How much do you spend at Christmas - even being careful it seems like a horrendous amount?!

[Anitee]

Just present wise I just totted it all up, both from big families and brought each of our siblings families a gift rather than individual presents at around £25 per family X 6 = 150, both sets of parents the same = £50, plus grandparents = £50. Spent £70ish on each of our boys = £140 (£40 of that has been on the bits on a present we've made from scratch as well to try and save money!), stockings £30 each = £60 and I spent £50 on DH. £500 gone and we still have 8 to cook for and feed on christmas day - easily anouther £100+. I thought I was being careful and quite modest in comparison to others I know but even now it seems a huge amount. How has Christmas become so expensive?!

This year I've spent more than any other year tbh, I'm finally in a position where I can afford a bit more.

Probably around £150 each for 2 DDs, £150 total for parents/ siblings presents and around £150 on everyone else's presents. Plus alcohol for the day (we're not hosting) so yes, a crazy amount! Haven't bought the girls dad anything yet but that be another £50 on top probably.

But we are very frugal year round and I'm pretty budget conscious. Spent probably half that last year and still had an amazing day.

I spend £15-20 on adults in my family = £100

Around £25 for DNs = £50

Around £40 on DCs each = £80 (they're 4 and under 1 so no iPads etc yet)

Buy wine and extra food for Xmas at family's house = £50 on top of usual shop

= £280. DH spends similar on his family.

For DH and me, we cut our cloth according to our finances and other expenditure so some years will buy each other token gifts only. Other years it might be £100+