Christmas- Is it just me?

yellowmonkey

6' 5" When did you sprout up :rotfl: . I would run away as well.

ym

theunknownstuntman

*grin* you're on form tonight eh? lol. Well, i wouldnt take me on either, but Xmas shopping in Tescos does funny things to people.....

mrsspendalot

I luckily don't have to buy Xmas food as we eat at my parents .... so I avoid the Xmas food shop rush. BUT my parents have spent the entire day doing their food shopping. Round 1 was a trip to Sainsburys where they spent £175 .... home to put it away, grab a cuppa, and then back out for Round 2: Tescos .... £200 ..... Then to iceland for a turkey as they weren't able to get one big enough in Sainsburys or Tescos ..... and they haven't finished ... got to go again tomorrow to finish off. My dad said on the phone that they have about another £100 to spend and then they'll be done!!!!!

Fortunately for them they are well paid and don't have debts other than their mortgage so can afford every penny .... but it still seems like a crazy amount to spend on food and drink. They have 2 fridges and 2 freezers bursting full now. Mind you, they are feeding 8 adults and 3 children for Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and Boxing Day. It still seems like a lot of money though. rather them than me.

ZTD

free4440273 wrote: »

The resilience of the British consumer never ceases to amaze me. Retail sales UP, as reported yesterday :eek:

Perhaps they actually bought less. Stuff is more expensive...

pippo

This thread reminded me of my friend last year who went to M&S for her turkey (she's a bit posher than me!). Another customer 'lifted ' turkey from trolley.. friend threatened to 'stove her head in' (she's not that posh) and proceeded to do the rest of her shop with HER turkey under her arm!!

Why do people need so much bread ?? the shops are closed for one day and if they needed something to spread butter on couldn't they use one of the many tins of 'assorted biscuits for cheese' that they have all bought?

Candy0107

Hi,

One thing I noticed whilst helping mum do her Xmas food shopping - why to people insist on taking husbands and their 4 misbehaving kids????. The number of arguments/shoving/hitting (from the kids I must add) I saw yesterday was unbelievable. And, you should have seen the rush when they announced over the tannoy that sprouts (yum ! :T - go sprouts) have been delivered

Also, I had a 'discussion' with my husband about what I wanted for Xmas. This meant that I was frogmarched around Boots and had to justify why I didn't want X (I am 28, I do not want a teapot set!) I know for a fact that 5 days later everything is going to be half price :mad:)

My Sister In Law is in debt (almost as bad as me, and she is not paying it back), and she doesn't realise that her and my nieces and nephew are only getting money boxes for Xmas - We might have to save up for IVF . I think that there will be a tantrum. I think the kids will be ok though!

SarahNeedle1872

Candy0107 wrote: »

Hi,

One thing I noticed whilst helping mum do her Xmas food shopping - why to people insist on taking husbands and their 4 misbehaving kids????. The number of arguments/shoving/hitting (from the kids I must add) I saw yesterday was unbelievable. And, you should have seen the rush when they announced over the tannoy that sprouts (yum ! :T - go sprouts) have been delivered

Also, I had a 'discussion' with my husband about what I wanted for Xmas. This meant that I was frogmarched around Boots and had to justify why I didn't want X (I am 28, I do not want a teapot set!) I know for a fact that 5 days later everything is going to be half price :mad:)

My Sister In Law is in debt (almost as bad as me, and she is not paying it back), and she doesn't realise that her and my nieces and nephew are only getting money boxes for Xmas - We might have to save up for IVF . I think that there will be a tantrum. I think the kids will be ok though!

This last bit kinda summed it up for me! Why is it assumed that presents have to be big and expensive!?! I would be happy with a money box! It's not about how big the prezzies are bu the thought! Everyone this year has only got small presents (except OH's DS1, who has some expensive things) because a) we're skint, and b) why spend loads on things that people might not even like!

skint_spice

Well said Sarah, I think this year I've probably thought more about what people really like/would want and spent much less. when all's said and done it's only one day out of the year, there's just so much hype in the run up that folks go mad. at work people seem to be trying to out do each other with how much they are spending on the food etc. would be nice if they tried to underspend each other for a change and maybe even give some to charity...

Mozette

Totally agree with virtually everything on this thread.
I hate the whole thing, I hate the forced 'you will enjoy yourself regardless of what is happening in your life'. Well I shall enjoy myself with a couple of bottles of red, a nice stew (which should last me well into the week), whatever chocolate I've got and Doctor Who.
Actually, that is the true meaning of Xmas - new episode of Doctor Who.
Hurrah!

auntymabel

I definitely agree with all that's been said here about overspending and not just because you're in debt. It's such a waste of money and time buying stuff that nobody wants. People buy things for my son and his family so they feel obliged to buy for them which they can ill afford. I've got a feeling that if they said to them let's agree not buy for each other most of them would be really relieved. I suppose it's difficult to be the one to raise it. Maybe someone could design a little card saying Merry Christmas but we're not buying presents this year.

BTW I've never seen the Grinch - I must make apont of watching it.