'The older my husband gets, the Scroogier he becomes': One writer wonders why the man she married is such a Christmas Grinch

By Charlotte Kemp

PUBLISHED: 18:34 EST, 16 December 2012 | UPDATED: 11:42 EST, 17 December 2012

Perhaps I should have seen the warning signs years ago when my husband Tom potato-printed Christmas cards for his friends with 'bah humbug' on the inside.

And the older he gets, the more Scrooge-like he becomes.

Our cards are always charity ones and strictly limited to nearest and dearest. Plus, it goes without saying that they have to be written weeks in advance so we don't miss the second-class post.

A Christmas Carol: Charles Dickens' character Ebenezer Scrooge hated Christmas, and Charlotte Kemp says her husband feels much the same way

A Christmas Carol: Charles Dickens' character Ebenezer Scrooge hated Christmas, and Charlotte Kemp says her husband feels much the same way

We're not allowed to buy a tree until a few days before Christmas - because he lives in hope they might be discounted at one of the local garden centres (they rarely are).

 

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We have the same Christmas lights and tree decorations we bought when we first got together 18 years ago, and he'll do his utmost to make sure I don't spend too much on fancy food.

Christmas Grinch: 'This year I'm convinced my present will be a kitchen swing bin'

Christmas Grinch: 'This year I'm convinced my present will be a kitchen swing bin'

His idea of a festive feast is a packet of chocolate HobNobs and a tube of Pringles.

He might stretch to a box of dates and a few clementines - but only if they are two-for-one at Morrisons.

The other day, he came back from a garden centre pleased as punch. He'd snapped up a box of crackers for £1.

He does love to buy something memorable for the children (only one thing each, mind).

Having said that, this year, he was tempted to give our eldest daughter a suitcase that was free with an order from Staples until he thought better of it.

Last year, when I suggested buying the children some pretty embroidered stockings to have their presents in, Tom shuddered at the thought.

'Why can't they just use one of my welly socks, like usual?' he asked. Thankfully, we are allowed to turn the heating on by Christmas Day - a welcome relief after spending weeks chilled to the bone.

When it comes to my gifts, they're always practical. Last year, it was a set of kitchen scales. Previous presents include an iron and a frying pan.

This year, I'm convinced It's a kitchen swing bin. Before I sound ungrateful, I would like to point out that I do still love my Mr Scrooge.

There is a lot to be said for the simple pleasures at Christmas time - a glass of wine, a game of Scrabble, the children playing Christmas carols on the piano, and a roaring fire.

Last year, Tom even threw in a bowl of walnuts - although he later confessed he got them free from a friend who has a walnut tree...

 

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well making his own cards with potatos seems to be absolutely keen compared to my one, who i do not believe even knows what christmas cards are.

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This is almost certainly completely made up. Like quite a lot of DM......

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It's easy for Women to moan, if they spend someone else's money all the time !!!

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My husband is the opposite-every year he gets right into the festive spirit. And it's nothing to do with spending loads of money; he decorates the house, wraps the presents and always sets an amazing table for Christmas Dinner. We don't spend silly money but what we do spend isn't begrudged. Most of all we have fun!!

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I don't know what is more amazing, that you are still married or that your Christmas lights still work after 18 years!

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Why can't Christmas be like the Olympics - every four years. Would be far less stresful.!!

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Spot the real life Scrooges on here with their red arrowed mean comments and btw, this husband of hers is taking the absolute P out of her and their family. There's being sensible with money and then there's this. He's pathetic. God alone knows what he's like around the dinner table. Who on earth wants a depressing old git like that for a husband.

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hilarious :-)

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Keith from Newcastle, not everyone has such an idyllic view or experience of Christmas. Not everyone has money to splurge and the added stress from every corner to do just that is why people hate Christmas.

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I wish my husband was a little more like yours with money. I have to hold the purse strings in our house and it gets a bit tedious.

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