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

*Paris*

I think this Christmas most people are worried about the credit crunch, so I have spoken to all my family and we've agreed to setting maximum spend limits.

I have done about half my Christmas shopping, and I have organised it like a military campaign!!

First after making a list of people I am buying for, I set a budget for each person. Next I wrote down a list of present ideas for each person, so that I don't buy on impulse just because something is on offer!

I have found Play.com good for boys gadgets, and books. I have also bought PJ's, slippers & socks from Primark for all the girls (a PJ camisole & shorts set for £3.00 and 2 pairs of socks for £1.50)

I think the main thing about Christmas is spending the day together, the cost of the presents doesn't matter. I always think if my presents look a bit small and I feel bad, that my friends and family would not want me to get into debt just to buy them presents!

Alwaysachoice

"For my neices and nephews (ages 8, 6, 2 and 10 months) we are wrapping shoeboxes up in pretty paper and putting in lots of little bits, no more than £5 a box."

We do 4 x Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes each year but it hadn't occured to me to do this for family presents. Siblings recently decided not to be lavish this year and keep it to a £10 imaginative pressie each. This will definitely fit the bill! Thanks!

Alwaysachoice

vikkigenie wrote: »

I want to make up a hamper for my parents (both 70) as it has now become so difficult to buy for them. They have everything! Does anyone have any ideas of what to put in a hamper and cheaply?

I always give a hamper to MIL (87) and until last year to Dad (93). Favourite items: calendar, liquer choccies, chocolate dipped dates, preserves, luxury biccies, scarf, gloves, stollen, favourite tea and coffee, notelets. Hampers don't have to be all one things such as all food. Mix and match! :rotfl:

fudgecat

Annie2, it is often all about making your experience - and you must have loads - look relevant to the particular organisation you are applying to. You must have great people skills which can be applied to teamwork, be highly organised, practical and resourceful, and able to solve problems on a day to day basis. I expect you are excellent in a crisis. I`m sure you have thought of these things, but having checked both my daughters CVs recently (and had mine checked by others!) it is often amazing what you forget to mention or flag up.
The very best of luck with your (highly skilled and talented) job search.

fudgecat

Found The Carbolic Soap Company website (while looking for old fashioned sweets, as it happens) and decided to make up a "remember when" hamper just for the fun of it. Bars of household soap, reckits blue bags, wooden pegs, etc. Mum in law is in her eighties...

furrypig

henrietta wrote: »

When I planned christmas last year I made a spreadsheet with all the food I intended to buy.
After christmas I went back and updated the list with comments like, 'this did not get eaten', 'only needed one pack of these' etc. I opened it back up again this week and thought if I hadn't done that I would have overspent again on things people won't eat. So this year I know where I can cut back.
I also do all my grocery shopping on line which really helps when you get to the checkout and have spent more than you wanted, it is easy to swap things out and stick to the budget. There is always a voucher on here to save a bit too.

I was just thinking that I wished I had done this last year, as i can't remember how well some things went down and know we had some things left over (we were still eating up tins of choccies months later!!) So def cutting back on the tins!!!

ellionic

Well so far for christmas i have a couple of small bits for kids (10 and 5)
£53.00 savings account due to doing long needed jobs in house, £40 boots vouchers and £20 asda voucher. oh and i have credit card but i would rather chew off my own arm before i use that for xmas
I have 11 adults to buy for and my 2 children.
my food shopping is not that much because christmas dinner just me,bf and children but do have 13 people late afternoon until early hours but we all chip in for food and drink
My daughter started school in september so i planned on getting a job in my town and a month on i still cant find one not even pub or cleaner but that was ok because my bf has or sould i say had a ok paid job, he come home on monday and said they are being made redundant on friday :eek:

monday night i was so upset yesterday i was feeling sorry for myself but today i got in christmas planning mode started with looking around my house
and collected all the old toys,clothes ,cds, ect and i have started putting them on ebay i cant believe the amount of stuff that i have bought for my children in the past what they dont use and are to old for now. so i am hoping that will boost the funds abit to buy them presents going to see what bargains i can find on net and ebay.

Since 6 oclock i have been on mse looking through threads and have so many idea's now (gift baskets, gifts in jars) so gift baskets here i come for all 11 adults going to try and cook as much presents as possible.

I WILL BE DAMMED IF I LET THIS CREDIT CRUNCH SPOIL MY CHRISTMAS
sorry for going on and on

sophiesmum_2

fudgecat wrote: »

Found The Carbolic Soap Company website (while looking for old fashioned sweets, as it happens) and decided to make up a "remember when" hamper just for the fun of it. Bars of household soap, reckits blue bags, wooden pegs, etc. Mum in law is in her eighties...

fudgecat if you wnted something else to bulk up your hamper in the xmas gift section in asda they are doing a reminiscence game - similar things - it is quite good value I think £7 or so. I was looking at it the other day for the oldies in my sheltered scheme:D

irchy_mum

borkid wrote: »

and am thinking of making the cards as we have lots of card blanks I usually do this for special people but this year everyone will suffer.

Sorry, but this just tickled me-EVERYONE WILL SUFFER......

Cornishpixie_2

I have drawn money out of a seperate bank account or couldn't have done xmas. Getting a bit each week for the kids and resolving not to buy cheap, small stuff, as It ends up breaking at bottom of toy box. Made a list and put more thought into what I think they will like;) . Spending a lot less money on the adults.:D Will no doubt have to resort to all the family board games at some point during hols. Great! Bingo with Granny:rotfl: