Christmas over Mortgage

picardygirl

I agree with the monthly saving too ....

Ever since we had our children, and they are teenagers now, christmas obviously became a lot more expensive for us. So i set up a different account, and every time my husband gets paid a standing order goes directly into our christmas account, there its builds up over the year, and come the end of November, we have over £600 to spend on Christmas.

We just look at it as part of our outgoing bills and its worked for years.

bestyman

I would be careful if I was you , have you seen the film called Drag me to hell?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1127180/

nat82

I definately agree with opinions4u too!

I know that it's only one day in the whole year but we, too, took the decision to budget for it along with our other monthly outgoings and I am already starting to think about next year (sad, I know, but I'm just being practical!!!).

By budgeting a year in advance, we can pay the mortgage and have a good Christmas without worrying about paying for it. We couldn't afford Christmas any other way!

ManicMum

Although I don't condone people who decide not to pay their mortgage in favour of a christmas knees-up, I think we should maybe have an ounce of sympathy for some people who are really struggling at the moment. Soem people can't even pay their mortgages at the moment, let alone with Christmas into the bargain.

My husband has lost all his overtime and although I ahve some self-employment at the moment, this could vanish at any time. Yes, we may have with hindisght not got such a large mortgage, but times were different a few years ago and a lot of people got mortgages based on their overtime payments. I always only spend about £30 on my children. As a parent, i would feel awful if I couldn't get them anything. I know they would still love me but you feel crap if you can't provide for your children.

We have some savings to fall back on but they won't last forever and it genuinely scares me what could happen if my husband's work doesn't pick up. I guess the message is restraint this christmas.

As for budgeting. Ok if you can afford it. I never have surplus at the end of the month to put aside for Christmas. We just dip into savings from when my husband was better off and earned more. No one budgets better than me either. I even use all my coupons I print off here at Tescos - who have now banned their use unless you get the product. I am boycotting them for next month whilst they run their trial.

Some of the things I hear people getting for their children is ridiculous - ipods and Wiis. Crikeys, don't even own those myself. Christmas is like a wedding day - it's over before you know it and then you have the bill to look forward to. That's why I had a budget wedding too.

SingleSue

Bills before presents here too.

You can have a good Christmas without spending the earth...I do it every year!

Phil3822

Christmas is one day a year. Love along with a home over your head is the most important part of any festive period. I am certain I and my children would be less happy with a christmas with no home than one without the latest presents.

Gorgeous_George

I hate Christmas - or rather the commercial exploitation of it.

I just ask people what type of landfill they would like me to wrap for them this year. And another thing...


... shopping vouchers - what are they all about? The Royal Mint do a great line in shopping vouchers, they come in various denominations and are accepted in all UK shops. Debenhams have nothing that I would like to spend £10 on.

GG

NEH

opinions4u wrote: »

I think my point stands.

A couple may attend 2 work events - 4 x £50.
They may spend an extra £100 on food over the festive period.
And pressies for each little angel at £150 each x 3.

There's £750 of additional expenditure in December.

The OP was effectively saying her callers claim "I can only afford Christmas, not my mortgage payment".

I was highlighting how they could budget to afford both.

It is not uncommon for people to save for Christmas. People contribute in to Christmas clubs to pay for the works party. People save with hamper companies (who were outside the FSCS last I heard). People fill a whisky bottle with loose change every week.

Much better to save for it than get to December and choose to miss a mortgage payment for it.

£150 for each child :eek: I don't get that spent on me now by even close family members at the age of 30.....

I really can't understand why people would do without paying their mortgage to have a good Christmas....

My husband started a new business a little over a year ago and it may be scrooge like but for ourselves we have a written rule at the moment no proper pressies for Christmas or birthday until things pick up.....We might buy a dvd or a cd for each other but that's the extent of it, you learn to budget and buy what you can afford, not buy it and then budget later...

opinions4u

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

... shopping vouchers - what are they all about? The Royal Mint do a great line in shopping vouchers, they come in various denominations and are accepted in all UK shops. Debenhams have nothing that I would like to spend £10 on.

You have reminded me ... we got £40 in John Lewis vouchers last Christmas. It would cost about £20 in petrol to get to the nearest store!!

Apparently 50% of gift vouchers sold get lost or never spent. It's a racket!!

NEH wrote: »

£150 for each child :eek: I don't get that spent on me now by even close family members at the age of 30.....

There have been times in the not too distant past where it has been less than £20 each. And the adults tend to get a lot less than the kids round here!

I really can't understand why people would do without paying their mortgage to have a good Christmas....

Too right.

My husband started a new business a little over a year ago and it may be scrooge like but for ourselves we have a written rule at the moment no proper pressies for Christmas or birthday until things pick up.....We might buy a dvd or a cd for each other but that's the extent of it, you learn to budget and buy what you can afford, not buy it and then budget later...

Spot on. Cannot argue with a word of that.

sammyjammy

opinions4u wrote: »

You have reminded me ... we got £40 in John Lewis vouchers last Christmas. It would cost about £20 in petrol to get to the nearest store!!

Apparently 50% of gift vouchers sold get lost or never spent. It's a racket!!

There have been times in the not too distant past where it has been less than £20 each. And the adults tend to get a lot less than the kids round here!

Too right.

Spot on. Cannot argue with a word of that.

I'd be happy to take them off your hands for £20