price of Christmas

Spendless

My own family is top heavy with adults, actually top heavy with pensioners. The children in it are now (Secondary school aged) teenagers. It isn't the teens that are in 'need' of a present!

I buy through-out the year, usually the smaller type of gifts, rather than anyone's main present.

A turkey crown is bought on Xmas Eve from one of the butchers stalls at our market, normally around £17. We decide which veg we are having in advance and that is picked up at the market too. Any starter or dessert is picked up with the supermarket shop. We buy a few more things than usual, but not overloaded with stuff.

maman

Spendless wrote: »

My own family is top heavy with adults, actually top heavy with pensioners. The children in it are now (Secondary school aged) teenagers. It isn't the teens that are in 'need' of a present!

I buy through-out the year, usually the smaller type of gifts, rather than anyone's main present.

I'm curious spendless.


I can see that the teenagers probably have loads of gadgets and other things so aren't in 'need'. But do you think the converse is true and that the pensioners need presents? I find that most pensioners I know have everything they need so very difficult to buy for.


P.S. I suppose it's different for pensioners living on a limited income maybe it's just the people I know.

Dill

Many people in my family have birthdays in December and January so I need to budget for Christmas and those birthdays.

4 x birthday presents plus 2 birthday cards (usually bought earlier in the year.. try finding a birthday card in December!)

6 or 7 Christmas gifts, as we agreed the other year that adults won't buy for each other now.

I suppose I get off pretty lightly compared to people with loads of siblings and nieces/nephews expecting gifts at Christmas, but it's still about £150 that I need to find each year.

Tea_Lady

What we as a family started doing a few years ago and it seems to work well for us.
We buy a present for everyone fixed price to the penny about £3. Then you buy yourself a present. Whatever it is that you want cheap or expensive. You wrap it up and put on the pile with the other presents under the tree or where ever. No one is to know what that present is until you unwrap it.
It works really well as you get what you want for Christmas not something that someone thinks you want. Surprising how even though you know what the present is the suspense from others make it a really fun thing to do. And a talking point of
'I never knew you wanted a ???!!!??.'

Spendless

maman wrote: »

I'm curious spendless.


I can see that the teenagers probably have loads of gadgets and other things so aren't in 'need'. But do you think the converse is true and that the pensioners need presents? I find that most pensioners I know have everything they need so very difficult to buy for.


P.S. I suppose it's different for pensioners living on a limited income maybe it's just the people I know.

Let me explain further. The pensioners consist of my parents, my ILs and my 2 Grandmothers.

Starting with my Grandmothers, both in their 90s, one is now in a care home. The other lives in her own home. Both have health issues. A present bought might be something that helps with their particular issues, eg one of my Grandmothers was once bought a small tray on wheels as it helped her get from kitchen to where she was eating. They wouldn't necessarily buy these things themselves as they wouldn't know they existed, they never have had internet or anything more than mainstream tv, but it's something that helped with their lives. Grandma in a home is now more difficult, but even she still needs toiletries and clothes replacing.

My ILs in their 70s having a combination of ailing health, money issues and a house that is starting to become unsuitable for their needs. We can buy them things that they like but can't afford and increasingly can't get out to get.

My parents though they also have some health issues, still work part-time to supplement an income for things they like to do such as eat out and go on holiday. They are more like pensioners you know not in 'need'. However, if I can get them something that stretches their income, then they have more money to play with. In previous years things I've bought include a razorsharp for my Dad. This lengthens the life of a razor blade, something I've heard him moan about and a booklet full of money off vouchers for our area including lots of 2 for 1 meals out.

Contrast this with the teens. My 2 aged 13 and 16 and my sisters twins aged 15. They have a house, clothes, food, pocket money, holidays, hobbies all paid for. The households they live in consist of a HR tax payer Dad and either a SAHM or one that works in a relatively low paid job. They might not be rolling in money, all are state educated, but at Christmas what they 'need' is a lot less than their Granparents/Great-Grandparents.

maman

Thanks for explaining spendless.:)


The teenagers I understood but I had visions of pensioners being bought jumpers or nighties or other things that they'd just put in a drawer and never use. In those circumstances I've bought things like a range of luxury packets of biscuits or something they will enjoy.


My other post on this thread was anti 'stuff' as I think people can make Christmas expensive buying useless presents that people don't need will never use. You've obviously found things that are really appreciated which is perfect in a present.

Spendless

maman wrote: »

Thanks for explaining spendless.:)


The teenagers I understood but I had visions of pensioners being bought jumpers or nighties or other things that they'd just put in a drawer and never use. In those circumstances I've bought things like a range of luxury packets of biscuits or something they will enjoy.


My other post on this thread was anti 'stuff' as I think people can make Christmas expensive buying useless presents that people don't need will never use. You've obviously found things that are really appreciated which is perfect in a present.

I'm considered good at buying presents. I think about each person their interests, their lifestyle and buy accordingly.

I have currently 2 things I'm contemplating for my Mum for this Christmas. She is always very well groomed and her favourite film is Gone With The Wind. On borrowing her tweezers a couple of months ago, I realised she still buys basic 50p ones, where as I know how good the expensive tweezerman ones are. Can she afford to get herself some? Certainly. Would she? No, she would consider them too expensive for tweezers. Will she love them when she sees how good they are at getting the smallest hair. Definately.

A recent conversation I had with her about Les Mis, I told her that that is the book Melanie is reading outloud in a scene from Gone With The Wind. She hadn't known this. I realised though I have read the book Mum hasn't and is missing out on quite a lot of detail of the story. I'm thinking of getting it her for Christmas. Again she'll enjoy it but it won't occur to her to go and get it herself, even though she is perfectly able to order and buy it

UnluckyT

My mother and I put £5 away every 4 weeks to cover what's needed for Christmas day and boxing day. nothing overly spectacular, mainly the main meal plus a few extras, but seems to go a long way for 3 adults.

VfM4meplse

Spendless wrote: »

A recent conversation I had with her about Les Mis, I told her that that is the book Melanie is reading outloud in a scene from Gone With The Wind. She hadn't known this. I realised though I have read the book Mum hasn't and is missing out on quite a lot of detail of the story. I'm thinking of getting it her for Christmas. Again she'll enjoy it but it won't occur to her to go and get it herself, even though she is perfectly able to order and buy it

Thank, you've inspired me to pick this from my bookcase. (I bought it a few months ago for pennies in the chaz).

Handbag59

My local (Carlton Square) Farmfoods are selling cranberry sauce at 39p a jar or 3 for £1 exp 11/16 but I would take a punt on it. Don't know if it is in all branches