybe setting a price limit on presents.

There's a thread on the OS forum called Homemade Christmas, you might get some ideas there.

Christmas should be a happy time, if you are getting stressed out by other people's expectations then something needs to change. And if anyone turns their noses up at a simple inexpensive gift given with thought, then they don't deserve to be on your Christmas list.

Moonbean

I already brought most of the adults.

My oldest cousin - £10 voucher
My auntie - £10 voucher
My nan - a little something (I put £20 towards getting a laptop for her)
My younger cousins x2 - their parents by me socks & choc thats worth £2 but expect me to spen a lot and they always snub my parents (up to £5 each)
My boyfriends mum - I dont talk to her anymore really
My boyfriend sister - I dont talk to her anymore really
My boyfriend brother - I dont talk to him anymore really
My boyfriends Aunt & Uncle - They gave him a place to stay when his mum kicke him out
A girl in work - up to £15
Another girl in work - £15
£12 towards a girl in work bday present
Boyfriends nan - birthday present
Grandad C - toblerone
my "adoptive" aunt & uncle (parents close friends) - they always brought me something when i was younger

nan & grandad

melanzana

I know it might not help OP, but you need to prioritise.

We only give money in a card to nieces and nephews under 18. It stops then. And to my mum a simple pressie that she would like, and I always know what that is.

We do not expect any pressies from anyone, and they all know that now.

Please do not put yourself in debt for something that is forgotten a day later really. Be honest.

Most people can be relieved that they do not have to reciprocate either!!

Win. Win!

Nargleblast

Sounds like there's a few you could cross off your list straight away!

Work - what about Secret Santa with a £10 limit?

Boyfriend's relatives - he should contribute towards the presents for them.

Focus on those people who really mean something to you (grandparents, for example) - the rest can just have token gifts.

emzi27

Not sure if it helps but I too have lots of people to buy for and very little money. I downloaded the snap fish app and ordered the 50 free prints. Lovely pics of my children, nephew, friends children etc. Went to poundland and bought a variety of frames, they sell multi photo frames too. Very cheap but meaningful gifts.

Hedgehog99

Ideally, you'd have told people earlier (in case they've already got yours), but definitely agree with others who've said just tell people you can't afford it & not to get you anything in return.

£15 each on two colleagues? I might spend that on a good friend, but no way on a work friend. Christmas can escalate and before you know it it's £20.. £25... £30.

£12 towards a colleague's birthday present? What's the total value from all of you? Unless it's a really special birthday, that's way too much. If the amount was suggested by someone senior, they should bear in mind the ability to contribute of those on lower salaries.

Definitely don't need to buy for people you're not even speaking to!