I'm doing a no spend for xmas, .. freebies only.. anyone else?

faerielight

I am so skint on benefits, , plus ill and laid out after surgery,and I'm not a fan of Christmas anyway. But I've decided to do a no spend for xmas presents.. I don't have kids or family, so it's just for friends, but I've accumulated so many freebies over the last year, thanks to MSE, my friends are getting those.. Anyone else, either not giving presents at all or giving freebies? It feels a bit strange, and I feel a bit guilty, but it will save a lot of post overspending stress in the new year!

wdah

I'm not quite doing that myself, but I have been considering putting together a 2016 advent calendar for my mum using freebies/samples collected next year.

janebrain

It's a great idea, sometimes wish I was brave enough to opt out of all the pointless present exchanging. Don't get me wrong, I love the other parts of Christmas ie time off work, spending time with family, parties. Maybe we should just do presents for children.

Clowance

My uncle used to have a competition with a pal who gave the best freebies - after all, christmas presents are often smellies you don't like or need. I would tell your friends what you are doing beforehand and I am sure they wont mind. Hope your health improves soon.

faerielight

What great ideas! clowance.. yes, I have told them, I thought it only fair! I think it is so different of you have children or grandkids, but Martin Lewis does raise some good points about Christmas.. I read his take on presents , last year but wasn't able to break the pattern, but I'm up for a no spend one this year.And it will also give me incentive to save all the freebies up instead of giving a lot of them away throughout the year.

youngie

christmas has become very materialistic I love the way you are embracing it maybe more people should try this it should be about sharing love and time with people you care about and love

faerielight

thank you youngie

kingfisherblue

Not for Christmas, but for my sister's 40th birthday - one of her gifts from me was a display book filled with Scouting cartoons that I printed from the Internet. She loved it, as it was something that I had thought about and taken time over (she is a Beaver leader).

I know it's not free, because of the cost of the display book (from the pound shop) and the cost of printing, but it proves that you don't have to spend a lot to give a thoughtful gift.

Another very cheap, but not quite free, gift that I thought was great was the gingerbread man from the Festive Fivers competition a couple of years ago. It had a poem about the ideal man - quite funny.

Giving freebies, or making inexpensive gifts, is a great way to give presents if you can. I'm sure I read a post a couple of years back (n the Christmas board) about someone who gives her mum as many freebies as she can get each year. I think she put them into a hamper.

Just a thought for the OP for next year - have you seen the posters and booklets from the Open University? They are fab and are sent out free of charge, no postage. My daughter has one for her partner about towns (he trained in town planning). I've had several posters over the last couple of years, as well as a couple of booklets. They're always decent quality and some quite interesting subjects.

Good luck with your freebie Christmas - you'll enjoy it so much more without worrying about debt.

DUKE

That's a brilliant idea faerielight! There really is no need for people to get into debt just to exchange unwanted gifts ever year, then there's the stress of it all ....

I love my freebies & I'd love a hamper so can I be your friend please?

Don't feel guilty, & get well soon x

faerielight

He He It's a shame this site doesn't allow for freebie swaps! it would be fun!