Thurs 1 Dec 8pm Ch 4 - Ultimate Pennypinching

[Skippy]

You're better than me Jan - no way on earth will I go near a shop on Christmas Eve! Christmas dinner is already in the freezer and Dave will get the veg and anything else we need during the week before Christmas.

I never book Christmas Eve off as we are usually allowed to leave early on the last day so it's a waste of a day's leave for me. It could backfire and I might have to work all day but it hasn't happened all the years I've been there!

[Broke of London]

Jan you're so organised!

[kallis3]

Not really BOL!!! I hate food shopping at Christmas so I like to go early to avoid the crowds. It is usually only the ordered stuff and the fresh stuff that I get though. We do the cleaning between us and then we can sit down for the rest of the day.

I'm just debating whether or not to start writing Christmas cards but I'll probably leave that.

I've got two birthdays next week, cards to send to America and I am finding it hard to get motivated!!!

[kazzafunk]

I think I may be the only one on here who doesn't like Xmas!! It's just a couple of days off for me with a big dinner in the middle. lol. Maybe it's because I don't have children myself or young children around me.

[kallis3]

I don't particularly like it now and as soon as my parents are no longer around and the IVA is finished then we will be going abroad.

I do cards for those who send to me, and the tree as my (adult) daughter likes it. There's one lot of outside lights go up and that's it.

We only exchange token presents for each other as well - a bottle of Aftershock for me this year and I'll get hubby a decent bottle of either malt whisky or vodka. I'm working Boxing Day and the day after so it's not much of a break for me.

[nepensioner]

I'm exactly the same Kazza, the only concession I make is to spend 6 hours at my brothers with his family rather than the usual 3 hours. I do not put up decorations, after all there is only me here, they gather dust and then have to be taken down again. Shocking really, but thats the way it is...

[Skippy]

I like the decorations but to me the best part of Christmas and New Year is the time off work! I did buy a new Christmas tree yesterday and I'm looking forward to putting that up but I'm fed up with the commercialism. We do buy each other presents - I've bought Dave a watch and I'm hoping he's getting me some beads for my Lovelinks bracelet and of course Harry has a lot of bits and pieces!

[kallis3]

The presents under our (now very small, black fibre optic which just has a little tinsel put on it)tree is a very pathetic pile these days. Mum and Dad have more than we do!!!

It is far too commercial, over priced and starts way too early. I'm not fussed on New Year either and the only reason we stay up these days is to try and drown out the noise of the fireworks so the dogs don't get too stressed!!

[kazzafunk]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by nepensioner

I'm exactly the same Kazza, the only concession I make is to spend 6 hours at my brothers with his family rather than the usual 3 hours. I do not put up decorations, after all there is only me here, they gather dust and then have to be taken down again. Shocking really, but thats the way it is...

I'm not the only one then!! We can't put a tree up because of the macaw (for obvious reasons!) and cards are binned as he just wrecks the place trying to get to them to eat them! Maybe that's why I hate it now!!

Normally I can make an effort for niece and nephew but they are 12 and 15 now and just want to be out all the time.

Just nice to shut the door, eat what we like and watch the repeats on TV for a few days.

[Foggy]

We only put up a tree ( and that is only due to pressure from the kids !) and it goes up on Christmas Eve. My father, on the other hand, tries to get us to decorate his house as soon as November has gone. In fact he had me getting them down from his loft this morning, but I refused to put them up until next week at least !!! I'll lay money that he gets my brother to do it sooner !!!!

[Shining]

I love it and want my tree up now! Ebenezer has other plans and is putting me off until tomorrow. Finished shopping today so that's one thing done and got some bargains. We're not exchanging gifts as we're off on holiday so saving every penny. Got the twins tomorrow and can't wait for them to see the tree (assuming it's up).

[kallis3]

My birthday is the week before Christmas and, until I left home, the tree always went up then. Parents don't have one at all as they spend Christmas with us.

Ours goes up a the beginning of December and comes down on the 2nd January by which time I am heartily sick of it!!!!

[Shining]

Mine will have to come down on the 2nd this year usually I leave it a little longer x

[Broke of London]

I love Christmas and can't wait for my first one with my boyfriend in our own home...currently I only have Christmas day off work and his family are in Newcastle so he always goes home...he would be a bit of a lonely soul otherwise as I'm not around. But my Christmas will last all of December with the best London has to offer - ice skating, Fortnums and the carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

[Broke of London]

Forgot to say, I went to see Arthur Christmas today and it was fab! So funny with lots of jokes and references for adults too. x