Brexit affecting this Christmas versus others?

[LondonLaura]

Just curious if anyone else is noticing that Christmas this year is different financially, perhaps as a result of Brexit downturn? Is anyone else changing things cutting back slightly with the insecurity of March coming or is it just me?

[BoyMeetsWorld]

I'm doing the opposite actually. If it's the last one we may be able to enjoy, I'm damn well making sure my family enjoy it. £500 blown on prezzies and lavish dinner will not save us if we lose our jobs or can't afford the mortgage anymore.

By the same token, we've got basically everything we'd hoped to do to the house done this winter. Again....If it goes into negative equity we are stuck here for the long haul so best make sure we love it! & if we have no funds to pay the mortgage anymore, what we've spent wouldn't have saved us long enough to matter.

[TempsPerdu]

DP works in a fairly senior role for a large household name retail chain (not one of those that have previously reported financial problems). He says this is shaping up to be the worst Christmas sales period he can remember (he’s been there for 20 years). Apparently Black Friday sales were okish online, but footfall is massively down and they’re not expecting things to pick up. His retail contacts elsewhere are reporting the same and consensus is that it’s down to Brexit.

I think people are either being extremely cautious or planning one big spending blowout before March 29th.

[bellinisurge]

I used to live in a country with a currency that couldn't be traded internationally- in a big economic mess - I used to visit pals who had mahoosive TVs and other equipment. They explained that it was the only way to guarantee a bit of stability in their savings- spend it on goods that don't swoop up and down (mostly down) in value. Stuff that will sell. I can sense a bit of that.

[ClashCityRocker]

Well, it means the traditional after dinner row might be slightly more high brow than usual....

[GD12]

Let's enjoy the last Christmas before chaos. Next year will be hellish.

[citiesofbismuth]

I dislike xmas so any excuse to downscale it is good with me 😁

[KennDodd]

I'm losing my job next year because of Brexit. I have my mum coming to stay, she voted Leave because of "immigrants' and thinks the loss of my job is just an price worth paying. I wish she wasn't coming.

[BigChocFrenzy]

kenn 💐
You are more tolerant than I.
I'd not have invited her if she regards you as acceptable collateral damage

[Easilyflattered]

I guess it depends on whether the deal gets voted through if we have a carefree Christmas.

I'm currently trying to clear debt before Brexit day so I'm limiting spending a bit because of that. Brexit has put more a deadline on sorting my spending out.

I did some Christmas shopping today, there were a couple of shops which felt like they were struggling but haven't announced poor profits yet, lots of stuff reduced on flash sales.

[BackInTime]

PIL are suddenly talking about scaling back on presents this year. Apparently the value of their pensions and investments have gone down and they are worried that things will get worse. They voted leave but I can see that reality is finally starting to hit them.

[DGRossetti]

Went through the really swanky Birmingham shopping/city living complex the Mailbox yesterday (the one with Harvey Nicks ...). At this time of year it should be rammed. If there were more shoppers than staff, I'd be amazed ...

[CitrusFruit9]

Yes, it just feels wrong to be frittering money away when you don't know what is coming.

[Jorgezaunders]

The Mailbox always looks dead whenever I've been in it.

[StylishMummy]

This is staggering, people still need food, clothes, tech and furniture- this scaremongering is ludicrous and I voted remain

[delilahbucket]

I run a business that normally does very well at Christmas. Sales are definitely down by about 10% this year. Take into consideration I have a larger stock range than last year and that 10% becomes more like 15-20%.

[citiesofbismuth]

Most ordinary people are still living with austerity. The shops can't expect people to spend money they haven't got. They might regard us as cash cows, but we're actually not.

[TheElementsSong]

this scaremongering is ludicrous

Well the only meaningful way to disprove this "scaremongering" is to get out there instead of bravely typing on an internet forum, put one's own money where one's mouth is, and Spend Spend Spend without even a hint of restraint!

[whenwillthetwitchstrike]

I was just about to start a thread on this. I feel as though this Christmas is a last hurrah. It's not directed at my parents or siblings as they at least had a chance to vote and have enjoyed the benefits of EU memberships and we're fortunate enough to cope with some belt tightening although parents and PIL are of an age where needing care is going to be increasingly likely which could be a problem.
It's the DC. I just want to shower them with love and presents and apologise for the storm which is about to be unleashed and which will massively impact on their futures. DS is borderline for various additional needs and the chances of their being enough funding available to give someone like him any support seem so slim when those with much more severe needs are going to suffer.
A bauble with sentimental value smashed yesterday as we were putting up the tree. I'm sure that in previous years I would have been saddened by it whereas yesterday all I could think was who knows what next Christmas will look like as both DH and I work in areas which require people to have disposable discretionary income.

[DoctorTwo]

I guess it depends on whether the deal gets voted through if we have a carefree Christmas.

What the PM is calling a deal is nothing of the sort. That she refers to it as 'the best deal for Britain' is nothing but a barefaced lie. Under EU rules no deal can be negotiated until we have left, so 30th March 2019.

[Easilyflattered]

Point taken DoctorTwo.

I guess I meant if an agreement was made about the withdrawal period or whether we end up looking to crash out.

Interesting times ahead.

[LondonLaura]

We have put through bigger purchases and some essential building works this year worried about what is to come next year. We generally spend a bit more over Christmas and pay it off in the new year, but certainly not this Christmas!!

[StupidBrexit]

I'm trying to cut back as I'm very mindful that this could be the last comfortable Christmas for a good while. I'm spending funds on dried goods etc which will keep.

My parents, who both voted Leave, have noticeably cut back as 'everything is so expensive now'. (Yeah, because of your vote, cheers).

Siblings are also cutting back. Worried about their jobs next year.

Brexit.

[StupidBrexit]

As ever, if you're not worried, you're not paying attention.

[spacechimp]

As ever, if you're not worried, you're not paying attention

Absolutely. Crashing out with 'no deal'/no agreements in place is totally possible and until and unless I know it's not going to happen I'm spending on what I can to mitigate the effects of that. We had building work done this year and also replaced electrical goods. I'm buying additional food which will keep and alcohol, not really for Christmas, more for expected price rises and/or lack of availability depending on what ends up happening.

[DGRossetti]

I'm buying additional food which will keep and alcohol

very wise If nothing else, a bottle of Scotch is great for barter ....