THE....sell everything to pay for chritmas thread

C_J

I'm a bit torn by this thread - one the one hand, I'm full of admiration for you taking control of things to ensure you can provide your family with everything you want them to have for a happy Christmas, and for doing it all in sufficient time so you don't go getting into financial straits come December ........... but on the other hand I'm a bit sad that you feel the need to sell everything to provide them with the Christmas experience. This being an Old Style board, I'm inclined to ask whether you need to go to these extremes just to keep up with the commercialism of Christmas or whether you might be able to simplify things to take the financial pressure off.

You don't say how old your children are, or how many people you 'have' to buy for, but I'm sure Christmas can still be fun even if it is scaled back out of financial necessity. A normal roast chicken dinner instead of a huge turkey for instance, home made decorations, playing games together, simple hand made gifts or ones from charity shops, perhaps only giving gifts to your own children and not the extended family - there are lots of ways to cut the cost of Christmas without feeling like you or the family is missing out. I think families can do without all this extra pressure to give give give when they are not in a position to do so.

But well done on the eBay sales! You are very enterprising

mumofthetwins

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Bet you were popular at the Post Office - first morning after a bank holiday :rotfl:.

I was but they weighed a bloomin ton so no way was I carrying them for 20 mins to work and 20 min back ...


I did go in really early though as I know it gets busy around my normal time


Lisa x

VfM4meplse

kimplus8 wrote: »

of course I will be building a rainy day fund too and will use this for that too, I know £500 is probably not going to be achievable but its just a goal.

Its good to have goals....and even better to share them on OS, where you'll get lots of support and encouragement.

:T

kimplus8

C_J wrote: »

I'm a bit torn by this thread - one the one hand, I'm full of admiration for you taking control of things to ensure you can provide your family with everything you want them to have for a happy Christmas, and for doing it all in sufficient time so you don't go getting into financial straits come December ........... but on the other hand I'm a bit sad that you feel the need to sell everything to provide them with the Christmas experience. This being an Old Style board, I'm inclined to ask whether you need to go to these extremes just to keep up with the commercialism of Christmas or whether you might be able to simplify things to take the financial pressure off.

You don't say how old your children are, or how many people you 'have' to buy for, but I'm sure Christmas can still be fun even if it is scaled back out of financial necessity. A normal roast chicken dinner instead of a huge turkey for instance, home made decorations, playing games together, simple hand made gifts or ones from charity shops, perhaps only giving gifts to your own children and not the extended family - there are lots of ways to cut the cost of Christmas without feeling like you or the family is missing out. I think families can do without all this extra pressure to give give give when they are not in a position to do so.

But well done on the eBay sales! You are very enterprising

thanks CJ, Christmas is the only time of year we have together with our family, there are 9 of us (me and the kids) and this is just to get them a stocking each and some family gifts.
When I say for Christmas I really mean, stockings filled with, toothbrush, toothpaste, pretty flannel, clothes, shoes, accessories for my older girls, probably new school bags for those that need them, new footy boots for my boys for school. I will just streach out what they currently have and glue their shoes together until then if I have to so they can receive stuff.
my littles will need new swimming costumes as theirs are either gonna be too small or will will threadbear by then lol.
when I say Christmas I don't mean the extravagant bells and smells Christmas I just mean the things the kids will need for the next year but given to them on tat day lol

kimplus8

mumofthetwins wrote: »

I posted 19 ebay parcels this morning on my way to work .. haven't checked paypal yet but I have a few finishing tonight as well. It really does become addictive lol
Lisa x

yay well done!
my listings end on Thursday evening, fingers and toes crossed.

LameWolf

When my DH was out of work for 11 months and money was very tight, we took the decision to dispense with presents completely.
This was back in 2002/2003, and we have carefully never re-introduced presents.
I find it liberating, not having to buy stuff that I know won't really be wanted or appreciated, and not having to pretend to be thrilled to receive something that will actually go straight in the chazzer box.

That said, I see where the OP is going with this - and I applaud the idea of jazzing up what would be necessary purchases anyway to be something to open at Christmas - best of luck with this.

kimplus8

LameWolf wrote: »

When my DH was out of work for 11 months and money was very tight, we took the decision to dispense with presents completely.
This was back in 2002/2003, and we have carefully never re-introduced presents.
I find it liberating, not having to buy stuff that I know won't really be wanted or appreciated, and not having to pretend to be thrilled to receive something that will actually go straight in the chazzer box.

That said, I see where the OP is going with this - and I applaud the idea of jazzing up what would be necessary purchases anyway to be something to open at Christmas - best of luck with this.

thanks, ive thought lots about the idea of doing away with extended family presents and this year I am just going to say - 'sorry its not in our budget this year, but I would love for us to spend 'time' enjoying each others company', which is a better gift IMO.

VfM4meplse

kimplus8 wrote: »

thanks, ive thought lots about the idea of doing away with extended family presents and this year I am just going to say - 'sorry its not in our budget this year, but I would love for us to spend 'time' enjoying each others company', which is a better gift IMO.

If its not seen as such by them, it will be an even more valuable lesson to you.

trailingspouse

You sound very sensible, and I want to apologise for thinking you were just going to blow the lot on nonsense. Good woman.

Prinzessilein

KimPlus8...well done on starting now to get your Christmas-on-a-budget sorted!

Make sure you have a separate 'pot' for the money you are getting from selling bits and bobs...it is all too easy to sell something and then the proceeds get absorbed into the family funds and come Christmas you are not as well prepared as you had hoped!

Another tip....make a list of what you want to buy and add notes as to when you are likely to get a good bargain....

School accessories? Be patient, during the summer holidays the stationers put out their 'specials' then when the kids go back to school they start to reduce them...hang on in! I usually find that just before Halloween is the time to pounce! The shops need to clear the shelves for Halloween and Bonfire stuff and they slash the stationery prices. (I fill OCC shoeboxes and have managed to get really nice 'double' pencil cases in past years...filled with maths set, pen, crayons, rubber, sharpener et.c...with Disney Character design...for £3)

Flannels, Nice Soap, Tooth Brushes?...get them now - from a pound shop....I have picked up lovely pink flannels and Fruity-scented soap...Colgate tooth brushes and paste ...you'd never know I grabbed them in the pound shop.

Don't forget the stocking-fillers...Pound shops are terrific for these too (I have picked up some lovely sticker sets at 2 sets for £1....I found some doll-dressing ones and took all the shop had!)

On a more selfish note...I regularly update my wish-list for books...many titles are only available 2nd hand....I make sure relatives have regular updates so they can buy now for Christmas if they find a hard-to-get title!