Christmas on a budget

System

When I was younger my parents were not particularly well off and also young. However they did not burden their children with knowledge of finances at too young at age. That is a big enough worry when adult. Wisely they instilled in us that anything is possible with ambition and hope. Christmas for the young should be magical and guilt free.

V2-Schneider

excelpaul wrote: »

When I was younger my parents were not particularly well off and also young. However they did not burden their children with knowledge of finances at too young at age. They is a big enough worry when adult. Wisely they instilled in us that anything is possible with ambition and hope. Christmas for the young should be magical and guilt free.

I don't know, Paul... I mean, when I have kids, I'll probably hand over their presents along with a small receipt detailing costs and relative time spent at work. I might even throw in a statement of living expenses, too! :snow_grin

clairebeth

I think Christmas IS magical and guilt free for children, and nothing on this thread has suggested otherwise. I'm not sure whether spending £30 or £500 would change any of that for a child, but it sure will make their parents less stressed. We don't have any debt other than our mortgage, if we wanted to, we could spend £100 on each child, but we don't want to, because not only is it wasteful, but once you add in the couple from us and Santa, one from the elderly neighbour, another from my husband's aunty and then another from his niece and so on for two children, we end up with twenty new things in a two bedroom flat! What on earth could a one year old and a five year old do with more than that, and where would we put it all?

[Deleted User]

I do get where Excelpaul is coming from in that I also think there are those on the forums bordering the MSE obsession, celebrating the fact they live on mung beans and toast for £10 a week food bill or buying all 15 christmas gifts for £4.32.

For me personally I think its about being careful in the year but Christmas is a time for letting your hair down and enjoying treats. I think children can still learn about the fact that not all children have toys without scrimping on their own gifts.
Maybe help them create a food hamper or choose a toy for a less fortunate child.

One thing I don't understand though is like a friend of mine whose 9mths old grandson gets 100's of pounds worth of gifts, he hasnt a clue about any of it and would happily play with a cardboard box, why not just add to his savings account for when he is older, now that would make more sense.

charmed1318

I know this won't help for this year, but although I'm 29 and no kids to have to shop for and no family as such, just my mum and brother, but I have been saving with park for a couple of years now.

Apart from the first year, when I got hampers and such, I've just saved for L0ve2sh0p vouchers, and an Amaz0n one or two. Also, means I can go to Icel@nd to get Xmas dinnner as such I have never just spent them all and £25/£30 a month soon adds up. Yes, I have some debt but I don't have an extravagent life, plus I'm on a low income and even saving £20 a month from now that's £240. Even to cover food and such.
They have soo many options with vouchers. If you don't want L0ve2sh0p you can get a mixture for any supermarket. And as I won't spend masses (at the time), I'll have some left over for throughout the year, or at least until April/May, LOL.

Plus, if there is anyone you know that may be in the same situation soon, or now, you could get a freebie/commission - every penny helps.

Like I said, it won't help you now, but next year...

V2-Schneider

charmed1318 wrote: »

I know this won't help for this year, but although I'm 29 and no kids to have to shop for and no family as such, just my mum and brother, but I have been saving with park for a couple of years now.

Apart from the first year, when I got hampers and such, I've just saved for L0ve2sh0p vouchers, and an Amaz0n one or two. Also, means I can go to Icel@nd to get Xmas dinnner as such I have never just spent them all and £25/£30 a month soon adds up. Yes, I have some debt but I don't have an extravagent life, plus I'm on a low income and even saving £20 a month from now that's £240. Even to cover food and such.
They have soo many options with vouchers. If you don't want L0ve2sh0p you can get a mixture for any supermarket. And as I won't spend masses (at the time), I'll have some left over for throughout the year, or at least until April/May, LOL.

Plus, if there is anyone you know that may be in the same situation soon, or now, you could get a freebie/commission - every penny helps.

Like I said won't help you now, but next year...

Might I add that this is something I hadn't considered purchasing for my sister's half of the family? Six lots of £5 vouchers should cover her young tribe. Thank you for the inspiration!

katejo

xmas_angel wrote: »

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!

£500 sounds pretty high if you are on a tight budget. I haven't got kids but have 2 nephews to buy for (similar age to your boys). I am likely to spend about £30 on each of them! My nephews also don't 'need' anything. I can't help remembering my late 60's/early 70's childhood when I had to buy presents for family. I only got 10p per week pocket money plus £2 to spend on Xmas presents. One year I bought 10 tubes of refreshers (sweets) at 4p each for my brother and wrapped them up in different size/shape containers. At that time my parents used to buy us 1 main present and quite a few stocking fillers like paperback books, a selection box and other small toys.

melanzana

I spent a fortune over the years on Nieces and nephews, no kids of my own, not a problem, more for everyone else!

Now I'm retired our present giving is just to anyone under 21. Still give generous birthday gifts though, no matter what age, and wedding gifts too where appropriate!

So now there are four of them left under 21. Cash is king. No running around like a mad thing to buy this and that etc. They love it. Well who wouldn't!

Our entire family is the same and we are no skinflints. We just gave up the ridiculous nonsense of buying presents for each other ages ago. Whew. Everyone is happy, less stress, and the focus is on seeing each other over a special few days really.

I am happy with this as are the rest of the family. Different when you have younger children though, totally accept that. The magic of that is unreal.

Cakeguts

I don't have children but I have always wondered whether asking younger children what they would like for Christmas is a good idea? It could start a competition at school as to who gets what and who gets the most expensive? I can also see that if the latest fashion is for something that many parents can't afford but that the child asks for there will be another competition about who got one? This could add to the stress for some parents in thinking that they can't get what their child wants but which someone who the child knows has got parents who have given them what they want?

I would have thought that if children are not given a choice as to what they want for Christmas they get less of a sense of entitlement to have what they want regardless of what it costs. Christmas presents could all be surprises and so cost as little or as much as the parent wants to spend.

Happy_Kitties

excelpaul I just want to know what happens if you have to be frugal because you can't afford a lot?

I had brilliant childhood Christmas's, so many presents, relatives around for parties all of the time.

Years later I found that my mum used to borrow off anyone she could to fund 'the keeping up with the jones'.
My brother and I were brought up to never pay a bill until the red demand came thru the post. As adults my brother has been made bankrupt and I have just completed an IVA.
I had to be frugal with my daughter's Christmas's but it didn't mean they weren't magical for her and her attitude to money is realistic and guess what......we still have great Christmas's without spending a fortune. You don't have to be extravagant or be a scrooge to have a good Christmas and it can still be extremely magical without spending a fortune. Surely spending time together is far more important.