Christmas spending

[candyland_]

Am I the only one who will be glad when the whole thing is over?

 

[JSquared]

Might not be the appropriate thread if it’s not direct me elsewhere please.
Has anyone made the decision not to buy for others this year? How do you stop feeling guilty about it.
My gas meter needs the couple of hundred I would spend.

We have and we just had an honest conversation with those we were not buying for. A lot of relief all round so you may be pleasantly surprised with peoples reactions.
At the end of the day, Christmas should be about spending time with people you love. I would happily take no presents over that!

 

[Theyeahyeahs]

The cleaning service is such a lovely and thoughtful gift. The last thing you want to be worrying about during treatment is cleaning the house, and the professionals do a much better job of it anyway!

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

This thread got crazy quick, for me I can honestly see why people can an do go into the overdraft an somtimes I don't think it's really the parents fault, my aunt would be in the overdraft every year because the kids obviously wanted what all their friends got, the latest trainers, concert tickets, a phone or tablet, the latest games console etc and it would be feb/March before she was cleared

Before I had my neice I'd be thinking to myself why is she letting them pick such expensive things when she hasn't got it, it's just stupid to do that an they need to be told no, till now when I find myself doing the same thing because my neice now wants certain things that's expensive an kids don't understand the value of money, my neice will pick up a doll that to her is pretty an has all these things but doesn't understand that doll is £50 an it's only going get worse when she starts going to friends an seeing what they have which she will want herself, obviously she will need to learn no but I do get why parents can get into dept, it isn't easy to say no to your kid at Xmas especially if the expensive thing is the only thing they have asked for an £300 these days doesn't go far, hell a games console can be over that on its own now an I doupt any parent here is going to get their kid just ONE thing for Xmas

Sorry for the rant, just feel is isn't fair to really call out people who do get into the overdraft when in this day an age nothing is cheap these days for kids especially when it comes to the tech stuff which all kids want

My mother had 0 issues saying no to me and she always managed to not spend a fortune on me!

Clearly she mustn’t have liked me

 

[sourlemon]

I feel guilty for not getting my family as much as I usually would. I’m usually the responsible one to buy for my 4 nephews (their mother is useless & doesn’t get them anything because she spends her money on shite) and this will be the first year I don’t have the £500 that I usually give her (well I take her to the shops and make her buy stuff) and it’s eating at me, I grew up wrapping my own gifts from things I could find around the house I never wanted that for those little kids, but this year I just can’t afford it .. I know it’s not all about money etc but I’m feeling so depressed about it.
I’ve got them pjs and a chocolate treat this year. Haven’t bought for anyone else, simply can’t

 

[Milktray]

I've already prewarned the kids that they are not getting as much this year. Few cheap bits in their stockings, some choc and £100 each. The kids seem fine with that.

Not buying for any adult relatives except mother in law. And all had that agreement for a few years now.

We had started this thing of buying posh advent calendars a few years back, but this year we just bought the £1 calendars.

Not sure I'll bother with Christmas cards this year because stamps are extortionate.

Usually have a meal out just the four of us but I'll do something at home instead, go for a walk, see all the lights then come home and have some cheap picky bits etc and a Christmas film.

Aye, that's right. Christmas doesn't need to be about money and gifts. In fact, the lead up to the actual day is just as fun...baking, watching films, Christmas music...that's all nice in itself.

 

[Ktb]

£300 per child isn’t really all that excessive depending on their ages.
I much preferred Christmas when mine was young as £300 would go really far.
That price is a pair of trainers and a bottle of his favourite aftershave nowadays.

 

[Brianbadonde]

Might not be the appropriate thread if it’s not direct me elsewhere please.
Has anyone made the decision not to buy for others this year? How do you stop feeling guilty about it.
My gas meter needs the couple of hundred I would spend.

We stopped as a family a few years ago, only buy for my daughter (19) she’s had £150 and will buy for niece and nephew (8 and 6) £30 each, no pressies for adults (parents and partners both sides, bro and his girlfriend or my grandad) and I don’t expect anything back. We all just had an honest convo that we couldn’t afford it and didn’t want to waste money and that Xmas was just about being together, eating and watching crap tv. Everyone chips in for booze and food but it’s not extravagant (just a Sunday lunch with added starter and pud). We all make more of an effort for birthdays as they are individual and far more special for us as a family.
Just have the conversations and people should understand, times are hard and no one should feel guilty for not spending money you haven’t got.

 

[mrs.darcy]

Plants are a fantastic idea. I always give plants instead of flowers. I bought small gold terrariums off ebay and filled them with cacti and white pebbles. They look great.

They're lovely.

Pointless giving me plants as I can't keep them alive, I'm so bad that last year one of my daughters bought me a book called How not to kill your houseplants

 

[Saddlesoap]

This thread is a great read

 

[Daisymai]

My son is almost 2, I’ve got him..

Pyjamas, slippers and a woolly hat- £47
Book- £4
Bath toy- £5
Kinetic sand- £6
Lidl wooden birthday cake- £5
Sticker book-£5
Musical instrument set- £25
Chocolate buttons- £1

So around roughly £100. I’m worried if I get more, he would get bored of opening presents

 

[lozzapaloozza]

Not bragging.

Oh lawddd don’t bring up the credit card with Betty around

 

[wretchedhag]

So you buy expensive designer clothes for a 3 year old and yet you shop in ALDI and put toys from there on credit….

Oh the irony…..

I love how you’re getting so wound up when you’re clearly being trolled.

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

Is it too late to wrap my self in a blanket, pop into a wicker Bastet and be left at your parents door for adoption

Same! I was born in 95 and I used to get maximum £50 spent on me for my birthday and £50 for Christmas!

Someone took the piss once in college because I was just getting a £30 coat… she was getting iPhone, laptop, designer clothes, shoes, makeup etc oh well I can spoil myself at Christmas now I have my own money!

 

[i10gal]

I don't have kids, but have a step daughter (and her hubby) who have given us a beautiful granddaughter who is now 7. Hubby and I have been together over 20 years and the first Christmas we were together, neither of us had a clue what to buy each other so we made a pact and said don't bother so we never have bothered buying for each other. We buy things as and when we need them.

Anyway, we spend around £150 on our grand daughter which is usually a sack with lots of different pressies. Last year after she had opened all her presents in the sack which ranged from £1 to £35 she said granny, my favourite present is this. Yep it was something from the pound shop. Bless her. I am so happy she is not materialistic and is quite happy wearing Primark or Asda clothes

 

[jackolantern]

Honestly very little. Prior to this year we would spend £30 per person for gifts (usually 10 or so to buy for so around £300 altogether) and probably £100 on food for the two of us over the Christmas period. This year, we are only doing gifts for my goddaughter, Gran and our son, simply because we can't afford it. So reduced the present costs to about £100. What would usually be £500 or so, will now be about £200.

I'm not judging people who spend more, it's entirely up to you how you spend your money and likely quite natural to spend more when you have more, but it's never been a desire (or ability) of mine personally to spend alot at Christmas. So to anyone who is reading and feels bad about seeing the big spends - just know you aren't alone!

 

[Jyhy1110]

I have 1 nearly 4 year old son and a small family with only 1 nephew, there’s only about 7 of us altogether I probably spend about £250 all in including presents and food, we don’t spend much on us adults it’s mainly for the children and from the children, I’m a single parent and my family respect that I’m not on a double income and know I will budget

I also work in banking and see customers on the daily with numerous amounts of lending including overdrafts, loans and credit cards, so I’m naturally nosey on this thread to see how people deal with their finances, I do find it uncalled for to go at what other spend/do with their money, if they are using overdrafts/store credit it’s upto that person to pay it back plus interest etc it’s not anyone else’s business how someone manages their finances, so many people getting their knickers in a twist over something that doesn’t concern them

 

[Penguinfeet]

We added it up and we have spent about £350 on our two kids and I'm leaving it there, I can't afford more and honestly, they have enough. My mum wants something in the sales and I will get my husband a hoody and a cap he wants so about £55 in all. Add in the food and we will most likely spend about £500-600. That's it, that's all I'm doing this year and that's enough.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Honestly very little. Prior to this year we would spend £30 per person for gifts (usually 10 or so to buy for so around £300 altogether) and probably £100 on food for the two of us over the Christmas period. This year, we are only doing gifts for my goddaughter, Gran and our son, simply because we can't afford it. So reduced the present costs to about £100. What would usually be £500 or so, will now be about £200.

I'm not judging people who spend more, it's entirely up to you how you spend your money and likely quite natural to spend more when you have more, but it's never been a desire (or ability) of mine personally to spend alot at Christmas. So to anyone who is reading and feels bad about seeing the big spends - just know you aren't alone!

This is kind of why I’m annoyed by this whole “let’s use the overdraft and be overdrawn for months” nonsense. People go completely mental over Christmas and overspend and get themselves into debt and for what? It’s just stupidity. Paying over the odds for gifts that you can’t afford is just irresponsible and reckless. Being overdrawn for MONTHS for what? It’s 1 day out of the entire YEAR. Spunking £300 on plastic tatt for children is just the behaviour of idiots who don’t have any idea how to budget or manage money responsibly.

 

[August]

Eh youse can believe what you want. Btw designer coats are superior. Warmest coat I’ve ever had was a Tommy H one. Not bragging. It was second hand. I would never get him a Primark coat because they’re no good. I usually get him coats from Zara or Next.