To ask how much your spend on Christmas presents?

[Peaspleaselouise]

Just that.

Amount spent on children, other family, any friends you buy for, any friends’ children, godchildren, teachers/TAs etc, other gifts such as one for the particularly helpful postman etc.

I’ve saved up over the year but the money just seems to have frittered away, despite trying really hard not to spend too much individually. Agh!

Roughly about £150 on each child (2)
About £150 on DH (although pre-children was more like £500)
£50 on Mum
£40 on my brother
£30 on my Nana
£50 between the PIL
£20 on my nephews
£250 on food

£100 each on ds, dd and dsd. £30 each for younger nieces and nephews (×3) and £20 each for older niece and nephew. £60 on parents and aunt. Our family doesn't buy for those with dc, but I will probably get a token gift for my sisters (a bottle of wine each or something) this year - dsis has had a bad year. All in, including lunch and some boxing day food, £800ish.

£75 per family unit. I handle mine, he handles his. Units are:

• Husband
• Parents
• Sister, BIL and baby
• Other sister, BIL, twins
• Misc - neighbour, two friends, secret santa

The family unit rule is a handy one for budgeting. Each of our children would be their own unit too, but any extra children of sisters just dilutes their pot. May seem unfair, but to me it keeps things manageable.

I never have a set spending plan. Sisters are more important than BIL so I usually get them something nicer. Last year bulk of the unit went to twins, with token for the parents. This year, it's a combined box of items for them all to share.

About £150 on DD, £50 each on nephew and adult DS. £25 each on mum, dad, brother and sis in law so about £350. By the time I add bits and pieces like secret Santa at work I budget for £400 just in case

Yoyo and gunpowder- sorry don't know how to tag so hope you're still following this! This years is a pear chutney (partridge in a pear tree?!) mostly because pears were reduced in Tesco! Last year was a chunky beetroot with mustard seeds that went well with ham. The family favourite is my sweet chilli jam, I'll post the recipe later. And yes I've been doing this for 15 years so KM definitely stole the idea from me!

Between £250 and £300 and that includes my parents, niece and nephew, hubby and our 1 ds. Havn't included food in that because we don't go crazy buying 3 turkeys and a trolley full of booze apart from xmas dinner it's a normal weeks worth of shopping and a couple of bottles of wine extra

As much as I have and a little bit more. Always.

An eye watering amount but I try to think it’s things like clothes for hubby and teen that I would buy anyway just not at the one time

Anything from £200-500 on my own kids
£30-50 each for relatives, £100 for parents
£10 each for friends kids or kids friends
£10-20 for teacher
£100-200 for DH
£100-200 charity
We are low income, but I start in August.

About 1500 that doesn't include party clothes, food, drink, days out etc. I put money away every month so that helps but I am shocked writing it down.

My kids are grown. One big present (eg. £100 phone for DS, his is hanging on by a thread for dear life and he doesn't earn enough to replace it himself) and some items of clothing, stocking stuffers.

£50-£100 for DH

Parents £30ish.

Nieces/Nephews £10.

All funds for this come from our savings account.

About £50 each for close family; £20 for friend; £10 for neighbour. £400 altogether for presents.
DD is hosting this year, and my contribution is sausage rolls, mince pies, Christmas cake and pudding, all home made, probably under £50 for the lot. Will probably provide a few bottles as well!
I am lucky enough to be able to afford a monthly direct debit into a savings account, so never worry about Christmas shopping.

I think the vast majority of you have got it wrong. Christmas isn't about 'how much you spend' . Presents should be appropriate and affordable, and appreciated by the recipient.

The chutney makers of you have got it right: people LIKE getting something where you have made the effort, rather than buying the useless plastic/rubbish tat that is replicated everywhere (honestly what is the POINT of Kevin the carrot and other soft toys? eg All babies get at least 3 soft toys on every occasion yet the first ones are enough to last a lifetime...they don't need more!)

The £10 giant beanbag I made my daughter is still listed as probably the best present ever because it was exactly what she wanted.

We've put money away each month this year after it coming as a shock last year. We've saved 2k which I thought was ridiculous but actually it will get spent 😱. DH and I spend £500 each on presents, then £500 aside for outings, food, tree, and £500 aside to spend on the kids presents, which also includes DS1 birthday and party. It's awful but I enjoy being able to spend it.

DP - £150ish
DD/DS - around £250 each
Mum/Dad/MIL/FIL - £50 each
DB/DBIL's & their partners - £20 each
Nieces/nephews & friends DCs (7) - £10 each
Few friends and Cousins £20 each

So approx £810

No food as go to family for xmas day dinner

I should add majority of mine is covered by weekly savings i do to save me lumping out a big sum at once

I have too many friends who haven’t paid for the previous Christmas presents for their DCs due to the pressure, and I also have a friend who constantly talks about how simple her Christmas is, but that’s easy when your DCs have every gadget under the sun and £100 trainers is just a weekly shop. Not having money at Christmas is just a reminder that generally you have no money all year round.

I've made all my family bars of soap. Which they can take or leave, I'll just have them in a hamper. I have a big family and we don't bother much with presents. I'll be getting honey from one of my cousins as he keeps bees. There will likely be some jam and chutney in the offerings too.

I'm really glad I don't come from a present giving family. Would much rather spend the budget on good food and not end up bankrupt every January. DPs family used to spend a fortune but they seem to be calming down a bit in recent years. I'll be giving them soap too!

I spend around £300 on each of my children, but I buy throughout the year in sales etc. My dh gets around £250.

@79andnotout sounds perfect to me.
I'm making my usual chocolate truffles (incl fresh cream , so they get made last minute), they are SO popular. I'm going to try making cranberry (dried, might soak in some alcohol/vodka to rehydrate? or raspberry (frozen) as this year's 'new' flavour
For DB/SIL for example,they've a new pale blue and navy kitchen (SOOO much nicer than grey) so they're getting Aga covers made of this fabric, with navy trim as they've a nautical/beach theme going. I just know they'll love it. I've some spare fabric so if time they're getting pot holders and peg bag, and maybe tea towel & a tea cosy too (just got to check out size of teapot)

Probably about 2k including teacher/club leader gifts, staff gifts, food, day out, and panto tickets etc. We are a family of 5- this year each of the DC is getting a ‘big’ item, DH has had a rough year so I wanted to treat him too. We have a lot of extended family to buy for also. We don’t spend much on birthdays really and don’t tend to buy toys or devices throughout the year either so Christmas is the only time they will get things like that. We run our own small company and like to buy each of the staff a nice bottle of something too.

@ Ariela - I think the vast majority of you have got it wrong

No love, you’ve interpreted it wrong. OP asked how much people spend, that’s what the thread is about. Some people have chosen to pile in and say how thrifty they are or how it’s not about money it’s about thought blah blah insinuating that those that have actually answered the question have just chucked money away in a commercially driven mania, as opposed to the mahvellous twunts who spend a fortune on truffle ingredients and have time - presumably as they aren’t working all the hours - to make Aga covers.

You sound ridiculous.

....FWIW, I used to get homemade gifts from my sister. They were pretty shite, TBH. I just thought she had too much time on her hands. I’d rather have had nothing.

But I graciously accepted them and cooed at her cleverness as I love her.

@SantasLittleMonkeyButler
If the kids want an expensive present then I get together with family members and we all club together to get it if we think the child needs it. If not I explain to kids that it is too expensive.