When things hit rock bottom the only answer is to fight the way back up...

Hiddenidenity

Christmas is usually sorted by a payment I receive from a pension my dad had it gives me around £270 a year after tax and always comes in mid December. This fully covers all Xmas related spends, Presents, cards, decorations, events at school (jumpers, party, xmas dinner, cards they make, the fayre)

Halloween costumes in Home bargains £5.99 Better than the price of the other supermarkets! £16 in DS size I'm going to hunt down DD from last year and see if we can re model it to fit. Youngest I might use leggings and a t-shirt and some of her many bandages etc. DS is the fussy hard one :rotfl:

charlies_tribe

That isn't bad, might have to make a visit to home bargains. Don't want to pay a lot for something they'll wear a few hours to open the door in.

EssexHebridean

Hiddenidenity wrote: »

So the party DD is going to Saturday. Need a gift under £20

Her 'parent' (I think its her grandparent) stopped me this morning asking if L was still going. Yes definitely she hasn't shut up about it :rotfl:

She also said please don't be offended but I have a bag of little girls clothes would you like them before I take them to the charity shop. No offence taken! Much appreciated Pretty shocked she asked! She seems really nice and so does the little girl. Makes a difference in the area we live in

I'm still quite nervous about it, it's the first time DD will be heading off with a 'stranger' and its in the city centre not the local town

Bless you for your lovely thoughtful comment on my diary Hidden - I really appreciate your words. xx I'll certainly carry on posting here then with your blessing to do so, and I'm truly glad that I've been of help to you in a small way.

For a present for a little girl at minimal cost I'd be inclined to think about a pretty gift bag filled with cheap craft items? You could easily do it even for under £10 by using Poundland and places like that, and if you wrap the inside bits in coloured tissue paper (£1 for a pack with lots of sheets in it in Poundland) then she'll have lots to open as well, something which always seems to go down well with kids doesn't it! You'll have masses of the tissue paper left over for use in the future too!

Lovely of that parent/grandparent to offer you that bag of clothes too - a small kindness to her but means so much to you.

Hiddenidenity

Oh thats a brilliant idea, will take DD to poundshop and home bargains and let her choose crafty things to put in so she feels like she has chosen. I'm sure I have a giftbag I can re-use and tissue paper too!

I agree I am so happy she actually asked, it shows how so many things end up at landfill though if people are 'scared' to ask in fear of offending someone? I always pass our things on I've never thought to ask if they where offended opps :rotfl:


I keep having awful dreams. I'm noting this here so I can see if they go away themselves. I use to have awful dreams before but back in march when I lost myself they went? Now they are back and are awful. Wake up full on shaking and feeling sick with anxiety attacks etc. It happened saturday and I thought it was because of the a&e visit and me being worried then again last night but also I tried to have a nap with youngest this morning and it happened again. I don't want to go to sleep ever again I feel so stupid writing this and like a baby

redofromstart

That sounds horrible, no idea what might help but didn't want to read and run. Much sympathy from me.

****

On the party gifts I generally worked to £10, and tried to buy lego or nerf guns on offer for that so they didn't know what I had or hadn't spent. Use to have a few in the present drawer ready for short notice events - my boys both rubbish for actually telling me that had been invited and wanted to go.

Halloween costumes, I always went for skeleton costumes (school had a dress up day) as they could be reused for funny bones on world book day when the boys inevitably said in the morning that they had to be dressed up. Easier to hand them on to other parents when they are unisex costumes too.

117pauline

When I was about 14 I went to a family wedding in the Suffolk village where my father grew up as one of the eight children belonging to the local vicar. An elderly lady took great delight in telling me tales about him. My favourite was the one about him sitting on the War Memorial, dressed in a sheet, scaring all the old ladies!! This must have been in the late 1920s or 1930s.

You are setting yourself really tough targets again Hidden. Don't forget to build in some treats too.

Hope the little one is feeling better. It's amazing how quickly they bounce back.

Have a good week
Pauline

missymoo81

Hey hidden, I'm so sorry about the nightmares. If it's any consolation, I have horrific nightmares, and have had panic attacks and sometimes they turn into night terrors, when I wake up but still believe it's happening. They are awful and I really feel for you. I know you don't want to go to sleep but each night before you go to bed try and calm your thoughts, for a while I used s sleep app and that helped. I think it was called calm actually. Big hugs xxx

Munchin

Hi Hidden

Can’t offer much advice but have nightmares now & again and thankfully they seem to go when stress reduces in my life.

EssexHebridean

Oh Hidden poor you - that must be absolutely horrible, especially that it's leaving you feeling scared to go to sleep.

DrSpendLittle

Hugs Hidden, hope life settles down for you soon. Can't advise on nightmares but don't forget you've your half term holiday to look forward to and a lovely xmas planned, so keep those positive things in your thoughts xx