We need to make Christmas thriftier this year. In part because our everyday expenses have increased but also because I’ve realised that over the past few years we’ve crept into the mindset of spending needless money, to create the ‘perfect’ Christmas. We are lucky that we can choose where to make cut backs and hopefully still have a lovely day.
Our main cut back will be on going out expenses. No meals out until a gastropub lunch on NYD. We have a couple of days out planned (tickets to a show bought for us as a gift and a free London museum) and will enjoy something from a street food market nearby rather than eating at a restaurant. We’d also normally meet friends for Christmas meals and trips out, but are having board game evenings at home instead, which everyone seems happy to do. We have tickets to a local village panto, not the big one in town.
I’m avoiding ‘spendy’ places like Christmas markets in the run up. Instead, we will do walks with friends and a couple of special church services and singing around the village tree.
Presents are less this year- a couple of things the kids have asked for, not loads of stocking fillers.
No new Christmas clothes, crockery, decorations or scatter cushions. Just not needed. Things like crackers will be smaller tokens, not ‘luxury’ nonsense. I’m putting the savings from that towards a food bank donation.
To be honest, I’m a bit embarrassed it’s taken a national cost of living crisis to make me realise how much I’d frittered away. But I’m hoping this will be the first of many thriftier Christmases, about people and our community, not stuff.
Anyone else cutting back? If so, how?