Christmas 2024 #4

[InkHeart]

My Christmas Day was OK. I watched some tv, had a perfect Christmas dinner, did some creative stuff, and kept my phone on flight mode.

Today I'm feeling subdued. I don't feel like I can go out around the town or look at the sales. I think I'll just try to redo yesterday. I hate 27th Dec, it's a let down every year. So it's time to make the most of Boxing Day!

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

Do any of you start saving small money from now until around Nov/early Dec the following year for your Xmas gifts?

 

[Reality_tv_lover]

Anyone watch Gavin & Stacey?

Yes I was so happy with it we cheered in places at the little references

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

Sorry to be a cat amongst pigeons but pls pls pls for anyone who’s endured a tit Christmas because of other ppl I implore you to start considering/researching going no contact!! Life really is too short to be made to feel like tit by anyone, if you wouldn’t do it to someone else why should you put up with it? I know no/low contact is very taboo but if you’re waiting for a sign that you’re “allowed” to step away please take this message as it! I’ve done it in and life is infinitely better with the loving family of my creation, yes obvs it took years to “get there” but a peaceful journey > a hellish destination.

Sending love and light but most importantly duck those hateful gremlins!!!

 

[Aussie]

Do any of you start saving small money from now until around Nov/early Dec the following year for your Xmas gifts?

I will start buying now if I see any decent bargains, I have a present box that I put stuff in

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I bought a dress a month ago for £76 and returned it they only did gift card returns. I went in today to see if there was anything to spend it on. The same dress was £125 today with 40% off the £125 so £75, so basically the same price as a month ago just in a different way

 

[Spanor511]

I used to buy a money tin from the likes of B&M and start saving £2, £1 and 50p coins from this time of year to next beginning of December but I haven’t done it the last two years as I was hardly filling it as never use cash anymore so never have change. It’s just not the same putting notes in and it not getting heavier and heavier. Always used to get around £800 in the tin.

 

[duckdinner]

I transfer money every month into a savings account on my banking app, and will (when I remember to anyway ) put whatever money is left in my current account into one of my savings accounts the night before pay day. I usually split the money between Christmas/Holidays/Emergency funds

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

I transfer money every month into a savings account on my banking app, and will (when I remember to anyway ) put whatever money is left in my current account into one of my savings accounts the night before pay day. I usually split the money between Christmas/Holidays/Emergency funds

Love a sinking fund too and so many banks have functionalities that support this now - from pots, roundups, rules, etc etc! I have them for everything from insurances to furniture, it means outside of a catastrophe I’ll never have to dip into legit savings

Re kids presents eg for birthdays I tend to buy in dribs and drabs all year round, often adding cute bits to orders I’m placing anyway to get over the “free” shipping threshold, I have a box for it all. This is likely only possible due to having a little girl, imagine they’ll age out of generic stuff soon enough…

 

[HoGi]

Do any of you start saving small money from now until around Nov/early Dec the following year for your Xmas gifts?

We have a Christmas savings club at work that runs November to October, so I have already made 2 payments towards next year

 

[dressinggownofdoom]

Does anyone else feel so down between Christmas day and New Year’s day? I get like this every year since i was a child and come January 2nd i’m always fine again! I don’t make a huge fuss (well any more than anyone else!) i don’t put the tree up until the second week of December but looking at it now just makes me sad. Like when someone dies and you just want to clear out all their stuff straight away except that no one’s died and we’ve had a nice christmas and i don’t know what’s wrong with me!

 

[AladdinSane]

Does anyone else feel so down between Christmas day and New Year’s day? I get like this every year since i was a child and come January 2nd i’m always fine again! I don’t make a huge fuss (well any more than anyone else!) i don’t put the tree up until the second week of December but looking at it now just makes me sad. Like when someone dies and you just want to clear out all their stuff straight away except that no one’s died and we’ve had a nice christmas and i don’t know what’s wrong with me!

I always find that during this time I want to fill the days up with as much as I possibly can as I feel like I shouldn't be wasting this much time off work.

And I always end up feeling disappointed that I haven't done enough and have wasted my time off.

 

[Aussie]

Does anyone else feel so down between Christmas day and New Year’s day? I get like this every year since i was a child and come January 2nd i’m always fine again! I don’t make a huge fuss (well any more than anyone else!) i don’t put the tree up until the second week of December but looking at it now just makes me sad. Like when someone dies and you just want to clear out all their stuff straight away except that no one’s died and we’ve had a nice christmas and i don’t know what’s wrong with me!

Yeah I do. This year I'm going away with a friend for 2 days to break up the twixmas time

 

[InkHeart]

Does anyone else feel so down between Christmas day and New Year’s day? I get like this every year since i was a child and come January 2nd i’m always fine again! I don’t make a huge fuss (well any more than anyone else!) i don’t put the tree up until the second week of December but looking at it now just makes me sad. Like when someone dies and you just want to clear out all their stuff straight away except that no one’s died and we’ve had a nice christmas and i don’t know what’s wrong with me!

Yes! I hate the 27th Dec to the 31st, it feels like the longest week in the year.

 

[lilyannrose]

Just incase anyone needs to be reminded of this
View attachment 3334751

I absolutely need to hear this, I appreciate you for sharing it.

Christmas Day kind of fell apart in our house. My mum and I both have house issues and a load of other things going on including struggling with sleep and by the time it got to dinner to have Christmas on top of it all was that one thing too many and we both had a big cry and decided we aren't going to force ourselves to take part in the whole thing anymore if we aren't feeling it. We had a huge change of life cirmstuance three years ago when my grandma - who the whole family revolved around, really - died and have both really struggled to adapt. That's not even considering the general cost of living crisis, global conflict, increasingly distressing daily stories in the news of horrific violence especially against women... not so surprising to see how many are saying they are not feeling festive at all this year.

Hoping next year will be much better now we've decided to just go with whatever we feel. The pressure to take part in strictly scheduled jollity is simply too much even when there's only two of us.

Thinking of all who had a difficult day yesterday, you are not alone.
---
That was meant to be health issues, not house issues, lol. It's taken two years after moving in but our house is pretty good now, lol. So that's something!

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

I always find that during this time I want to fill the days up with as much as I possibly can as I feel like I shouldn't be wasting this much time off work.

And I always end up feeling disappointed that I haven't done enough and have wasted my time off.

+1, to a tee! I’m v proud of myself that I’m proactively managing my MH at the worst time of year possible but know I’ll feel burnt out/regretful when I log back into work. But it’s better than the alternative so we move! 🫠

This week I’m focusing on my little community of friends/family instead of wallowing in my various types of grief lol. It’s hard af and 100% facilitated by my daughter as every parent wants to get out and do something, it’s much harder when you’re “just” adults. We’ve got any/everyone dropping in this weekend so lots of grazing platters to be built lol, tomorrow I’m taking my LO and her bestie on a day out to give her mum (who’s just had a baby!) a break, new years at in laws, then before we know it back to real life! In any lulls of busyness I’m spreadsheet planning and Vinted selling and audiobook listening, I will not think a single thought this week fingers crossed

 

[Aussie]

I absolutely need to hear this, I appreciate you for sharing it.

Christmas Day kind of fell apart in our house. My mum and I both have house issues and a load of other things going on including struggling with sleep and by the time it got to dinner to have Christmas on top of it all was that one thing too many and we both had a big cry and decided we aren't going to force ourselves to take part in the whole thing anymore if we aren't feeling it. We had a huge change of life cirmstuance three years ago when my grandma - who the whole family revolved around, really - died and have both really struggled to adapt. That's not even considering the general cost of living crisis, global conflict, increasingly distressing daily stories in the news of horrific violence especially against women... not so surprising to see how many are saying they are not feeling festive at all this year.

Hoping next year will be much better now we've decided to just go with whatever we feel. The pressure to take part in strictly scheduled jollity is simply too much even when there's only two of us.

Thinking of all who had a difficult day yesterday, you are not alone.
---
That was meant to be health issues, not house issues, lol. It's taken two years after moving in but our house is pretty good now, lol. So that's something!

Sending so much love

 

[rainbowlemon]

Sorry to be a cat amongst pigeons but pls pls pls for anyone who’s endured a tit Christmas because of other ppl I implore you to start considering/researching going no contact!! Life really is too short to be made to feel like tit by anyone, if you wouldn’t do it to someone else why should you put up with it? I know no/low contact is very taboo but if you’re waiting for a sign that you’re “allowed” to step away please take this message as it! I’ve done it in and life is infinitely better with the loving family of my creation, yes obvs it took years to “get there” but a peaceful journey > a hellish destination.

Sending love and light but most importantly duck those hateful gremlins!!!

100% agree.

Just because they're family doesn't mean they can treat you badly.

 

[lilyannrose]

Sending so much love

Thank you so much.

Today has been a lot better, at least.

 

[Prince fan 1999]

Sorry to be a cat amongst pigeons but pls pls pls for anyone who’s endured a tit Christmas because of other ppl I implore you to start considering/researching going no contact!! Life really is too short to be made to feel like tit by anyone, if you wouldn’t do it to someone else why should you put up with it? I know no/low contact is very taboo but if you’re waiting for a sign that you’re “allowed” to step away please take this message as it! I’ve done it in and life is infinitely better with the loving family of my creation, yes obvs it took years to “get there” but a peaceful journey > a hellish destination.

Sending love and light but most importantly duck those hateful gremlins!!!

I went NC withy brother a few years ago. Came to a head 6 years ago when my dad died. My anxiety had eased once I made the decision but felt bad for my mum who kept nagging me to make amends. I did try a couple of times and was like hitting a brick wall. I told my mum I'm not doing it again. Now my mum is moving close to him next month and the anxiety has returned. I'm worried about her welfare and the hold my brother might have over her but what can I do?