I fear I wont get by this christmas!!! Im scared!!!?

Question

I'm 2 months behind with my rent thanks to my partner as he spent the rent on getting his car fixed. Im too scared to tell the landlady.

Usually, I start christmas early (october) and should have everything i need in by now but have gone nothing besides a few prezzies for my 2 small children.

I always do my best to get my kids everything they want and as i love christmas- so much go mad with the tree and decorations, also the christmas shop for food.

But this year is looking really bad and fear that I wont be able to give the kids the best christams and were all going to be grumpy.

Christmas doesnt bother my partner- hes grumpy but i love christmas and just for 1 day a year try to make the effort.

Is this me over-reacting and making a fool of myself- i should be grateful i still have a roof over my head?

Anyone got any advice for a cheap christmas or some advice how to chill out?

Thanks for listening to me moaning- this is a big deal for me

Answer 1

I'm sorry, I understand that you want to do the best for your kids, but if you are 2 months behind in your rent, you might not have a roof over your head soon. You have to be realistic about it and make the best out of a small Christmas. Also, if I were you, I'd knock the partner in the head and send him packing!

Answer 2

Hi there, I'm so sorry you are having problems, they always seem worse at this time of year and more especially when you have young children.
If your land lady is approachable then I think you really need to let her know why you haven't paid her, perhaps you could go to Citizens Advice and talk to them. RE. Christmas, get your children to help make the decorations, instead of a tree, if you have pot plants then tell them (the kids, not the pot plants) that you are going to dress them (the plants not the kids) with tinsel etc, they look really nice when completed, if your children are really small, don't be afraid to buy things from charity shops for them, you can get some real bargains and if you don't buy these things someone else most certainly will, obviously clean things thoroughly before wrapping, also look at eBay, where the food is concerned, go to the shops at the end of a Friday or Sunday when things are being sold cheaper, you can really save a lot of money, remember it is only 2 days out of the year, people get so stressed about it, I used to, but not any more, if you have a lot of people visiting, don't be embarrassed to ask them to contribute something towards the meal, you have a young family so folk should understand this, it's not worth going into extra debt over these 2 days, your friends won't be helping you with the debt, it will be down to you.
Hope all goes well.

Answer 3

Sounds like you need some help in a hurry...you must get the rent paid, or will not have a roof over your heads come Christmas! Go talk to your local Welfare office and see if there is any help you can get there...if you belong to a church, talk to your Pastor...Rent first, Utilities next, Food 3rd....now Christmas....how old are your children? If very young, buy inexpensive toys, perhaps one larger toy, and lots of little things for them to open...if older explain the situation, l t amazes me that so much of Christmas is based on Presents! If your children are young, it is easy to change this, Santa fills stockings, or brings one gift from his sleigh, Mama does the rest, and Mama can't do very much this year.....Read stories, bke cookies, listen to Christmas Music, Decorate your tree, put up the Nativity Scene and let them help, while you read or tell them the story of Jesus Birth....make it a special time of year for them, not just about the presents they receive...My hardest Christmases were the 1st year when I had my son, I had no money and I was heartbroken not to give my son a gift on his first Christmas...even though I knew we were going to my in-laws, and he would get plenty there...I had .25 cents, and bought a scrap of fabric, and made him a t-shirt...it was all I could afford...it was hard, but it didn't last forever...another year, he was 13, we had moved to a new town, I had to make the house payment, we went out and found a Tumbleweed, my husband made a stand, we sprayed it white, and decorted it, my son received one gift that year from a 2nd hand store......but we had a nice dinner, and again made it thru.....you have this chance to change the meaning of Christmas for your children, do it.....start making it about Love and Sharing, and being together, instead of what Santa is bringing! Another idea is to celebrate Christmas on 12th night (jJanuary 6th) The children get a small present each day from Christmas on.....and you actually celebrate on January 6th....put up the tree on Christmas Eve, and do special things each day.....this way you get to shop the after Christmas sales, and your $$ goes further! Good Luck!

Answer 4

Firstly, it is Christmas, the time to be generous. Go talk to your landlady. Tell them your problem. Come up with a plan to pay back the money at the appropriate time.

2. Be creative about Christmas. Maybe you can talk to a relative and join them for christmas. For food and decorations, you can do a lot with a little. Depending on how old your children are, making your decorations can be great fun and really cheap (I usually make my own cards as well, which my friends consider to be better than all the others they get).

Presents will be the only worry. Well credit is one option. But only go into debt with a financial plan. Know how much you plan to spend and how long it will take to repay.

But maybe your children can learn to do without. Or even get them to choose not to have some presents and give the money to people with less than you. Teach them the value of christmas.

Answer 5

I understand the desire to celebrate Christmas with your family in a festive manner, but your children need food, clothing, shelter, and love daily far more than presents and a Christmas dinner. Take care of the rent. Let your children know that this year the gifts will not be as extravagant as in years past. It is understandable and fun to want to give your children a cheerful Christmas, but you can have a good holiday without buying out the shops. Think of ways to scale back on the expenses you would ordinarily incur for Christmas while still enjoying the holiday meal, much smaller scale gift-giving, and any other traditions that are important to you. Your children will be fine without every possible want being met this year.

What kind of "partner" spends the rent--- even on a needed car repair--- without even mentioning it to you? That is incredibly irresponsible. You or he will need to speak to the landlady as soon as possible. Expect that to be unpleasant, but you must make arrangements to pay your back rent.

Answer 6

I don't know if this applies to you or not, but my family had a christmas donated one year when I was a kid by an elementary school. Food, presents for the kids, even a tree. I thought it was wonderful. Now that I'm a mom I understand how humiliating that must have been for my mother, but at age 10, it was a wonderful xmas. If you're worried about your kids, look into programs in your area. A lot of people really do care and are willing to help.

Answer 7

TALK TO YOUR LANDLADY...ASAP! Ask her is you can pay her back the late rent after the holidays. Explain what happened and be as open and honest as humanly possible. Then after Christmas, double your rent for January and February (if she allows you to) and make it a point to be on time! Then thank her by baking some Christmas cookies for her.

Do not worry about getting your kids everything that they want. Get them a few nice things and add a new tradition to your family. Remember, it is the memories that they will carry with them...not the toys!

Answer 8

Pay rent first. The car will have to wait and this will also ease your stress. A roof over your heads should always take priority over anything else. If you don't get to do everything you always do, then don't panic. Next year things will be better. As long as the children have whatever they need, then your Christmas will still be special as you've made them happy. As for your partner, if he can't prioritize and put his family first, maybe you need to tell him a few home truths. Take care, I hope it all works out for you

Answer 9

The most important thing here is to keep a roof over your
childrens heads. Pay your bills, worrying about debt is the worst
thing for making you unhappy.
Christmas is about the birth of Christ, not about how much you can
spend on your children. You say they are small so I don,t think they will miss the absence of lots of toys but they will remember if
mummy was too stressed and unhappy to play with them.
Get your prioritys right and I hope things ease up for you in the
New Year.
Sounds as if you and your partner need to start talking about what
you see as a priority for the money. A roof over your heads or
a car for him to drive. Has he never heard of busses.

Answer 10

Get your partner to pay you back as soon as possible. I'm skint this Christmas as well. Usually I go for the cheap deals in shops. This year I might by some of my presents from ebay because in the past I have got some very good bargains off there.