Christmas Shopping

I think maybe a lot of us needed this sort of wake up call slick. I rarely see anyone at Christmas but I decided to spend the hols with family last year. I rushed out and using my credit card bought gifts for all then was not able to get away from home because of flood waters.

We don't really need to spend lots on gifts. I reckon being together is the best part, the gifts don't have to be huge...it really is the thought that counts.

Well i really cannot afford to do it this year,so everyone will just have to understand.I will buy for my grandchildren and if i can i will buy small gifts..Really no one i know actually is in dire need haha.It seems the grandchilren all get it before christmas & whatever they want,so its going to be nice but small this year..I am still paying off credit cards from last year and i will not do that again..

believe it or not i am done with my christmas shopping. i started about 4 months ago buying things off amazon. they have bill me later and i just payed everything off last week.

WOW THATS GREAT.......wish i was like you,i have not started good yet...Bravo

Hi Cinder, long time, no see. What a bummer...how come you are one of the people that missed out....that would be me too...lol. Good luck with finding something...sounds lovely. I have a 13 year old granddaughter and she will be getting a dainty pair of earrings.

I'd love to do my buying on-line but I'm usually disappointed by the size or the quality. I'm still not good enough to be able to trust myself to buy on-line. I end up spending double lots on postage when I need to return things and the postage charges are so high.

I'm sure your future MIL will love your needlework...you are right, framing is expensive. Give the framers plenty of time as they will probably get busy closer to Christmas.

I love Christmas...I'm just sad that I can never afford to buy the gifts I'd like to...mind you....my family are all well off but they buy crappy gifts....how does that work????

Of course it counts Raven....I'm sure you'll find that you are a lot further along than most people...

But that sounds almost perfect my wonderful friend...you have the whole thing sorted out and organised....congratulations to you and your dear family....I hope it is a happy time for you.

Wow gemini...good for you! I'll bet you're proud of yourself now that you got your self up to speed with your debts. I think Christmas gift buying has become way out of hand and I'm glad to hear you are being more conservative...so sensible in light of the economy especially. I think too that kids don't appreciate what they get when they get too much.

I think you are showing a good example to many people that are maybe wondering howe they will manage things this year.

I am proud of myself for pulling my finger out with the debts, especially considering the way things are now and it has placed us in a safer situation should anything go wrong with hubbys job which at the moment is very likely. You are right about christmas being way out of hand, I also think that we as people put ourselves under way too much pressure to get the perfect gift for people AND parents mither themselves silly about getting their children every present that they want and you know something that I am learning about my children is that actually they are not bothered about having every gift whatever they get they will be happy with it is probably actually us that would make them ungrateful by keep on giving all the time.

I have seen a few discussions on mylot of late of people saying that because they cannot afford to buy anything that they are going to make handmade gifts and would that be OK, and you know I think it is great that more people seem to be looking along the lines of doing this. What a great and personal idea for someone you care about I think that it would be much more appreciated, plus it kind of goes back to what christmas should be about. I have not got time now this year to do anything handmade because I do cross stitch which takes a long time, but my plans for next year now is to plan some cross stitch pictures for family and make small gifts out of it for them. I think that christmas needs to be planned over a year, instead of people waiting for the wage to come in december and getting themselves in debt a few pounds each month soon builds up and then I know where I stand come christmas and how much I have got to spend.

Wise words indeed but I find that buying craft items has become very expensive too. It's big business these days.

You are very wise...I don't like buying gifts too early as I always feel I've made a mistake when the time comes to wrap them. For me, it's better if I plan for the year ahead but work out an amount of money for food...turkey, ham and treats or whatever; alcohol and gifts...it doesn't have to be precise then I work out how much money I need to save a fortnight towards it. That's the best way for me to go.

Hello pola ...how very wise you are. This is the most sensible way to handle all Christmas spending. I hope this is a happy Christmas for you.

Do you have decorations left over from previous years....I've found decorating really helps to get into the Christmas spirit. I hope you are able to pay your bills and put food on the table. If there is nothing for gifts, I wouldn't worry...being out of debt is more important at this stage. Good luck.

Oh thoroughrob,

I'm on your page, I just don't know how I am going to manage to be able have xmas this year either as we find it hard just to eat each night but I guess I will work something out and I know I'm not the only one finding it very hard at the moment everyone is in the same boat:(

I always find that something turns up at just the right moment...that is, before I've torn all my hair out and chewed my fingernails down to the first joint. Be the best you can and good things will happen right when you need them to.

I can't do that cat... . Christmas is to be celebrated at Christmas in my home, not several days later. I'm a traditional sort of girl. When I was little we had Christmas day at home with our family but the next day, Boxing Day we went to my aunty's and did it all over again...the meal part that is.

Even shopping for gifts....it wouldn't be the same shopping after Christmas for gifts and leaving them in the cupboard all year to be wrapped. It just wouldn't be the same.

It's great that you have such a blast celebrating in your own way.

I think that's the secret. have a plan and don't leave all your shopping till the last minute. I always allow for some extra gifts of chocolate or shortbread in case someone extra turns up.