We'll have a good one this year!! Come and save for Christmas with me!

[MsOnatopp]

OK I promised myself last year that this year I WOULD afford a Christmas tree and not have a last minute panic about having enough money.

I have written down what I will spend on what and on who, and included birthdays for the rest of the year, then decided what I have spare each month til Dec, and decided what I need to save each month til then to give us a good Christmas.

Anyone else want to join me in my quest for the best Christmas we've had in a few years?

[TheSpokenNerd]

Yes I will. We had a dream that we mght be able to afford to go to Oz this year to see DHs family but sadly it looks very out of reach atm. BUT I am not one to give up!

I wasa thinking about having a mass ebay of stuff...and cutting back generally.

But in order to go to Oz, we'll need about 6 grand! That's possibly a bit too much given the space... but I figure what the heck...if we get 4 grand, then DHs parents might chip in or if not then we'll have a later trip...maybe in Spring.

I'm in.

[MsOnatopp]

Great! I don't need anything like that thankfully!

Can't wait for the moment that I realise I am having a relaxed Christmas and a stress free December :)

[fivegomadindorset]

I am about half way through my Christmas present buying, just ordering DC's ones now, and any adults are getting homemade stuff this year, I have also been paying into a thrift club at work and should have about £700 in November. Would like to go and see friends in Dubai next year so that is what we are saving for.

[marathonrunner]

I have one of those tins which you can only open with a tins opener. I am currently on JSA (awaiting start date for new job, woo hoo ). Basically, what I do is put in £10 per fortnight and everytime I get a £2 coin it goes in. Last year, when I opened it on December the 1st, I had £397. I was thrilled

[morecoffeemorecoffee]

Yes! I will join you! I'm expecting my 3rd child (due in Feb 2013) and I'm not working, so money not exactly flowing! I intend to put some money aside each week and cut back on the weekly food shop to accommodate this. I will aim for £10 a week starting tomorrow, adding more as I can. Have also started saving those saver stamps at Tesco and Morrisons. I have already bought lots of presents for neice//nephews and adult female relations over the months as I've spotted the odd bargain. I like to spoil my children at Christmas (within our means) and like cooking good food, so need to save the funds as I've destroyed my credit card!

[AdoraBell]

I think I'll join in too, if you'll have me. OH is self employed and hasn't been paid in a couple of months, he tells me now- I thought it was only June, so I need to cut back if we've any hope of having a Christmas. DD's birthdays before then and school hols. We're abroad so currency is different, I'll round to the nearest £. I plan to save between £10 £15 per week, circumstances permitting.

I have no presents yet, must start looking in the next couple of weeks.

[MsOnatopp]

Good, there is a few of us. I can't save week by week. I get different amounts of money every month so I have set a realistic amount to save each month. This month is a small amount and I wont be able to save it til Saturday but I will take the money out first thing on Sat and put it into my 'Christmas funds' envelope.

It's for birthday presents too though and first one is end of this month!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

OP - I started saving monthly for Christmas a few years ago, and it really does make such a difference. Just wanted to wish you well on your mission and tell you to look forward to transferring all the money into your account in mid-November to go and spend!

[DublinDoll]

I got ?15 taken from my wages each week. I am used to it and don't miss it now. That means in December I will have over ?750 which will buy all the Santa gifts, clothing, presents, food, pay for treats such as a trip to see Santa, the panto and a meal out etc. We would find Christmas impossible to do any other way, it also means we are not broke for the whole of January.

[DublinDoll]

Get not got, I don't know how to edit sorry!

[MsOnatopp]

I added another £15 to my envelope at the weekend. Forgot to get more out of the ATM but I'm happy to have more in :)

[AdoraBell]

DDs are back to school on Monday, I'll be able to get my head around budgeting. Need to get myself one of those flash envelope thingies and stash some cash.

[MsOnatopp]

:o have put some more in!

[Vagaceratops]

Can I join in - I always say I will start saving and I never do, so from this week I am going to start putting £20 aside towards Christmas.

[MsOnatopp]

Join! join! :) You don't have to report back or anything but I like to post that I have saved a bit. Makes me feel better! Just do it. I don't want people in a tight stop like some of us were in last year.

[whatinthewhatnow]

I'm in! Would love to have a stress free xmas this year. It's about 22 weeks till xmas if I counted right. I reckon I need £400 to make it nice, including xmas dinner. So if I put £20 per week away, that'll be £440. I'm going to start this week!

[AdoraBell]

I managed £10 this week, slightly disappointing but at least it's £10 more than week

Must try to make it £20 next week. I don't buy a lot of presents extravagant spending is the OH's department so I'm mostly concerned with the other aspects.

[milk]

Until the 30/09/2012, if you are new to Tesco Direct (or simply use a different email address, etc) if you use the eCoupon code: TDX-KPHM you get £10 off when you spend £50 or more.

Or if you had 2 gifts to buy that were £50+ each, then you could simply create 2 email addresses, and save yourself £20 :)

[Vagaceratops]

Right, have decided that I am not very good at saving, so instead I am going to but a present every week from last week (got a rainbow fairies box set and some Hello Kitty Puzzles for DD).

[milk]

Vagaceratops maybe save for each person, then spend

[AdoraBell]

I've failed this week, much try much harder next week. In fact I think I'll put £20 away at the beginning and just pretend it's not there.

[eandh]

I have a standing order for £15 a week going into a joint savings account with my mum (I work in a bank so easy to set up) mum pays her and dads money in cash every month and my brother also has standing order means I have over £720 (give or take a bit as I don't pay in December) we always draw it out in October so I can get sorted in November all presents are paid with cash some know I don't put any on cards. Have been picking up dd's stocking fillers through year (dd1 is 5 and dd2 is almost 8) general things like pretty stationery, hair clips, drawing/craft bits. We both have fairly big families but norm ally do token presents for older relations and only buy children presents. We normally have £200-300 left I am hosting Christmas so need to save a bit towards food (but buy £2 morrisons saver stamps every week so have £100 for food) and dh and I don't have big presents (little present such as book etc to open and girls get £10 each to buy presents for us) but we always have a night away in London as our present to each other and my mum and dad normally pay for show tickets as early Christmas present

[eandh]

Obviously dd1 is almost 8 and dd2 is 5 whooops

[dementedma]

Wow you are all doing well. We try and save in a credit union account and then you can either take out your shares to spend or take out a low interest loan for double your savings,which is what we have done in previous years.hopefully this year we won't need the loan. Haven't bought any gifts yet,too early as they don't know what they want and have birthdays to deal with first.

[Shinyshoes1]

Can I join.

This year is the first year I've used a hamper company. I'm getting vouchers though not a hamper.

I pay £100.00 a month in and by end of November I should have
£1000.00 love to shop vouchers
£200.00 Amazon vouchers
£100.00 M&S voucher.

This has to buy EVERYTHING .

If it works out well I'll do the same next year

oh, and for 10 years service I get £100.00 from the company to convert into vouchers of my choice, I will put this towards Christmas too