Doing christmas without credit

Bargain_Rzl

I take advantage of Christmas for other things too ... I put aside £25 a month (£300 a year) in preparation for Christmas .. but being single with not many people to buy for, Christmas itself (pressies, cards, food, tree, drinks money for work do, etc) usually only ends up costing me about £100-£150. The remainder is used for restocking my drinks cabinet with spirits, cos the discounts in the supermarkets at Christmas are so good. I have expensive tastes in booze and love to make the most of Bombay Sapphire with a third off! ... I hardly ever buy spirits at other times of year ... If £50 is left over after all that, it's a handy contribution towards the 300 mile train journey I like to make each year - to spend New Year with my mum

EagerLearner

Hi SugaJen - maybe this will help you be motivated + also save and see what's saved for what: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=238575

A graph easily shows you what is in each pot - I have been using it for a few months now and as it has worked well, thought MSER's might also want to use it - let me know if you do and what your thoughts are by leaving comments on the above posted link...

Pigsback give vouchers if you save up your points, could be great for Xmas as you could save a little stash of vouchers?

MrsTinks

So far have £100 of boots vouchers thanks to a poker win on Pigsback and I nearly have enough for another £10 one Also have an emergency saving account with £50 in so far and that will have £50 added each month automatically. If there are no emergencies that we need it for then some of that can go towards costs at Christmas. I am thinking of setting up some seperate pots too but I think that maybe vouchers would be better because then I KNOW I can't spend it if that makes sense
Thankfully my brother has just moved out of home a week ago so this year his x-mas present with be a hamper type thing with lots of freebies! A lot of these being made up by OH's free soap, shampoo and conditioner etc when he is away at a hotel 2 nights a week paid for by work Will be a really helpful gift for my brother and free for us
Have also started "stockpiling" in one of my many seagrass baskets with a list pinned to it of whom I have bought what for as I tend to forget these things

OberonSH

I've always been a fan of 'Gift Vouchers' for family when I've not got the cash to splash. You type up a gift voucher on the computer for things like 'A night babysitting your little [STRIKE]devils[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]goblins[/STRIKE] darling little angels' and give them in a pretty envelope.

A few ideas:

Help with spring cleaning
Back/foot massage
Doing certain chores they hate for a month
a candlelit meal

I find people appreciate that much more than something they'll forget about in a month's time

EagerLearner

Good idea - I do the same for OH and he loves little vouchers

beanielou

I save a bit in the credit union and I keep my Tesco vouchers towards food /pressies( I know that I could do deals but this suits me)

halloweenqueen_2

If you go in woollies they have lots of little sweets in there, in the shape of baby bottles etc, a few of these in a bag wrapped up doesn't cost a lot, is another present to unwrap and really pleasing to a little one!
You can get a nice colouring book and a packet of pens for a couple of £'s, I realise these are not main present ideas but help to bulk out presents for not much money.