So, how do YOU budget for Christmas?

cleggie

madvixen wrote: »

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:

Thats a great idea! But wehat is CamelCamel? Am i right in thinking that when you make a wish list, if the price is reduced at anytime, they show you that when you log in?

madvixen

cleggie wrote: »

Thats a great idea! But wehat is CamelCamel? Am i right in thinking that when you make a wish list, if the price is reduced at anytime, they show you that when you log in?

Camelcamel is a price checker who email you when the price of an Amazon product reaches a certain price. For example, if you were after a certain lego product and it was currently at £60 you'd log onto camelcamel and enter the web page along with the amount you are willing to pay eg £40. They will then email/tweet you when the price drops to your price. They will also show you a graph with the items prices on for the last 6 months so you can see what the lowest price has been. It's a great wee site.

As for the wish list, yes it does. I added a book to my wish list last night and when I checked the site this morning I got the message

River Cottage Veg Every Day! (River Cottage Every Day)
by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Hardcover)
4.8 out of 5 stars (244)
Price dropped 10% (was £14.00 when added)

Hope that helps

cleggie

That sounds great madvixen, thanks for letting me know about it, i may use it for some jewellery for myself and my niece for next Christmas!

redmel1621

This year has been so rushed, panicked, last minute and damn stressful... that I am determined to be more organised for next year.

I am going to sit down and decide on a budget for next year (inc birthdays) and put a set amount away accordingly, if I spot any bargains through the year I will use the money in the seperate account to buy them with.

cleggie

Good luck Red mel, i might do birthdays too.

YORKSHIRELASS

I put £50 a month into a savings account by standing order then come Christmas I divide that up between the people I need to buy for. This year I also got £60 worth of presents with Tesco vouchers in their exchange scheme which helped. £50 is the most I can really save each month so thats my starting point for Christmas and my 2 kids birthdays.

I am not sure why but I didnt really set aside enough money for extra food this year. Maybe costs have gone up more than I thought. I used to buy Morrisons saving stamps and I might do that again for 2012.

monkeysallsayboo

I personally, put a set amount each week into a account which i opened specifically. its for birthdays and christmas, and also for easter, mothers day, etc. then i can spend from it at any point i want, but obviously only for gifts!

i also have a spreadsheet set out for who gets how much spent on them. so i work out how much i will save in 1 year. then i divvy it up between all the birthdays and xmas presents we need to buy.

I also set a small amount aside for decorations, as i always buy some. re food, i try to buy some bits like gravy, stuffing, things that can be frozen, each week from about sept ish. then come december i just need turkey and fresh veg!

hth x

jackomdj

I buy through the year, starting on Christmas eve! I have a list of everyone to buy for and how much I will spend. I then look for bargains that will be ok for that person. Wrap, cards etc are bought now for the following year.

cleggie

Thanks everyone for the replies, keep them coming!

YORKSHIRELASS- i used to do the morrisons saving stamps, so i will probably start doing them again. I used to get £2 a week, so i think i will start the same as from pay day (Jan 9th). My sister did a massive food hamper for us this year, which was chocca with homemade festive goodies, and said she will do the same next year. That means i dont need to go mad on the food next Christmas, so it may come in handy to have that money saved on the morrisons card to stock up on offers for my stockpile.

Monkeysallsayboo- good idea about setting aside some extra money for decorations, i hadnt thought if that! Every year we get a new decoration for our tree and a new decoration, so i will write that on my Christmas list for next year.

Jackomdj-good idea about buying wrap etc now for next year. Luckily i have loads of cards and gift tags and gift bags left over from this year and last year, so should only need to buy wrapping paper. Will have a look in town for the cheapest deal.

Mykidsmyworld27

I am a Christmas extremest so Iv been told:D.
I save vouchers with Parks everyweek cost around £7 a week and I get £350 love to shop vouchers early october.
I buy gifts for family and friends with the love to shop vouchers.
For my kids gifts I do surveys and write on review sites, I earn around £800 a year doing these sometimes more and takes up to an hour a night. I always get Amazon vouchers from the surveys and buy my kids gifts with these.
I set up an Amazon wish list for gifts and try purchase a few each month with the earnings.
I also from July onwards buy a few tins or boxes of extra food each week and store them in cardboard boxes to make my own family hamper for our household. I get the kids and husband to unpack it around 20th dec always a huge stash of food and goodies.
At the most my xmas outgoings cost £15 a week.... and my xmas shopping is done by end of october. Each year christmas has been luxurious and its worth the effort to see everyone happy job done .