Staying on track over Christmas!

midlander81

This is the first year that I have really taken my debts seriously so this Christmas will be a new experience for me!
The problem is... I LOVE Christmas!! I love all of it - The food, the presents, the decorations, the nights out and the beers wines and spirits!
Fortunately we saved for Christmas so there is absolutely no reason why it should affect our repayments BUT I do know that I am going to need to be very aware of resisting temptation.
How do other Christmas loving DFW's manage to get through Christmas?

MrsSave

It is our first christmas a a dfw too. We have some money put aside but we are also adding one or two items to our shopping trolley every week and putting away for Christmas. We are hosting christmas this year for 7, so will need to be spending, but hoping that we have planned well enough for it.

As for nights out, we have a toddler so they are few and far between! I have turned down one night out just before Christmas as I know I wouldn't be getting change from £100, it was just for me not dh too and basically that money can be of use elsewhere. Hoping to go out locally with friends for a few drinks at some point though.

in_need_of_direction

Keep lists of everything. Presents bought, people to buy for, food and drink purchased, etc. we all tend to go over the top at Christmas. If you have a record handy of what you already have sorted, it can reduce the just in case purchases. Also, I take advantage of multi buys etc and then sit two with two sisters and we trade off as the free gift I got may just complete one of their presents.

Pixie5740

Plan, plan and plan some more...and stick to it. Make a list of all the presents you are going to buy and then budget how much you're going to spend on each person.

You might find that some people you are buying presents for want to cut back too. This year I told my brother that we should stop buying birthday and Christmas presents for each other and I'll just get presents for his children. He was resistant to it but I know he can't really afford to go buying me things as almost every month he "borrows" from the Bank of Mum and Dad just to get his bills paid. I'm fairly certain that whatever I buy him ends up on eBay at some point when he can't pay the rent. Would it be worth saying to some of your friends and family that this year there will only be presents for the children?

I also have a Christmas decoration addiction but unfortunately the flat I'm currently renting doesn't have enough space to put a tree up in. I might get one of the tiny, foot high, ones from Asda though. Since I have nowhere to hang all these decorations I've been strict with myself and not bought any more decorations so far this year.

Whenever you feel tempted just ask yourself, "Do I need this? If yes can I get it cheaper?"

Puzzcat

Despite my huge debts I have always saved for Christmas as I love it too...


I keep a list each year of who I buy for , how much and what I bought.. this has assisted in working out how much I needed to save each month and I have my total ready for shopping now..


I save for 10 months of the year and try and earn as many vouchers from surveys etc that I can which I use in addition..


Usually go to relatives for christmas dinner and bring something.. last year it was the turkey.. This year we may have a quiet one at home.. yet to be decided...

[Deleted User]

I know this post doesn't fit with the last line of the OP, but I'll make it anyway.

Christmas doesn't cost me a penny, because I don't celebrate it.

When you live alone, with no close family or friends, it seems pointless to celebrate Christmas, Birthdays, etc.

To me, it's just another day.

Ellieseleven

Plan, budget and save as everyone has said. I start at the beginning of the year putting aside some money and this year I entered the £1 per day challenge.

As the shops start to have the Christmas stuff in them, I add one or two things a week to my basket;)

I'm a great believer in lists and make a list so I know where I'm up to and tick off as I go.

Ellie x

jubilee14

I'll be honest we have done ok past two years but this year just one thing and another we havent got to where we should be for xmas. this means we will have to be restricted we dont buy for alot of people and manage childrens expectations but all the same learned by lesson. Penny pot will be used for next year!

Kate_fixing_it

For the nights out I drive! I have one "drinking night" when I've finished work for Christmas and DH and I go to our local with friends, we drive there (it's 3 miles away) and share a taxi home. I am a bit selfish really and like my creature comforts so the thought of waiting in the cold for a taxi doesn't appeal at all. I also feel safer by not travelling alone late at night.

We have friends round for drinks instead of going out.

I've amassed a huge collection of decorations over the years and it's kind of a tradition that I add one each year with a memory a attached to an activity.

My youngest child is 5 so I only have a couple more years of the magic of Santa left and I'd rather spend time with the kids than at an office party spending money and time with people who don't really mean that much to me. People from work that I really like will be invited to drop in whenever, there's always a stack of Christmas biscuits that I've made with the kids ;-)

Nothing quite beats a wintry walk collecting pine cones followed by a hot chocolate and a Christmas movie and it's free! We also have a craft day where we cut out snowflakes and decorate the windows (my 16 year old has already asked when we'll do this) and I vary the route I drive home from school so we visit lights and decorations.

We have one "expensive" outing planned. I booked advance train tickets to London with a friends and family railcard last week so we'll have a big day out in early December.

For presents there is a budget already drawn up and I'll be looking out for the £5 off a £40/45 shop at aldi for the Christmas booze (their £3ish bottles of wine are great!) and watch for Black Friday deals coming soon if there's a specific item you are after.

Last year our entire Christmas for a household of 6 plus extended family came in under £600 including presents, food, wrapping, days out, nights out etc and it was the best I've ever had. Sounds like a lot for but it wasn't just one day, it took over the whole of December. I simply enjoyed the simplicity of it all and giving my time and love.

Kate x

jules888

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I know this post doesn't fit with the last line of the OP, but I'll make it anyway.

Christmas doesn't cost me a penny, because I don't celebrate it.

When you live alone, with no close family or friends, it seems pointless to celebrate Christmas, Birthdays, etc.

To me, it's just another day.

How sad!
I get xmas cards,wrapping paper,crackers etc for half price just after xmas and save £144 on an Asda saving card and get £150 to spend at xmas.

[Deleted User]

Not sad at all. I enjoy the peace and quiet.

If I'm due to be off work on Christmas Day, then (provided Christmas Day isn't on a weekend), I'll swap shifts with someone who's got children, so they can be off.

It's a bit of easy DT for me.