Who do you buy for and how much do you spend?

TimBear

toffeeapple wrote: »

Gosh I seem to spend a bit more than you lot. My kids are not spoilt at all, and do not get presents throughout the year. They want Nintendo 3Ds's this year. Please don't judge me, I only buy in cash and don't have any credit cards so don't go into debt. I am by no means rich, hubby and I just save all our yearly overtime pay to have lovely Christmas's.

I hope we haven't made you feel bad! No one's judging anyone, spend as much as you like and good on you for saving up for it!

If I'm honest, I'm just quite tight :rotfl:so I don't like to splash out of stuff in general.

TigerLilly1003

So far I have-

2 x Mischa Barton clutch purses for 2 best friends - 8 each! Bargain
Best friends OH - nivea set and terys orange =£2.30 thanks to glitchs
Best friends baby = bath toys, dvd and outfit. Again thanks to MSE = £13 for all
Dad = John Rocha Cardigan £36 and some deodrant = 40
Mum - Odd bits, Fleece, Power tool and elephant ornament (weird mix lol) = £45
Nan - Tissues, Toilet cleaner, bubble bath, hair spray, hand wash, washing up liquid and little decorative bits - all in a hamper = 12
Brother = socks, boxers and will be getting him a jacket =40
OH i always spend 150 on thats our limit. Not going to list what i have him as his beady eyes could be checking this post!!
Brothers girlfriend - £5 body shop set.

Because I dont have a big family i do like spending abit. I am saving for mortgage but luurrvvee christmas so much that i find it impossible to be to stingy with money! Where as birthdays etc I am lol.

shezam

Oh Dear! I haven't bought anything yet but started my list writing last night and its tough! Now me & OH are living together, our lists are combined. We have:

Mum - Slippers, cosy socks ............?
Dad - £50 voucher for meal ............?#
Brother - ?
OH's Mum - ?
OH's Dad - ?
OH's Bro - ?
OH's Sis - ?
OH's daughter - Sewin machine & crafts sets
OH's Nephew - ?
OH's Grandad - Diabetic chocolate, socks ........?
Friend couple with 2 kids
Friend couple with baby due 27th Dec
Best friend - Girl
2 Cousins - Girls.

OMG! My list looks massive, we have a budget of £300 for all but could probs go a bit higher than that. I'm shocked and a bit scared looking at this list! Best get started as soon as possible!

BlueSD

We have cut down on who we buy for and, as for others, don't bother with the adults when there are kids to buy for.

We've bought for:

DS and DD - £75 each
DH - will probably end up spending around £30-40
my Mum and her partner (??)
My Aunt and Uncle (£10-20 each)
Twin nephews (£5 each)
God-daughter and her brother (£5 each)
6 children of friends (£5 each)
2 nephews and 3 nieces in Canada (£5 each)
MIL & FIL in Canada (£10-15each)
my Gran
DH's Gran in Canada
Teachers

and that's it. Most are already bought, wrapped and ready to go as I bought a lot in the January sales at the beginning of the year!

Everything not already bought is planned for and I'm just trying to get it all for the best prices possible. Things like the TCO glitch has helped with teh teachers and enabled me to give a gift to the parents of the children we buy for at no real extra cost.

BlueSD

beanymagoo

My christmas shopping list is for......

my 4 children (3 of whom have their birthday in the same week as christmas :eek:) dont even ask how much as i am to scared to add it up
My husband £100
My mother and her partner £150
my dad and his wife £50
my mother and father in law £150
2 of my cousins children (used to get every one of my cousins presents for their children but this has been scaled down) £20 each
15 nieces and nephews (about £20 each)
2 auntys (£20 each)
brother (£50)
gifts for teachers, classroom assistants and office staff at school. as i have so many to buy here i like to pick up deals throughtout the year ie candles, perfume, boots gift sets etc so prob get £100 stuff for about £25
I also hand in tins of sweets or biscuits to a couple of my neighbours throughout the festive season at a cost of about £4 or £5 each.

eek, seeing that all written down i need to see where i should cut back :eek:

TimBear

Wow, some of you have so many to buy for!

I just can't justify buying presents for all my aunties, uncles, cousins, their children and grandchildren, along with everyone else. I wish I had a little more money to go around sometimes though!

I don't buy for all my friends but we do a secret santa so that we all get one little thing each and it's an extra excuse for a get together which is nice, and we usually set a limit of £5.00 for a gift each.

spicyprawn

Hi all

Last year was a really c$$p year for us, we only bought for our 2 dds. I felt so guilty that I could not afford to buy presents for anyone else yet they still bought for all of us Everyone understood thankfully and kept telling us not to worry. This year is going to be better! I am hand making most prezzies and hoping it will work out cheaper. All the other years I would spend about a fiver on each child and 10-15 on adults.

So people to buy/ make for this year

Our DDs
My mum and gf. Dad and gf. Sister and Bil.

OH mum and stepdad. Sister and bil and our nephew. Cousin who is only 6 and our auntie always buys for all of us.

Friends son and daughter who we see weekly.

TimBear

spicyprawn wrote: »

Hi all

Last year was a really c$$p year for us, we only bought for our 2 dds. I felt so guilty that I could not afford to buy presents for anyone else yet they still bought for all of us Everyone understood thankfully and kept telling us not to worry. This year is going to be better! I am hand making most prezzies and hoping it will work out cheaper. All the other years I would spend about a fiver on each child and 10-15 on adults.

A few years ago my dad was declared bankrupt and therefore couldn't buy anyone anything. He was so embarrassed he didn't want to see the extended family who he usually always spoiled, and who still bought for us.

We all had to point out to him that we loved him and didn't care that he didn't buy anything or the cost of any gift that he had managed to get.

Sounds like your family were as understanding. I think people put too much pressure on themselves sometimes.

spicyprawn

Thanks and is true what you say. I would be exactly the same with anyone else who just couldnt afford it

Savvybunny2009

We buy for 16 for both mine and OHs family, including our daughter. So far this year we have spent £180 actual cash (the rest was paid via vouchers earned) which includes all occasions like birthdays, Christmas, Mother's days etc. We have been very careful buying when there are sales and glitches, knowing what we want to buy so we ca find the best deal throughout the year and starting early has been the key. A bulk of that was for hubby's Christmas present, the money spent was earned through surveys, reviewing, panels, all sort really so these gifts were money neutral.

Everyone has presents they want, all new but most were bought in sales like the tesco recent 90% off, some in the boots 90% off, I have upcycled items to get gift vouchers too.

I don't think Christmas should cost the earth, or get people into debt or financial worries at all. Dd's Christmas outfit cost me £10 in the end for a £160 outfit (I must stress I would never pay the retail price but happy with the £10 I paid). What I'm trying to say is if you start early you can save alot of money, buying decorations, stockings, cards and wrapping paper in the sales alone will save a few pennies.

Also if you buy for extended family and the cost is getting too much, have the chat and tell them that you cant afford to buy for them and to just do the kids or leave it this year, chances are they are feeling the same. I'm sorry to hear some families are not so understanding, Christmas isn't al about the presents and sometimes even the nicest of people can forget sometimes