Christmas.... just thinking...

jayss

My sister, parents and I have gone in together to do most the family gifts this year, usually just my sister and I combine. Its nice to have been able to spread out the shopping too.

Poundland is my friend - they have some great books and cds this year, and have filled cheap pint glasses with their wrapped sweets, looks pretty and dosent cost a lot.

raven83

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...

i dont know about that.....seems you made up for it in HP!;)

thrifty-gal26

I have given myself £500 to spend ( saved up through the year ) which is about half of what I would spend normally. So far have spent:

Mom - £30
Dad - £30
MIL - £20
FIL - £20
Sister + BIL - £40
Niece - £15
Auntie - £15
Friends ( x 6 ) - £50
= 220

Going to spend £100 on DSS and the rest on food an drink as on boxing day got MIL + FIL for brunch and then Sister, BIL, Mom and Dad on night for buffet type deal.

Me and OH are not buying anything for each other this year.

raven83

3 kids, about £150 each ish
OH £20
MIL & FIL £35 combined
Sister 1 - about £5-£10
Sister 2- am making her a hamper this year as she has had a tough year i wanted to spend a bit more so £20
Niece and nephew about £10 ish
3 school teachers about a fiver each, mug couple sahets of hot choco some HM choco slabs and a yankee melt thing.
Best friend 1 and children we get each other something homemade still not decided yet though bout probably about £20 between them.
Best friend 2 i am going to do her a mug and a few other bits in as she too is having a bit of a bad time and want to give her something to cheer her up!
Think thats it! Oh and my girls get their friends a little gift each too this year though we are making homemade slab of chocolate and going to decorate it and put their names on it

Badger_Lady

I buy for the people I'm going to see on the day. This year I'm going to my Aunt's house so it'll be:

Aunt: £5
Uncle: £5
Cousin: £10
Cousine: £10
Cousine's son: £10
Cousine's OH: £5
Nanny: £5
Grandad: £5

I then also buy something for:
Mum: £50
Dad: £50
Sister: £50
... although these are not hard and fast - sometimes we don't get each other things, or only small things, other times we splash out - it's all about what's suitable at the time and there's no worrying about whether we've all spent the same amount

nomobel

I have been preparing photo calendars (with birthdays) as personalised Christmas gifts for the family, they vary £10 to £25.

TimBear

See here....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3557935

raven83

Yeah i do the MIL a photo calender every year of the grandkids and she loves it, she asks every year for one, im surprised she's not bored stiff of them

Slowdown

tink28 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...


How would it be if you went for charity donations for this somewhat materialistic family? You could buy a gift for a third world family such as a chicken or an injection ( around £15) or you could make a regular donationof say £2 a month for a year on their behalf to save the children or wateraid.

Sometimes people need to be reminded that Christmas is about giving and not just recieving. It would cost you considerably less and they would find it very difficult to criticise a selfless act.

Kind regards
Slowdown:)

sharronej

Have you looked on the Christmas hampers board? The idea is to make up a personalised hamper and if you have a look at them you'll see they are beautiful.

I'm having a go at one for my mother and father in law this year.

I have bought 30 presents......£800 between four children, £10 -£15 for 7 nephews and nieces, £60 for m & f in law, £100 for childminding children, £20 agreed price for dh, £40 for my life saving neighbour. I did however save all this up before hand and also save for our Boxing Day party and other socialising.....this is the first year I've been this successful though and that's thanks to the MSEr's.

Gifts are supposed to be given with good will and love not out of a ridiculous notion of giving a better present than the others! I think your dh's family are missing the point! I certainly wouldn't be forced into feeling that you need to 'keep up with the Jones' If you don't see that much of them then it doesn't matter if they don't like you gift have a look at the Christmas boards

Good luck
x