So, how do YOU budget for Christmas?

cleggie

Hi all.
Not sure if i am going to get shot down in flames for mentioning Christmas 2012 already , but i am starting saving for it in Jan 2012.
Do you guys save a certain amount out of your budget every month/week towards Christmas?
I am thinking about saving all of my child benefit all year, so that when it gets to September 2012, i have the money to start buying, therfore being prepared.

So, how do YOU budget for Christmas (if you do)?

MandM90

I was thinking of doing the same with my CB but for birthdays and Christmas (if we're careful £1040 should be enough!) It comes into an old, pretty much unused account, so that is easy to keep separate.

We were thinking of writing a whole list of people to buy for and ideas/budgets - for Christmas and birthdays - then getting bits throughout the year as we see them. Last year we spent about £200 just on food for the day itself and more on alcohol, extravagant gifts etc., this year we were frugal and ate at my mums; next we're just going to get a couple of duck legs/breasts, some veg and make a nice sauce then feast on choccies etc in the evening. We're sick of waste and spending silly amounts for a load of food we then feel under pressure to eat.

minipenny_2

We pay a set amount each month into an isa then have it released in October into a separate account along with its interest to sort Christmas presents, wrap and cards etc.
Sometimes I've already bought the presents before October so I just pay back into the account I bought them from and I record every penny spent meticulously!
And then I start saving again from October into next years fund

pavlovs_dog

we save every month towards Christmas - it leaves our account via standing order on payday, so we don't miss it because it was like we never had the money to begin with IYSWIM. I'm also getting better at shopping in the post christmas sales (bought all cards and wrap for next year today) and picking up bargains throughout the year to help spread/minimise the cost

cleggie

Phew, glad you didnt shoot me down in flames MandM!
Yeah, next year i think i am going to scale right back on the food too. I didnt buy very much foos wise this year, but my sister gave us a massive hamper of homemade goodies so we have loads left! She said she is doing the same again next year, so i think i am only going to buy the bare minimum.

cleggie

For those of you who save a set amount every month- do you decide of a budget for Christmas and then divide that by 12 (months) and set that amount aside? Or do you just save a set amount every month and make that your Christmas budget at the end of the year?

Lynn11

I have a bank account set up for this and put £80 away from December-November. Transfer any money spent on presents before November from the bank account. Usually buy xmas cards, wrapping paper, tags and bows in the january sales and put into the loft.

If any money left over its goes into the savings account, as I usually do not spend all the money saved.

Martha-Lou

i only have 5 people to buy for so come september i take £20 out and them by december i have £80 for my budjet, this years budjet came in a £60

madvixen

I have a set amount per person but I tend to but presents throughout the year so that I don't have to have a mad shopping session in December. I used to work for a chocolate company and we were always so busy between Sept and Dec that if I didn't have my shopping done before the kids went back to school it didn't get done.
I buy all my wrapping paper and stocking fillers in the sales and make my cards during the year. I also set up a specific Amazon wish list with present idea's on them and use CamelCamel to track the prices so that when it gets to my budget price I can get them straight away. I was able to get the Lego Millenium Falcon for the OH this way and I only paid £80. I'm also a bit geeky and have a spreadsheet set up on the computer with the persons name on, what they're getting, a tick box for when it's purchased and a tick box for when it's wrapped :eek:

CupcakeLisa

i work out who i have to buy for - how much i want to spend on each add it up and divide it by 46 - i start in jan and like to do my shopping in november. it also means if you see a bargin during the year there is always money to get it

Frogletina

This year I budgeted for presents, but it all went on gifts other than Christmas so for 2012 I am going to budget separately for Christmas presents instead of raiding my savings and ruining my budget completely.

I still have some presents that seemed ok when I purchased them, but with no recipient in mind, I didn't give them away. Must start a list and buy some things throughout the year so that I don't end up like this year getting frantic in the two weeks before Christmas.