Credit Crunch Christmas - how are you cutting down this year?

twiggy100

We are having a credit crunch Christmas too! Our family (4 of us), Grandparents (another 3) siblings (family of 4) and our next door neighbours (another 4) are all getting together to share Christmas. We are only buying token pressies for each others kids, and everyone has agreed to contribute a dish each for Christmas lunch. We have also agreed to bring our own booze. It will save a fortune! Think of what we would have spent as individual families if we were each doing to full Christmas, all I have to worry about this year is cooking a ham and making a trifle. You cannot believe what a relief it is, both financially and not to have the stress of having to think of so many different to get done!

We are all really looking forward to it too, plan of having lots of fun! :beer:

furrypig

twiggy100 wrote: »

We are having a credit crunch Christmas too! Our family (4 of us), Grandparents (another 3) siblings (family of 4) and our next door neighbours (another 4) are all getting together to share Christmas. We are only buying token pressies for each others kids, and everyone has agreed to contribute a dish each for Christmas lunch. We have also agreed to bring our own booze. It will save a fortune! Think of what we would have spent as individual families if we were each doing to full Christmas, all I have to worry about this year is cooking a ham and making a trifle. You cannot believe what a relief it is, both financially and not to have the stress of having to think of so many different to get done!

We are all really looking forward to it too, plan of having lots of fun! :beer:

That sounds really lovely! I bet you all really enjoy yourselves and moneysaving at the same time! It will be a lot less stressful and very organised from the sound of it too! Have fun!

Dontmakemefamous

We have agreed to save money by not buying presents that we "think" are a good idea! They are the presents that are always unused and are in a cupboard or the loft within weeks. A dreadful waste and my wife still turns her nose up at the (brilliant )camera I bought her last year - whihc i thought was rather good.
all the family have agreed to use a wish list and we found one that doesnt push Hot Air Balloon rides and gadgets at you all the time. At least I know what i will be buying will not be wasted!

the site is called sick of socks by the way!

mr_and_mrs_t

hi all
We are buying what people really want and not just for the sake of it too. I have made sure that I'm clear what the children want in advance so I can look around for bargains and take advantage of deals as and when.

I think Christmas ismade special by who you have around you and seeing special people in your life open gifts you have made / bought / freecycled. Too much pressure is put on people around these times to 'buy' and I don't like that. It should be the thought that counts from someone you care about.:D

glitzy

ding_dong_girl wrote: »

These are my tips for a cheaper christmas.

As my children are only 3 and 6 I usually buy what they need and what I know they will play with/use instead of what they think they want. This year they need pj's so i have kept an eye out for reduced items and found a half price hannah montana set and peppa pig.

I shop for my presents as early as possible but I make sure i write down everything I have bought to prevent duplication. Started to write on paper but had to resort to storing it on the computer because I kept losing the list!

My hubby and I have agreed not to exchange gifts this year, instead we are going to exchange 'dates'. This means we are going to sit down and pretend we are in the cinema and watch a film together with microwave popcorn and homemade choclate crispies! Titanic will be my choice!:j

I ALWAYS make a beeline for the reduced aisle in tesco's as you can very often find great items at a fraction of the cost.

Photos make a fantastic personal gift for close family members when you are on a budget. I save my school photos and give them for xmas some years. Keyrings, coasters and fridge magnets can be bought in sets to put photos in. Even childrens handprints, footprints with a picture, laminated with a personal message are a lovely gift for grandparents.

Xmas hampers are a lovley way to turn 'cheap' pressies into something better. wrap a shoebox and lid in xmas paper and fill with nik naks, socks, smellies, chocs, sweets etc.

where did you get the hannah montana pj's from & how much?

lisawood78

Hi glitzy, that particular post is from 2008

Trow

glitzy wrote: »

where did you get the hannah montana pj's from & how much?

There are some good value HM Pyjamas on this site http://www.kids-pyjamas.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=hannah&x=0&y=0

I've used them before with no problems.