Credit Crunch

[jackie j]

Wrong word I know but like when I do something for you you do something for me in exchange.

[SarzWix]

In our early years together dh and I bought some nice small boxes and then made biscuits for everybody for Christmas, putting about six in each box. Everyone was happy, though my bitch of a sister did say 'I bet the packaging cost more than the present', and she was right actually - but that was just her being her mealy mouthed self. We don't swap presents with her nowadays.

One year I spent hours and hours making chocolates, fudge etc, and making boxes, tying them with fancy ribbons etc. I gave them to the OH's family and they were all really complimentary, enthusiastic, made me feel great. Gave them to my family and I got "Oh....." That was it. Ungrateful gits made me feel terrible.

[Alison]

One year I spent hours and hours making chocolates, fudge etc, and making boxes, tying them with fancy ribbons etc. I gave them to the OH's family and they were all really complimentary, enthusiastic, made me feel great. Gave them to my family and I got "Oh....." That was it. Ungrateful gits made me feel terrible.

Don't feel terrible about that, they are the ones who should feel bad. A present of time and energy is worth much more than simply throwing cash at something as has become all too common these days.

[MrsC]

Don't feel terrible about that, they are the ones who should feel bad. A present of time and energy is worth much more than simply throwing cash at something as has become all too common these days.

Well said Alison, a lot more thought has gone into a homemade gift than a quick trip to the shop!

[Winged one]

We're more aware of spending rather than having a strict necessity to cut back. It did look like DH's job was iffy, but he seems to have found another (just waiting for paperwork to get sorted) and mine is solid. we've always been relatively frugal "DH called me "mean" the other night - I still buy him choccie biccies and he really loves the ones that Lidl sell!!) and saved rather than flashing it about.

But we've already talked about the plot becoming much more important next year and, now that we think it should be totally productive, it will REALLY be earning it's keep. Not going to bother with tomatoes at all there next year, but doing lots more spuds, turnips, brassicas, squashes, courgettes, pumpkins, sweetcorn, peas and beans of all sorts, and also trying to get the fruit patch giving us something.

I'm making a lot of craft presents as well - I gave some last year but this year I am giving scarves to 8 aunts and uncles and a good few other presents are homemade too. And all my bros and sis's will be at home this Christmas for the first year since 2001 - so we are doing a secret santa between us all (Budget about €50), with just a token present (€5 limit) for everyone else.

[ailsasyl]

Homemade pressies are great. I've had little spare money a Christmas for the last couple of years, so Happybunny and I have made soaps, biscuits, coasters from those beads that you iron( can't remember what they are called). We visit a really good charity book shop we have near us, and get everyone books along with our homemade stuff. Happybunny's pals all got a Christmas bag made up of sweets(homemade) bracelets, make-up, bobbles etc all picked up in the likes of Primark and end of lines in Superdrug, boots etc. They all loved them and have mentioned they'd like the surprise bag again this year.

[jackie j]

We stopped giving presents to adults a long time ago and just give to the kids now. Although I give my four sons something but now with three of them having live in girlfriends and my daughter and grandson we will be cutting back. We also have three great nieces and one great nephew to buy for. One of the girls is virtually blind so will try and get something to stimulate her this will be her first christmas.

[SlugLobber]

My presents these days involve a gift to charity. If the charity doesn't give a certificate, I make my own. Last Christmas, OH sponsored a greyhound for the year ahead and paid for an operation on one that had been beaten, as his present. He thought it was a fab idea. The year before I sponsored a dog at a sanctuary and split the cost between my nieces and nephew (all under 16 at the time). I wasn't sure what response that would get, but they loved the certificates, complete with a piccie of the dog.

Given that many charities will suffer this year due to the credit crunch (CRUK funding is already down by 1/3 and all our building work is cancelled), plus the fact I normally give to charities at Christmas anyway, I've decided to 'save' by giving more to charities and using it all as 'presents', plus home-made stuff. The biccies are a fantastic idea!

Never do cards anyway, so nothing to save, there. Don't wrap pressies in new paper anymore, either.

Martha, that was appalling, what your sister said! I had a 'friend' like that, once. Sad, really, when people judge value in pounds stirling only.

[maytreefrannie]

I like the idea of giving a contribution to charity along with some home made pressies.

[maytreefrannie]

I'm making a lot of craft presents as well - I gave some last year but this year I am giving scarves to 8 aunts and uncles and a good few other presents are homemade too. And all my bros and sis's will be at home this Christmas for the first year since 2001 - so we are doing a secret santa between us all (Budget about €50), with just a token present (€5 limit) for everyone else.

My children (adults now) do a secret santa for the past couple of years - it works well as each gets quite a good present and each has to buy for just one.

To Quark 1:
I've checked up and registered to do the online surveys, also have applied for a mystery shopper job.
Thanks for letting me know about the surveys.

[jaykay]

My children (adults now) do a secret santa for the past couple of years - it works well as each gets quite a good present and each has to buy for just one.

I find that having a set budget of a smallish amount (£5) makes me really think carefully about what I am choosing for person X and I can usually find a gift that the recipient likes/appreciates. It's also more fun (and a bit of a challenge) than shopping with a bigger budget!

[maytreefrannie]

I find that having a set budget of a smallish amount (£5) makes me really think carefully about what I am choosing for person X and I can usually find a gift that the recipient likes/appreciates. It's also more fun (and a bit of a challenge) than shopping with a bigger budget!

I think you're right there, jaykay - it's good to shop around and find something that you know the person will really like - and keeping within budget makes it all the better.

That's why I feel it's better to shop when you have some time - not to leave everything too late. Unfortunately, I have the theory, but I usually end up doing everything at last minute.

[BrideXIII]

I feel for all of you that have jobs and mortgages, its much harder for all of you than it is for me.
As I have been on benefits for so long, I am a dab hand and managing on very little, have no debts cos I am a stubborn cow, and pay cash if possible for everything it's possble to.
you can't miss what you haven't had, this is my 3rd recession, second whilst of adult age, and the only thing I can promise you is you WILL get through it.
things to remember:
stock up the freezer and store cupboards as often as you can, its amazing what you can make out of what you have, when you actually think there is nothing there. Remember supermarkets are not always the cheapest option, take the time to shop around, maybe with a pal so you can afford to take advantage of bulk buying and split it.
pay all your bills by direct debit if possible, especially utility bills, they are discounted , meters may help you watch your spending but you pay more to have them. If you are on benefits/pension apply for the assisted tarrif ( nearly all fuel companies have them, they just dont advertise them, if yours doesn't, switch), this is discounted also.
If you get behind with a bill/payment to anyone, PHONE THEM, they can and will help, but they need to know you are not just avoiding paying.

It is also relative, like I said before, if you have never had it, you don't miss it, so dig in, and always remember, you have far more than you parents had ( usually) an as long as you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and a meal on the table, thats really all you need apart from your loved ones.

[bluemoon]

We live very simply. OH has a full-time job. I don't work, but it means I have more time so most of our food can be homegrown, our fuel bills are low because I don't need hundreds of electrical appliances, we buy practical clothing and I knit most of our sweaters. When I buy something for the home it tends to be something good quality and made to last rather than flimsy, fashionable and designed to fall apart after 2 years, or in this years 'in colour' which I shall hate within 6 months. I bake all my own bread and make a lot of my own cleaning products. Everything I can't grow or make myself; cheese, butter, milk and the occasional Sunday joint, comes from the local farmers' market, it's more expensive, but we make the most of it. A year ago my OH was made redundant and for two months until he found another job we had £90 a week to live on (this was for both of us, not £90 each). If we'd lived a 'normal' lifestyle or had a newish (ie, huge) mortgage I really don't know how we'd have coped, but as it was we didn't really notice apart from Christmas when we had to seriously scale down our present giving. I've discovered how to save £2 per week though as we always did the lottery, same numbers every week using the family's birthdays. Then I was having the; "What would you do if you won the lottery?" conversation with a friend and realized that there was nothing I wanted, or at least nothing that money could buy.

[maytreefrannie]

Blue Moon - I love your attitude to life, even though I do the Lotto every week in hopes of winning.

The thing is, I was made redundant from a part time job in 2006 and since then haven't been in paid employment. But I don't feel I don't work - I now work at home, and I'm quite sure you do too. Growing food and managing money to keep from 'sliding backwards' is an important part of household economy I feel and we maybe forget at times to give ourselves credit for it.

Reading your post I felt we could all learn a lot from you about living within our incomes and also about living generally.