Christmas spending

[Foxy86]

I didn’t say we couldn’t afford it. I said that it puts us in our overdraft till February. Our household income is around £6k but I’m still dreadful at saving so it takes our January salaries to compensate for enjoying ourselves in December, and then all is back to normal for February. We go skiing in October half-term, and Centre Parcs in February half-term (usually) so between the holidays I never seem to plan for Christmas gifts.

I could save for it if I was so inclined, but as I say I can’t be arsed so I don’t bother.

£300 isn’t a great deal to spend on older children these days imo- it doesn’t get you a lot. I don’t think it’s excessive at all. Then again if it irritates you that it IS excessive then, well that’s an added bonus I guess

In any case, I’m not sure when this thread degenerated into a place to have a pop at people for spending money- fucks sake

I wouldn't waste your time explaining, I'm with you £300 doesn't get you much now days.

 

[Lisdiz]

Approx £300 per child (we have 5), £200 on food, and £100 on two other family members (depending on your perspective we’re lucky to not have a big extended family!), and probably another £200 for a festive day out somewhere (ice-skating etc.) so probably £2k all in.

It puts us into our overdraft until February every damn year- I never learn!

£300 per child. Wow.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

£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.

£300 per child x 5 children IS excessive when you haven’t got the money and you are putting yourself in debt for months for it.

 

[Ohflogoff]

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.

This. We’ve never bothered with gifts to each other, even pre economic shit show. No #boydidgood #spoiltrotten #mineisbetterthanyours pics in my gaff
No presents for adults. One secret Santa. Lots of food, lots of family and friend time. Lots of wholehearted connection.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

I wouldn't waste your time explaining, I'm with you £300 doesn't get you much now days.

Fine. But if you haven’t got £300 and you have said you go into your overdraft and stay overdrawn until February because of it that means the OP clearly hasn’t got the money to spend. And overdraft is DEBT. Someone getting into debt to spunk £300 on crap for Christmas is LUDICROUS. It’s completely irresponsible. If you haven’t got the money to spend you don’t spend it. It’s basic fucking maths.

 

[Boredofthegram]

I’ve just got my bf to finish now and finished sons last night after he wrote his Santa letter. All has been done online via etsy, Amazon and not on the high street. Trying to get from small businesses where I can and keeping it simple. I definitely didn’t have the motivation to go to the shops plus I’d be more likely to go off piste and buy stuff for the sake of it.

 

[Izzyt88]

I have a very small family. No fixed budget but will roughly be £70 each on parents. £40 each on 2 siblings. £6-700 each on 2 children. Always go to a Christmas event, this year an illumination trail. I’ll be hosting New Years lunch but none of us drink alcohol so won’t be especially expensive. I don’t do Christmas Eve boxes but children will get their Xmas pjs and advent calendars Dec 1st (to get their wear out of them!).

Ooh I like your idea of giving the kids their Xmas PJs with their advent calendars on 1st Dec instead of on Xmas Eve, think I'll steal that

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

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.

Behave kids grow that quick they’re out of them in 5 mins perfectly decent coats in asda and primark

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

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.

If you have social media just put a post up saying this year we won’t be doing presents. And if people are arsy about it then they are the problem not you
I do feel the Uk’s obsessions of buying a gift for everybody you once met excessive.
Just get all the kids a tube of Xmas smarties and a lump of coal for the ones that annoy you

 

[Nosymum]

Apologies, this may be the wrong thread to post on!!
However, any advise on how much a 4 year old should really get at Christmas?
At the moment I have got my little one around ten smaller gifts and plan on a little stocking for her to open when she wakes up but I can’t help feeling like it’s not enough?!
In the same boat as everybody else with money being really tight this year but feel like I should be doing more.

Spend what you feel like and can afford no more, ignore all the people who post pics of presents online they are either bragging or attention seeking. Stocking is easy wrap everything up if you want her to unwrap more but toothbrush, socks, crayons etc few bits from the works their 10 for £10 books are also good value and you can save a few back for her birthday. She will be excited and grateful for anything she gets am sure. I bought throughout the year but if I hadn’t I’d have got less presents and done Christmas activities I’ve booked train ride, farm Santa grotto and a breakfast with Santa none were overly expensive but I know my little one will love it. Some church’s so free craft and Christmas activities but don’t feel guilty or allow others to dictate what you do for your little one.

 

[wretchedhag]

Aw bless. I didn’t realise you were the Queen of tattle and new members weren’t allowed to comment on your conduct.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

My brother shows him clothes/trainers.

Yeah because that’s what a 3 year old should be being shown….

Honestly the bullshit people post on here….!

 

[prozacprincess]

Sorry I know this is off subject but what do you do with the alpacas when you go on holiday? I’d love some goats but then I’m like who looks after them when I’m away

We have a pet sitter that lives in our house while we are away. He’s an old colleague of mine that just enjoys the chance to live by the sea for a while.

 

[Nosymum]

The cleaning service is such a wonderful gift and am sure will be greatly appreciated. I ended up booking centre parcs (less than £400 for 4 nights) for my parents for Christmas and me and my daughter will also go so £100 each really. My dad is so hard to buy for and his birthday is 2 days after Christmas so I was glad to think of something he’d enjoy!

 

[jackolantern]

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.

I suppose it's a Western thing isn't it to see an overdraft as funds available when really historically, if you didn't have the cash in your hand, you didn't have it. I mean totally up to the individual what debt they do or don't want to get themselves into, but I do find it sad that £300 is considered to "not get you much", how do we define much? You can get such lovely stuff for so little, books for a couple of quid in charity shops, clothes and toys similar on Vinted etc. But yes certainly if you want new, plastic stuff that's 'in' or high tech, it's going to cost you. If you can afford it and want to do so, then absolutely fair enough, but it is depressing to me people feel pressured or get themselves into financial bother over it.

 

[Herbert2005]

This year the adults are getting succulent arrangements in terracotta pots. I've been propagating my succulents over the last two years and been rather successful at it so have plenty to make 4 arrangements. Terracotta pots and saucers are quite cheap and I'll decorate them in some way using stuff I already have. I saw a video by Garden Answer where they made gift "baskets" out of the pots and saucers so I might do that. I reckon it'll be under £10 per item = £40 max.

This would be the perfect gift for me.

I haven't started mine yet, unless you count the box of mince pies i bought Friday, which i have just finished eating.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I hope this doesn't sound judgy because it's not meant that way at all. But I still remember being a young child and by far the best presents weren't expensive ones but normally noisy or fun ones.
So taking that into account I've been buying nephews and nieces, they are all from 2 - 8, the things I remember enjoying. And can you believe it they also preferred playing with the cheap toys I got them than the expensive stuff everybody else got.
In fact this actually caused an issue last Xmas because my gifts range from £1 - 10 and other adults got the right hump because the children wanted to play with my cheap toys and not the expensive stuff they got.
SO what I'm saying is to cut costs try and think back to what you liked at that age and I bet you'll be surprised it wasn't the super expensive stuff

 

[Homebird44]

We're hardly spending anything this year. My eldest works full time, earns more than me and has begged me not to buy him anything. Both the kids will get something small. All the nephews and nieces are adults and working. Parents will get something tiny. We always have Christmas day at home and visit family members or have family with us boxing day. My husband and I can go for years not buying each other a Christmas present.

We used to have to take a holiday from our mortgage in November to afford Christmas. We never missed a payment so the bank were happy to let us do it. One of my friends lives off his credit card. Used it to pay for his holidays in the summer and Christmas presents. I'd never sleep if I had debt like that.

 

[Boredofthegram]

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.

I made the decision to only buy for son, partner, brother, mum and grandma this year. When I approached the rest of friends and family I’d usually buy for they were relieved I said it as it took pressure off of them to buy too.

 

[Koalabear]

surely you would have showed him the tommy hilfiger coat doubt he’s researching designer brands in his spare time

Obvs he's researching it after his afternoon snack on his brand new iPad.

I thought I was on Mumsnet for a moment.

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.

Also clearly a wind up because you would otherwise insist on Didriksons for precious DC, not some lowly Next