Christmas on a budget

xmas_angel

Morning all!!

So a quick question, I had posted that I was setting aside £500 for Christmas presents for my two boys (7&9) which when in debt is a big chunk of money that I could use to pay off a debt. I do understand this but can I ask what do you all get your children for Christmas? We have the usual pj’s, pants and socks which they do need but as far as toys I have no idea! I usually stock them up with Rugby kit as both boys play throughout the year so take a trip to sports direct for some bargain finds on new boots and base layers. Both me and my husband have agreed only one present each or a joint one and will leave the remainder of their wish lists to grandparents who usually go overboard anyway. How do you all deal with Christmas? Do you guys set a budget per child and buy little bits or are there any money saving tips I’m missing that I could take advantage of? I’ve set aside £70 for grandparent presents (both grandparents are separated and have new partners) but refuse to spend any more and realistically can not afford to either. In reality the kids don’t ‘need’ anything, they have more than enough so don’t want to feel like I’m spending money purely for the sake of Christmas! What tips do you all have to continue to live frugally throughout the Christmas period??

Thanks!

determined_new_ms

I buy one gift pp. So this year my lo is 4 1/2 so I have picked up a luvabella doll. It cost £100 but that is *all* I will spend on her, oh & I won't get each other anything. My adult children (24 & 25) now they are adults get a gift up to £50 each. I don't buy for many others - inlaws and close family friends (a family of 4) and my childminder, but honestly don't spend more than £10 pp, often I'll make something. This year I grew raspberries and made raspberry & prosecco jam and will make scones to give a little hamper.

For the day I'll aim to get a few treats in but won't go crazy. a turkey roast, a pudding and a box of chocs and that's probably it! Probably the whole thing will cost less than £300 all in.

tori.k

We started doing the four gift rule, it went down a treat, something they want, something they need something to wear and something to read. And picked up a board game ( second hand) for after dinner.
We spend a third of what we did before but more thought went into gifts so better received.
Our broke year was actually the kids best as we turned the whole thing into a game there very cheap ( pound shop gifts) were each wrapped then placed in a huge box of shredded paper each so then had to go fish, made a complete mess but laughter all round, they didn't even notice/comment on the lack of expense but it's the Christmas that is most remember in fondness by them even if it was the worse year for DH and I. It set the tone that Christmas is daft family time so board games are expected, I almost had mutiny the year I didn't bother thinking they'd outgrown the idea, just spend the day with full attention and they will remember that but most likely won't remember what gifts you gave then by next Christmas.

PasturesNew

xmas_angel wrote: »

....£500 .... £70 ...

What tips do you all have to continue to live frugally throughout the Christmas period??

Thanks!

Those figures, to me, aren't "frugal".
A frugal lifestyle would be £50/child and £5/grandparent.

Happy_Kitties

Im one of those that buys throughout the year otherwise I couldn't do it and also save for Christmas vouchers to use in the sales.

I have relatives and friends that I've made the suggestion to that we stop buying as factor in postage and I don't see the point but that didn't go down well( save stamps from RM surveys for postage)so ive picked up some cracking little presents on a shoestring.

So I keep a bullet journal with all my presents, how much I've spent and how much I've saved, I do like looking out for a bargain throughout the year but I like looking in my journal to see what I've spent for someone that I know they will really like but have bought at a decent price. It might sound a bit scrooge but I have had to stick to a strict budget the last 6 years. I've found that buying cheaper bits and making up gift bags go down well.
My DD is now 18, she has actually told relatives not to buy presents as she doesn't want anything.
Both of us got presents last year that we really didn't want(not meaning to sound ungrateful but after saying to one family member that a certain item really wasn't DD thing, they still went and bought the item) I buy her practical presents that she needs that will last her throughout the year(cost £100) and one small special present(£18). I know being a poor starving student if she really needs something she will then genuinely ask the family for it.

Christmas for us is about playing cards after Christmas dinner. It's a family tradition that has been done for years, even going back to when I was little. Christmas doesn't have to cost a lot, it's about the spending time together and the memories.

I would definately trim down the grandparent costs if you can. There are some fantastic ideas on the forum of people putting together some amazing hampers for a fraction of the price.Just a thought?

Raven42

PasturesNew wrote: »

Those figures, to me, aren't "frugal".
A frugal lifestyle would be £50/child and £5/grandparent.

In fairness I read that as £70 between 8 grandparents which is reasonable.

Agree the £500 is much too high a figure, no matter your circumstances for 2 children.

Personally the "cost" of Christmas is far more than just presents, there is an increase in social and family events that require outlay of funds. With this is mind I'd suggest £50 a child is plenty.

Money_maker

Don't do a big Christmas shop. Frightening to see trolleys being wheeled around filled to the top with hundreds of pounds of food and particularly drink. Do a menu, shopping list and buy one or two items each week with your normal groceries. Try making things like Christmas cakes & mince pies, the boys would probably love to help you. Christmas Day is 24 hours long, why do people always feel they need to stock up for a siege?

Happy_Kitties

Forgot to say when DD was younger, while we didn't do the whole elf on a shelf thing, DD did have a 'naughty elf' that brought her a special dress for Christmas parties and an advent calender. On Christmas day the 'elf' was very naughty and some of her presents were scattered throughout the house, even hanging off light fittings. DD had many a happy hour hunting presents down, which was great fun. They were only cheap bits and pieces but the joy was in the hunt, made Christmas morning last longer.aswell for her.

determined_new_ms

Money_maker wrote: »

Don't do a big Christmas shop. Frightening to see trolleys being wheeled around filled to the top with hundreds of pounds of food and particularly drink. Do a menu, shopping list and buy one or two items each week with your normal groceries. Try making things like Christmas cakes & mince pies, the boys would probably love to help you. Christmas Day is 24 hours long, why do people always feel they need to stock up for a siege?

I got to agree with this sentiment! We will get a turkey, a gammon joint - will no doubt pick one up ys and freeze over the next couple of months - with usual trimmings (last year the week before xmas the big 3 did the veg for 20p a pack :T) a desert, a bottle of wine, coke and OJ, a box of chocolates some crackers and cheese. Other than that my other half loves tempura prawns so I'll get a couple of packs of those, and baguettes for turkey rolls in the evening . The rest of the holiday period will be nothing out of the ordinary. Hopefully will pick up a reduced joint for NYE

Mnd

As long as I got my pigs in blankets I'm happy

V2-Schneider

determined_new_ms wrote: »

I buy one gift pp. So this year my lo is 4 1/2 so I have picked up a luvabella doll. It cost £100 but that is *all* I will spend on her, oh & I won't get each other anything. My adult children (24 & 25) now they are adults get a gift up to £50 each. I don't buy for many others - inlaws and close family friends (a family of 4) and my childminder, but honestly don't spend more than £10 pp, often I'll make something. This year I grew raspberries and made raspberry & prosecco jam and will make scones to give a little hamper.

For the day I'll aim to get a few treats in but won't go crazy. a turkey roast, a pudding and a box of chocs and that's probably it! Probably the whole thing will cost less than £300 all in.

Thank you very much for suggesting this eminently sensible advice.

This is the first year where I've actually saved up purposefully for Christmas; since September, I've put aside 'slack money' from my monthly budget and am now suddenly in the fortuitous position of having £200 to spend two months in advance! All from frugal budgeting - marvellous!

£125 is going on my OH to save for a trip abroad in 2018, and the rest on family members. Without the slight nudge to say that £10 on each person is enough, I think I would have gone a bit overboard in my saving, and might actually have ended up spending too much! But, now I can put aside any slack money into less 'expensive', more prudent saving funds.

Excellent - it's such a great feeling to be looking ahead to a smart and affordable Christmas! :beer: