What's the cost of Christmas?

PaleScene

I've voted D, but it's not far out of the C category.

I don't consider myself (or ourselves!) very extravagant as we've had a £20 limit per person in place for several years now (I worry more about being a bit mean for not increasing it ) but there are just a lot of people in the family - four generations now - and I think it's good to be even-handed. So far the trend this year is that people are getting dearer presents - all smothered in discounts. I try to be like my mother and set out to spend a certain amount and be pleased at the change if it costs less but as I get older I'm more and more into the planning and giving bits of the process so it's too much fun to squeeze my limits right to their edges. Damn! :rolleyes:

Bearing in mind a little 'childless'-bias, I've always resisted the idea that kids should get all the presents :rolleyes: Our one extravagance is presents between myself and husband - we catch up on a few boxsets (and he's totally changed his spending habits from want-buy to much more patient)

And like doddy95 I've already got the cash put aside in a Christmas Fund. Christmas is a time to carefully spend the value of the Christmas Club account on a 0% credit card and pay off later whilst enjoying the interest :T

alwaysalady

When I read how much other people are prepared to spend at Christmas, I start to think that I am the real Scrooge.

Normally I allow £20 per immediate family member sometimes creaping up to £25. The only exception is for my Husband and I will spend up to £100 on him. As for Aunts, Uncles, Cousins etc., we don't bother because you end up buying something for the sake of it and they don't want what they receive anyway. The only other exception is my friend as we have known each other for 25 years and go on girly shopping days together twice a year.

As for Christmas day dinner: a turkey will only cost between £15-£20 along with £5 worth of vegetables and a couple of bottles of wine from the 2 for £10 range. Everyone is always too stuffed for pudding so I've given up buying them.

The total cost is well within the band C.
Stress levels: Zero
Overdraft: Not Likely

Kantankrus_Mare

I put away £11 a week all year round but still find I go over this amount in the run up to Xmas.

We set a budget of £15-£20 for family members but its the kids that seem to bump up the cost of Xmas!!

Both want a game station which are both ordered but then you feel like you HAVE to have a few stocking fillers so they have something to open. (Against my principles I can assure you) but as they are now getting older (10 and 12) they will be getting less and less to open on Xmas morning.

And does anyone else who shops around for the best deals find they still spend just as much if they have budgeted for Xmas all year round?

The only difference this year is that Im putting all xmas spending on 0% card so my Xmas savings are staying put and earning a little interest

All thanks to this site of course

Justamum

We have only bought for our own children for years now as money is so tight. We don't buy for parents or each other either. In fact this year, if my husband's back pay doesn't come in his pay packet this month (should just about cover the overdraft!) then the children won't be getting a visit from Father Christmas this year either. It breaks my heart when they are so excited about FC coming, when I know that it is going to be at best sparse pickings for them. The only debt we have is the overdraft, and it is ridiculous that some people (obviously nobody who posts on these boards!) get into huge debt every Christmas, and take the next 12 months paying it off, then start again the next year. Mad.

rchddap1

This year we decided that the girls should sort themselves out as far as presents to their dad is concerned....saving around £50 of my money. They've also taken in on themselves to sort out presents for each other....saving £25 of my money, and £25 of OH's money. OH and I decided to lower our limit for each other from £100 ish to £25. So far I've spend around £11 and have 3 presents....can't say what as he does browse these boards on occasion, but should end up with around 5 gifts. OH is a bit stuck...but he'll get there eventually. This results in a grand saving total this year of £300

Usually spend Xmas with my family, but will have a big lunch at home when we have the girls to stay. We will then take them out a bit...which will add to the cost.

As for family....OH has loads and their presents were bought in last year's Jan sales. My family is nearly done, but will spend around £20 on each. Have used discount codes, special offers were at all possible. and suspect it all total around the C banding.

At Christmas time its more important to spend time with family than to spend £££s on gifts.

bobblehat_2

I can't believe so few people have chosen 'E'!

savvy

rchddap1 wrote:

This year we decided that the girls should sort themselves out as far as presents to their dad is concerned....saving around £50 of my money.

LMAO! That's fair enough.............but I used to buy pressies for both absent fathers on behalf of the boys.........for years!! What a muppet eh??? Not that I did it to recieve anything back.....................but a thank you card would've been nice, but then guess they felt the maintainence was MORE than a thank you!!!! :rolleyes:




Hmmm beginning to think I'm more generous than I should............no wonder I get into debt!!!

N9eav

E. We are all off to the USA for a snowy Wisconsin Christmas. I could have got a new car I think....:eek:

aliasojo

I'm a 'D' but secretly long to be an 'A'.

Family of 5 means fairly largish Xmas bills. One present alone for one son is costing £200 (psp). Xmas used to be cheaper when kids were younger but not now.

rchddap1

I'm not actually the girls mother....I'm their dad's fiance / partner. So who is the bigger mug? In the past the girls' families wouldn't sort anything...and so I had to. Couldn't leave it so that he got nothing. Most of the time he knew it came from me. Last year was a wallet (that he'd asked me for). But the big surprise was the photograph inside....had him in tears and I got a big hug (and a few brownie points) :j

However, one is now 16 and the other 13. Dad is trying to get through to them the importance of being careful what you spend your cash on...so it seemed like a good idea. What the results will be who knows.....