saving for xmas, i know its only june.

skystar

I save all year round for Christmas.

I also shop all year round (starting in the Jan sales :eek:) and try and avoid paying full price for anything.

For parents and siblings we usually budget £30 each. My niece and nephew £50 each.

Hubby and I usually go way over the top for each other and also for his son. Don't usually have a set amount for this but think this year will try and limit it at £150 each.

LookingAhead

I know it's so much more financially sensible to shop in the sales all year round but I just can't bring myself to do it. Which is more fool me I know.

But there is always something else to have to spend money on as well :mad:

Mrs_Sparkle

I'm planning on a cheap Christmas. My family are not big present-givers anyway so £10 each does just fine. My hubby and I always agree a limit with each other and normally I buy him cheap Ryanair tickets + a couple of nights in a hotel. This Christmas I'm going to be- if all goes well- nearly 8 months pregnant so it should be a much cheaper affair than usual... no alcohol for a start!

lynsayjane

i avoid giving presents to friends, if i gave to everyone i'd never get out of debt. my mum, sis, dad n stepdad all get. my gran and granda get sweeties (so that doesn't cost much), and only two aunts and their kids get stuff (i have five aunts and am the oldest of fifteen cousins so there is no way i'd be giving everyone stuff!!!)

knithappens

I have started buying my Morrisons savign stamps for food. Only have £10 , but by Christmas it should be full. All the little toiletry freebies i get i put to one side for stocking fillers.

I am tryign to work out a budjet on what to spend on each of the kids and hubby. I dont want to go over board , because i do each year. I want to try and keep things in perspective this year.

elisebutt65

I started just after last Xmas as soon as the sales started!!!

My underbed drawers are full now of loads of little goodies so I can do my ususal little boxes for everyone - lol

Eldest DS (11) has started whinging for a PSP tho - so I've pointed him in the directions of his savings account and told him I'll match him 50/50 if he can save half! - Can't really afford it but I can suck in the belt somewhere - lol.

I've been saving all the Boots and Woolworths vouchers I get for doing surveys as well, and my Luncheon vouchers from Pinecone - up to £40 this yerar and £25 on my Advantage card - every little helps and should have enough to buy distant rellies a little something 'from the kids'.

LookingAhead

I know this is slightly off topic and I don't mean any offence here, I am only saying this as I am not religious myself and neither is the person I was talking to at the time.

Anyhoo.....the other day someone was talking to me about other religions and some of the crazy things they do. I said: "Well what about us? We don't even believe in God & Jesus let alone his birthday, yet we get into debt every year because of it! That's crazy to me...."

There was not much of a response except for a pondorous look...

Anyway like I say, no offence and not meaning to turn it into a "I do I don't believe" discussion. Just making a point that if you aren't religious, why increase your debt worryingly because of this religious festival?

lynsayjane

LookingAhead wrote:

Anyway like I say, no offence and not meaning to turn it into a "I do I don't believe" discussion. Just making a point that if you aren't religious, why increase your debt worryingly because of this religious festival?

because it's a good excuse to get pressies???:rotfl:

Leothecat

I put away £50 per month for Xmas. I have to or no one would receive anything from us!! Also means I don't have to worry about getting into debt. I try to pick up a few things throughout the year where possible so that anything left over from the Xmas fund can be spent in the pub! :beer:

tru

LookingAhead, I agree with you. I do believe but I have to say, I love tacky tinsel and baubles too, the more the better IMO. And silly presents and mulled wine and stupid ads on tv