Credit Crunch and Christmas will you be spending less?

Naomim

I put money by every month for Christmas so I have £300 saved up. The only adults we buy for are my in-laws. This year I am making hampers from the old style thread for them. I have 3 neice's and nephews, I am spending £25 each on them but I am spending £100 on DS. I didn't mean to it just crept up I bought bits in sales throughout the year and 3 for 2's and when I totalled it I was shocked!

If I didn't save for it though, I would be stuffed and heading into overdraft land.

Naomi x

schoolrunmum

Blimey- you lot are making me feel guilty! I haven't done any Xmas shopping yet!!!

missyp123

Last week i completed all of my Xmas shopping!

i started getting the 'smaller' things for my 2 yr old in august, just stocking fillers £1-£5.
On my side of the family we have agreed to only buy for the 4 neices and nephews, i usually spend £30 each on them but have got everything in sales and have spent an average of £12 each.
On hubbys side we have all chose 1 siblin each to buy for so we will all have received one gift to the value of £40.

i am thinking of doing a hamper for parents just so they have something so any hamper ideas would be great!

im itching to see how much iv spent on my daughter i think its about £80 and what she has will be worth double!!!

I think that budgeting for xmas this year has made me realise it can be done every year really, no one has lost out, iv just shopped wisely!:j

missyp123

just to add, i will be following Martin's advice and form january i will be putting £30 per month away for next year!

GreenNinja

Hi All,

I have drastically cut back this year due to the credit crunch. I have made some jars of dowerhouse chutney (courtesy delia smith book) and some piccallili, will be making some of the homemade hob nobs in mini form and also some rocky road and packaging in nice cellophane bags (bought from ebay). Each family will be getting one of each item in a jute resusable shopping bag.

:beer:

inamess200

I have budgeted at £100 for each of my children (we have 3) and have been saving all year. I am now studying offers everywhere to make sure I get alot for my money - we live in an affluent area and alot of their friends think nothing of getting gifts in the '000's of pounds. Both my girls aged 8 and 11 have said there is nothing they really want so would like surprises whilst my 3 year old son has been talking of the elc tower of doom non stop since september - luckily it was reduced to £50 last week so that is him done apart form a few small bits to bulk out his present pile - I find home bargins a godsend for childrens presents.

With regards rest of the family we spend no more than £10 less if I can get away with it and hubbie and I dont really buy for each other £20 each if we have spare cash nearer christmas. Childrens friends I am trying to spend no more than £3 each - having brought 12 £1 selection boxes from mr T last week (3 for mine rest for children we buy for ) it is going to be easy.

So i think we should come in well under my £600 budget in total and may have some spare cash for a wii fit if I can find one.

**Amy**

Hi

I dont think I am spending any less on everyone this Christmas. I might even be spending a tad more?

I have spread it out, so i have saved money for 2 months (September/October) and used that to spend on Christmas. I have also used vouchers (Amazon, HMV etc.), ebay and Boots 3 for 2. This has lead me to get some great bargains.

And getting them all earlier has let me get some brilliant pressies. Also i have looked around and found one shop seling the same item for double the price just 2 doors away from another.

I have probably spent a maximum of £300 this year, but I dont have children.

x

Magpie.

I only have my daughter really that I buy for and I spend between 100-150€ on her in total. This is main pressies and stocking fillers.
My parents and my sister and I stopped buying for each other a couple of years ago.
I'll buy something for my daughters teacher from her but not sure what, probably about 20€ max.

skint_taffy

ive got 16 grand children 1 greatgrandson 5 daughters and their respective partners plus sister and b in law and my mum 3 f the grandchildren live with me so i spend approx £100 each on them £5 and a selection box for the other grandchildren each £20 each on daughters and partners about £30 on sister and b inlaw and the only thing my mum wants is a deaf loop so she can hear the tv properly (about£70) done about 75% just my mum to go food wise i saved all the vouchers from mr t got about £100 plus i keep store cupoard always stocked up so im hoping not to overspend

postingalwaysposting

Well I have all but finished my xmas gifts. I only buy for 7 people so that cuts down spends. This year the majority are reciving money :j I only have to 'buy' four more gifts and get the vouchers/money. I have spent a total of £130, last year I spent nearly £300 :eek: