Plans for Christmas

[Howyoudoin]

I appreciate that i'm going to get a kick in the nuts for even mentioning the C word this early in the year.

But please hear me out.

My Sister in Law, who is hosting this year, has laid down some ground rules and it's fair to say that i'm not impressed.

As a family, we always buy a Christmas present for every other person/couple in the family. But apparently things are going to be different this year. We will all be buying for just one other person. Like Secret Santa. Jeez, how boring. Rather than having a dozen presents to open, you only have one.

And if that isn't bad enough . . . crackers are also banned this year. Too much waste apparently.

This Christmas is going to be SO much fun!!!

HYD

[AsleepInYorkshire]

Alternatively

1. Don't go
2. Ignore the "rules" and buy for everyone
3. Talk to her about it - perhaps negotiate a better deal
4. Join in and go with the flow
5. Consider SIL may have some acceptable [undisclosed] reason to lay down "the rules" - perhaps she feels she's protecting everyone from costs they can't afford - or just protecting "some/one" from such expense
6. Christmas can get out of hand financially - perhaps she just wants to be with family?

AiY

[bungeejumper]

Our extended-family Christmas Days (including the in-laws) became a lot less excessive after my daughter brought in a ten pound rule. That's ten pounds per couple, where appropriate. (Children were excluded from the cost limit. And obviously, what you put into your spouse's stocking for opening before the big get-together was entirely up to you.)

Having thus de-fanged the present-giving part of the day, we spent our energies on food, drink and generally doing more traditional things. The TV was unplugged for the day, which came as a shock to some family members.

Not forgetting the in-laws' Christmas Day Skype to their daughter in Australia, which never left us in any doubt as to what great things you can get for free. (Or almost.)

BJ

[didds]

You could hold a referendum amongst the family.

You could call it Chrexit! (c) Didds 2016

didds

[didds]

You could call it Chrexit! (c) Didds 2016

as in ...

https://tinyurl.com/chrexit

(my own story etc as performed/read etc )


didds

[Stonge]

this is a wind up, right?

[AleisterCrowley]

My sister and I have an agreement that it's small 'token' presents only for Christmas/birthdays
I have too much stuff, and she lives in the Gulf so has to lug stuff back on a plane
We have never been a massive present family anyway, which suits me fine. I always cringe a bit when i see these stories about parents going into debt so they can 'afford' Christmas, which usually means buying lots of expensive tech for their kid(s)

[Howyoudoin]

My sister and I have an agreement that it's small 'token' presents only for Christmas/birthdays
I have too much stuff, and she lives in the Gulf so has to lug stuff back on a plane
We have never been a massive present family anyway, which suits me fine. I always cringe a bit when i see these stories about parents going into debt so they can 'afford' Christmas, which usually means buying lots of expensive tech for their kid(s)

We're all 2 income families so cost isn't an issue. Having said that we tend to limit the value of each gift to £25 unless it is a special occasion i.e. 40th birthday.

My other SIL has put her foot down and said she will be bringing 'eco' crackers as 'we can't have christmas dinner without silly hats and crap jokes, it's not the same.'

Good for her.

HYD

[AleisterCrowley]

£25 is entirely sensible. I was going to suggest Eco-Crackers - I'm sure you can get them somewhere, hand-kitted and approved by Greta...

[didds]

We have in the past made Xmas crackers with loo rolls and left over wrapping paper and filled them with left over wrapping paper "hates" (origami or sellotape time!) and whatever dross is hanging around as a gift, plus a hand written joke. Then when you pull then you just pull the ends until they rip and shout "BANG".

Make one each to share with the person to your left .

"Hilarious".

other forms of insanity are available.

didds

[AleisterCrowley]

made Xmas crackers with loo rolls

A teacher told me that they are not allowed to use loo rolls in school craft projects any more, due to potential faecal contamination

[didds]

made Xmas crackers with loo rolls

A teacher told me that they are not allowed to use loo rolls in school craft projects any more, due to potential faecal contamination

is it any worse than getting a shitty present?

didds

[richlist]

Oh dear....that is awful.
I've had my posts pul!ed for less.

[nimnarb]

made Xmas crackers with loo rolls

A teacher told me that they are not allowed to use loo rolls in school craft projects any more, due to potential faecal contamination

is it any worse than getting a shitty present?

didds

[bungeejumper]

I've had my posts pul!ed for less.

Ouch, that sounds painful. I hope they gave you an anaesthetic?

BJ