Christmas is coming.....time to start planning!

[indebtforever]

come on debbie you are sounding more like scooge everyday!!! you only have one go at living you can enjoy yourself and spend and still never use credit[:p]

[kallis3]

I agree with Debbie - Christmas is far too commercialised. Everyone goes out to see how much they can spend!

Bring on the Ghost of Christmas Past!

[Soulgrowth]

Just being realistic[:)] The commercialism of Christmas and lumping the costs of ill afforded living beyond one's means presents for other people onto credit cards is what has got most of of us into financial difficulties in the first place.

I had one of my very best Christmas presents last Chistmas Eve. The year before I had taken a funeral service for a young couple who had given birth to a stillborn baby on Christmas Eve. Last Christmas Eve I was walking back to the Minister's room at the crem at the end of a long and poignant day when I heard someone calling me. I turned round to find the same couple who told me that they had come up to the Garden of Remmebrance to visit Ben's plot ... then they said "and can we introduce you to Max!" ... and at their sides was a little three week old bundle of blue in a baby car seat.

There are just some things that money cannot buy [:)]

Debbie

[Soulgrowth]

Or that you cannot put on a credit card [:)]

Debbie

[kallis3]

Debbie that's really nice. So good to see that that couple now had something positive in their lives, and so nice just before Christmas again.

I have been guilty in the past of overspending on everyone for Christmas, all on credit. Not any longer obviously. The kids (all adults) know the score. We spend as little as possible now and I only do one Christmas shopping expedition whereas before I was always popping in to get something.

I also buy my Christmas cards and wrapping paper in January - it's always half price or less then.

[Jan01]

I find now looking for bargains is very satisfying yesterday in a very nice gift shop next to where i live they had the most beautiful bracelets of different coloured semi precious stones and presented in a silk covered box looks very expensive and each one is different for £11.99 so that will be the nieces and grandsons girl friend sorted for Christmas.

Jan

[plasticdaft]

Or that you cannot put on a credit card [:)]

Debbie

Wish my son had come along with his own credit card!!!![:D]

[rockbottom]

Debbie what a lovely story, it is very true there are just some things you cannot buy.

i have always spent stupid money at christmas time and i would always panic buy last minute aswell just in case i didnt have enough, how stupid, i was the ideal consumer, not this year though ,i think this year im going to do most of my christmas shopping online to stop me from picking up those extra bits that i just had to have. as long as i have my tree (cant live without that smell at cristmas time) and my family i will be happy.

rb

[Jan01]

Having had 3 Christmas's with no money I find the simple things make Christmas like the Grand Children decorating ginger bread men even the eldest a 18 year old lad. The Children's service at Church who can resist crying at the angels with tinsel halo's? I buy the children presents but if there is no money than the grown ups get silly presents or things I made like my brother and his wife last year a selection of different flavoured Olive Oils, Garlic, Rosemary and lemon put in nice bottles. My mum I made some chocolate Brazil's again they were put in a pretty box and looked really nice. things take a little time but are in some ways nicer than brought presents. I also look at offers on wine good presents for friends. I also buy new things from charity shops I am getting things at a reasonable price and I am helping a charity, I brought my sister a nice McIntosh style clock at a charity shop for £6.00.
So with a bit of planning Christmas can still happen with out costing the earth and all paid for.

Jan

[kallis3]

I am not very artistic so have wouldn't make anything for anyone. Ebay will probably be getting some of my custom. I shall have one shopping day in Birmingham with my daughter and whatever cash I have at the time and that will be it.

[facingittogether]

debbie,

what a lovely touching story, reading that made me think, christmas should not be about material things but about being with the people we care about!

have got a lot of my presents already, bought things in the sale and the book club at work, i get things from there too! people get a fraction spent on them now but at least its all paid for in cash!

barb x

[c.j]

Kallis,
Have you got a website for those surveys as its something i have been thinking about but dont know where to start. thanks.

[Soulgrowth]

Jan ... can I commission you to make some of those pressies for me! Different flavoured oils ... semi-precious stones ... sounds lovely [:)]

Perhaps we ought to have a market place at christmas Andy where we could exchange our skills.

Debbie

[kallis3]

cj, if you get admin to send me your email address I can send you the links to them.

[joh71262]

Back to making the handmade truffles again this year for me. I've been getting some bars of chocolate every now and again and have a stash big enough for a few midnicht feasts !!!

I got some confectionary boxes from the internet last year and will use those and any other bits that I need I will use my Clubcard vouchers for that should be due around August time. I'll scrounge the booze from mum cause they always have a stash in !!!

There will be the odd gift here and there but nothing overboard.

WH SMith had some lovely bits and pieces reduced when I looked on Saturday - journals and boxes covered in silk.