How much will Christmas have cost you?

kezlou

Oh forgot to say I love the sound of cinnamon buns we normally have pancakes for breakfast.

For Bailey's fans, have any of tried Irish meadow? Its a Bailey's knock off but half the price and it is lovely.

Butterfly_Brain

About £350 and that is for everything, presents, food and booze and I saved for it by putting £10 a week into a purse and I still have £170 left which will be kept in a purse for next Christmas, as usual I will get the paper, cards, gift tags and crackers in the sales and will keep my eyes peeled for presents that can be put away, I forgot that I had bought some this year so it was a pleasant surprise to find that I didn't have to fork out for 12 presents (small christmas candle lanterns that I will fill with a handful of sweets for DH's colleagues (They always buy us something nice)
I also found 2 microwave heat packs that will go to twoold ladies that we watch over.

The turkey was half price at easter

The brussels, potatoes and parsnips that I got free in Morrisons last week using the £5 voucher, have been prepared and are in the freezer along with the pigs in blankets.
I got 2 jars of mincemeat for 10p a jar in the Sainsbury sell off earlier this year and it is Robertsons, I can't make it for that.

Everything is prepared, wrapped and under the tree and I am now able to relax knowing I don't have to worry about what to get for whom

Skint_yet_Again

WOW Butterfly Brain you are so organised I am in awe !!

I didn't think I would spend much this Christmas but I have been saving £30 a month in a separate account, Its only when you write it down you realise how much it adds up to:

presents

DS £100 - AGE 19
DS g/f 10
Others 60 mum dad, sister BiL nephew, niece £10 each

Booze 10 (2 bottles peach / 2 bottles strawberry lambrini ( on offer 2 for £5 )

Petrol 100

Cards/wrap 5 - bought in sales last year

work xmas meal £20

stamps 5

tub chocs 4

total £314

We will be away with family for xmas / boxing day so no extra food spend.

115K

About £50, if that. Just a few special food items and a couple of candle decorations from Asda.:o:D

LameWolf

No extra spend in the Wolf's Lair!:money:
We stopped doing presents in 2003, when DH was out of work and we were living on my disability money while we waited for the DWP to process his JSA claim; and we've carefully never re-started the practise.

I don't buy extra food - we're both watching our weight in any case, so we don't want to eat more than usual.

We don't go visiting or have people over; our only house-guest over the Xmas period will be a Jack Russell Terrier named Ronnie, and he'll be bringing his food and other supplies with him.:o

We have sufficient Yule decorations, which I carefully pack away each year to be used again, no need to buy any more.

Kim_kim

LameWolf wrote: »

No extra spend in the Wolf's Lair!:money:
We stopped doing presents in 2003, when DH was out of work and we were living on my disability money while we waited for the DWP to process his JSA claim; and we've carefully never re-started the practise.

I don't buy extra food - we're both watching our weight in any case, so we don't want to eat more than usual.

We don't go visiting or have people over; our only house-guest over the Xmas period will be a Jack Russell Terrier named Ronnie, and he'll be bringing his food and other supplies with him.:o

We have sufficient Yule decorations, which I carefully pack away each year to be used again, no need to buy any more.

I think the whole present thing is nonsense, that's why I just buy for 4 people close to me. I buy presents for them because I want to & it makes me happy. It's certainly not a financial transaction, I spent about £300 on the 4 of them, I would have a fit if they spent that kind of money on me!!!!!
I wouldn't be sad if the whole present thing was dropped totally, except perhaps Santa presents.
It's just ridiculous, I hate the way people say I need to buy x a present & we usually spend about £20 on each other, so that's my budget.
May as well just exchange cash or cheques & not have to bother with wrapping or gift tags.
But I love people getting together for meals & parties.
Carols & children visiting santas grotto.

dingdongsaving

It's all so true! Christmas, and life in general is about family and joy.

We've been painting our treats for the oldies today. We went out collecting holly and foliage from the woods earlier and we've made our wreath and garlands. We bake for neighbours and teachers and don't send/post any cards unless we make them from those received last year combined with pretty bits & pieces from our crafting stock. We avoid postage and sending cards for the sake of it by keeping in regular touch with the people who are important to us...wherever they are (as hubby is from America some are quite far away). We use emails and exchange photos on well known lockable sites...and knowing what is going on on a regular basis is so much nicer than the "Love from x, x, x & x" that you get from so many in a non heartfelt card sent just once a year (& I used to do that too!)

If it spreads a smile it's all we want.

Hubby and I had a secret night of wrapping last night as everything's now in. It's so lovely. Each year we have a night where we do this when the little people had gone to bed. We usually have a mince pie and some hm spiced apple juice with some Christmas tunes, but last night we had some hm fruit cake as a substitute as I've not made any mince pies yet.

There's nothing like the magic of family, friends and love....however you get it! A large daily dose of joy is certainly in order no matter what time of year it is!

Awww, I'm feeling all fuzzy after our craft morning, and I've got a big pan of chai latte warming for us all - never fails to make a snuggle even more special. YUM!

millionaire_in_training

I have spent about £800 :eek:. This has actually shocked me as I thought I had spent less than that. I have also discovered that I spend £100 on one family. This is my best friend, her husband, her DS ,DD,Mum and Granddaughter. Absolute nonsense and I think I may need to say that it has to stop. Her DS is 24.
Ispend £200 approx each on my DS and DD. I buy a few folks tins of biscuits and do a couple of family hampers. Thankfully this year I have no staff as that would just finish me off I reckon. Going out for dinner to said friend's so no cost for Christmas day except for 2 puddings and some alcohol. I am however hosting a party for 16 people so I have spent about £50 on that. Thankfully we are ordering in chinese food so no big food costs for that.
I do love the festive season though and we have lots of lovely times to look forward to

Hoipolloi

Quite a bit on the people who matter, but then I don't spend that much on them throughout the year and their pressies include clothing and suchlike as well as treats they wouldn't buy for themselves, but that I know they like.

I also make some presents and give those too, so it's definately not about money, money,money for us.

jpscloud

I'll be spending less than £50 on close family, petrol to go visiting wider family and so on. I'm a singly and love curling up with the cat, the tv and a glass of sherry over Christmas, I don't do parties or work do's so very likely I won't spend much more than usual.


I do enjoy Christmas and I'm an old sucker for the goodwill thing - there's also something really good about making the darkest time of year a time to put up pretty lights and eat comfort food.


I've managed to convince almost everyone that cards are a thing of the past, but some send me one anyway, whatever I say. I appreciate it, and love them for it, but won't do it any more myself. People at work are mostly ok with me not doing cards or secret santa and if they're not, I'm afraid it's hard luck