The financial nightmare that is christmas...

Gra76

Up until last year we bought for every member of the family and extended family. It cost a fortune and some of the extended family don't have a lot of cash so we decided between all of us this year that we'll only buy for the kids. That should save all of us quite a bit of money and it means those of us who can afford to spend a bit more can spend it on the kids.

aileth

On my side we've agreed £20 a head, which IMO you can get something really nice and thoughtful for. I always think if you're restricted quite tight, you're more likely to make an extra effort to get a nicer gift.

As for the in-laws, we are going on holiday at the start of december and getting them presents from abroad. They can't judge how tight or cheap we've been if they have no idea how much something costs because it's foreign

lallysmum

The very thought of it this year fills me with horror. I have a large family, only 2 children myself, but 3 brothers with 3 children each, another brother and gf and a little,13, year old sister. And then two sets of parents, friends with children, school teachers, care home staff, etc etc etc. it's also my sons birthday on 22nd, so December is a very expensive month.

This year, I just can't cope with it all, so have emailed everyone and asked them to please not buy us presents, we won't be buying any for anyone, and instead ds and I (dd is grown up and will be spending Christmas with dad) are spending a fraction of the money we would usually have spent and are going to Disneyland Paris for 5 days. He gets a birthday extravaganza there, all cake and characters, and I get to come home with a fairly healthy bank balance and no stress. I can't wait.

Ds is 6 and ASD, so has no real use for presents - if I wanted to, I could rewrap most of the stuff he got last year and give it to him again, it's never been played with.

jellyhead

Janepig wrote: »

DS had Skylanders for the PS3 last Christmas and he's still stuck with the three figures that came with the game as I haven't bought him any others and although he's got a wodge of cash squirrelled away he absolutely refuses to spend it, so although he could buy some new figures, he won't. Every pound's a prisoner! He's asked for Skylanders Swapforce this year - are they okay to use with the original Skylanders game? I've no idea. Or do I have to buy a new upadated game?

He's asked for hexbugs as well, and also the ones that go in the water (are they hexbugs too?). I haven't looked into them yet so I'm not sure what to get. I'm so disorganised this year!!

Jx

I think you need the new game, but I'll check with my husband - I don't understand gaming

The hexbug fish is called aquabot. I think they come with or without a fishbowl. There's another type called robofish which has better reviews. I saw people discussing the two on here recently, and people said hexbugs stick together if you put them in the same tank, but on the advert they showed several in a tank.

They are 2 for £15 in argos, and they have a 2-pack without the bowl for £9.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1377543.htm

jellyhead

aileth wrote: »

On my side we've agreed £20 a head, which IMO you can get something really nice and thoughtful for. I always think if you're restricted quite tight, you're more likely to make an extra effort to get a nicer gift.

As for the in-laws, we are going on holiday at the start of december and getting them presents from abroad. They can't judge how tight or cheap we've been if they have no idea how much something costs because it's foreign

I don't see £20 as a tight budget, I'm REALLY tight :eek: with more than 30 people to buy for that would cost me £600 without even starting on this household.

I would spend £20 on parents or nephews/neices, but not on extended family.

ostrichnomore_2

One thing I did was to stop buying gifts for nieces/nephews once they reached the age of 16. Yes, that did mean that sometimes younger ones in a family got a gift while older ones didn't, but they all got their 16 prezzies in their lifetime so it was fair really. Never had any complaints.

When I'm hard up, couples get a single 'joint' gift rather than one each, which cuts cost by half.

Kids - don't feel guilt-tripped into spending more than you can afford. Simpler, cheaper gifts ARE just as much fun when they are little, and older ones should be taught a little bit about finances so they understand that they can't have that big new games console this year, and that life isn't a competition to see who gets the most 'stuff'. Materialistic kids (and adults) are vile, and it's all down to the parents raising them badly.

Second-hand is also an option for those very expensive wants. My son had a second hand bike one year - all he was was he got a bike! Great! He also had a couple of second hand games consoles, and my ex-stepsons did one year, and all they thought about was how quickly can they turn it on and get playing! None of them cared that they weren't new. If your kids are nice kids - and most are - they'll be fine with it.

Anyone hunting for a good prezzie deal right now - thorntons online are doing big batches of boxes of chocs for £20 (and I got mine through Quidco so also getting free delivery AND a free box of chocs because I added something special for OH as well to take order to £35, AND cashback). Here's the one I went for Signature gift bundle (I have no affiliate connection or anything) - http://www.thorntons.co.uk/product/Offers/Special-Offers/Thorntons-Signature-Gift-Bundle/pc/2246/c/2469/939.uts. £51.69 RRP for £20 and it's going to go a long way towards my Christmas present list. 4 boxes of chocolates, 2 boxes of toffees, 3 smaller bags of chocs and 2 bars. That's 6 good boxes for prezzies and 5 little things for our own Xmas yummies.

I also try and buy things in the after Christmas sales - always get Christmas cards and wrapping paper this way, plus a few gift things if I can.

aileth

jellyhead wrote: »

I don't see £20 as a tight budget, I'm REALLY tight :eek: with more than 30 people to buy for that would cost me £600 without even starting on this household.

I would spend £20 on parents or nephews/neices, but not on extended family.

We don't do extended family, the £20 per person is for my mum, dad and sister!

jellyhead

aileth wrote: »

We don't do extended family, the £20 per person is for my mum, dad and sister!

Oh that sounds lovely I've agreed not to buy presents for the majority of the adults in my family, but it's just not 'done' on my husband's side of the family.

I've suggested it to MIL but she said she'll buy the presents for the adults on our behalf, so I said no it's okay. They have godparents, etc. in my husband's family too, and that carries on presumably for ever because my husband still gets gifts from his godparents.

I like ostrichnomore's idea of stopping when kids reach 16 too, although perhaps I would carry it on until they have finished their A levels, depending on the child's financial circumstances. Those with jobs or bursaries may be loaded, but many aren't.

Our 'lodger' has turned 18 now, and somebody suggested that Santa won't come to 18 year olds ... he's never had a stocking though, and I've already bought an extra hook to hang his stocking up. Maybe 18 is the final year when Santa comes

SingleSue

I generally spend approx £30 each for my children, £5 or under each for my neices and nephews, a cheapy joint present (less than a fiver) on my brother and his wife and my sister and her husband and around £10 each for my parents.

My boys do Christmas lists with varying values to suit all budgets but they know not to put silly things like computers etc, the highest value would probably be about £60 (for those ones, they suggest one or more go in together to get the item)

seanavfc92

If it was up to me, I'd push Christmas back 1/2 weeks and go and buy all of the presents in the Boxing Day/New Years sales.... Nothing worse than buying something for £100 (e.g.) and seeing it in the sale for £50 the following day!!