How much for christmas?

anniestar

I have loads wrapping paper that i got in the sales same for Christmas cards. Been buying reduced stuf all year and always ahve a present bag on the go. We both normally "work" at an animal santuary(SP?) on Boxing day although there have been some managment changes so don't know about this year. I also have a bag of kids bits and bobs-both Tesco and ASDA regularly discount pencil cases and things like that. Pressie wise I buy for the kids I tutor and a few past ones nothing massive, DH and 1 other special person to buy for. We have some friends that we go to see in the Feb half term and take them something then BUT........DH also does sone tutoring and always gets shed loads of booze(no idea what they are trying to say:rotfl: :rotfl: Last years stash included 5 bottles of wine 1 Jack Dainiels,1 Remey Martan. 1 port and 1 Tia Maria. We recycle the spirits as gifts and have the wine ourselves. He is only doing 3 this year but they are long standing ones so.....
When ever i use any money off vouchers in ADSA I put the saved money on a Christmas saving card not a fortune but it does mount up. I also use tesco stamp cards. I have just read this and reailised exactly hoe boring it is:o
sorry-A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I reckon I will spend about £160 all in but some of that will be on reduced cards and pressies for next year on Christmas eve. Right am now going to sit in the corner writing(&saying aloud)I MUST NOT BE QUITE SO BORING, I MUST NOT BE QUITE SO BORING I MUS.........

choccyface2006

I save for my holiday between Nov and July, then Christmas between August and October. This year I have about £950 for Christmas but I am saving for a new Nikon camera so I am going to put anything I don't spend towards that.

Its my birthday just after Christmas so I will have enough for it without adding to it anyway. Yay!

I divide my Christmas spending up as follows...

2 Daughters - £150 each

OH - £150

OHs children 2@ £15 = £30

Sister & hubby - £35

Parents - £40

Brother - £25

Niece - £15

Goddaughters 2@ £10 = 20

Friends children 3 @ = £5

Friend - £10

Kids dad & his girfriend - £10

Money that daughter has to earn for presents for her friends - £25

Cards and wrap - £20

Christmas work meal - £35

2 tins of chocolates - £10

Extra food - £50 (we have a big get together on Christmas day at my parents, she cooks the turkey and we all bring other stuff for the meal, I am doing roast and mash potatoes and veg)

= £790 I don't need any decorations or anything else this year

I always buy the girls an outfit for Christmas day and new PJs which I don't take out of their budget and give them on Christmas Eve and I only buy quality presents not novelty items which will be a quarter of the price after Christmas. I reasearch everything online for the best price and shop through Quidco as much as possible too.

DD2 always has a Christmas theatre trip which I may fund from Christmas savings too, about £20.

It seems quite alot but I don't but loads of things for them thoughout the year apart from at birthdays. I also have no debts so I don't feel bad about spending on nice things for my loved ones at Christmas

Sarah xx

supersavershal

Previous christmass have cost us up to £1000 (half of which was usually spent in the frenzy of the last few days.)Last year I had a baby 6 days before christmas and ended up having a major op.I was discharged early 3 days before christmas but was quite immobile and couldnt mobilise much and couldnt drive so stayed at home, it was great so relaxed and hardly spent anything.This year because I have debt and I know my SIL and DB are short of money we suggested buying token presents for £10 for adults and buying the children a nice present for about £20.everyone agreed and seemed quite pleased except for my younger brother who is single and lives at home, he thinks it isnt fair to get a crappy £10 present.I cant get him to see how much it will save him there is 2 wages coming into my house, and I only have him to buy for, he has one wage and 4 of us to buy for.Im sticking to it and have told everyone im happy with a pair of pjs or a good book or smellies.Im hoping to spend £100 on older son £50 on baby (he doesnt understand) and £20 on neice and everyone else £10.Incidentaly DS was thrilled the other day to find an unopened christmas gift of a basketball game, he gets so much most of it isnt opened or used.
Why cant I write short witty replys, I always end up writing an essay.Sorry guys.

sammiboo

For really cheap wrapping paper, I went to staples and they were selling off packs of rolls (3 in a roll) for 10p after christmas. I bought every roll they had in the shop and now I am set up for a few years

So keep your eye out, its not an obivous place to go, but 10p for 3 rolls you cant go wrong :j

immoral_angeluk

lol look... chickens are the ... cheep... est..:rotfl: :rotfl:

http://www.farmfriends.org.uk/buy-an-animal

caeler

similar to the advice already received set agreed limits on spend and set expectations. We only buy for close family (mum & dad, grandparents and 1 set of aunt & uncle and their kids). Plus a few close friends. We are lucky that we don't have many people to buy for, plus my grandparents go nuts if we spend more than a few pounds on them!

Husband and I set a £50 limit but this year agreed our presents should be to do with our big holiday in March. I've brought christmas boxes from thorntons for our friends @ £5.95 and we know they will be thrilled. Everybody else pretty much has a £20-10 limit. Everybody knows we're on a tight budget.

It worked well this year.

Good Luck with your budget.

millionaire_in_training

I am feeling quite ashamed about my spends now after reading this. I have spent about £250 each on kids, £100 on my mum and probably will hit about £200 for others. I have paid it all cash except for ds's main pressie which I got at ARGOS on 9 months interest free so I have paid the money off of an interest accruing card. Sounds a lot huh. But in my defence I am not one for constantly buying for my kids so I like to do it at Christmas. I am not going to buy a lot of junk this year though as it just ends up as landfill.

bobbadog

It's been a big old year for my OH and I, moving and changing jobs etc, so all our money has gone really towards debts for so long, and most of our Pigsback vouchers went on kitchen-y stuff for our new place / toiletries from Boots! but should have £20 of Pigsback vouchers to put towards presents... I'm putting all of my AQA / Freelance 'earnings' for November towards our joint presents and will pay for OH's from next months wages...

Have started a spreadsheet and been 'shopping around' for prices online etc, bearing in mind Quidco... my main problem is that ALL of our friends have had babies this year / due in December!

Anyway - our budget will be £250 from our extra money (freelance, eBay etc), and anything extra from my Dec pay packet.

Lucy1982_2

Don't worry IA I've just emailed the abuse thingy. Completely out of thingy with the board and your attitude towards life in general.

Remember we love you and people like that can crawl back under the rock they came out of!

Ok rant over, but I am shaking in anger on your behalf!!

Lucy1982_2

Yep it is. We discussed Secret Santa at lunch today.... £5 to get a jokey gift of a work colleague.

I want either M or R in my office. M would get something inflatable and R would get a kinky satsuma!