Christmas.... just thinking...

sprite1508

i think im too generous for my own good, i only have 2 children to buy for (16 & 17) and close friends, usually around 20-40 for friends, and around 500 for the kids.......... no other family.

the kids are saving for driving lessons at the mo so iv said 300 each for their savings account, 100 on what i want to get them and the last 100 for them to spend in the sales.

might seem alot but i was brought up on nothing, have no debt and ample overtime at work - its xmas :-)

tink28

I wish I could spend more - but as you can see from my signature its just not possible at the moment! But £500 each for the kids?? Wow! haha I would've loved that as a kid.... I see where you're coming from tho.... I was brought up with the bare minimum... no birthday presents (still to this day actually) - and minimal at Xmas but it never seemed to bother me...

Tixy

tink28 wrote: »

I have 28 people to buy for - and am struggling to see how I'm going to do it - main reason is DH (and his family) have this thing where you've got to spend loads! Like £40 minimum per person.

(

tink - does OH agree that you need to cut back on spending etc? Have you talked to him about spending less? are his family aware that your finances might be tight or not stretch to expensive presents?

tink28 wrote: »

Thats without his mum, dad, sister, brother, brother in law x2, sis in law, nephew, 2 cousins that are coming from Italy

Then my 2 stepkids.... and their uncle from their mothers side.

Can you try combined presents for any couples to reduce the cost? so a combined present for his sister & BIL, and for his brother & SIL. How old is the nephew? in a lot of families if you are buying for kids you no longer buy for the parents of the kids - could you propose this?

Cousins from Italy - surely a token present is all thats needed if you are going to see them over the holiday time, not an expensive present?

glasgowsaver2011

1 My daughter (She lives with her mum)

I don't buy presents for anyone else, and certainly not OH - its commercialised rubbish

If I want to buy her a gift I will do so

I don't need a pagan festival to give me a excuse

mummybearx

My general rule is 'about £20 a person'

I have about 17 to buy for (can't find my list!!!). I usually buy my sisters pj's from Primark plus a smelly set from Boots (on 3 for 2), that normally works out at about £13-15 each

Dad and his girlfriend, about £25 each, normally perfume/aftershave etc

But, and this is a big BUT, I spend less if I can, and I don't feel a single bit guilty for it!

I spent a fortune on SIL last year, about £60 after she had a tough year. She spent £5 on me, but I loved mine as much as she loved hers! It's not how much you spend, it's what you spend it on!

x

antonic

£10 each, total spend £60.00

tink28

Tixy wrote: »

tink - does OH agree that you need to cut back on spending etc? Have you talked to him about spending less? are his family aware that your finances might be tight or not stretch to expensive presents?

He doesn't even know about my debt yet - but he will do tonight however, he still wont cut down..... his family are quite materialistic...


Can you try combined presents for any couples to reduce the cost? so a combined present for his sister & BIL, and for his brother & SIL. How old is the nephew? in a lot of families if you are buying for kids you no longer buy for the parents of the kids - could you propose this?

I could propose this for my family - but it wouldn't work with his... nephew is 5.

Cousins from Italy - surely a token present is all thats needed if you are going to see them over the holiday time, not an expensive present?

I was thinking of just getting them a joint present - not expensive... I barely even know them!

I used to love Xmas and was always such a big kid but the last 2 years have been rubbish... blurgh!

LAM2011

Cant you bake a whole batch of cookies and wrap them nicely - the visiting folks wont be wanting to fill their suitcases too much anyway

Seriously though, dont feel guilty - remember at the end of the day you need to be a bit 'me me me' or your debt will be bigger going into Jan 2012. I know because I had this problem last year and it was Jan that I had my LBM and I am not doing the same thing this year. Especially as christmas wizzes by and then you are left with the minus balance. Its all about family anyway so put a nice card saying how nice it is to see everyone at christmas and catch up? I am telling myself this year that instead of giving big presents I am giving my time to talk, listen and catch up with them.

Tixy

In that case I think you need to try tricks for paying less than something appears to be worth. So try places like amazon, tk maxx and places that have 3for2 like boots as someone said earlier. Then they may think you have spent more than you really did. Are there any you won't see until just after xmas - and you can try buying in the sales straight after xmas to save money?

Do you and OH keep finances seperate? can you not tell him he has to pay to sort out buying and paying for his family's presents and you'll sort out yours?

Good luck with discussing your debts with OH tonight, hope it goes well for you.

sprite1508

tink28 wrote: »

I wish I could spend more - but as you can see from my signature its just not possible at the moment! But £500 each for the kids?? Wow! haha I would've loved that as a kid.... I see where you're coming from tho.... I was brought up with the bare minimum... no birthday presents (still to this day actually) - and minimal at Xmas but it never seemed to bother me...

Hi Tink, yea i know it seems alot but iv actually cut back it used to be alot more than that, i left home at 14 with nothing and i just like to treat them - their great and could give me alot more grief than they do so good behaviour should be rewarded i think

if i had loads to buy for like the others on here maybe things would be different but there not

plus ya cant take it with ya :A