Realistically after all the presents/food is bought do you spend much during Christmas week?

[EvaJacobs1]

It's a nosey question I know so please tell me if I'm being cheeky. I'm just panicking a bit as my dh was told this week that the Christmas bonus (that he's got for the last eight years) will only be paid the first week in January instead of on the 24th of this month. Usually we rely on that money for any little extras over Christmas and new year but for the last few years it has has been frittered away and I can't really recall what it was spent on.

Usually Christmas week we are fairly quiet. It's just me dh and kids to feed Christmas Day and our family just nip round to see he kids and have a few nibbles, Boxing Day we go to the inlaws and we then have the family round for a meal one day in between. Basically I'm just panicking a bit now that once all our bills go our this month (on the 28th) we aren't going to have much leftover, but then my dh said that we won't need much really.

Most of our food and drink is bought, the freezer is nearly full. Most of the presents are bought just a couple of vouchers to buy for nieces and nephews and we just need a bit of spending money to put aside for a day out this weekend. I know I'm probably worrying about nothing but I'm so used to that extra little bit of money being there to fall back on. So how does everyone else manage their finances over Xmas week? Do you splurge or do you find you spend very little once all the presents and food are bought?

[Grumpyoldblonde]

I spend very, very little in the few days after, and I really enjoy a couple of easy cheap dinners (egg and chips or beans on toast) after all the heavy, rich food. You will be fine if you have everything in you need.

[LibidinousTurkey]

It's only really money for the pub TBH once the main shopping is done.
This year we will have fuel to pay for as we are travelling to my parents but realistically they will be doing the bulk of the catering so our food bill will be less and their pubs are also cheaper

[RJnomore1]

A fortune but that's because my dds birthday is on 27th. We do go to cinema on Christmas Eve but otherwise not much Christmas related activity. I'll get a row for this but as you know the money is coming a week later could you use a credit card if you need to?

[HolgerDanske]

I don't tend to spend anything really for the week between Christmas and New Years, given that we have loads of leftovers and also plenty of extras like biscuits, chocolates, crackers and cheese. I just make sure we buy the essentials in our last shop before the big day - bread, milk, eggs, cereal, fruit etc. If we need to supplement I use what we have in the freezer. It usually works out very well.

[BasinHaircut]

Well if you don't have any money you can't do anything can you! But 28th-4th is a whole week so quite a long time to not have any money if you do genuinely mean you will have zero.

If you still have things to buy then can you economise on those things to make sure you have a bit spare? Could you borrow from savings and just pay yourself back when the bonus comes through?

We don't make definite plans for that time but will try not to sit at home much if we can help it. We do tend to eat out a few times too so we probably spend quite a lot.

If you have the basics at home, leftovers, and plan to not do much then a few quid 'just in case' should be ok.

[anyoldname76]

we normally go the cinema and have tea out one night,but thats it, we dont normally spend much at all

[EvaJacobs1]

We won't have absolutely nothing as in destitute but we will definitely have to budget. Don't get me wrong I budget all year usually so I'm used to it but Christmas is usually a time were we can splurge a little and relax.

[Donge13]

Go to cinema and pizza express on Christmas Eve, pub New Year's Eve and a couple of bread and milk top ups, but I tend not to spend anything apart from travel costs till I get paid again mid January

[AutumnLeavesArePretty]

I always have an amount to spend in the sales but like to do a few trips out to break up the holiday and they can mount up.

[seasidesally]

no hardly much at all

i buy loads of food etc for christmas,and i mean loads so just bread,milk

two of mine are 16yrs so do their own thing in the week between and the youngest is very easy going and un demanding so will be playing on the xbox,over the park with his mate etc,basically they wont be costing me much so low spend