Christmas on a budget

FatVonD

Previously I've been in a position to pick up bits and pieces very cheaply at work but, having just changed jobs, this year I am having to pay full price for everything so have been earning Amazon vouchers via Job Spotter, so far I have collected £51 worth.

I usually buy one of the big carriers from the £1 shop and fill that. Some things might be expensive but I have always bought my DS a stuffed snowman every year and still do this even though he is 20 now. I also put in some foodies treats, he always wanted a whole tin of cheese lets to himself so I will wrap a drum and this year, earning less than I e ever earned, there may be a couple more things like that (I noticed a nice Christmas themed jar of Nutella yesterday which is something I wouldn't normally buy. I usually buy a couple of clothing items also, some aftershave, an X box game and I've spent the Amazon vouchers on some gaming related Lego and some Yugiyo jewellery that he put on my wish list!

[Deleted User]

Miss_Penelope wrote: »

Thanks Bedsit Bob. I will look into this. An amazing price and great reviews!

I've got one, and I love it.

This is an image of my arm.

Growurown

I have lots of nieces and nephews. It's hard to keep track of them all! So I made a list with all their birthdays and I usually buy them clothes in the sales for birthdays and Christmas. For example, the one who is two in December will receive a Christmas jumper bought last January in the sales for a fiver. The one who is four will get a pair of Peppa Pig pyjamas bought in the summer sale for £3. I get some really good bargains in the sales at my local Morrisons on clothes and just put them away for the next present giving event.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I have survived the last few Christmases by cutting out most of the present giving.

My three grown up kids get £50 cash (or a gift of their choice to this value) and cheap odds and ends to go with it, like socks and chocs.

DH and I spend £50 each on each other. Apart from that we only give to our parents and two nephews who are still children (£10 per person). This is all we can afford to give.

I've stopped giving gifts to aunts and uncles, cousins, and grown up nieces and nephews (most of whom earn more than I do).

Has this ruined Christmas? No because to me Christmas isn't about the gifts. It's about having nice food and drink and spending quality time with my lovely family.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

No because to me Christmas isn't about the gifts. It's about having nice food and drink and spending quality time with my lovely family.

To me, it's about being paid double time. :j

Tink_04

Our children ask Santa for one special gift and we buy whatever else we see fit and is affordable. A new outfit, sleepwear, stationary, games and some toys etc. It’s not a huge affair but we have a big family and our children are lucky enough to receive presents from others too. Too much is unnecessary and we have no where to put it all! We love family time and I’m looking forward to Xmas crafts and games x

Pjbarabas

I spend £100 on each of my 3 kids £50 on my grandson and £10 on any other family members but I always look out for bargains so there presents might be worth£150-£200 but I still only pay £100

Patricia01

I pick up wrapping and cards on boxing day at the pound shops, and small gifts through the year to go in my Christmas box

SavvySaver17

I spend £150 each on DP and DS.Then around £30 on my parents. Friends around £10/£15 each. I've been stocking up early this year and have certainly learnt the benefits of a list and budget. In previous years I've wandered aimlessly round the shops close to Xmas picking up anything I see.:eek:

I've budgeted everything this year on a spreadsheet - cards, wrapping paper, decorations, Xmas activities for DS, food, gifts.

I love this thread, so many fantastic ideas. Thank you.

Caddyman

My other half and I spend absolutely zero on presents, because we stopped buying presents (and cards) for everyone we know several years ago. We obviously don't receive any either, which, to be honest, is wonderful. We still involve ourselves in Christmas from a social perspective, we host the in-laws for Christmas Day dinner, plenty to eat and drink, but without all of the materialism that Christmas seems to represent for so many people these days.

So Christmas actually represents just two days for us, Xmas Day and Boxing Day, none of the months before hand buying presents, none of the mid October start on the run up to Xmas Day, none of the wind down period after the event, just two days and it's job done. Best part of it all? we have no debt at the end of it. In fact, whilst everyone else is paying off a chunk of debt they'd probably if they admitted it, rather not have, all in the pursuit of pleasing others, me and my other half are getting ready to go off on our annual winter sun holiday. Selfish? probably some might think we are, but I'd rather be sat on a beach in the first week of January, than sat at home in the cold moaning about going back to work. :-)