Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

 “What are your tips for surviving this year’s office Christmas party?”

– Yahoo! Answers team.

Christmas parties can be as exciting as they can be excruciating. So whether you’re a virgin or veteran, a few tips and tricks are essential for successfully navigating this year office Christmas party to avoid the walk of shame into the office the next day. The Yahoo! Answers team wants to know: what are yours?

Looking at the answers so far, you guys have some very creative techniques:

“Despite being a drinker myself, my way to to drive there, with the aim of driving back. And the best way where possible is to promise to give others lifts.

That way, you can have one drink, and avoid drinking any more as most people will respect that. And the morons what do not, are not worth your time anyway.”

- Captain Starkiller

By contrast NJ F has a less exciting suggestion:

“The secret is not to go in the first place. Think about it. The only thing you all have in common is work, so you end up talking about it all night. The only time you stop talking about it is when the drinking effects kick-in, and that is when the trouble starts. So, make your excuses and go instead for a great night out with your real friends.”

- NJ F

User Léonie T is less worried about the party’s attendee’s but the impact on the environment. Luckily, she has some solutions:

“Use biodegradable party ware, cups, plates, decorations, and then you only have to deal with your hangover, not the world’s hangover from all that plastic rubbish that never disappears. Like Ecomyparty or Partylikethereisatomorrow.”

- Léonie T

Finally in this somewhat light hearted topic, let’s end with a quote from a serious tome: the good Lord’s book:

“The Bible with its enormous experience says: He who loves danger will perish in it. Conclusion: keep your limits in drinking or avoid going to the office party. It’s easier said than done! But that’s it!”

- Guillem T

So whether you opt to drive and stay sober, keep it eco or avoid attending in the first place, we hope you have a good and embarrassment-free office party this year.

Office party questions on Answers

• What are some good ideas for a school disco-themed office party?

• Has anyone else opted out of their office Christmas party? why?

• What are some good ideas for a a really good, innovative office party in London for between 10 and 20 employees?

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“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” – Harlan Miller

Christmas is a very busy, exciting time of the year, and not only for children. Although everyone loves the time spent decorating our house and tree, preparing Christmas treats and of course the holiday period with our family, the chore of Christmas shopping is definitely something most people could live without.
This year the financial crisis has generated an economic slowdown that we are all, in one way or another, starting to feel in our pocket, making festive shopping all the more painful. So, with Christmas approaching scarily quickly, what are your tips and tricks to please the whole family while not going over budget?

Han is going to celebrate Christmas without overspending by only getting presents for the kids: “We’ll all meet up for a day around Christmas and get a bit merry and just enjoy each other’s company.” As Rambler62 said, you can always get the adults a nice Christmas card!

It could also be worth having a family talk, like Pierce, and all agree on spending much less on Christmas this year: “There was immediate consensus and relief from all parties.”

But if you’re still keen to preserve all of the festive rituals (minus the costs), here is a list of 10 things you can do to be generous your family and friends this year without having to eat baked beans the whole of January:

1. Recycle old presents, for example those you bought in the sales after Christmas last year (Captain Starkiller)
2. Shop online, especially on private sales websites to enjoy extra discounts on already cheaper items, and get goods delivered at home. (Juliette)
3. Start your Christmas shopping in the January Sales (Nanny chris w)
4. Organise a secret Santa with family and/or friends (Lonely in a crowd)
5. For Christmas dinner, use a lower end supermarket for some food
   and buy alcohol in bulk (Katy S)
6. Go for supermarkets 3-for-2 offers (Gothicmamma)
7. Organise a ‘treasure hunt’ for the kids by hiding stocking fillers around the house: “Lots of little gifts that only cost a couple of pounds but kids love them.” (Gothicmamma)
8. Wrap your present with newspaper (u_tubby_little_tit_wit…)
9. If you live far from your family and can’t afford the costs of sending presents, why not donate to charity instead? (Amanda)
10. Set a upper limit of £20 or so per person and assemble a Christmas stocking for everyone filled with inexpensive little items that you know they will use. (Posie)

And finally, if you feel your creative side coming through, why not try to make your own presents this year? This surely is the greatest way to save this festive season. Sglmom is personally printing her own SLR Photos that she’ll frame herself: “It is economical (since I took those photos myself), and will be treasured.”

And Woofers suggests we should celebrate the true spirit of Christmas, by making inexpensive and well loved presents like home made jams, chutneys, biscuits, cakes etc, and “be first to follow old fashioned principles of going to a church service, enjoying a Christmas meal together with family/friends/others less fortunate.”