really really need some christmas help - keeping the balance - PLEASE READ

caravanlover

hello everyone

right after reading in here it is only 100 shooping days left till christmas:j

and then ringing retail eyes for a query, put on hold and played christmas carols !!!!:eek:

thought i had better get some help, it has been in the back of my ind a while now.

right i will explain a few things first.......

we wont be at home this christmas, we are going to disney land paris on the 23rd and return on the 28th december. we have never been away for christmas, and must say we are looking forward to it :T

but my problem is keeping the balance right, after the cost of disney has been paid (saved up no cerdit cards!!), and then the spending money for there.

i thought i would just take a few small bits for the kids to open christmas day, and then fill an envelope up from santa with euros in, so they can get what they want ( go wild in the disney store).

but i then have to have the traditional christmas day all over again when we get home with my parents so they can see the kids open the bits from them.

i really diont know what to do, i want the kids to understand that disney at christmas is part of their christmas present, but little ones dont really understand the cost involoved in it !!

i dont want to go to overboard money wise, but how do i keep the balance right

what with the cost, then spending money(food, extras ect), few pressies to take with us, spending money from santa;) , and then having to do it all again when we get home

do i get the 'christmas food' in that we all go over board with ?

do i put some bist under our tree at home for them when we get home??



i really hope all this makes sense and sorry to go on, but i think it is time to get organised now,

BTW, i dont have large family, only us 4 and my mum and dad, then the kids by for a friend each and the already have all the bits of the teachers.


help!!!! cant even think straight after writing this lot

numberonemummy

oooh you lucky thing, xmas at disney,

we have gone away the past 2 years, going again this year,
best thing ever !
what we have done with our girls and also with my niece is had their xmas pressies before going, (we left xmas eve) and cause we had no tree up etc when we got home xmas is all over, just loads of pressies to play with :T
took a couple of small ones for xmas day, and also gave ££ to spend abroad,
they didnt complain, if anything they liked going back to school with something different to tell everyone other than turkey, turkey etc !

if you tell them they are special cause they are having 2 xmas's, one with mum, dad and mickey, one with nan and gramps, they shouldn't expect pressies from you again, especially if they have spent xmas day with all the disney characters.
I think the euros is a brilliant idea, santa knew they were going there so he let them choose their own pressie this year , and a nice piccy of them on xmas day framed would make a lovely 'new year' pressie for their rooms,

have fun :beer: :j

caravanlover

thanks alot for the advice

that sounds like a good idea, it just i know what i am like and have the feeling i will go over board, and really dont want to !!

my hubby came up with the euros fromsanta idea, we had a friend who went in august to disney and she sent the children a postcards over each, of their favourite characters, signed by the characters;) , saying cant wait to see you at christmas XXX

do you still buy all the food in ??

numberonemummy

didn't buy hardly any xmas food,
felt a bit like scrooge the first year,
everyone at work after the new year saying had loads of cake/biscuits/booze left over, i had none to start with !
but it does save you a fortune, we used to do about £300 on the 'shop' for xmas, thats alot of food and drink abroad !

are you having your parents come to you ?
if so as long as you buy the turkey or whatever the main meal is, and a pud, the rest is like a sunday dinner, you can pick the bits up the same day, (veg, pots, etc)
plus the kiddies will be so excited showing them their goodies they brought, and the pics i dont think they will notice if you haven't got 4 different kids of nuts, a selection of cheese biscuits etc,
my hubby now says xmas is for spending time with the family you want to spend time with, so if we can do it in a warmer place, without all the commercialised (sp??) stuff to waste hard earnt ££ on, then why not, xmas for us is now on the beach, with the kids :T

misspolly

New to here, been watching, laughing and crying for months. But wanted to reply as have been in the same position.

Long story short......
2 years ago I lived down south and all my family were in the North, had a little girl 2yrs old and partner who is southerner, we decided to go to Egypt for christmas and New year, I warned everyone months before that there would be no xmas cards or presents and they were not to send them to us.

My parents hadn't seen our daughter for a couple of months and initially were upset, but we promised the first weekend after returning we would visit.
My OHs mum gave us the money she would have spent for xmas to pay towards the cost of the holiday, which helped loads!!!

Anyway, my advice to you is to be a little bit selfish, the kids won't care about missing out as they won't be at home.
Grandparents presents, get a few lovely photos of kids on holiday framed, (my lot love piccys )
And buy a couple of little bits to take for xmas morning, if you aren't wrapping them before you go, don't forget sticky tape, people were offering me money for mine!!!

Don't buy any food in, it will be cheaper when you get back or do something totally different for your late christmas lunch.

Hope this helps

floss2

Really envy you - we went away for Christmas in 1997, (now ex-) husband me & 2 boys, skiing in Andorra. Was the best Christmas cos it snowed, we skiied on Christmas day & didn't have to cook the turkey!

I've also taken the boys away, returning on Christmas Day - loads of room on the plane & sausage 'n' mash for Christmas lunch! Again, no turkey, sunshine & duty free shopping for pressies.

Jue_xx

caravanlover wrote: »

hello everyone

right after reading in here it is only 100 shooping days left till christmas:j

Oh no, is there really only 100 days to go? I've left it too late to get the sprouts on, they'll never be done in time now!