Is it mean to say no more pressy's?

chardonnay_2

perhaps you could suggest that instead of buying for your kids they could spend the money on their own kids to buy something they really want? might go down better.


if they seem bothered you could suggest they tag them from you etc and then you pick something to tag from them for your kids etc.

hopefully they go for the first option.

Psykicpup

chardonnay wrote: »

perhaps you could suggest that instead of buying for your kids they could spend the money on their own kids to buy something they really want? might go down better.


if they seem bothered you could suggest they tag them from you etc and then you pick something to tag from them for your kids etc.

hopefully they go for the first option.

I think thats a very good suggestion

I'd drop in a hint about how you dont know what to buy them & rather than waste money when its short - isnt it all ways when you have kids, could they buy a little something from you with the money they would have spent on yours....etc

morganb

Could you have a day out or trip to the cinema all together instead? Something at least clubcard vouchers can contribute towards .. you wouldn't believe the number of people who are getting magazine subscriptions from me this year!!!

scuzz

I would just be honest with them. If they're good friends (or any sort of friend at all) they should understand that money is tight. I have no children of my own, but if I did and someone told me they couldn't afford it, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

I do buy for two of my friends' children but it doesn't mean I expect something in return.

At the end of the day, you're not being mean, you're being sensible.

(Or if you feel really compelled to give them something, make them some nice biscuits or similar)

keelykat

Honesty is the best policy-i put my family first presents wise, and if im short on money buy cheaper pressies for friends-just takes a bit more looking around/imagination.... i still find nice pressies on a tight budget.

I dont have lots of friends but they all know my money situation-and understand. Most people go through bad paches money wise and usually take it well if you explain.

Good luck!

keely.

SharkyGeorge

I saw this article in The Times today which made me think of this thread.

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article2961692.ece

LouBlue

frogga wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I really want to cut back on pressy's this year as we are skint. We don't buy for our Brothers and Sisters or their children , just our parents and our own tadpoles.

We also buy for our friends children. Mr Frog and I got married v young and had our family soon after. Our friends were all single at the time with cash on the hip and bought pressys for both our tadpoles. Now they are all married with children of their own so we buy pressys for those children as they always have done for ours.

But we really can't affoard to do it. I also feel bad buying for those children who I really hardly know at all , when I don't even buy for my sister or niece and nephew.

Mr Frog says it's really tight to not buy for our friends children as they have bought for ours for the last 12 years. I do see his point. We were all really close once , but now we all have our own lives and only see each other once a year at Christmas. I don't know their wives or children , yet buy them a pressy.

I don't want to offend. Mr Frog and I have known these friends since school and it feels like we are not paying them back for all the money they've spent on my two over the years.

Shall I just get tehm something anyway? Or speek to them and try and call it a day?

Hey Frogga.

Have a read of this thread. Some suggestions in there. We only buy for the kids now. So much better and everyone is very relieved!!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=571250

wishiwasarichgirl

its become a bit of a joke with my mums side of the family, she has 4 sisters and it used to be that we got a box of bikkies or sweets from each (as a family) and got them somthing similar in return.

over the years that has evolved to posh M&S bikkies, tin of sweets and a bottle of wine from each household, the thing was, each family gave the same thing to every other one, so we ended up with 4 of everything.

last year mum decided enough was enough and donated whatever she would normally spend on prezzies on a local hospital scanner charity, and asked her sisters not to get us anything, just donate to the charity too if they wanted.