What is your budget for Christmas 2012?

moneypuddle

Hello, I'm starting to think Christmas!

Got a baby on the way (Monday!) so will have to be a bit of a limited one for us this year as I'm on maternity pay now. I'm also meaning for presents only, rather than food etc as well, as we won't be spending Christmas at home so are most likely to just prepare a couple of deserts to take over to my parents house on the day.

My budget so far is set at £300, and I'm really hoping to get all presents covered for this.

£40 Mum
£40 Dad
£20 Brother
£80 Other half
£50 Little boy (he'll only be 10 wks old)
£20 Friend 1
£15 Friend 2
£10 Friend 3
£15 Friend 3's daughter

That totals £290 so I have allowed another £10 for Christmas cards.

I've saved £170 so far just putting £20 away for a few months, and have just bought my OH some tickets for his fave comedian for £37, so I've got £130 left in my xmas pot at the moment, with October and November paydays between now and xmas, so I'll need to set aside another £67 each month so I have the correct budget.

Is anyone else planning in the same way? Or actually started shopping yet?

Gillyx

Probably around £200 more.(from what iv already spent I mean)

I have a few bits to get for my son, and then OH, PIL, SIL x 2, BIL x 1 (but for them it's token bits so £10 each)

My dad and GF and my mum and then my friends little one.

Probably be tight for everyone but We'll have to manage

glitter_fairy

about £2000

cte1111

I've budgetted £400 but haven't broken it down between people.

Metranil_Vavin

I have to say I really wouldn't bother buying stuff for a 10 week old baby. He won't have a clue what's going on, and will in all honestly be more interested in the wrapping paper and sparkly lights!

Plus he'll no doubt get pressies from relatives. My DS was only 11 months old last Christmas so we didn't really buy him lots of stuff. he got a load of toys from his grandparents/uncles/aunties etc. this year he'll be almost 2 so I'm hoping he'll 'get it' a bit more, but I still think he's too young really.

moneypuddle

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

I have to say I really wouldn't bother buying stuff for a 10 week old baby. He won't have a clue what's going on, and will in all honestly be more interested in the wrapping paper and sparkly lights!

Plus he'll no doubt get pressies from relatives. My DS was only 11 months old last Christmas so we didn't really buy him lots of stuff. he got a load of toys from his grandparents/uncles/aunties etc. this year he'll be almost 2 so I'm hoping he'll 'get it' a bit more, but I still think he's too young really.

Oooh it'll only be things he 'needs' anyway, or toys for when he's much older, and maybe a xmas pudding outfit

WantToBeSE

About £600 for pressies, and £100 for food, £20 for decorations.

moneypuddle

glitter_fairy wrote: »

about £2000

Wow. Can I join your family?!? Do you have a lot of people to buy for, or do you just spend a lot of each person?

Metranil_Vavin

I have no idea how much we'll be spending.

I'm terrible and never budget, I reckon all in about £400ish.

My sister and I made an agreement some years ago that we wouldn't bother with presents for each other/ OH's etc as we are all hard up. We maybe get each other a nice bottle of wine and that's it. We just buy for each other's kids.

We normally go to my folks/in laws for Christmas day, so don't have to get loads of food in, but always take a contribution along/wine/champagne etc.

totallybored

Maybe I've turned into Scrooge but as the OP has just had a baby I'd not bother buying presents this year. She will be busy, have other things to do and as she has less money is it really necessary to buy presents?

If it were me I'd probably be blunt and tell people I couldn't afford it as I have other priorities with a new baby. I'd probably invite everyone round for a little Christmas tea party one afternoon instead which wouldn't cost much. Spending time with people who are important to you can be better than buying unwanted smellies from Boots etc.

browneyedbazzi

I've started doing a bit of shopping - four of us (all adults) are going away for christmas to a cottage so I've started putting together a hamper of things to occupy us while we're there (during the darks nights or any rainy days). I think as we're paying for the cottage rental and due to the travel involved we'll be fairly minimal on gifts.

I've never really set a per person budget but just try to find something thoughtful for each person for as reasonable a price as I can.

I'm due to start a new job and move house/area before christmas so I need to start getting organised now! I'm keeping my eye out for bargains especially for my family who live abroad as things will need to be shipped before long. Eeek!