How much for christmas?

Shortie

Hi IA

I drew mine up last week and was surprised how much we soent and how much we need to put aside, good thing to do one

Anyway mine worked out as £50 each for both of my kids, £20 each of our parents (i.e £40 the pair but we buy them individual pressies) £20 my sis, and £10 for friends kids. It works out on pressies along we need to put aside £250. That said, I'll make more use of the sales this year and anything leftover (wishful thinking) will go into another pot (maybe holiday spends) or if it's substantial enough off a debt.

Christmas food... hmmm this is the first year I'll have cooked myself but a £12 turkey (half price in Mr Ts this week) with plenty left over for turkey burgers, yuuuummmmmmmmm and I guess a piece of beef but no idea on the price of that - £10 maybe? so lets say £25 for meat, £10 for vegs trimmings as £15 for treats and wine (one side of our parents don't drink and we're not heavy drinkers either, on the treats side, we don't get lots as DS1 is diabetic and we always feel guilty eating sweet stuff around him) so Chrimbo food at maybe £50 though that may be well over or well under

Fortheloveofmoney

I've budgeted £425 this year split as follows:

Fiance - £250
Mum & Dad - £80
Niece x2 - £20
Nephew x1 - £10
Great Nephew x1 - £5
Close Friends x3 - £60

We'll be going elsewhere for Xmas dinner so it will come out of the normal food budget.

OliveOyl_2

Don't anyone accept an invite from Shortie, she's cooking herself :eek:

Lucy1982_2

Oooo I feel all special now!

RoxieW

Hi all - lets not let one poster ruin our festive cheer. Hope u r ok IA.

Our xmas budget

me £70 (beauty treatments)
hubby £70 (comp games)
boys x 2 £150 each = £300
parents x2 £60 photo albums of our wedding photos (this year) = £120
female family and friends - £25 x 6 = £150
(pamper hampers as inspired by hamper thread)
BIL - dvd set £20
other distant family members - school photo of boys £25 for 10 pack
food/treats etc - £100

total £705 :eek:

sounds alot when you add it all up!!

I've bought all the boys toys from ELC with 20% off (code SANTA)

The school photos idea is a good one I think as all greatgrandparents etc get a little low cost gift that keeps them in touch with how the little ones are growing up.

I put away £100 a month for xmas/birthdays so we should be about right.

What I cant understand is a good friend of mine who spoils her kids rotten at xmas (ie £400 each) but puts it all on catalogue because she cant afford it. She's just about cleared it off by the next year. By then the toys are long broken/forgotten/boring. I want to shake her every year when she rattles off a list of their 'must haves'!

Lucy1982_2

I think next year I am going to try and get as many pigsback voucher as I can and then pick up bits through the year to spread the cost.

Hopefully I wont lose the things I buy though!

Fortheloveofmoney

oh god! I didn't account for the drink....ooops!

Toto

I don't know this year. I've bought most stuff but now we're going away my plans have all got a bit muddled.

I'm going to take some of the smaller things for the kids with me, and I'll buy some other bits from ebay in the US and have it posted right to MILs house, I want to get the kids ice skates because every street has a little ice skating area so it'll be a great 'get out of my hair' gift on ebay they're only about £25.00 a pair which isn't too bad.

So, all together I think I'll probably spend another £75.00 each on the kids, probably £50 for hubby and £25.00 each for MIL FIL Grandmother, BIL.

So, that's about £450. The gifts I already have for the kids, well, some will be around the tree for when we get home but most of them will be their birthday gifts next year.

immoral_angeluk

I'm back. Stuff it. lol.

How is everyone dealing with december birthdays?? Why do people have to go and be born around christmas! lol

Toto

I was born in december, it sucks. I blame the parents