How are you coping with Christmas finances?

janb5

Originally Posted by Butterfly Brain I do the 'sistercas fund' which is to put £1 a day in a pot so by Christmas I have £365

Sorry to be thick but what was ` sistercas fund?

Frith

I have a very limited budget and buy presents for my 2 sons, parents, siblings, 2 friends and my friend's 2 children. That's it!


My sons' presents can cost up to £50 each. I know one wants a new bike saddle, the other isn't sure yet.


My brother and sister and I came to an agreement years ago that we would ask what the others wanted and just buy it - always under £10. So this year my sister is getting a fitted sheet and my brother is getting a builder's tape measure! One year I got a kitchen bin and a bucket. :-D


Anyway, my budgeting hasn't been great this year but I've bought the stocking fillers, the fitted sheet and the tape measure in with the normal weekly shop over the past month. Still a way to go yet...


ETA: I also get presents for my son's teaching assistants (he's in an autism unit in a mainstream high school so TAs are VERY important) but for several years now I have given them/his teachers back at primary school bottles of HM sloe gin! I've also done some cucumber chutney and crab apple jelly this year that I shall give to the old aunties and uncles who usually only receive a card.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I would feel awful if someone got me a gift that had caused them to go overdrawn, or cane their credit card.*

Ask yourself what proportion of gifts you receive are items you'd genuinely have spent money on yourself. Are you and your friends just exchanging scented candles, smellies and cheap jewellery? If so, a Secret Santa means you spend less money and can focus on one fun present.



*these feelings would not last long if the gift was a pony....

tessie_bear

i have enjoyed reading this thread so thankyou for everyone who has shared...we spend too much but only money we have never credit...it has made me think reading all this that we have got our kids enough and have decided to not trot to argos on saturday and spend another £500 so thanks for that posters
tessa

LameWolf

We ceased doing presents at all some years back, when my DH was suddenly out of work and we were having to live on my disability money because the DWP were taking their time processing his JSA (as it was then) claim. We have carefully never re-started the practise.

enjoyyourshoes

Hi
your family and friends will completely understand if you don't buy presents for them especially if you discuss why the situation is as it is, also you could ask them not to buy presents for you.

Maybe you could do something else to surprise them that doesn't cost money, help them decorate, look after their kids for free allowing them to go out, take them for an invigorating Autumn walk etc

nursemaggie

When my mum was alive we used to buy each other a £50 M&S voucher for our birthdays.

One year I said "On 31st March every year I give your £50 18 days later you give it back again. What's the point?"

"Put like that there isn't one is there"

It's as easy as that. We never gave each other a birthday present again. I never did persuade her to give up buying me Christmas presents. She never believed me I did not want anything.

If it is not too late try the MSE tool on your friends.

Broomstick

This year, I am buying for my DSs - both young adults living at home (£50 max each), my elderly parents (£10-£20 each), DS1's girlfriend (£10 max) and her family (a tin/box of biscuits). I also post £10 book tokens or similar to my nieces and nephew

Apart from that, as usual, my DSs and I are still doing tiny presents on the Christmas tree on Christmas morning (this has always been our take on stockings - the tree is decorated with it's little prezzies when my DSs have gone to bed on Christmas eve ).

We will buy a few foodie treats over and above the norm (and know we will be given a few more by my parents) and add a couple of small decorations for the artificial tree. I only usually need a few Christmas cards to be delivered by hand to the neighbours if they give to us. I may need to buy a little bit of wrapping paper, not sure. If I have spare, I am tempted to spend a bit on a new board game for me and my sons to play. We don't drink. We are veggie/fish eaters so have never had a traditional Christmas meal. The tree and decorations go up on Solstice night and come down on New Year's eve. It's been like this for as long as I remember and Christmas never feels particularly stressful.

All in, I think this year's total budget will be in the region of £250.

Bx

nwc389

I used to start a regular savings account each november so it would mature and I had the money for Christmas , you can pay in as little as £10 a month with some of these accounts .
Morrisons saving stamps , nectar points would all be kept for then.
I do online surveys and save up the vouchers for stuff I want .

Ilona

I've read through all the comments and think I may be the only one to say, I don't send cards, I don't give presents. I have a totally stress free Christmas. I can afford it, but the thought of trawling shops worrying what to get for Auntie Mabel, is not appealing.

I can give gifts at any time of the year, and I do. I give when I want to give, not because it's expected of me, and not because everyone does it.

Christmas presents are for children, I don't understand why adults buy presents for adults at Christmas. My family and friends know that I don't expect them to get me anything, I let them off the hook. They are probably relieved, that's one less for them to get.
Ilona