How much do you spend on Christmas?

BAGGY

We've decided to not buy each other presents siter to siter etc. I have spent about £50 on my two boys. Nothig so far on OH, dont buy for friends. Dinner for 18 will be about £100 perhaps more.

bossymoo

Is it me or is the op a troll? Why would you come onto a saving website and boast about excessive spending?

LalaGomay

I did wonder if it was a joke post. But it could just as easily be real. (No offence to the OP if it was genuine!)

krissymas

This year, we're spending little on family as we're budgeting for a wedding next year. Cheap, and cheerful, but quality and thoughtful.

Lots of homemade things, and online deals!

MrsDrink

bossymoo wrote: »

Is it me or is the op a troll? Why would you come onto a saving website and boast about excessive spending?

Perhaps in the same way you get a wide variety of budgets on the wedding forum. MSE is not about the poor. It's about getting value for money and making sure it's spent wisely regardless of your income.

We've spent:
On my parents & grandparents: £51.24
On my In Laws: £204.68
On one of my brothers & his family: £66.78
On my other brother and his family: £56.64
On my Sister In Law and her family: £70.23

I've spent: £101.96 on MrD
And he's got a budget of £100.
I've also bought us a gift from Santa: £9.92 (board game)

Total: £659.95 and we haven't noticed a single penny of it being taken out of our account. (It has been spread throughout the last 3-4 months).

This isn't including the food (normal but bigger roast); or the gathering we're having post Christmas of all of the above. Nor does it include the pamper hamper I've made for MrD and I to enjoy on Christmas Eve.
If you can afford it, need it, and it's not cheaper elsewhere, why not.

(The 'need it' part could be argued - but for me Christmas is about family, and I get so much enjoyment from finding the right gift for the right recipient to make them smile. That is my 'need'.)

p00

As all the children are married and in their thirties we have agreed a 'no pressie' time this year. I buy them something if I see it in the shops throughout the year and think 'oh Andy and Emma would like that' etc.

All the grandchildren get £20 (7 of them) as we buy them things all year if we see something for them that they need.

OH is allowed to spend £20 on me and I the same on him - token gift because its Christmas as we have things all year when we want them.

We all get together over the Christmas period and have lovely meals, play games, watch films.

No stress, no debts to pay afterwards.

Lovely time except for the TV repeats....

xxp00

VickyV

Hi,

We usually spend £920 on presents which sounds a lot when it's added up but it breaks down as:

£150 each for kids (2)
£150 each for me and OH (although this year £100 ea is going towards a weekend away!)
£25 each for parents
£20 each for brothers, sisters & Grandparents
between £15 and £20 for cousins (under 18's only) or their kids
£10 for 2 colleagues and my ex's mum

We have quite a big family!

I never give money as I know I can get better value than an 11 year old with £20 burning a hole in his pocket and like to make things like cakes, chocolate truffles, salted caramel sauce jars, etc for the older folks, which are included in the budget.

Most of all, I spend what I think is reasonable for me in my situation - we don't really go out at christmas and prefer to have family round but don't go in for the massive and costly Christmas dinner (us and the kids prefer to slob around in pjs and spend time together not cooking), so presents are my only real cost (as I keep the wine rack heaving at all times so the booze is already in!).

In all honesty, even if I had it, I wouldn't spend £600 or whatever on my 3 year old as he wouldn't appreciate it and that would pay for a weekend away for me & OH! But if you're happy and can afford it then fill yer boots!
x:D

LunaLady

My DD wanted 2 presents, I got one in a sale and the other with unwanted vouchers so I have spent £15 on her so far, plus £6 from the book club at work.

My eldest wanted a book which cost me £9 and a slanket £11 from Amazon. I have got him some Itunes vouchers too.

My middle one wants absolutely nothing so I have no idea what to buy him.

£20 each on stockings and £10 each on new pyjamas and the jobs done.

I am lucky my children are not big wanters, and I hate buying for the sake of buying. For me Christmas is about having fun together and being a family.

nancmat

I set budgets for all the people we buy for, just wondering though if you set a budget of say £20 for someone and manage to get gifts on deals so you've spent less to keep buying up to the £20 budget or not?

tinkermcjingles

Personally if I've budgetted £20 and manage to get it cheaper, I don't pad it out to £20. But thats just me!