[pegasus]

Due to a whole heap of circumstances that I'm glad happened but it has left me with absolutely no money. I feel really bad with the holidays here and wanting to get gifts but I'm not able to. It's on my mind all the time. I recently moved to a different country and don't have all I need for a 'real' job, long story, all my belongings were stolen and most all of it is gone forever. So I do the odd bit of babysitting but that's all I can do. I can't get government assistance due to immigration crap. I can't get the gifts I need to get for family here and I don't believe they understand. I've been asked if I'm saving money! How can I save if I have none!

I guess this is me doing a guilt trip on myself and yes we'll get through this. I'm not homeless. I have love and happiness here... I'm grateful for that. But I have no money. No car. No health insurance (No I can't afford it.) I know things will improve but in the meantime I have this holiday gift thing coming up and I can't do it.

[~Christina]

((((((( hugs )))))))

Can you perhaps bake or cook for those you wish you could buy things for?

I know the feeling of not financially being able to, it sucks!

I’m sorry personal stuff was stolen from you .....

[pegasus]

I'm not good at baking. For Thanksgiving I cooked the turkey so I got through that part of the holiday. It's the gifting part of Christmas that I am struggling with. We have enough money for bills etc thank goodness but I know I'm going to be seriously embarrassed on the day. Family dynamics are that they won't understand about real poverty because they've never been there. Hey! I'm so lucky in many respects but this is eating at me.

[Stuck1nhead]

You should simply set them down and explain your situation. I've been jobless for three months now and while I got a better paying job starting in two weeks. I won't have any money for Christmas gifts. I just simply stated that and those that don't understand can kiss my rump.

Personally I hate gift giving and receiving

[Crazy Hitch]

(((pegasus))) I'm really sorry to hear about your situation

I don't have the answer, but I was in your shoes a few years back when I lost my job due to MI and had no presents to give. It sucks. It does.

But it does pass, and family are forgiving and understanding.

Hang in there!

We are not in a position to purchase gifts for our extended families. Instead, we are holding two luncheons. Yes, these will cost a little bit more money than our usual food budget but it is by far a cheaper investment of money and one I can juggle our resources for.

(Personally, I find baking to be an extremely high and impossible expense. But, if you can, is a very nice gift)

[eskielover]

Yes, same problem here. I gave my daughter money a few months ago for a new book by an author she loves reading because he was in her town for the book signing. Told it was her early Christmas gift because I had a $600 break & tie rod repair on my truck & the very next week I had to get a new tire $200 because I punctured my less than a year old tire on the side wall & it couldnt be repaired. Add to that the same month $1700 for my divorce lawyer. I got friends little things & am baking cookies for others. This is the first year in quite awhile I have no money in savings for emergency fund. That is a scary feeling becsuse I had just gotten bills paid off & was thinking I could start saving again. After being in a marriage with a husband who is/was totally financially irresponsible this is really a stressful feeling for me. But everyone knows & its ok.

I am alsovgood an making crafty things & have tons of craft materials at home that I have purchased over the years & knitting ot painting is always something I can do when I really need to give a gift.

I understand the being in a new place with NOTHING. When I left my H, I moved 2100 miles away & brought basically nothing with me except cloths & a few other things. My truck was broken into & the ONLY thing I had that I truly personally valued was stolen which was my sterling silver flute I bought asca college music major. I hadvso many memories with my flute & losing it to being stolen & not knowing where it ended up was like losing a huge part of me. The worst part was that the bag that itvwas in the very bottom of was a bag full of receipts because they were after stealing my identity, not the flute. Ah, life goes onevrn with our losses & being in a happy place surrounded by caring people makes doing without tolerable. They may understand more than you think.

[LikeABoomerang]

I've been in your position more than once when I was younger (I was a single mom at 19 - lots of hard years). Its hard but try not to stress and worry yourself over it. Your family will forgive and forget.

[seesaw]

I was fortunate this past year that my mom and stepdad have outright told me, no gifts from you. And they sent me a coffee maker anyways. My mom said she was going to send me a Publix gift card to make myself a Christmas dinner too, but I told her I have everything I need for dinner.

I know exactly how it is to not have money to buy gifts. I wasn't going to buy gifts but was going to spend gas to go visit (they are out of state), but realized a couple of weeks ago that I really could not afford a $250 outlay in gas to go visit right now. I need to be frugal. So I told them I wasn't coming and why. I felt bad, but they understood.

If you tell them that there are just no funds for gifts right now, they should just accept that explanation. If they don't, then I would just brush it off. They aren't worth getting gifts if that's their behavior.

Seesaw

[healingme4me]

Oh gosh, look at the date. You didn't make it to the post office in time

Better times will come.

If it weighs on you, sometimes senior centers are a great place to find some homemade Americana on the tight budget.
Or I'm traveling with some Christmas mugs from the dollar store, a box of cocoa packets and a box of candy canes as well as my homemade chex mix. I found for my uncle and aunt a brand name set of mugs with cocoa set on sale. Tuesday everything goes on clearance...

[bpforever1]

I don't have enough money to go home. I understand how you feel. I am stuck in another country although someone I met online is coming here. It still is not the same to be with family. I am spending the holidays alone. Tomorrow, I am working here on Christmas day. Then, on New Year's Day I will be alone too. Not having money is an issue but I'm going to make the best of the situation by enjoying what I have.