It's been nice knowing you Ditty

No family this Christmas.

My parents and older brother will be in Mauritius (lucky so and so's)

My sis is doing her own thing with her husband.

My younger brother and his family do their own thing.

My ma in law lives in Barbados,

No family squabbles where we should be...in our own house by ourselves BLISS

Oh God forgive me but thats made me roar laughing.

That's not something I ever considered at the time..... but recently Dud Doo told me that's how he cottoned on to there being no Santa, cos the rest of the family would buy him a present but I never did.

Awwwwwwwwwwww poor you. I never have that prob as they all come to me (they're probably moaning about it like you) I guess you could just turn up - eat dinner - and make a quick exit but .....................I know - not the same really. I think Christmas is seen as the season of goodwill but actually causes untold arguments. Sad isn't it?

Hello Fairfax

That's what we call secret santa and we do that at work...the set budget is £5. Yours sounds like a really good idea.

I have lost count of the number of times when it has been agreed by all that that is the plan.

Never happens... they insist on this drawn out ritual of dishing out pressies from under the tree... one by one.     My dad never likes what you get him.    Poor Mr Ditts is usually just as underwhelmed.. but he has the manners to hide it.

Its just a day... and when my shopping has been done I will relax and just go with it I reckon.  My expectations are low... so who knows... it might be ok.

I guess I'm really lucky .......never had in laws as such (long story) my sons partner has no parents, my other son although lives away his partners parents live near us and we share and I get on famously with my daughters partners parents (they'll probably come to us for dinner). i share my mum with my sister who lives 200 miles away .....this year is my turn.
My sister and her family kids, grandkids ......the lot are visiting next week end and it's all really and truly hunky dory. I really am truly blessed that we all get on and there is no fights about who goes where.

oh well done Soozy... you have just pointed out my silver lining .. that I was so used to that I took it for granted.

xmas could be worse.... the MIL could be in town!   But she's not!  She's in the US!  And my Father in Law (who I actually adore) will be in Canada.

Is just my lot that are around.

You have to thank God for small mercies. My MIL died many years ago and my FIL lives abroad ...................even when she was alive we never spent Christmas with them (thank God) ..........my OH actually preferred my parents to his and was quite happy to go along with it. In laws can be a pain.

That's a good idea!

Me and my mate are like that about his two guinea pigs.  He hangs two little Christmas stockings on their home. 

My kids get about £250 each for Xmas. OH doesn't have a budget but it's usually about £100. I also give the kids £30 each to buy him something and he does the same for me. That's not including all the stuff I buy through the year and pack away (usually starting in the Jan sales)

Ditty, my Mum bought me a back scrathcer when I was a kid for that very reason, I still have it I have another one that I bought in Turkey a few years back and have never used...I wish I could post it to you, lol...

Same here hun, the cats and the dog have presents under the tree, in fact the second item on this website is Roxy's present this year, the cats are having a cat DVD and a fresh water fountain, to save them pestering for the taps to be left on all the time, I justify it by saying we have no children and though we buy for niece and nephew's the cats and dog are ours.

I spend about 50.00 on my hubby but would increase it if I saw something I knew he really liked, and he usually spends the same on me, though this year I have asked him to get me a new mobile as mine is falling to bits and an new engagement ring as my ring got trapped between my finger and a door handle and is totally bent out of shape!!  Thank heavens I didn't hurt my finger though.  I have seen the one I want as well, as I find I can't wear gold rings for long (I just have silver jewellery), my wedding and engagement rings are silver and the one I have seen is a "Trilogy" ring with three diamonds.

The website link didn't work so here is Roxy's pressie, she is going to have the red one.

Here Ditty, is this any help

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0014QT2ZS/?tag=googhydr-21&hvadid=4228981370&ref=pd_sl_2qq68lnxse_b

I spend what some might consider a silly amount on my son...because I can (he's the only one I really bother about) and because I want to ( I love seeing his face when he opens them) and because he deserves it (he's a good lad).

Exactly, it's up to the person concerned how much they spend on family.  Not a competition.

I like to spend on my friends Son, I love getting him something he isn't expecting and his birthday is on the 29th of December so I usually try to seperate them.

I always get him the Guinness Book of Records, have done since he was a toddler, this year I've got him a 1966 England Top (he is going to love it), some Tracksuit bottoms, the book of Records, some David Beckham Aftershave and some other smellies....he's 14 this time and is trying to impress the girlies...

I think so, PB.

My mum and dad don't have a limit when it comes to what they spend on us, they have always just spent what they could afford to and we've always been grateful. They do make sure that they spend around the same on both of us though. On each other they tend to just get whatever they think will make the other happy, most years for my mum that means perfume, PJs, and champagne, and for my dad puzzles, computers games etc. Although 2 years ago my dad splurged and brought my mum a wii (mainly because her list to santa was full of things like: Wii, Iphone, laptop...all things she cannot use). 
I used to only spend £20 on everyone, but then I had a steady job so the year before uni I spent a bit more, then at uni I had my savings and my loan so spent about £100 on everyone (1st year), this year I've had to cut it drastically, so me and my brother have teamed up to create my mum a beauty box (by this I mean I have been out and brought lots of stuff for her and he provided money), and everyone else's stuff has been £25 or less. Hopefully they understand.

Me too

I bought one of these for Mr G last year     http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boxer-Games-GBSGAD-Gentlemens-Scratcher/dp/B0010NWP9K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=drugstore&qid=1259497768&sr=8-1

Were you being sarcastic?

so far £200 (inc his DSi )on one and £100 on the other...need to get them some stocking fillers and maybe a few other bits that's it.

Normally around about £100 on OH and same on my son. This year we need a new TV so it's "from us" and "to us" and we've just bought each other a couple of bits to wrap up!

Stepson about £200


Usually about £150-£200 on each other.


I spend about £50 on my Mum and the rest get small gifts for about £10.

i spend about £1000 on my daughter, £100 on my parents  and £10 pressies for everyone else i do buy throughout the year though

she's worth every penny growly

*bites tongue*

My daughter couldn't think of £1000 worth of stuff that she'd want.  She only asked for a phone and a lip piercing (awaits outrage for allowing child to mutilate herself)

I want a lip piercing...

well she's had a notebook laptop and an ipod station/cd player so that adds up to half of it

My daughter had an Ipod Nano for Christmas last year and most of my family thought that was over the top.

My pair definately could

Used be around the £300 mark each..(i have 5)..but they are all older now..so they get a few pressies under the tree (clothes, dvds, cds etc) & money!
No biggies this year!
Am actually enjoying spending my money on me for a change!..