I am really struggling with christmas

amibovvered

Blimey - I don't spend £15 on my best friend! I don't work now, but when I did, no-one swapped Christmas presents unless they were friendly outside work as well. No-one suggested a Secret Santa, thank goodness!

sweetilemon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5340301

Not sure if these are still on sale but I bought a few of these for presents. Truffles with a bottle of wine (on sale) for work colleagues, the rotating musical biscuit tins for OH sister and shortbread for my dad. Thought they are good value and will look expensive gifts for small mindings. If these are gone I would consider similar gifts so you don't have a huge outlay but no embarrassing 'no present' senario.

pickledonionspaceraider

Moonbean wrote: »

i can see how silly it is but i have to.

NO YOU DON'T

Stop putting ridiculous unnecessary pressure on yourself.

Susie_Richards

''Buying people you don't like, presents they don't want, with money that you can't afford''.


Christmas has gone wrong somewhere :huh:

pogofish

You absolutely do not have to spend a penny on presents you don't want to for anyone at christmas.

And I have very little doubt that any reasonable person would hate the very idea that someone had gone up-against it or worse still into debt to buy them a present!

aurelieweill

Creative gift ideas trump spending power this Christmas! Personalisation and customisation are a mega trend, make the presents yourself.

Taplledraw

Just a thought other people at work may be in the same boat as you and wishing they didn't have to spend as much. You may not be alone in this so mention it suggest you have a bit of a competition instead like the best present bought for under £5 not a penny more you could have a different theme each year (Sparkly,to wear,to eat,decoration,ornament etc) the winner is the one who spends the LEAST for the best present. Maybe mention it this year and get reaction they may already have bought things for this year.
Have you looked in charity shops a lot save gift sets to put out at this time of year and they would not know what they cost. Could you give the grandparents a voucher for a special meal cooked for you in January if they live near enough. You can make something they really like and maybe plan a menu they can chose from. It wont take any room in their house and they will enjoy spending time with you as well it also saves you paying out everything all at once. What about buying some cheap wine glasses covering them in glitter glue (poundland) and putting sand and a candle in them for gifts for the girls both work and relatives This will be a special handmade gift quick to make and will not cost much. Attach with ribbon (Maybe the inside ribbon on some clothes to hang them on hangers which you can cut out)a handmade label saying made with love by then your name

Pollycat

Taplledraw wrote: »

Just a thought other people at work may be in the same boat as you and wishing they didn't have to spend as much. You may not be alone in this so mention it suggest you have a bit of a competition instead like the best present bought for under £5 not a penny more you could have a different theme each year (Sparkly,to wear,to eat,decoration,ornament etc) the winner is the one who spends the LEAST for the best present. Maybe mention it this year and get reaction they may already have bought things for this year.
Have you looked in charity shops a lot save gift sets to put out at this time of year and they would not know what they cost. Could you give the grandparents a voucher for a special meal cooked for you in January if they live near enough. You can make something they really like and maybe plan a menu they can chose from. It wont take any room in their house and they will enjoy spending time with you as well it also saves you paying out everything all at once. What about buying some cheap wine glasses covering them in glitter glue (poundland) and putting sand and a candle in them for gifts for the girls both work and relatives This will be a special handmade gift quick to make and will not cost much. Attach with ribbon (Maybe the inside ribbon on some clothes to hang them on hangers which you can cut out)a handmade label saying made with love by then your name

The OP posted this list early on in the thread - I'm not sure if this is a list of gifts she's already bought (she says she's already bought most of the adults so I guess so)

Moonbean wrote: »

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

Moonbean

Righty Had a long think about this all.

I don't think i'd be seeing my boyfriends family until after christmas and he expects me to knock around there door and give presents to them...apart from the hello and goodbye and me making the effort to talk, they don't really talk to me so that's a big no-no in my eyes.

For them I was either going to get a £4 box of chocloates or buiscutis or
make a small little pamper set to give them when I see them after christmas
and his brother a cheap lynx set. My partner said his brother wats money but
i don't see why i should have to give my money to them all when I barely talk.

The girls in work I'll spend up to £10 or less if i can but they are hard because they don't drik alchohol and don't think they want chocs or anything.... One of the girls I could by a pamper set from MR.T as a token gift.

My nan,grandad and my "adoptive" auntie & uncle can get tin of biscuits and choc for £4 or less,
becuase they don't want gifts from me anyway but I really want to get a token gift at least, they understand about having the children to buy for. Wish my dads side of the family was the same.

Next year I'll only really buy for the kids,
I want to save up for driving lessons,a car or to move out.

my two younger cousins could get cheap crap from M&B
cos I don't really care about them too much cos I don't really get on with them.
They get what they give really.

I've had enough of being nice & struggling.

Pollycat

Yay! The penny's finally dropped. Well done. :TT
Have a great Christmas.