Christmas spending

[Boredofthegram]

Things are far more expensive these days. I’ve got my son a couple of presents from Santa and a stocking of small bits and it’s still added up to approx £300.

 

[Ktb]

I can believe a 3 year old asking for Nike and Tommy Hilfiger. My dog came in this morning and said 'woof woof woof' I said' no you can't have a lily's kitchen advent calender you can have one from asda and be done with it!'.

This has really tickled me

 

[hannah123]

I do feel the Uk’s obsessions of buying a gift for everybody you once met excessive.

The first year I spent Xmas at my boyfriends I got a present off his little brothers friends mum. She didn’t want me to be left out which is obviously generous, but I was about 21 and don’t think I’d ever even met her so I actually just found it more uncomfortable.

 

[Ktb]

Yes I won’t be spending Christmas with them either we’re a nice dysfunctional family like that but that’s a whole different thread
I think I’ll just send a text and let them know.

 

[Notworthy]

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.

I think this is by far the most likely outcome for the vast majority. Quite frankly it's not just the expense but the ballache of finding something they want/need. The fact is that the vast majority of us actually do have all that we need. I know people talk about how hard it is right now and it is compared to the last couple of decades but historically, we have never had it so good.

 

[Notworthy]

No adults in our family get anything, the 2 littles will get about £50 each usually gift vouchers for horse riding. Food about £150, nobody really drinks though so that keeps it down. Not a money issue just got sick of buying things for the sake of it. Might get my son and i tickets for Les Mis

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

The only time I care about other people's bills is if I'm paying them Trust me you only make that mistake 5 times before you cut them off

 

[mary11]

Agreed, I'm going to spend £400 on each of my dogs just so Betty can have a heart attack

Do you At the end of the day everybody has different circumstances, budgets etc. i would never dream of saying to someone spending less than me thats its not enough they have to buy more. Everybody will spend more or less than someone else and thats perfectly fine but nobody has the right to judge.

 

[SarahGard83]

I have 2 children aged 16 and 14. They get around £500 each spent on them but I never really keep a list of what I've spent on who.
We have a xmas savings account that starts in January every year so £30 a week goes straight from our wages in to that pot. It soon adds up and takes the pressure off finding it all in one go .

 

[Nosymum]

I get things throughout the year so my daughter was finished by sep I did overspend (not on credit)so about £500 on her but I don’t tend to get her toys at any other time of year as for her birthday I try and take us away for a couple of nights this year peppa pig world for example. We don’t tend to do expensive days out at any other time but I’ve booked 3 Christmas outings and a playmobil advent calendar so that and Christmas Eve box was probably £125, my partner wanted trainers they are £380 which to me is ridiculous I’d never spend that on shoes for me don’t do designer but he’s been after them for a long time, parents £60 each, Brother and SIL £30 each and nephew and niece £20. My Nan was £20 and my neighbours who are basically family were £80 x3 and £20 for their grandson. Couple of friends at £25-30 each. I save with park throughout the year for the food and normally save £200 Sainsbury and £50 m and s but that goes on helping to get bits in November too while I’m having to buy other gifts. Dogs getting a pack of toys and prob £5 on veggies for the chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. Christmas dinner is a normal roast for us and a dessert but I like to get plenty of nibbles. I do think I go overboard but my parents always made Christmas seem so magical and I hope to do the same I’m most excited about the breakfast with Santa, train ride and farm grotto outings.

 

[Notworthy]

Anyone worried about reducing their budget or not buying family a gift, you could tell them it's for environmental reasons. Also Amazon vouchers, Amazon don't pay their fair share of corporation tax in the UK so personally I would choose John Lewis vouchers or another company that does pay their tax here unless there is something specific that the recipient wants. Our services need funding so why give money to companies like Amazon, letting money leave the country that we desperately need when there is an alternative.

 

[rainbowlemon]

*sorry wrong "here"!

This came up in my recommendations:

 

[under the ivy]

I’m doing hampers for my immediate family - I did them last year and I put a lot of thought into them. I do bath / skincare treats with fluffy socks and chocolate / bottle of wine. Doesn’t cost a lot, maybe £70 max?

My teenage brother I’ll probably buy him an Xbox game he wants with pyjamas, sweets etc.

No idea what I’m getting my boyfriend as we’re going to Cuba 2 weeks after Christmas and it’s cost us a lot I think we’ll do a £50 max limit.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

What kind of toys did you buy them?

Cheap bath toys and music instruments. You can pick up for like £1-5. Or the small bouncy balls. I bought a little a old skool toy telephone with rolling eyes and wheels. Belive it or not I had the exact one as a toddler and I loved it
Anything that’s noisy, although mum and dad might not be so happy. I got a Robo alive spider which kept them entertained, that was £5.
Also childrens binoculars which was £8.
When I’m spending like this I can get a lot of toys for about £20-30.
Just look at the cheap stuff. This year the little boy, 3, is obsessed with dinosaurs. I got a stuffed big dino from John Lewis in the sales for £5. And then a bag of plastic ones for about £6.
The 8 year old is getting a Guinness World Records book. He loved the one I got him last year.

 

[Notworthy]

Well that was a wild read! Early on we decided to treat Christmas like an celebration rather than a gift-fest, so with our kids we've always done small presents and instead we will go out on a few days out/maybe few days away somewhere in the UK.

I've worked with teenagers for years and I know peer pressure is hard and everyone says that they all want the newest things, but honestly they don't. Not all of them do. It's just a question of how you raise them. If you raise them to chase the newest iPhones and Air Maxes and what not then that's what they'd expect.

100% this. It starts almost as soon as they can verbalise what they want in the Supermarket. Buy them treats everytime they whine in the supermarket and it will continue for the next 16 years but they'll be whining for bigger and better things. my Son never had an iphone but it didn't really bother him and it had the added advantage of him being the only one in his year not to get mugged.

 

[herewegoagain88]

When the kids were younger it was £100 spend on a few toys and £50 stocking.
Now they want specific items (electronic), that this year, we have spent around £350 for each child. Plus a few day trips out. Will contribute to Xmas food as we are at my dads this year.
stockings have added up too.
Tbh I was horrified spending that much, but I would rather get them what they wanted than £100 of tat and them to be disappointed on Xmas day.
£350 on presents is my limit.

 

[rainbowlemon]

Oh bless, not been around here long clearly.

Back to Christmas, we save £50 a month, was £75 but covid and bills! It gives us enough to pay for everything, we only have a small family and this year I refuse to buy his family gifts as they are beyond ungrateful.

I've been hear for a while. Betty is a legend lol.

Well done for refusing to get them anything.

 

[Ineedmorecoffee]

I don’t have a strict budget for the kids presents. But it’s usually no more than £300-350 each. However other years it’s been more because it’s been a year they’ve had something big like a PlayStation or iPad. I’ve already been asked for a new PlayStation next year because that’s when a lot of the games will no longer be compatible with what they’ve got right now.

I save all year round so the money is there ready to spend. I’ve already started buying a few food bits here and there each week too.

 

[catlady29]

I don't have a budget as such and I only buy for my kids and no one else. My kids are not Christian and actively practise another religion, I get them a few small token gifts just so they don't feel left out of the excitement and when people ask at school what they got etc...prob spend about 40-50 each on 3 kids. I do spend more on their birthdays, around £150-200 each, thankfully we'll scattered throughout the year and none close to Xmas. You don't get a lot for your money nowadays, it's hard.

 

[rainbowlemon]

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

Think it’s lovely you’ve always looked out for them. How old are the kids?

Maybe you could also do envelopes with coupons for different free things like a trip to the park. One reading a storybook.