Ten Pound Christmas

Verbatim

What we do is a book each plus xmas stocking. Kids get more!

inkie

Here's a question - which do people spend the most on - a birthday prezzie for someone or a christmas prezzie. I would think that the birthday prezzie should take priority as thats personal to that person, wheras Christmas is for everyone's benefit. What do others think???

BertieMeldrew

This is one of the best suggestions I've ever read! I'm not tight but feel that at Christmas we spend loads of money on things that are often just shoved in a drawer and forgotten. I estimate that Christmas costs us in excess of £1k... it's barmy!!!

The difficulty is broaching the subject with those involved - without making it appear that you're tight! Any bright suggestions (I suspect that, in most cases, they'd probably welcome the idea).

How's about a thread "most original Christmas present for a tenner"?

Baileys_Babe

What we do for christmas stockings is I buy for brother in law and he buys for me and my partner buys for my sister and she buys for him. We each have a maximum budget of £5. Last year I spent less than £1, lots of samples and freebies, but I had also put time in making bits and pieces, like a jar of lemon curd. Each adult also has a budget of £2.50 per child for stocking presents. The small budgets focus the mind but make it much more fun. We all sit round on one of the beds on christmas morning to open our stockings. (just thinking about it makes me smile)

f3lix

Been doing this over the last few years with Mrs, well £20 on each other, still cheap for Xmas. The challenge to get as many presents as possible and receipts to proove it - but still get something with a bit of thought. Its hard, but fun.

Susan_C_4

Hubby and I don't buy each other anything at all for Christmas or birthdays (except a nice card)!!!!

Most of our friends spend £100.00+ each on their other halves at Christmas
but we put this money we would have spent on each other other towards a cheap holiday to the Canaries in January each year (okay we have to add £200-£300 to the cost but keeping Christmas on a really low budget means we can have a cheap holiday in January instead). I know which option I prefer!

belfastgal

oh ...i cant wait till xmas ...i just love it.....love al the glitz ,lights ,parties decorations..wrappin the pressies...xmas morning then by 5pm im depressed cos its all over ( IN MY EYES ) Does anyone go xmas mad with their lights etc...i dont really but i love to see all the lights lit everywhere else

Sallys_Savings

I buy lots of chirstmas presents from car boots....just take a look how many brand new items wrapped/tagged items are around at the fraction of the original cost.
So you could save even more money lol...just buy something thats worth a tenner but cost you £2 lol.

My latest finds this weekend were;

a new leather travel jewellery case with a marks and spencers tag....it cost me £1.50 and the tag read £9.99

An early learning boxed new microscope.....cost me £1.50 but I'm unsure of the actual price but I'm presuming it would of been over £5 at least.

A scooby doo costume, new with tags (the lady said that someone had brought it for her son and was far too small and she kept forgetting to change it).......brought it for £3 and I have seen similar in shops for £10.99.

A box of toiltries and candles (about 14" x 10")....brought for £2....I'm unsure of original cost but looks lovely.

A large modern Ikea photo frame with eight compartments for photos (these weren't new as in wrapped but they were like new and I couldnt see any faults on them. I intend putting different photos I have taken of my dads dog in them for his present)....brought for £1.50 ....unaware of original cost.

A next address book and pen made from silver in box ......I brought it for £1 and the sticker on the reverse says £8.99 (think I'll leave that on lol)

A teddy in a clear box holding bath bombs.....cost me £1.50 and I remember seeing them in new look last year for £8.99 when i was looking for my daughters christmas presents.

Good luck

Contains_Mild_Peril

inkie wrote:

Here's a question - which do people spend the most on - a birthday prezzie for someone or a christmas prezzie. I would think that the birthday prezzie should take priority as thats personal to that person, wheras Christmas is for everyone's benefit. What do others think???

My hubby and I have an agreement that we get each other only a very small present (usually £2 or less) for Xmas and get our main pressies for our birthdays. His is in December, mine in January.

BertieMeldrew wrote:

How's about a thread "most original Christmas present for a tenner"?

It's perhaps a little early yet, but last year there was one for £5 or less gift ideas. Some were for really nice things you can't get in the shops, e.g. home-made confectionary and calendars made using family photos.

Janey51

I was just saying to my OH that I have presents in cupboards from 2 years ago that I have never even looked at. I love getting presents like everyone else but somehow never get round to using most of them!
This year we are making up themed baskets (saw the idea on another thread) and it will be a max spend of £20 per couple.