10 week Christmas countdown!

CandyCupcake

Payday for me tomorrow! I've worked out I should be able to buy all of my Christmas presents apart from one which won't be available until later on in the year anyway.

Can't wait to get it all done I know what I am getting everyone already which is a better start than most years!

Candy

NewLeaf_2

I usually way over spend on christmas but no more. I have been saving up stuff that I have won from comps I entered throughout the year and already have lots of stuff. My mom and OH and MIL are the tricky ones x

citizenkitten

OH PLEASE ME IN!

this is my area of true weakness, i love to spoil people i love but i am determined to stay within budget this year. plus christmas plays on my ultimate love of food.... so i have been known to spend £200 on christmas celebration food for just me and my OH !

first step me and OH have set each other a budget of £50.

gien

Great team we're getting together here!

Welcome Citizenkitten and amr547, good to have you on the fit and frugal christmas express.
What exams have you been taking amr? Chocolate's very good for your brain I hear, just a shame it's si calorific.

I know how you mean Citizenkitten about loving to spoil people but ic it ends up getting out of control it hurts us.
The past few years I've ended up getting gifts because I 'have to' so this year my DH and have agreed no presents. That said, if I seee something I know he'll love I'll sneek it in!

Tomorrow I have a trip up to a local-ish big city to see what it's like. Not needing to buy anything except a birthday pressie for an 8 year old boy. Will have to takd the dog out early so I might even find myself jogging at 7am - brrrrrr!

wannabee_in_credit

Hey again,
No particular slimming goal for me, just to weigh less than I do at the moment. I'd love to lose a stone but just sticking to the diet will be good enough for me at the moment. One day at a time eh?
Present wise, I've set strict budgets and am doing lots of home made stuff. Flavoured vodkas, Christmas puddings, snowman soup, knitted scarves etc. Not that I have the time but I'm really enjoying the challenge of getting as much as I can out of as little cash as possible.

ReadytoRoll

Thanks for starting this, gien! I'm in the same situation as far as Christmas is concerned. I need to start planning now. I'm going to subscribe to this thread and start my own success story. Is it okay for someone in the U.S. to join in?

HeadAboveWater

wannabee_in_credit wrote: »

No particular slimming goal for me, just to weigh less than I do at the moment. I'd love to lose a stone but just sticking to the diet will be good enough for me at the moment. One day at a time eh?

Hello!! :wave:

Never diet is what I say!!

Best tip worked for me is to keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat and drink every day, including the time. At then end of the week, have a read through it, or better still, get a good, honest friend to read through. And allow them to be critical. Sometimes other people can see things you can't!

I joined a weight management class and I remember the first time I kept a diary. Thought I did ok with my fruit and veg intake. But no. A big fat no actually! Instead of 5 portions a day, I managed 8 in a week!!!! :eek: Also aimed to up my water intake too which I managed after a few weeks

I changed my eating habits. I never weighed portions. I never counted calories or points. Nothing as 'complicated' as all that. Just simple things like switching crisps/chocolate/biscuit for fruit/yoghurt /nuts/seeds and things like that.

And never deprive yourself either - you'll only crave it all the more!!

Good luck

citizenkitten

well i tend to spend around £2000 on christmas which is above my monthly wage...:o

in a year i reckon i spend around £4000 on presents......:o:o:o

so yeah this is a biggie for me........

I am writing down everyone I have to get presents for and budgeting them all, i am going to start ebaying from Nov and get them presents from there as shops just suck me in.

i am going to set asisde some money for the random things you can never think of. (last minute milk for yorkie puds, bacon for pigs in blankets etc)

I am then going to write a food/needs list for christmas and try and get it realistic and set a budget. I am sure it will all come to more than I think, but first year so bound to be mistakes.

HeadAboveWater

Wow that's loads!! That's 2 months wages for me if I was spending that amount!!

I'm hoping to stick between £250-£300 ish for crimbo presents!!

citizenkitten

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Wow that's loads!! That's 2 months wages for me if I was spending that amount!!

I'm hoping to stick between £250-£300 ish for crimbo presents!!

yeah i am not proud of it, there are many areas i can cut back but some will never change.

my sisters and I grew up with no generosity in our family and we all make the effort to spoil each other. we have no mum or dad so for us, it is really important to give each other presents. although some would say that you dont need to spend that much to do that, the emotional ties that link it are very important to me and i would rather get a second job than not spoil them. my situation is exceptional and so i get everyone elses will be far different.

I am going to use your £250-300 ish budget for everyone else excluding my sisters and my OH.