Helping daughter's budget at Xmas

happyhacker

They are hard up and have suggested no present exchange for this year. So I am wondering if I can think if a way of helping out with something like a regular shopping support for a few months or petrol. You get the idea. Not keen on just money gift as can get lost in the whirl of casual shopping. Don't want them to feel embarrassed.

HampshireH

Why don't you ask her what would help take the pressure off

ellenvan

I wonder if they would find it intrusive if you asked to help with budgeting. Best to ask casually, if they have seen surveys, cash back anything helpful they might not have thought about.

Largs

Hello.

What a most kind thing.

I would say just helping with eveyday things will go a long way.

Don't get me wrong my mum and dad were always skint at Christmastime but I have great memories about the presents, they were out catalogues like the Webb Ivory or one year she got a Boots charge card so we got BMX bikes out Halfords. Halfords would actually build them then so it saved my dad.

I think my point is, your daughter will love what you give, cause you are her mum.

kimwp

You should ask your daughter.

sammyjammy

Sounds like she already has made a good decision instead of getting herself into what is maybe more debt. Ask, thats the only way to do it, it maybe they have a plan that is working well.

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82143272#Comment_82143272

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82143399#Comment_82143399

+1 to these posts.

Your daughter will know what would help them best.

Well done to them for putting a stop to ridiculous present swapping.

Maybe point them to the Debt Free Wannabe board for adice on cutting their outgoings.

You don't have to be in debt to post.

DiamondLil

We just send each of our children a small lump sum in early December to "help out as Christmas is expensive".

born_again

Do you go shopping together?

Becomes a easy way to simply say "I will pay for that"

otb666

I have recently started helping out more. My children appreciate it and do not ever take advantage. I let them shop for what ever they need when they visit about 4 times a year. I think its the right thing to do as times are hard at the moment and they need help now its the right thing to do. At xmas and birthdays they know they have £200 to do what they want with and I always say to them I have bought my own gift from you normally just face cream or something. I really dont want anything bought for me as have all I want. There seems to be such a gap between generations now on wealth and know if roles reversed they would do the same for me.

sammy_kaye18

Ask her.

I did see something similar to this on one of my social medias - I forget which one - and it was a case of the child being a bit stretched over Christmas and the parents asked what would help, or if they could take a bill off their hands - I know you might not be able to cover a bill entirely but even something like a debt payment, car payment etc might help. Putting gas/electric on for the month if they are on a meter.

My dad also use to give my sister and I a £100 Mr T food shop gift card each in the run up to Christmas to do our xmas food shopping with to help take the pressure off us when we had small kids. If I had already booked an online slot by then, I kept it for after Christmas and January to help ease that pressure after Xmas when funds were a bit tight.

I remember doing it for my sister one year and making her a week of frozen dinners - I used the excuse that it meant there was always a dinner ready and she could just add a side she needed to fill it out if it needed it.