How much do you spend at Christmas?

fiona20

Currently: £80,000

Pollycat

fiona20 wrote: »

Currently: £80,000

Seriously? :eek:

Jack_Harrington

Hi, I personally think that you do not need to spend a fortune every Christmas! There are a lot of free apps that you can get for your loved ones on Google Play, like this Midva Games Find the Difference Christmas – Spot It I am playing right now, which will give them something fun to do over the holidays!

NineDeuce

The importance of Christmas presents are exaggerated by the amount of advertising. Companies of the best selling/'must have' items also appear to deliberately produce limited stock so that they can charge top dollar.

It is a form of tax on emotion.

Because of the ludicrous advertising push, some people now find it necessary to buy everything 3 months in advance, claiming that they dont have enough time. This was never the case 20 odd years ago and with buying easier than ever now we have online facilities, this is a bit ridiculous.

Have budgets (dont max them out if necessary) and reduce the importance of getting everything. This is just what the corporations want and it has nothing to do with the spirit of Christmas.

fairy_lights

Jack_Harrington wrote: »

Hi, I personally think that you do not need to spend a fortune every Christmas! There are a lot of free apps that you can get for your loved ones on Google Play, like this Midva Games Find the Difference Christmas – Spot It I am playing right now, which will give them something fun to do over the holidays!

Wow, shameless advertising of an app AND a terrible Christmas present suggestion. This post is a real gift.

Happy_Kitties

Have to disagree with you nineDeuce. I am disabled, apart from the bad weather,the cold, the crowds with a wheelchair and spinal damage there is the fatigue on top. If I didn't do it throughout the year then i wouldn't be able to do it. I am also a home economist and have tracked my spends and savings. I've saved nearly £1000 on buying birthday and Christmas presents throughout the year. I am able to do It at my own pace.

I think I mentioned on a previous thread about my mum in the 1970s who not only borrowed from everyone she could, working full time, 2 kids looking after the house, she was absolutely frazzled and did not enjoy Christmas one bit. Where was the Christmas spirit there?

Everyone is different and you just have to respect that. It was watching my mother having a meltdown every year that made me make sure that I was going to be different.
P.s. buying throughout the year I've bought some really great presents for peanuts that have gone down incredibly well with the family, and I've kept under budget by a lot. I set a budget and I make sure I get the maximum possible for my money that people will like. Its worked well!

wunferall

My far-better half and I decided that - having had such a heavy-spending year for various reasons - we would not buy for each other. Stocking-fillers only, we said. Well I hope she's got some very stretchy stockings because I spent almost my entire bonus on her BUT everything will fit in a stocking. Just not all at once.
Otherwise many of the suggestions here seem to fit our spending at say up to £50 a pop for close family, which we've not much of and say £10 to £20 for friends.

Pollycat

wunferall wrote: »

My far-better half and I decided that - having had such a heavy-spending year for various reasons - we would not buy for each other. Stocking-fillers only, we said. Well I hope she's got some very stretchy stockings because I spent almost my entire bonus on her BUT everything will fit in a stocking. Just not all at once.
Otherwise many of the suggestions here seem to fit our spending at say up to £50 a pop for close family, which we've not much of and say £10 to £20 for friends.

If me & my OH had agreed that and he'd broken that agreement by spending his bonus, I'd be absolutely furious with him.

Someone I know did exactly what you've done & it ruined Christmas for both of them.
His partner refused to speak to him.
I did warn him that she wouldn't be happy.

sillyvixen

Including stockings (everyone gets stockings, 5 small pressies, in my house) I spend about £100 each on hubby, brother and dad. I spend about £10 each on cousins and their kids. Hubby sorts out his family spending about £10 - £20 each on his parents, sister and brother in law and £60+ on his nephew and niece. This year we plan to spend a bit more as we are inviting father in law and will need a stocking and also want to get a few more bits as he is estranged from the rest of Hubby's family. The big expense this year is my oven has broken and I have had to order a replacement - should be here mid December - cutting it fine I know.

Pollycat

sillyvixen wrote: »

Including stockings (everyone gets stockings, 5 small pressies, in my house) I spend about £100 each on hubby, brother and dad. I spend about £10 each on cousins and their kids. Hubby sorts out his family spending about £10 - £20 each on his parents, sister and brother in law and £60+ on his nephew and niece. This year we plan to spend a bit more as we are inviting father in law and will need a stocking and also want to get a few more bits as he is estranged from the rest of Hubby's family. The big expense this year is my oven has broken and I have had to order a replacement - should be here mid December - cutting it fine I know.

Aw.
There's a lovely Christmas present for you. :rotfl: