how to have a frugal christmas with teens?

[slartybartfast]

or how to live frugually with teenagers all year round?

all these suggestjns about cheaper shampoo what no dont cut it in my house. ufnrotuatnely

stockings?
preesnts?

any one any ideas.

[Sparklingbrook]

Budge up slarty. I need to know too.......

[slartybartfast]

ROLL UP roll up

[Sparklingbrook]

Everyone's having a v expensive Christmas with their teens obviously slarty.

[slartybartfast]

i know, perhaps i should have phrased it differently, patience is a virtue though.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

I don't know, we just didn't have an option to be anything other that frugal. They grew up hearing "If you don't like it go and buy what you do like yourself". How old are the teens in question?

[zeeboo]

No idea. I've just cut down on buying adults presents since my lot have become teens and more expensive.

[Sparklingbrook]

I have one DS1 is 13. He said today that for Christmas he wants 'a bit of respect round here'.

[Celticlassie]

Primark?

[Floralnomad]

My teens actually want very little this year and I'm struggling for ideas . I must be either very lucky or have been so generous in the past there's nothing left to want.

[RandomMess]

Be honest with them and say your budget for their gift(s) is £x

[Pourquoimoi]

sparkling - I like it . I have had similar requests round here but from my 8yo.

[Sparklingbrook]

Definitely the frugal option Pourquoi, I will buy him a big box of respect.

[brighterfuture]

My undeserving Dc should be getting socks, a comic, an orange and a book on how to be respectful .

[Sparklingbrook]

And this poster brighter?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Stockings - I wrap up stuff they need or that we'd buy at some point anyway. Eg: dd1 likes Marmite so she gets a jar of it in her stocking and dd2 likes grenadine so gets a bottle of that. I also wrap up body spray, hairspray, makeup remover, shower gel, new toothbrushes, nail varnish remover and cotton wool etc etc for their stockings. They always get new PJs as one of their presents, plus knickers, socks, tights etc.

We spend between 80 and 100 pounds each, I'd say, so I don't know if it's 'frugal' but we deffo don't go mad.

[slartybartfast]

bump

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Was my post that useless then? Humph.

[Doilooklikeatourist]

My DS ( 17 ) has very helpfully emailed me his Christmas list , I would guess over 3 grands worth , starting with an Apple Mac , and ending with half of Jack Wills , not forgetting the car insurance ( that obviously all of his friends have )

Ha ha haha ha .

Maybe I should email him mine .....

[marriednotdead]

The budget for my teen boys last year was £50 each. I can't remember everything that they got but there was a cardi, a silver chain, headphones, a Nike neckwarmer and a large jar of Nutella amongst other things. DD had a hairdryer and some slippers plus a couple of beauty bits.

Their stockings contain shower gel, a toothbrush, socks, chocs and something random as well as the mandatory choc coins and a satsuma.

The budget will be the same this year as the boys are both getting laptops for their birthdays (Jan and Feb).

We have always told them (since they stopped believing in that person) how much the budget is if their requests are over our limits.

The boys' favourite presents last year were the animal onesies DD bought them from Primarni!

[notactuallyme]

Could you do a pre filled stocking? I've saved loads of money by doing this - depends if you need to put essentials in tho. The teen boy or girl ones this year from partytoo are good - got one for dd and my nephews (14 and 10)

[HappyTurquoise]

Lots of good ideas here that I'll be pinching. Did my first bit of Christmas shopping yesterday. I was going to buy some craft books new, but saw second hand ones in a craft market, and I think my dcs would prefer second hand for things like books anyway. DD1 says she'd like to be with extended family for Christmas, so have invited, but it's scary to think of extra presents to buy and them seeing our meagre offerings and comparing. Will just have to cross that bridge if our invitation's accepted. DH has lots of hotel points from work travel, so will offer to put them all up in local hotel. (At least they'll have a working shower!) And they can come to ours for all the food.

I think I will swap to Lidl, Also and the Pound shop and see if that saves us anything. (Its extra petrol and parking charges though.)

To save money year round, I've just had to be blunt with DCs. They know that our shower isn't working properly and I've been trying to save up to replace it for months, and that is top of my list of things to spend on. Same with some other things around the house, saving up is very hard.

I've stopped buying treats and fizzy drinks. I've asked them to stop buying sports drinks at school because we just don't have the 70p-£1 a day for that. I've told them that helps to pay for their sports. I buy cheap own brand deoderant and shampoo.

Dd1 is expected to buy her own make up, deoderant, tights and bus fares and cinema outings. When I see that she's bought something new, I remind her that one day she will want driving lessons and i don't get any pocket money, so I won't be able to pay for them, best she starts saving up now! Mine get £1 pocket money per year old (so £13 for a 13 yo).

I've started to sell things we don't need, instwad of give to charity, and that will help pay for our Christmas.

[slartybartfast]

THANKS, all helpful,
i will just tell em, there is a limit. birthdays more pricey, but christmas, the money needs to be shared.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

I definitely set a limit, it's usually been £100 each, but a couple of times it's been £70.
They also get a stocking from FC. Our Christmas involves food and a tree, not much else other than all the traditions we've built up that cost almost nothing.
Food doesn't sound exciting until you consider that we don't have pop, crisps, biscuits and cake etc as a regular thing the rest of the year.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

Um, I mean we don't have them in the house and easily to hand, but cake and crisps are eaten year round outside the home.