how do you pay for christmas?

sisbod

melanzana wrote: »

Buying presents for those over 18 or 21 is daft in this day and age.

I stress that is just my opinion. Those of that age couldn't care less, as long as they can escape the clutches of the family for a gig or a night out over Chrimbo.

Eaten bread is soon forgotten.

The important thing is to be with those you want to be with. Send a card, a text, a FB message or whatever, but this present buying carp is unbelievable. Mostly is forgotten next day, or recycled for someone else.

Krist Kindle (secret Santa) Is hilarious amongst family and gets everyone laughing, and the little inexpensive gifts have to reflect whom you are buying for.

Would agree with you but ... each of my children are grown up and have their own families - they are all child focussed and will forfeit personal gifts to the benefit of their children and the GC's gifts are by no means luxurious. I find Christmas is an ideal opportunity to think about how you can help without appearing critical! For example buying pj's and toiletries allows them a luxury that they forgo eg dressing gowns are in their eyes a luxury but it saves the heating and seeing them on Christmas morning in old tshirts and leggings ( I have many a photo to prove my point!)

So I suppose what I am saying is... that ok it is just for one day but
1) it allows you to give something practical or beautiful that is outside the day to day and
2) allows you to reflect and celebrate your own family never mind the religious issues.
3) It also makes you think in a positive way about the individual rather than as x, y or Z's partner.
4) And if you begrudge it then you are giving for the wrong reasons

I love having the opportunity to enjoy their pleasure and I really do prefer it when they dont give me an expensive pressie just a small photo or a pot of something tasty or an invite to dinner suits me!

Also back to OP's point how to pay - used to have a wonderful landlord who would let me divide a years rent into 11 months and then have the November off! this would let me be all ready for Christmas without running round a couple o days before Christmas for the presents and just had to get the food. Really focused the mind on being organised! I miss him!

Lunar_Eclipse

LadyCoupon wrote: »

to put a bit on a card.

For anyone who needs to go into debt to buy Xmas presents, £500 can never be considered just a bit. It might be 'just a bit' to the top 1% or so of income earners (most of whom won't go into debt for Xmas) but to everyone else, that is a huge amount of money if you don't have any of it.

I buy cards, tags and paper in the January sales and gifts throughout November and December. I spend nowhere near £500 on Christmas gifts though ... and am religious.

I think you also mentioned your kids not appreciating homemade gifts. I find that incredibly sad, although I suspect it is also not really the whole truth. I am making several Christmas gifts this year, from Xmas pudding vodka for adults who love vodka, a holiday photobook and a very modern artwork similar to those some people pay a small fortune for on Etsy or Not On The High Street that are so easy to make at home. Both my girls would also love some homemade jam, especially if it came with a packet of readymade shortcrust pastry to make some Christmas jam tarts! If they didn't appreciate anything that didn't have to be bought at a shop, I'd be doing some serious evaluation of my parenting!;)

Lunar_Eclipse

jtr2803 wrote: »

I couldn't do that because to me, that's buying someone a gift for the sake of buying a gift. How on earth could I know 11 months in advance what someone is going to want?

Well unless you ask everyone you buy gifts for (I don't), in a way you never know that. I buy gifts that I think the recipients will like, need and/or find useful, depending on the circumstances. Christmas is therefore no different to birthdays or other special occasions.

I don't buy generic gifts, particularly not on sale, with the exception of token items for the kids' friends or things I would gift anyway, such as expensive candles and chocolates. I wouldn't let sales totally dictate my gift giving; I always start with the individual in mind and think of a few ideas for everyone, before shopping. A bit like menu planning before grocery shopping!

I actually don't ask anyone what they want and it's a culture that works well in our home. I find the whole 'give the kids an Argos catalogue to write a wish list' (which some of my friends do) totally repulsive and it goes against what the festive season is about, to me.

I'm fortunate that I find most gift shopping very easy. I'm fairly creative, observant and thoughtful so have a bit of a knack at buying good presents. However, if I didn't, there are workarounds.

thunderbird

I use Nectar points, Tesco deals, Boots points, any other vouchers that come my way.
The lovely people who post on the Grabbits board save me £££££

Only ever buy what I can afford - only use credit card to get loyalty points, it is always paid off in full at the end of the month.

I personally think that children need to be financially aware and parents should set a good example of living within your means, rather than getting into debt

msgigglewick

total spent :£437 rrp £1261

I started on boxing day last year. grabbed bargains as and when, saved vouchers, sold items so one cancelled out another etc oh and got an unexpected tax rebate too or it would have been alot less than this too. ... This is for 10 children, 10 adults.

I shall be as bargain savvy next year too as hopefully will be the last year paying of dh's debts from his previous marriage.

DancingBears

It's unfortunate that nowadays there is so much pressure to buy every new £400 gadget that comes out. I try to be clever about it and buy affordable cool gifts, one £250 games console can buy 5-10 cool original gifts, have a look at children's gift idea websites, one of my favorites is one called Kids Go Whoa.

karren

save monthly for christmas as we have main bank account then splinter accounts off it so we have
christmas savings
uniform and school costs
car costs
holiday account

this system works for us, ok we dont save a lot but they are there and a godsend as can budget

bought the wrapping paper in the play resource centre its a recycling centre and bought a big roll of silver paper for £4 and its lasted years

christmas cards were bought in sale for 20p years ago so bought about 8 packs so sorted for years and embelish with bits and bobs like glitter and buttons

and pick up stuff as i go ie primark sales are brilliant as i bought loads last year and they have done birthdays etc as i go

poundland is good as i make up hampers and home bargains is cheap enough to make a massive hamper for say £10
ive made an indian cooking one, which has balti dishes and silver trays, an easy indian cookbook
spices and bag of rice so all in all a massive hamper