Credit-crunching Christmas - please may we have your survival tips?

[AbbyMumsnet]

What with the end of the world being nigh and all, it's struck us that what the cosmos needs right now is a selection of your finely-honed tips on surviving Christmas during a financial meltdown. Obviously, we don't mean we want your tips on how to save the banking system- although Gordon might - but we are after ideas on how to make the most expensive month of the year slightly less painful.

(Don't worry about suggesting swapping Krug for Prosecco. We've already got that one covered.)

Cheers all.

[morningpaper]

at the end of the day

people will prefer a bottle of wine to a goat

and it is cheaper

sorry but there we are

[morningpaper]

For young children, fill their stockings with normal things that they need - they are just as excited by unwrapping a new pink toothbrush or some nice pants as some plastic tat

[FimboGotAxed]

Bung a satsuma in the stocking too

[MrsMattie]

Focus on on getting together with family, friends and neighbours, rather than buying, buying, buying.

People generally prefer a mince pie and a chinwag over a crapola Boots 3 for 2 toiletries set!

[Eniddo]

don't buy so much pointless crap

[Eniddo]

[theSuburbanDryad]

Go to rich IL's for Xmas day - they will shower dc with crappy plastic tat lovely gifts and cook enormous dinner.

Repeat with own family for Boxing Day - or reverse if you prefer.

If you don't have any rich family, you're a bit fucked, but you can always try your dh's boss, who will hopefully reform from his stingy ways just in time to buy you a goose for Xmas dinner.

[expatinscotland]

Food, glorious food!

It's fairly cheap, it's yummy and it's easily re-gifted if the recipient doesn't like it.

For family gifts, drawing names out of a hat rather than giving a gift to each and every member of the family is a great way to economise AND avoid giving tatt something the recipient might give away, see charity shop thread.

And I agree with MP, save the Oxfam goats for tacky people who demand money as a wedding gift like the tasteless bourgeois they are .

[Gumbo]

It's not too early to look out for cheap deals/small toys etc now. If you buy them now it makes December a lot cheaper too.

(I've bought for everyone except DH already; all of my family, various nephews/neices etc have all got 'sale' presents).

[BCNS]

christmas food.. it is only one day.. how much can you really eat and drink.. and lets face it it's a roast dinner. You really do not need to spend hundreds of ponds on christmas food.. you will still have all the nice things.. you will still be stuffed, you will still have left overs etc! you just don't need to spend hundreds.

If your buying big electrical type things for pressies.. remember the shops want sales.. they have targets to meet.. so Haggle.. this works even more so if you are buying more than one gadget type thing.. so try and go to one shop and purchase them at the same time. If you don't get money off ask them what they will throw in for you.

[MerlinsBeard]

buy presents early so the cost is spread and think about what they actually need. if they already have 25 DS games they don't need another!

[hatwoman]

I was going to trot out my usual tip but morning paper has beaten me to it. In our house FC always brings pants and quite often brings pyjamas. I agree with fiofio too about charity shops - dd1 adores all the battered china dogs and ornaments that were once advertised on the back of a newspaper...she's always trying to persuade me to get them as birthday presents for her friends but I've never had the nerve to impose them on some poor parents. might impose one or two on myself though. also some places do cheap not-second hand stuff - British Heart Foundation have some nice stone-jewellery and key rings.

[morningpaper]

Yes we do pyjamas

Actually they are a special christmas eve present - nicely wrapped on pillows as exciting christmas eve treat!

is actually really boring of course but children don't realise that yet and think it is AMAZINGLY exciting getting a present before christmas day!!!!

[Eniddo]

PANTS

thats a rubbish present

[Eniddo]

tbh there really is only one tip:

set a budget and stick to it.

All the rest is window dressing.

[morningpaper]

Enid: If your children think that pants are a rubbish present then you are setting the bar too high

Tip: Don't set the bar too high

[Eniddo]

Well, no, as my children wouldn't think they were rubbish because of what they cost. They would think it they are rubbish because getting a pack of pants is seen as boring and unimaginative chez Enid.

You can be imaginative with v little money you know.

[youmaynotlikethis]

are you serious fiofio £20 why??? bit..well lot tight

[Eniddo]

[morningpaper]

Ah but if you have to buy the pants anyway...

Mine actually love pants and also go wild about socks and tights

Their lives are obviously EXTREMELY dull