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DFW @ Christmas ?

Im sorry to start mentioning xmas already but planning is the key to a debt free xmas,

im new to budgeting and wonder how all you DFW plan your xmas, cost of presents, what do you allow per person? where you buy from. food costs and cost cutting tips..


My oh has 2 children and we normally start about now, buyin stocking fillers etc.

Any advise or tips ??
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Comments

  • I would start buying now, I've almost finished apart from the kids stuff incase they change their mind.
    For the food I will use the tesco clubcard vouchers. For the adult gifts I have used pigsback to get boots vouchers and bought some great items in the sales.
    Barclaycard 3800

    Nothing to do but hibernate till spring






  • tanmu
    tanmu Posts: 208 Forumite
    this christmas is going to be really tight for us, so I decided that this year I am only going to buy gifts for our close family - as in OH and the kids (and hopefully he'll get me something too!) We both have very large families so buying gifts for everyone is impossible, even in better years, without winning the lottery! Instead I am going to do some baking and give gifts of homemade cookies/brownies/cakes/shortbread etc.....the ingredients don't cost much so it should make things more affordable. I will also make my own cards - my OH is a whizz with digital images so we can make quite personal ones. Gonna also try and invite ourselves to the inlaws for Christmas dinner......:wink:
    Any other tips anyone???
    :heart2::heart2:On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur :heart2::heart2:

    we're debt freeeeeeeeeeeee....FREEEEDOM!!! :j
    :T
  • Brokenhearted - if its better for you to use your vouchers for shopping I'm not going to stick my nose in but wouldn't you be better off using them for deals?
    I used to buy loads of food for xmas but now I usually just get the same and some luxuires - we can't eat any more in those couple of days than we do at any other time and the shops are open fairly rapidly!!
  • I know it's Martins advice to use the vouchers for deals, but for me personaly it's better to buy food. I only have £22 to come out this month and probs about £30 in the christmas lot.
    Maybe when things are less tight financialy I could use them for deals, for now it's extra food shopping. Thank you for the advice you are trying to help and I don't feel you are stcking your nose in.
    Barclaycard 3800

    Nothing to do but hibernate till spring






  • i am not 'doing' xmas this year :rotfl: i usually go over board to the point where i have to get people to open there presents (from me) i two lots, but not this year, no no :D this year i am a saver and i have my 21st on the 31st so its going to be a low key xmas :) my brother wants money (hes going to the usa for a wedding) and my sister and oh can have money two :p that only leaves stockings for them all (handmade stuff) and my mum and her oh and his son :) who needs xmas :rotfl:
  • benbenandme
    benbenandme Posts: 12,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    I sorted through my present cupboard last night and have made a list of what I've got and who its for. Have already done my sons playgroup friends (4 of them) with stuff I got in the sales and a couple of relatives, and have made a list of who I need to get for and how much I need to spend.

    I bought some photo frames in Boots last week (reduced from £8 to £1.75) and will put a photo of my son in for my grandparents and am going to buy some terracotta plant pots, get son to paint the pots, and plant some bulbs in to go with it ;)

    I have been saving £2's since April and have saved all the vouchers I've earned from Pigsback, Lightspeed, IPSOS etc.. to go towards presents.
    Mortgage Total: £53,041 / £75,000
    Holiday Pot £1336/£2032
  • buy lots of my christmas pressies at car boots all for under a couple of pounds each.
    Toiltries, ornaments, toys, books........all like new and most of them all boxed too.
    I've brought a drinking game with 4 shot glasses in for my nephew for £1.50...a boxed height chart/photo set for £1.25 for my niece, A fabric noahs ark all boxed for my neice for £1, toiltries for my daughters (all under £1 a set and they have two each), aftershave sets for bil, Learn to Drive book and cd for my nephew for 75p, A Leather wallet, and key holder in a box for another nephew £1.50, Boxed Dorling Kingsley learning ladder cd roms for my nephew £1.50, A camera case for my other half 50p, Like new cooking books for my father (all under £2 each), Lilke new gardening book for my sil £1.50 and bits and pieces for my daughters friends (all boxed and new), a beaded and silver photo frame for my sil 75p, Boxed silver necklace (still in argos cat now) for £2.50 for my daughter.
    All of the items I have brought would of cost at least £6 new and some up to £24 so I think i've got some great bargains.
    Have a go and see what you can find. I'm sure you'll come back with a few bits and pieces which will help your christmas along.

    GOod luck!!
  • At the moment there are lots of gift ideas cheap in the Boots sale too :)

    Have you taken a look at the old style money saving board? Its a great forum and will give you lots of ideas for food this christmas and on pressies too. :)

    If you have any tesco vouchers exchange them for tokens and you could use those to buy gifts?...magazine subscriptions, day out voucher etc.
  • well for us this year we are concentrating on the children only.
    After sorting out our massive debts and being faced with bankruptcy, we are living on a shoestring as it is.

    I think christmas is all about children, adults can do without expensive presents, they can buy their own....I will buy for my mum and dad, but thats becuase they have been wonderful through out this whole mess:j
    But It will be a small gift each

    As for my children, they will be bought presents, but Im not spending 1000's like last year, makes me sick when I see all the toys and bikes they hardly use lying around here, makes me learn the hard way
  • frosty
    frosty Posts: 1,169 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    In June I start buying one or two extra luxury food items to go in our christmas hamper so when christmas arrives we only need the turkey and veg.
    The crackers and wrapping paper I buy in the sales,the crackers were 25p for a box of 12 and the wrapping paper was 6p a roll all from Asda (in Jan sales).
    I buy gifts all through the year for birthday and christmas,I have only got to buy a few more bits and then I am ready for christmas,before joining this site I was a last minute shopper and I ended up spending a fortune.

    A lot of friends will be receiving a passport cover for christmas they only cost a £1.00 and I am going to make some homemade chocs to go with them.
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