Sorry to mention the C word but how much..

ms_london

do you budget for Christmas?

Sorry to mention the C word so early on in the year, but if Tesco's can start selling selection boxes this early, I can talk about it

I just wondered how much you budget for Christmas? Being a single person with no children I appreciate I have different circumstances, but I find it scary that people seem to go completely OTT for the sake of ONE DAY, and then spend the next year paying it off. Why?? It's not as though Christmas is a surprise each year, it falls on the same day.

I also know there are lots of super organised people who have present boxes and buy throughout the year. Just curious really as it seems to cause a lot of stress which I think in a lot of cases can be avoided??!

Granted, if I had little ms_londons looking up at me with pleading eyes asking for this that and the other I might feel differently.... I do celebrate Christmas and buy presents for people by the way, not a complete scrooge. :rotfl:

Gemmzie

Hey ms_london, haven't seen you around for ages!

As a family of four, we saved £10 a month for food and then used Tesco vouchers for RAC cover and paid the equivilant each (£33 each) so about £250 for extra food / drink. But then we don't have family over or go anywhere so that covers NYE drinking for my parents too.

This year, OH and I are hoping everyone else will feed us :rotfl: but we've saved about £250 between us for Christmas - big families! So hopefully that will cover everything!

bottleofred

Hi ms london,

My parents normally come to us, so including them and OH, the shopping normally comes to around £100 (although this normally does until NYE), £75-£80 at the Butchers and maybe £30 for Alcohol. I normally start saving in the christmas club for the butchers and pay 20 per month into that so no big shocks. For presents, I've nearly finished my shopping, but would guess I've spent about £250-£300 in total by the time I've done. I think anyone who's single should go to parents/friends etc for christmas lunch and you'll save a pile of money that way.

sofababe

I have 2 children, well hardly children anymore 23 and 21, and 3 grandchildren (2 are step GC) and I pay into Park all year and get £315 in November. This covers a pressie each (£30ish) for the GC something for DS, DD & SiL, and b'days for DS, DD (both Nov), and GS (5th Jan). Plus u can use the Park card in Iceland so I get a lot of my Xmas food as well.
I am self employed and usually work drops off slightly over Xmas/New Year so I have a freezer full of food and no worries.

We decided long ago in our family that we would only buy for the children. My brothers don't have kids.

I cannot understand the buying frenzy at Xmas time. I imagine that some children are incredibly spoilt moneywise by parents that can ill afford it:(

It really is just one day and also only a roast dinner, so why people feel the need to max out CCs on food that will go off/ in the bin/ in the pantry till next year, I don't understand.

In our family Xmas is a time for having a few days off work, relaxing with the kids and enjoying the precious time while they are still small enough to believe in Santa:D

PerfectPeaches

Hi Ms London

Christmas is normally quite an expense for me as I have a large immediate family (thanks to being Italian!) but this year as my daughter is due beginning of Nov I have actually said that I won't be buying for everyone, generally I won't be buying for cousin's boyfriends or girlfriends but will make sure I buy for my parents, nieces (2) and nephew (1) and my young cousin (18 months).

I have though been saving my vouchers from doing surveys for Christmas this year which is going to make it far more feesible too!

Fortunately, I will be going to my aunts for christmas dinner (traditional) and then my parents for boxing day and then to my OH's parents for a few days so I won't have to worry about food just my daughter's!

I'm finding that EBay for books is doing me well so far as if you play it right it can be far cheaper on there than in a store even with P&P.

Peaches x

Nottoobadyet

Personally, I try to take a holiday to any part of the world that doesnt do Christmas . So quite a lot really!

I make lots of presents and don't buy for many people, so I'd say £100 should cover me for everyone.

cobblers_boy

:)Not saved anything yet. However we have told people we are not buying presents as we have done before. We generally take some of the family members out for a meal away from the C peak time and that is their present. Don't spend a huge amount more on food and drink at C as tend to get any additional items in the 3 months running up to it to even out the cost.

As for the day itself does not cost that much as OH is working again this year. She will not be back until after 7pm following 12 hour shift. Coupled with working CE, BD, NYE and NYD (copped a bad shift this year!) helps to keep the spending down and the overtime payments up for working on Bank Holidays.

Still sure I will be able to watch a rerun of something on UK Gold.

Enjoy your day

CB

Geebee

Hi Ms London, I dont personally celebrate Christmas, (not because i'm a scrooge, but on spiritual grounds) but i have a son that does!. I do buy him presents at Christmas but not too much, he gets plenty all year round. I dont see the point in spending tons of money one day of the year. We have well over 300 more days to let people know we care and if it takes an expensive gift to do that, we need to examine the way we treat people.

I certainly wouldnt be paying for anything on a credit card that will be gone long before the statement comes in!. If I want something i save for it, if not, i do without. I'm in total agreement with you, it scares me silly that people will saddle themselves with all that debt just to have the latest stuff, but i also understand the pleading eyes of a child!.

GB

digitalphase

Gosh we don't spend much extra. Obviously presents all round, but I only have my OH and mum to buy for. OH buys all his family presents. We say they are from both of us, as they are.

Hopefully we'll get an invite over his parents for Xmas this year. We had a cheapo Xmas on our own last year, which was nice actually. Spent about £12 on a turkey crown I think, everything else as normal. My mum, bless her, saves us the Xmas saving stamps that Tesco do, so we get £50 towards any alcohol/chocolate/biscuits etc.

However this year I am pregnant, so I won't be drinking this Xmas or NYE! Next year we will have to reassess as we will hopefully have a little baby, though I don't suppose even then we'll be spending that much more. We'll get baby something, but hopefully grandparents will be getting some bits too

Buffythedebtslayer

I put away £500 for Christmas, I don't spend it all but because I vist family and friends and take gifts I like to know I have enough.

I also use Morrisions stickers, nectar cards, survey points etc to get some gifts.

I do spend a lot of money but it is my favourite time of year so what the hell!

elfen

I spent roughtly £10-15 on presents for my 4 sisters, eldest's wife and other sister's partner. Usually £20-30 on my mum and dad and £10-15 on my niece, and I'll buy them over the next few months.