Great "How to have a cheap Xmas if you've kids" Hunt

dobbie82

Thanks jellyhead, the halfords deal look good, theyve got one for £40, one for £50, but the voucher for helmet etc, makes it a vry good dealand worth the 60 mile round trip :-)

mummytean

Our son whos 7 wants an XBOX for christmas more than anything and would ignore anything else we got cos hes so into it .Theres toys from last year only played with once or twice,so were getting the xbox, games and giving his own gaming tag on line ,and to cut the cost told him it was too expensive for santa and he may not get it all unless we traded in his old game cube and left the receipt for him to use,as it was only collecting dust in the bedroom.Another tip i started selling on ebay to get extra christmas money ,you would be amazed to see what GOGOS CRAZY BONES go for .Get selling!

Debt_Free_Dreamer

onlyroz wrote: »

...... But I always thought just giving them money was an unimaginative cop-out...

I remember the first year my parents gave us money after they ran out of ideas of what to buy teenagers. My brother and I were more excited about the £50 than any of the presents they had carefully chosen for us and we managed to buy much much more in the sales.

After that, they only bought one present and gave us the cash. This fitted in with my mom's 'money saving' lifestyle anyway, so everyone was happy. I always remember at Easter we never bought eggs after my mom persuaded my brother and I that we got more chocolate for our money by buying 'missifts' in Woolworths. (the chocolates that have gone a bit wrong!)

sarymclary

I'm a mum of 4 boys. I have always tried to save a bit each month into a birthdays/Christmas fund, so that I don't get caught out by other bills eating into my budget.
I have always told my children that I give Santa the money to pay for Christmas, and that depends on how much I am able to save each year (so it is changable). In about October I have an idea of how much I can spend on each of them, and let them know their budget (important for the older children - you don't need to worry so much for little ones). They are then told to consider what they would like, and compile a 'Wish List'. This list is by no means an 'order form', and I advise them to find plenty of ideas in the £5-£15 range, which will help their aunties when they want to buy them gifts.

I buy my turkey weeks before Christmas when they are vastly reduced. I saw Sainsburys frozen turkeys for between £30-50 last week, but my local Co-Op has their turkeys half price, and I'm getting mine for £12. It takes up a bit of room in the freezer, but last year I took 2 drawers out of my freezer and packed everything else around the turkey, so it does fit (if a bit haphazardly)! I buy my veg from local farm shops cheaper than supermarkets, or get it frozen from Farmfoods at under £1 per bag. I buy value potatoes at under £2 for a large bag, and that does my mash & roast potatoes on the day. I make my own Yorkshires, which are better than any you could buy in the shops. Most of my kids don't like Christmas pudding, so I buy individual chocolate puds that can be microwaved, and are cheaper, and get a small pud for the adults to share.

Treats like chocolates, nuts, etc. I buy weeks (if not months) in advance when they're on special offer in the various supermarkets. Roses chocolates for £3.99 in stead of £7.99, tins of biscuits £2 instead of £5, etc. It also means you are spreading the cost over the year, rather than trying to afford it all in one go.

If you are having relatives to come over, or you are going to them, why don't you all agree to contribute something to the food? When I used to go to my in-laws I always insisted that I was able to either buy the turkey, or the Christmas pud, cake, etc. I felt that it was only fair, as I wasn't having the hassle of doing the cooking, or all the expense.

On the day we have always concentrated on family. The children come down to find their presents in sacks around the tree, but rather than have them all ripped open all in one go, we do it in age order youngest to oldest, and we all watch each other read the label and open a gift. I find that this way not only do the gifts last much longer, but they seem to remember who bought what. After they've had a play with whatever they got, we play party games in the afternoon like charades, who's line, trivial persuit, etc.

For the past 2 years we haven't had Christmas dinner on the day, because in 2005 I had a sickness bug on the day and spent the day in bed. The kids ended up having pizza cooked by my OH, but it meant they had the whole day to play. I did Christmas dinner on Boxing day, and it was so much less stressful as a result - I used to cook dinner whilst building Lego or putting batteries in toys, but never really getting to see the kids play with the things I'd spent weeks choosing for them. We've done the same ever since.

marigoldhen

Why is it that so many parents cave in to their children. It's only 1 day. Don't spend the rest of the year paying it off, the kids will have got bored with their presents before you've finished paying for them!

My two sprogs, 13 year old son and 16 year old daughter, have both said that the budget I have given them this year, £175, is too much and could they have less please! They have been brought up to understand the value of money and if they want an Xbox, fancy mobile phone etc. they have to save up for it themselves. They are both frugal and search out the best price for their pressies and I have spent all year saving up £2 coins to pay for it.

My OH is recently self employed and not brining in any money and I am on carers allowance so money is non existant. We are still going to have a fab time and are looking forward to making our own cake, pudding, cards, presents etc. We have put a £10 limit spending on Grandparents and the rest of the family have been told that we are not buying. If they don't like it then it's tough. Christmas is surely about being together as a family and not how much money people spend on you.

Don't get sucked in by the advertisers and the shops - they are only after one thing - YOUR MONEY!

denimmaterial

I don't know whether this will help, but I always did it when my kids were young (6 and 7 to about 11 and 12).
I separated all the Santa things I bought into individual units and wrapped them in two different colours of Christmas paper. Then I hid them all over the living room for them to search for. I left a note to say how many presents there were (had to be careful to have the same number for each!)

Usually there were about 35 - 40 each! How? Well, for example, a box of 12 felt tip pens would be 12 separately wrapped presents!

They loved it, and have mentioned it as a high spot of their Christmases. They still got their 'big' presents from us when we got up.

marigoldhen

Let's get Christmas into perspective. 3 years ago my daughter was 13. She was doing what all regular 13 year olds did, going to school, chosing her GCSE options, going out with friends. She then became seriously ill in a very short space of time and within 6 months she was paralysed and couldn't feed herself, pick her nose or speak.

3 years down the line she is thankfully out of that stage but still cannot walk, is bed ridden and has to be helped getting dressed, going to the toilet, getting washed. At 16 she should be sending me grey with worry as to where she is, who she is out with, getting in late. Sadly I don't have those worrys I just have the worry of when she will be well again.

Our Christmas is going to be one of being together and enjoying what life we have. Trying to make it a happy one for my daughter who can't go to parties or go Christmas shopping with her friends.

Please just think about what is important in your life. Is it how much money you spend on your kids or your kids health?

I know which one I'm chosing.

Sorry to sound over dramatic but that's my view of Christmas. Health and happiness are things to be cherished not spending a fortune on materialistic things.

inthegreen

Firstly my mum and dad used to make me take a box of my toys down the kids ward of the local hospital the week before christmas so that I could make room for pressies I would get and secondly to make me appreciate how lucky I was to be healthy.

My favourite Christmas memories are of my godmother spending ages curling my hair (always wanted curly hair) and then doing my makeup and nails. This was far more exciting than pressies.

One year my nephews got whoppee cushions and they loved them more then any of the other presents we bought.

I often buy family joint presents, I bought my nephews and sister in law a trip in a boat in London one year and some friends a family photo session including one free print,(local offer for £15) both these were cheaper than buying individually.

Teenagers all seem to love magazines and a subscription although it seems a bit boring at the time they soon realise how good it is when they still are getting them in July.

Mum and I are treating ourselves to some very good quality meat but apart from that we will not have crackers, sweets or loads of extras but will play card games (with me losing) and monopoly and watch soppy Christmas films and be glad that we are healthy happy and loved.:beer:

deedee1968

Not sure if anyone else has said this but I know people who save toys their child has grown out of in the loft and give them as presents to a new sibling.

jellyhead

inthegreen wrote: »

Firstly my mum and dad used to make me take a box of my toys down the kids ward of the local hospital the week before christmas so that I could make room for pressies I would get and secondly to make me appreciate how lucky I was to be healthy.

Teenagers all seem to love magazines and a subscription although it seems a bit boring at the time they soon realise how good it is when they still are getting them in July.

The 2 children's wards I've been to don't take second hand toys for health and safety reasons - I give to charity shops, and freecycle.

Mag subscriptions can be bought with tesco points. I don't know which ones but it might be worth having a look at if anyone is considering a sub as a gift