Want a really cheap christmas

Fluella

Me and my bf this year have decided to buy only for our immediate family, parents, siblings and his gran. We recently bought a house and funds are running low! I've told my bf not to worry about getting me a present as it's my birthday shortly before christmas and he always treats me and buys me little things through out the year. I've started my shopping already, we've bought his dad lots of summery gadgets that we're in the sales but we know he'll like. For our mum's I've found some lovely scarfs in Primark.

I always remember it's the thought that counts!

Bargain_Rzl

I'm a Christian and absolutely hate the rampant commercialism of Christmas.

I save up £25 a month so I can spend £300 on Christmas, but to be honest, about £100 of that is not really spent "on Christmas" at all - it's the cost of my annual restocking of my drinks cabinet when spirits are all on special deals over the Christmas period At other times of year, I only ever top up on wine and beer. When else can you get a litre-bottle of Baileys for under £9?

I have 6 people to buy presents for - mum, dad, brother, sister, boyfriend, housemate - and don't impose a "per person" limit, I just spend an average of £15-£20 per person so I end up spending £100 on presents. However, I'm a firm believer that it is the thought that counts, so quite often I end up spending £7-8 on one person and £25 on another, if both of those gifts are just right for those people. Last year I happened to be seeing my mum at the end of November so I bought her a really beautiful Advent Calendar as an "in advance" part of her present, as she has trouble finding Christian ones where she lives. For my brother, I signed him up as a CAMRA member for a year, and I'm going to ask him if he'd like me to renew his membership as this year's present. He's a student so might appreciate it.

Costs of Christmas tree, Christmas dinner, and a token present for the little girl across the road (in the name of diplomacy - her parents are always taking in parcels for us etc) are split between me and flatmate and normally come out around £30-£40 each. I insist on a real Christmas tree, but neither of us drives, so I lug it a mile home from the garden centre over my shoulder down the high street :rotfl:

I bought two boxes of Christmas crackers in 2003 on BOGOF and they will last me and housemate for another 4 Christmases!

With luck (after stamps, bargain cards etc) I end up with £50 left over, which pays for my coach/train fare so I can go up north to visit my mum and grandma over New Year. I definitely think Christmas should be a time when you remember what is really important.

aliasojo

I think it is interesting that most of you who are posting about being able to 'do' Christmas in a reasonably cheap way, do not have large families (children) to account for.

It would be useful to get some opinions on Christmas and saving money from people with 2 or 3 children. Easier to compare like for like then, if you see what I mean.

So far the conversation has mostly been about pressies for adults but as the pressies mentioned are not really suitable for kids and most parents would spend much more on their offspring than their parents or siblings anyway, it would be good to hear tips from those peeps too?

rchddap1

We have 2 step daughters to think about. And we will have a 'proper' Xmas...albeit a bit late. So far we have enough pressies for them that we have gathered throughout the year. If we wanted to we could stop now and neither daughter would be diappointed...and we haven't spent a lot either. Something OH commented on last night.

Of course we won't stop there though, as we usually take them on a shopping trip after giving them some 'Xmas money'. What a shame pigsback removed those love2shop vouchers....they would have been perfect.

All I need to do now is get a few bits so that the girls can make their own chocolate Xmas lollies & chocolates and we're pretty much there.

foreverskint

Since my divorce 5 years ago, I am growing increasingly more horrified at the attitude of the children. My two oldest stay at their dads during the week so count that as their home. They have been bought ( by their dad and step mum) all the gadgets and gizmos they could want. stereos video dvd t.v those funny walkman thingies ipods personal cd players mobile phones with cameras etch and all by the time they were 13 & 11.

My stepdaughter has had just about every toy ever made trips to florida and the above losts of gadgets minus a couple. She's now 9.

We are never in a position to buy these sort of items for the children thanks to the CSA and the money they have removed from the household.
So the children get two types of Christmas. One with extravagant gift giving, and Ours where they get gifts full of meaning and a lot of thought and care.

The hardest thing is that the Children never have any idea of what to put on their Christmas list as they seem to have most things. Isn't that sad? I wouldn't have klknown where to start my list as a Child as there seemed to be so much I would have liked.

We base our Christmas celebrations in this house not on the amount or size of gifts but the true Christian meaning of Christmas, and being together as a family.

And we don't buy for each other and Parents and have refused to accept gifts for us with a give it to the children if you feel the need to spend money.
No one will thank you for getting into debt just to buy gifts.

calleyw

But as children get older and earn there own money. Should they not realise that if they want something expensive they have to get it themselves. And not expect mum and dad to buy it for them for christmas. Or even goes halves.

I don't have children of my own. But do know that children expect far to much. I was reading somewhere about the percentage of 3 years olds that had TV's and DVD players and games consoles in there room. It was high and I was rather shocked. How do expect a child at that age to monitor that own tv watching and get a good nights sleep. Everyone watches too much anyway. (well not me don't have one that is another story)

I was offered at 13 for christmas a black and white television. I said now and held out till I was 16 and bought a colour one of my own.

as I said for my stepchildren we buy £10 worth of presents and £20 goes in there savings accounts. Even there mother said it was a good idea as they get far to much anyway.


Yours

Calley

Ems*Honie

I have two small children, and a huge amount of children with i the family to buy for. I bought most of our stuff when Tescos reduced everything by 50% in the toy section.

My little boy would like a bike, (tthey did have those in the sale, but we didnt have room i the car and had the children with us,, only so much distraction is possible ) But I will be really shopping around for the bike.

My little girl loves most things, so we will get her one £20 ish toy.

They bothe have about 5 toys bought in the sale so I would say we will have spent approx £50 on each.

I have 8 other children to buy for and in total spent £102 in tesco's, all I need to buy is the one 'main' present for our two, so our total toy spend will be about £140, for 10 children.

My mil complains about the amount of grandchildren she has to shop for, i always point out that we have to buy for all of them, plus a bit extra for our own plus all the children on my side,, I dont think she can see it though.

We dont buy for adults,, I do for my sister, and she for me , but we are best mates,, so its okay,, Mr and I always spoil each other a bit, and why not,, we both work hard and make sacrifices (sp?/) the rest of the year, but it still practiacl,, I got a coat last yr, he got a lump sum towards a gadjet he wanted.. plus hat/scarf and gloves for work,,lol

Food spending varies,, one year we got lots from marksies,, last year we got gift vouchers for waitrose,, as a work bonus,, which paid for the dinner ;

MATH

Over the years we have scaled down Christmas buying fewer and fewer gifts but chosen with more love and care. Written less cards but taken the time to send hand made ones that reflect our Christian faith and we put a personal message in each one rather than a one size fits all "love from...."

Focusing on the Spiritual and religious aspects of Christmas for us as a Christian family has made the commercial trimmings far less important and the event itself less stressful.

No-one has been offended that their gift has been downgraded or stopped completely especially when we explain that our children will buy and wrap a gift for an unknown child at the woman's refuge where abused children arrive over Christmas with nothing and that throughout the festival and the coming year we will remember them and their families in prayer. This is often worth far more to friends who are lonely, have suffered bereavement, illness or upset in the past year, than a bath cube in a basket.

I do not post this as some holy do-gooder( I hope) but I've found Christmas is so much more enjoyable and less stressful if Idon't get on the commercial bandwagon which takes off every September. Christmas is often a let down once you're an adult unless it has real substance.

elona

I agree with you Math - I get more of a buzz watching my youngest singing carols or leaving a carrot for the reindeer on Christmas eve than out of spending money for the latest labels.

They still get presents but it is not about the money spent on them.

JC67

I have three children and over the last few years have gradually reduced my spending at Christmas. I've put together some personalised gifts and this year have been collecting freebies throughout the year as stocking fillers. I don't think my children feel deprived as they get plenty from relatives as well but I am trying to teach them how to manage money. My eldest daughter, aged 10 has planned her Christmas list and budget.

I really like the idea of getting children to buy and wrap a gift for someone else who needs it more than they do, so thanks for that MATH.