Can I mention the c word ?

[Pringlemonster]

I’ve 4 kids
2 with birthdays in December as well.
So every year we spend around £1000, on Christmas and the 2 birthdays.its a huge amount ..£150 max per child Christmas and birthdays.
Then the food .we've massively cut down on the food we buy ,so cupboards are not full of crap.
A few relatives to buy for another £50.
Perhaps I should start saving up in the year ,so I don’t start worrying around October.
How has anyone else got the costs down
Kids are all older as well ,everything seems to cost so much

Seems alright? Can you start cutting back a bit now and putting money into a separate account/planning what you need to buy?

Can you agree not to exchange presents with the relatives anymore?

Add one or two long date food items to each food shop from now until Christmas.

You are under no obligation to spend above your means op. It doesn't help your DC if you get in to debt, and it's not setting them a good example. Also, don't put debt on a cc as it is do expensive to pay off if you don't do it immediately. It's more important to have emergency savings, especially in these uncertain times.

Why not tell your DC that this year is going to be a bit more modest than usual and start saving for next year now? And then focus on making this year's experience a nice one with lots of cooking together and perhaps focusing on creating stuff rather than buying it? As they are older, maybe your DC could take more of a lead in the decorating and food prep? And put them in charge of "family entertainment"?

We have a special savings account we pay a standing order into each month so as soon as the good deals start (I think Smyths toys annual event is next week) we can just go and get as much as possible without dipping into our 'normal' savings or monthly cash.

I take everything out of that account, any new decorations, xmas jumpers, gifts for relatives etc. As a result we don't really feel the impact of xmas in November/December at all.

I’ve been buying a £20/30 Amazon voucher each month as I do end up buying a lot over Christmas from them, so they don’t go to waste.

We save a bit each month towards Christmas so it isnt all coming out of one month's pay.

I think a saving account is the way to go ..but I’d need to be putting just under £100 a month away to do that ,and that’s difficult/ doesn’t happen
We are vegan as well
So that does make the chocolate gifts a bit more expensive, Foods more expensive and any nice Foods more expensive
I might ask on the vegan thread for ideas of nice but cheaper vegan foods

If £100 a month isn't affordable, then work out what is and use that as your new christmas budget. So if £50 a month is what you can afford, then your Christmas budget is £600 and decide how much will go on gifts and other things. There's no point in imagining you have to spend £1000 if the money isn't there, it will just make you feel horrible. If your dc are older then you can explain what their budget is to them.

Op have a look at this thread

Could you get your teens together and tell them you are having an eco-friendly , low cost Christmas this year? Ask them for their suggestions as to what they would like to do. That way their expectations will be managed and they get to take some responsibility for how parts of it turn out. It's a huge challenge making Christmas good for teens ATM, when quite a few of the places people you expect to be able to visit will be closed, but you could also turn that around to your advantage maybe? There is enough time to start planning now.

There’s a full Christmas topic where you can talk about Christmas all year. It’s wonderful

A Christmas topic ,I’ve never seen that ,and I’ve been on here years and years ..

It's under fun and games I think op - which is a bit strange given the number of Xmas/mil threads on here - not a particularly fun time for many!

During the recession I got into a routine of starting to prepare for Christmas right after we return from our summer holidays. Even though Christmas for us isn't OTT, being on such a tight budget doing things like picking up an extra bottle of wine with the groceries or other long life stuff meant it really spreads the cost. Around this time of year I start making preserves as gifts (only to the people who actually like them and look forward to getting them for Christmas) or start stockpiling the baking stuff I need for the cakes. My gingerbread dough is already in the freezer, and I'll start the soup stock soon for the Christmas dinner.
I get the perishables the day after our office closes for Christmas - so usually 23rd and that's my last task. My aim is that we all have nowhere to go Christmas eve. We've done that the last two years and now we don't go near the shops on those last minute days, it's great!
So absolutely, go for it.

I do similar drinkingallthewine
Yes we are home Xmas eve ,all things bought ,semi cooked where I can
We do a buffet dinner Xmas eve ,then the Boxing Day meal ,is same again as Christmas meal ...odd change but similar
So from 23 decI don’t shop again untill 27 dec

It’s been a bad year ,so really hope we can look forward to Christmas,and this virus doesn’t spoil things any more than it has