Christmas.... just thinking...

quantic

Budget:

- 2x Niece @ £20 each
- Nephew @ £20
- Sister @ £20
- 2 x Brother in Law £20 each
- Sister in Law @ £20
- Mam & Dad £30 each
- Mam & Dad in Law @ £30 each
- 5 Friends @ £15 each
- Me and Wifey @ £150 each

£650 split between the 2 of us.

Badger_Lady

I'm not going to see my 'main' family this year... Christmas is hosted by my Dad's sister and is the big family event that one might expect. However, in my absence they have decided that this year will not be expensive in the least. They're doing it all as 'homemade' as possible.

So everyone will be getting:
- A baked good from my Aunt
- A painting from my Gran
- An embroidered cushion from my Mum
- Some home brewed wine from my Cousin
- A box of cherry liqueurs from my other Cousin

... it should be a really sweet, special Christmas, with everyone getting to indulge in their hobbies instead of raiding their bank accounts

Of course this is very much something that should be arranged en mass - rather than dictating "I'm not buying anything", it has to be "shall we all just not buy anything?".

tink28

Thats such a good idea - I would love not to spend much and actually just make stuff... my family would appreciate it but the inlaws wouldnt..... hmmmm maybe I should just do it anyway :rotfl:

gollygosh

For adults we pull a name out of a hat and spend £25 (so thats £50 per couple) and kids get £20 from each adult couple so another £40 then I spend approx £400 on my kids and £50 on husband so that's £540.
I save £60 p/m towards this which pays for food and a very small sherry on new years eve;) anything left over goes into the holiday savings pot.

GemmaB1

I have spent £130 on our 6 year old girly
£60 on our 11 month old son,
£30 mum and step dad
£25 mil
£30 sil and bil
£25 on gran
£40 on friends children
£10 on 2 new babies in the family this year (we only buy family babies first xmas and birthdays)
£8 on teacher
£50 on hubby's advisors (10 in all @ £5 each)
£5 on lollipop man
= £513 I think if I done that in my head right!
Hubby and I don't get each other xmas presents, and as my birthday is next week I give him £10 to go crazy with so my girly has something to give me on my birthday, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't bother. I've actually asked the rest of my family (mum, sister, gran, mil, sil) to give the cash to my sister who will put it towards my debt. Can't wait to see little mans face on xmas morning when he opens his box full of balloons!

topsyhenri

I buy for;

2 kids - about £100 each, including stockings and main presents
OH - about £100, including stocking and main presents
brother & SIL - £3
2 newphews - £3
Best friend & partner -£4
her 3 children - £5
Step-Mum - £2
Mum and Step-Dad - £5
Aunt, Uncle and Cousin - £0 - left-over gift sets from last year!
God-Daughter - £1
Birth Mum and Stepbrother -£3
Birth Grandmother - £3
Birth Aunt & Uncle - £3

So, £300 on close family, and £32 on the rest.. They all live miles away so presents get posted, and I will have to factor p&p into the total cost. Probably approximately £25 in postage, so £57 in total on family.

And as someone else has said..Poundland is my friend! I started shopping in June so have been picking bits up since then.

Poundland and eBay have also been brilliant for kids (16 & 14) and OH's stocking and main presents. Don't think I've actually bought anything from a "normal" shop at all for christmas presents this year.

digitalphase

Not got too many to buy for. My mum, OH, his parents, his sister, her husband and two kids, and our baby.
About £30 on OH and Mum each, and £50 together on baby, then OH buys his family's stuff. Though I have bought a couple of bits for them this year myself. It works out well as OH earns more money anyway, and we always put it from us... with the addition of bubs this year!

I'm going to make a few bits as well, so may save a little.

jaffacakegal

I will be buying 13 this year hoping to spend no more that £200 total:

Best friend: £50

Mum, Dad, 3 siblings: £15 each

G/dad, 2 cousins and 2 sisters boyfs: £10 each

Baby (2nd cousin but you got to treat the little uns!): £15

Secret Santa: £10 budget


I spend more on my best friend as I know she will always appreciate what I get her (and usually it includeds an outing for the two of us ) can't say the same for my family unfortunately

Trying to get below this though and going to buy the utensils to spend my Christmas Eve making biscuits!

Hillbilly1

I do:-
Dad and wife £20 each
Nephews £25 each
OH about £50
Food and drinks about £100 as we enjoy alot of nice time at home over the holidays.
I usually have a few Boots 342 spare for 2 friends I might see over the time - if we don;t see each other we go for dinner in Jan which is nicer!

I also have brothers birthday on 20th Dec and buy him and SIL a small xmas gift. They only ask for stuff for the boys but I like to get some nice chocolates for about £10.

OH buys for his side and I buy for mine! I try and guide his buying, but leave it to him. His mother can be a bit cruel to me for this. . . they also have 2 birthdays on late nov, one in Dec and one early Jan so it is alot.