How much do you spend on Christmas?

victory

You can do xmas on a budget, all 342 or BOGOF, vouchers, discounts, coupons, amazon black friday,debenhams % off there is plenty of deals out there to keep the costs down and as for food buy bit by bit when it is reduced/yellow stickers/deals and start early, as far back as January boots 75% off:D

rachbc

Kids about £150-200 each
OH will be about £100-£150
£50 each on parents
£15-£25 on neices and BIL/SIL

MrsC....tobe

We pay for all our christmas gifts up front and never get into debt over it. OH gets gifted shares every year from his dad which he sells during the year if there's a big item he wants or something that we need, and some of them also gets used for christmas too.

This year the list for my side is:
Dad and step-dad are both getting a bottle of whisky each from the company I work for (£13 each instead of retail £33 each.
Mum and step-mum are getting a handbag each (but different!) that retails at £35 and I got them both brand new off ebay for a total of £12.
Brother and sisters (I have 5) don't get anymore, I buy for the kids of two of them instead
Nieces and nephews (6, next year there will be 7) get budgeted to £20 each and this year I was going to post cheques in their cards (normally don't do cards but had bought them all in preparation before dad decided to come up the weekend before xmas so bought presents instead and came in at between £15 and £20 each).
Grannies £20 each, this year I have spent about £24 each as I have gotten one a large canvas photo of her with her four children at a wedding this year (bought with a 40% off code) and the other is getting an Interflora plant basket delivered on xmas eve (10% off code and Quidco cashback) - she appreciates this kind of thing more than a gift which would end up in a raffle.
OH - About £400 buying him something that he was going to buy himself but I persuaded him not to get ANYTHING until after xmas!
A friend, her partner, and son, £20 in total (next year we will stop pressies).

OH list - mum a canvas photo of her with granddaughter (again 40% off code) and a voucher
Dad - money towards new walking boots that he has got for when his new hip is all healed

Kids - his kids but joint pressies - about £200 each on an ipod touch and other bits and pieces (we were lucky enough to have a JJB outlet store nearby when they went into administration and I got lots of stuff at complete bargain price!), he also does a joint Santa present with the ex aswell so about £350 each in total (which I know is too much but they're worth it!).

Two other kids pressie - £7 each on snuggle pillows and blankets from Pound Stretcher.

I think I know what I'm getting from OH and tbh it's something I don't particularly want or need, and he still wants to get me something else aswell.....I'm not impressed!

MrsC....tobe

Oops! Didn't realise the above post was so long - Sorry!

cats2012

I have just been reading some other threads on here and can I just say to some of the parents on here you do not need to spend so much on your kids!! I am honestly in shock!

I am now 25 and when I was growing up we had £50 (or similar in the early 90s) spent when we were small, moved to £100 when we started senior school and max £150 when we were teenagers (and naturally wanted more expensive gadgets).

This was more than enough and I never wanted for anything - in fact my parents seemed very generous compared to many, I know there is a lot of peer pressure these days but one tip my Mum had was to buy stuff we'd both like as we were 2girls 2 years apart so she could spend say £120 when we were 10 and 7 and have alot for it as we shared lots of the presents.

I know it's each to their own and I'm going back a few years...but I just wanted to reassure any parents worried about trying to spend £200+ on each child!!