How Much Did You Spend This Christmas?

Icemaiden

Just done the sums.... £600 quid for everything, cards, stamps, pressies, food, going out etc. Budget was £700. I know it still seems alot but last year was a whopping £1000 and said never again.

aliasojo

Might be useful for those who are supplying amounts spent to give an idea of family size or family ages? A teenager will cost more to buy for than a two year old.....even although they may act the same.

I spent a lot less on my 6 year old than I did on her brothers and she ended up with more things to open.

(yes this IS my vain attempt to make things sound better)

squiggles

Ive been very good this year,no credit card came out,zero balance and has been for a couple of months now.Total spend for xmas £250 on son,£120 family members and around £50 on food,cards,paper,stamps,sellotape.

beautifulgorgeous_2

I did spend plenty but I did get "a good deal" on everything I did buy with loads of advantage points at shopping evenings and hints from this site for bargains. Everyone seemed pleased with their gifts esp my MIL who had lots of bits picked up all though the year wrapped up individually in a stuffed stocking.

stellagypsy

About £250 in total, not bad really. OH and I buy noting much for each other, we just go to sales with our Xmas money from family and what we have squirrelled away over the year.

Stella

tattooed_lady

I saved £300 but I think I spent another £100 on top. That's fine though, I have 3 kids (7,5,1) so I bought for them, my neice and a few of my kids friends. I didn't buy for any adults and OH and I haven't got each other presents in years. The money spent includes food and booze. I will start saving 1st Jan 2006 for next year as it was great not having to dip into any of Nov/Dec wages to buy prezzies. I do think Xmas is a waste of money (especially now as I'm getting older and more Scrooge-like) but my kids love it and I want them to have a good time. Saying that, I do not want them to be swamped in unnecessary expensive gifts, I want them to appreciate what they have been given. :rolleyes:

Turning_into_scrooge

Mine was just over £180:T not bad for someone who last year went really over board

FieryBlondeScot

i am a single parent, one teenager, and i spent £290 ( 190 went on the kid) which is incredibly lower than previous years, i also had a run of birthdays in oct and nov. i would never have thought i could do xmas for £290! using all the tips from this site and just the general way ofthinking i have got into the last year saved me a bomb. £90 of this was spent online in boots half price jan sale on 23rd dec buying aftershave sets and birthday gifts for through the year so some people cannot get their pressies till boots deliver on 3 jan so i made them little vouchers and just smiled it out! to top it all my son was pleased with every single thing i got him and said to me at the end 'you done great mum' THAT S never happened before! so im happy!!

VenuS

I have spent just over £1100 total which even in my books is appalling. I went nuts on food again, I can't seem to not spend money in every single food shop I come across. I always think " what if someone wants ... lemon slices...duck pate..." list goes on, and it sure as hell adds up.

Kids have had £250 on them each this year, and to be honest, they don't even notice how much I have spent on them, as they don't care if it cost £10 or £100 because they are spoilt, and I admit they are. Maybe next year I should stand firm and give them coal!!

Family presents come to around £150, £100 new xmas decorations and the rest on food and drink for the new years eve party. :eek:

I am going to hell I know it. Oh well, I have all of Jan to pay off the CC :rolleyes:

limey_2

About £200 on presents including a break to italy for 2 days the week before xmas ( Thanks to ryanair for £10 return flights) New mobile for my daughter and skateboard for my son, both courtesy of ebay. Various cd's, dvd's etc prezzies for relatives courtesy of Mr T's (who also provided most of the food budget).
For once , ive actually got a nice healthy looking bank balance at the end of the year, with another pay day coming on the 29th so i'm a VERY happy bunny.