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

i feel bad, but if anyone gives me 'joke' gifts, like tacky mugs or gross ornaments, i throw them in the bin.

i might find them funny enough as i start drinking at breakfast on Xmas, but ultimately that junk just goes in the bin.

pants

still can't grasp the concept of pants as gift

"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."

PMSL, UD!

Agree re buying pants/socks/toothbrushes.

I buy presents in sales and keep them in a special present cupboard (my wardrobe) until they're needed. Same goes for wrap, etc.

I still do a stocking for my grown up children and their partners...we open them after a drink or 3 on Christmas Day evening.

Much hilarity and bemusement as poor partners draw out lovely 'hand-painted' ornaments from the pound/charity shop, Haribo, a tacky mug, oh, lots of daft things but always pants and socks/tights.

They still love it so this year smaller prezzies and stockings but still some daft stuff.

(DP and I have our stockings on Christmas morning, in bed with a cuppa, wonderful start to the day, we too have daft things, it's the best thing ever)

my sister gets quite a few of her christmas presents with her Boots points

On the pants subject. If I need to buy my children pants they get cheapo, plain Asda multipacks. However Father Christmas is somewhat more generous than me and will pop Disney Princess or Star Wars or whatever into their stockings.

I am a big fan of buying on the internet and using a web co operative site such has [[https://www.quidco.com/ quidco]
Click through to the merchant and earn cashback on purchases - it works for car insurance, RAC cover, switching energy supplier and all sorts of things.
(not a referral link btw, takes you to homepage)
After (usually) about 3 months, depending on cashback, a little bonus in your bank account come the new year.

Look for buy one get one half price/free gifts just bought a load of books in Smiths which will do for DC's godparents.

that's ridiculous re: pants

hmm, many threads on here about how people don't hang their smalls on the line where folks can see them.

jewellry, nah. only my mother and father get it right for me when it comes to jewellry except when i've pointed out something specifically to DH - he knows otherwise not to go there because i'm very particular when it comes to jewellry.

expat i was thinking jewellery, i reckon the people i woudl buy for i could buy jewellery which they'd like. knickers - you just look on their linesurely

Buy presents for Nieces and Nephews. Agree the amount you'll all spend.
Use Pound shops for stocking fillers.
When you do your grocery shopping put money on a gift card/saving card each week. (£5x50 wks = £250)
Start buying early it spreads the cost.

because you can know a person for years, bundle, and still not know their tastes, especially not when it comes to intimate undergarments.

take my MIL, for example . . .

because you can know a person for years, bundle, and still not know their tastes, especially not when it comes to intimate undergarments.

take my MIL, for example . . .

expat why would you be buying a present for someone whose tastes you didn't know well?

My suggestions for a cheaper christmas. We do most of these things not just because they are cheaper but my children (like most children we know) already have far too much stuff and really don't need a thing:

Buy lots of cheap stuff from car boot sales and charity shops. My dds still don't care if stuff is new or not - they are 8, 7 and 4.

Jazz up the present-giving in some way. DP does elaborate treasure hunts around the house and garden. Kids love it and it spans out the present-opening.

Arrange other activities for Christmas day so that it's not all just about opening and then playing with presents. We like to go to the beach or similar, but it means that if you aren't buying them that much, they quite likely won't notice.

Arrange with all possible adults in family a no-presents-for-adults rule.

Food and drink. Don't invite any relatives over. Then you don't have to wine or dine them added advantage you don't have to talk to them either.

ah, thats what i do for my DCs lol! (wouldn't give PJs to anyone else unless they had asked!)

Now if the pants and PJs are from my mother or aunt I am most appreciative because they have good taste.

But sadly, most don't.

oh, god, NO!

call me a snob but pants and PJ's do not a present make unless the recipient has expressed a desire for them and selected them personally.

same thing with jewellry.

too personal. the person needs to know your tastes well.

yuk.

Avoiding being GIVEN crap is important I think

I have a collage on my study wall of Stuff I Like which I make for christmas and then hand to DH

i like morningpaper's thinking

last christmas i sent a link fromthe jackie brazil jewllery site to dh - ta-dah, the bracelet arrived just in time

to avoid stress don't read what other peoples budgets are.

we do the same small presents every year

PJs xmas eve
new outfit for xmas day INC pants and socks!
and then 1 present from FC, one from each member of the house and then anything else is a bonus!!

in their stocking they have something to read, something to do and a small piece of crimbo choc(they would use satsumas to squeeze in each others eyes)

When relatives ask what to get we give them a theme so we don't end up with 4 iof the same thing. This years themes look like they will be Ben 10 and wooden trains(same as every year!)

Kids under seven - buy them a bumper pack of paper and pens and spend time with them drawing/making things. This is a lot more fun than some cheap tat and you can make thank you cards to send to the relies for the cheap tat they did send - so bonus!

DD would love pants btw, she's potty training and is currently carrying Upsy Daisy pants round the house constantly saying 'My big girl pants'