how do you pay for christmas?

weeclick

missindecisive wrote: »

So it seems the secret is with a little forward planning, perhaps I should be more organized earlier in the year. Think the sales is a good idea, and only buying for the children. How do people know what their children want though, so early on? mine seem to change their minds in a flash! I actuallt bought some presents for them in november, now theyve made a santa list with a whole load of other stuff on it....I can't keep up !

This is only my 3rd year of forward planning and its only because 3 years ago I found myself unemployed and finding better ways of getting around christmas without debt. Im still learning every year! I realised this year my OH asks for the same fragrance set and yet I always leave it to the last minute and pay top price so for next year Im going to buy ahead in the January sales and add to my christmas box which holds all the reduced paper, tags and cards etc.Im going to do this for the adults in the family too and hope to use the boots points Ive gained throughout the last few months of shopping.

As an idea to help cut costs for adults you buy for have you considered hampers? I make these every year for 8 adults and 2 kids (4 and 3) that way I buy the hampers in say September and can add a bit to it each week. Whats been really handy is offers in £land like 2 packets of cadbury cookies for £1 but only put one in each etc spreading the cost. I now have 6 hampers (adults get a larger hamper to share) full to bursting as well as the kids having their own and has cost £250 total and I know had I of bought an individual presents for everyone I would of spent more than £25 a head!

I also save tesco stamps every week I do my shop, I save £1 coins throughout the week and add them every Friday (this is something I literally only started a matter of weeks ago!) so far we have £20 which covers the most of the cost of christmas food shop plus little treats we wouldnt normally buy (according to our online basket we are sitting at £27) Ive also just joined christmas savings club in tesco so my vouchers throughout the year wont be sent quarterly but I will get them in November next year and they offer a top up service so that should really help for next year too!

Me and OH dont really buy ourselves much throughout the year, we dont go out much and our only "addiction" at the minute is weightloss so we have gym membership so dont drink or smoke and so some people think we are mad buying eachother so many gifts (Id say a budget of about £150 each although nothing set in stone) but people dont realise that we dont buy the latest novel when they come out, or perfume sets when we finish the last. We buy whatever shower gel is on offer that week throughout the year and so why shouldnt we indulge at christmas? Do whats right for you and your family, you know whats the right amount for you to spend at christmas and I hope you have a great one as youve obviously put alot of effort and money and time into it so you deserve to enjoy it! :j:j:j:j

weeclick

opps sorry for the long post, got carried away lol

quinechinoise

missindecisive wrote: »

How do people know what their children want though, so early on?

Ask them what they want. Wait till they've mentioned the same thing a great many times, so you can be certain that they are definitely interested in it. (A genuine interest is still there after a month; a passing interest will change within a few days.) After you've bought something, remind them from time to time about the thing they wanted (although, if it's a genuine interest, they will still be talking about it unprompted). If you have any concerns about losing interest in something, keep the receipts and make a note of when you can return items for a full refund. Closer to Christmas, some stores will issue gift receipts with a longer return/refund period.

Sambucus_Nigra

JKJ wrote: »

We have always saved for our camping holiday between january and August, then switch the saving to Christmas from September to December. We don't spend a fortune (no laptops or tv type gifts) and I always make a lot of gifts myself.

One thing we have always done is only bought small inexpensive gifts from Father Christmas for our kids, anything else we buy them they know comes from us. That way we have avoided the problem of kids wondering why Father Christmas was more generous to some children than others.

Sambucus Nigra I respect your right to make the stance of "telling it like it is", but you know people post on here for many reasons...help, advice, companionship, to name just a few. I doubt many of these posters are looking for judgemental waspishness, which beams out from every post I have ever read from you on any thread you post in on these forums. Be nice. It's Christmas

Oh bless. You are so right. It's so terribly mean to suggest that you don't have to spend 4 months money on one day's celebrations.

:T:T:T:T

missindecisive

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Oh bless. You are so right. It's so terribly mean to suggest that you don't have to spend 4 months money on one day's celebrations.

:T:T:T:T

Hope you don't mind me asking, but do you actually have any children ?????:rotfl:

Mrs-hoppy_2

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

I've not said it's worse or better than people who spend all year round. Both are as incomprehensible as the other.

Unless you are ridiculously religious then why are all these people spending all year or getting into debt for one single day's festivities?

Those of us that spend all year round, this is different to spending in one chunk and having to use credit to fund it - I don't go into debt at all. I don't see why both are as incomprehensible as each other.

I buy presents all year round as I see things I think my family will like rather than rushing out in Dec spending a lot - this often means I get big savings off the RRP and overall spend much less and broken up over several months rather than in one chunk, in the same way i buy bits and put them away For my childrens or family birthdays, upcoming wedding etc.

Personally I wouldnt get into debt for Xmas and dont use credit cards, and when we had less money people just got smaller token gifts and home made bits etc.

We are not religious at all, but I love this time of year for lots of time with my family, pretty lights up everywhere, yummy food and making it special for my children. Each to their own if you do not feel the same way.

Glad the OP has had some helpful tips for forward planning for next year hope all goes well.

aliasojo

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Suggesting that you don't jump for joy for getting into debt for one day's festivities is constructive. But I'm not here as part of a popularity contest and am not scared of telling it like it is.

Just as well.

I read your posts for bolstering purposes.

I'm not in a position to spend, spend, spend this year but I feel bad for those who are getting very little from us.

I keep telling myself it's *only* one day but it's really hard changing the habits of a lifetime.

The more posts I read berating the idea of spending loads of money (especially when you can't afford it and have to use credit), the better.

Sambucus_Nigra

aliasojo wrote: »

Just as well.

I read your posts for bolstering purposes.

I'm not in a position to spend, spend, spend this year but I feel bad for those who are getting very little from us.

I keep telling myself it's *only* one day but it's really hard changing the habits of a lifetime.

The more posts I read berating the idea of spending loads of money (especially when you can't afford it and have to use credit), the better.

It's one day AJ. It is possible to eat a normal meal, drink normal food, make a couple of phone calls and play some games and watch tv or go for a walk and still have a great day.

No kids died because they didn't have £200 spent on them.

chirpychick

I love Christmas and I do feel that it may only be "one day" to some but for us it's usually an entire month of happiness.
It isn't about the money, there are so many things to do over the month of December that don't cost a penny.

When it comes to presents I try to have a list of people and a price per person, total it up as well as the cost of stamps, a meal out, a take away and a new Christmas decoration or other treat we might like to participate in then I divide it by 12 and save it each month, but I also buy stuff in the sales.
This year has been the tightest year we have ever had but we have still managed to get enough together to have a stocking each and for our baby (who is yet to make his arrival!) and we have brought a small gift for family members. We have spent a maximum of £300 for EVERYTHING and it really doesn't look like much which makes me feel bad especially when someone like our friend has brought a £50 gift for our unborn son and we have spent £3.50 on a present for each of her 2 girls, but we have no choice but to live within our means and if people can't appreciate that what little we can give has taken thought then they aren't worth buying for.

lazer

emweaver wrote: »

Ok so it is going to take her 4 months to pay it off how is that any worse than people who start in Jan and spend 12 months buying presents?

It is worse, because you are not using your own money to buy presents, and you are paying interest on it.

I use a mixture between savings and current months wages - that said I do not spend £520 on christmas presents!

Current total - £195, RRP's - £520!

Still to buy - my in laws, and my dad!

This is presents for mine and my husbands family as well as my presents to him!