Xmas presents

poppasmurf_bewdley

A little while ago, I mentioned on this Forum about how people shouldn't be buying Xmas presents for other people when they are in financial difficulties.

It appears Martin is also of the same opinion.

A very interesting article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/9689707/Martin-Lewis-Its-time-to-ban-Christmas-presents.html

sistafromanothermista

Very interesting and so true. Our philosophy is to only buy for our kids, our parents and a token gift to a work colleague.

We don't buy for each other. What's the point when we've got this much debt?! when we are debt free we can have lots of expensive presents :T

ciderboy2009

My wife and I came to an agreement with my direct family a few years back that we would only buy each other 'token' presents with a maximum spend of £10.

I actually think it's more fun as it's so much more of a challenge to find something appropriate.

Aryndeneth

Think I might have mentioned this before so apologies if I'm repeating myself. As a family we also only buy presents for certain people, not every cousin, neice, nephew, second-aunt-twice-removed. For those we do buy presents for, we have a limit on how much we can spend on that person, normally a max of £20 (even that can soon add up in a largeish family) This means gifts often end up being much more thoughtful and creative rather than just slapping down a credit card for the latest expensive shiny bauble.

Fae

We stick to a budget and limit presents to immediate family only, the budget stops me from spending way to much, which I have done in previous years.

Fae

415SanFran

As a family of 9 brothers and sisters, my husbands family always had a secret santa.
So each adult only bought for one sibling rather than all nine.
They could have a "wish list" but it had to be sensible.
Worked well for them.

blisteringblue

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

A little while ago, I mentioned on this Forum about how people shouldn't be buying Xmas presents for other people when they are in financial difficulties.

It appears Martin is also of the same opinion.

A very interesting article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/9689707/Martin-Lewis-Its-time-to-ban-Christmas-presents.html

Read some of the comments though, The Telegraph readers aren't the biggest fans of our Martin :rotfl:

:money:

Giraffeseeker

Both me and my ex husband have very big families and it was always so expensive and stressful at Christmas as it fell to me to buy all the gifts and took all the fun out of it. He refused to suggest the "no adults" or "secret santa" idea with his siblings (but didn't buy the presents - I wonder why we are divorced!)

Now I buy:
- Secret Santa gift in family gift exchange (£20 limit)
- Gifts for my children
- Gifts for my partner (£50 limit most years) and token gifts for his kids
- Gifts for 2 nephews and one niece
- £10 secret santa gift for work

Still quite a long list but includes lots of siblings, parents, etc and makes me much less stressed.

Clubcard exchange coming in handy for some of them!

poppasmurf_bewdley

blisteringblue wrote: »

Read some of the comments though, The Telegraph readers aren't the biggest fans of our Martin :rotfl:

:money:

That's rich Tories for you!!!:D:D:D

JustinCredibleGillespie

It seems to be alot of Americans commenting on it.

JCG

xx

FireWyrm

We have a £10 max for inlaws and £30 for ourselves. I have more money for the children, but I've been saving all year. This year's pot is £700 which covers additional food, alcahol, decorations and anything else to do with Xmas inclusive of solid fuel. I used to use savings stamps from Morrisons years ago, but since I dont shop there any more, it's rather a moot point. Instead, I've had a DD go into a savings account each month since my lightbulb moment and this will be the first year in a long time that Christmas is well and truly covered.

We have also been busy making things and I have two demijohns of wine and one cask of beer on the brew right now ready to be bottled for home and presents. I have soap, creams, cleansers, bath bombs all ready for the ladies as well.

Christmas needn't be expensive and neither do I believe it should be ignored as a celebration and means to let off steam. I dont necessarily agree with the total austerity drive approach and I think it is important to let the breaks off now and again. Even if we only save £30 a month each month, thats still £360 for next year. Well worth it.