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Original poster

Will your Christmas be different this year?

26 replies

Dumbo18 · 19/10/2022 20:16

After seeing on another thread (not a thread about a thread by the way) that people will not be able to afford Christmas this year it got me thinking about my Christmas, with everything else going on I haven’t really given it thought until now and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly dreading it. We normally start saving for Xmas early on in the year and by now we’d normally have a certain amount saved for presents, clothes, food and to cover wages (partner self employed so no holiday pay) so far we’ve saved nothing so going to be very last minute using wages that I’d rather not have touched. Also work are organising Xmas night out which I love (we pay for ourselves which I don’t mind) but now I’m working out how much that one night will cost. I’m considering speaking to family about not doing presents - husbands family are big on buying gifts for everyone 😩 and just forgetting about the whole huge Xmas lunch and doing buffet style. Any changes you’ll be making this Christmas?

OP posts:
FelicityFlops · 19/10/2022 20:21

Different from what?
I have not spent Christmas with family since 2015 and that was pretty bad.
I live in Europe and like my Christmas to start at about lunchtime on 24th and continue until bedtime on 26th.
Carols obligatory, food optional.

Original poster
Dumbo18 · 19/10/2022 20:24

Different from your usual Christmas… sorry thought that would be self explanatory 😂

OP posts:
Bobbins2022 · 19/10/2022 20:27

If you want to speak to family about not doing presents, do it quickly. Lots of people will have started shopping by now to spread the cost.

I've been getting presents gradually since the summer (my kids are young so no lists yet).

girlfriend44 · 19/10/2022 20:30

Couldn't give a rats arse about Christmas.
The great thing about 25 December is it starts to get a little lighter in the evenings slowly.

Olsi109 · 19/10/2022 20:30

We are also considering telling adults that we don't wish to do presents this year just buy for the kids. It usually just ends up with me asking parents what they want, buying it, them asking what we want (we usually end up thinking of something we might like), buying it, when what we would actually really like is just to not have to spend money of things people are plucking out of thin air just so we have stuff to buy them, and put it towards our home buying savings. I will buy for my dad though and DH will support this as I am the only family he has, everyone else has a spouse and other family members. I've also reduced the children's budgets.

SpotlessMind88 · 19/10/2022 20:35

I'll be making some cut backs. I've bought battery powered lights for the tree to save on the electric. I've also decided to buy a frozen turkey from Aldi instead of a Norfolk bronze from Jimmy's farm. DD is getting a new pair of xmas pj's but me and DH will wear the same xmas pj's we had last year. Also decided to get DD a new xmas jumper but i wont bother getting one for myself or DH.

anotherdayanotherpathlesstravelled · 19/10/2022 20:44

First Xmas as a single parent as STBEXH walked out a few weeks back so got that to navigate And obviously a massive change

I buy things on clearance / offer days all year round so financially cost of presents is about the same as previous years

Kind of looking forward to just making plans me and the kids where we want when we want

JaceLancs · 19/10/2022 20:49

Less Xmas meals out
I am cutting back a little on presents too
No new decorations
We are not hugely extravagant on Xmas dinner or tons of extra food over the holiday period so that shouldn’t change

Titsywoo · 19/10/2022 20:49

We have never had extravagent xmases so this will be no different. Our kids are teens and don't seem to need much so we will give them a small stocking and cash. We have never bought presents for each other or parents/siblings (agreed years ago not to bother) so all we need to buy is food for xmas day. I just do a standard roast plus a few extras so it doesn't cost a fortune - none of us drink and MIL/FIL bring their own. Biggest treat is a tub of heroes!

PrincessSpanky · 19/10/2022 20:53

We have never spend thousands at Christmas. There are nice presents and food and alcohol and drinks. We have a lovely time. I know many people, who for many years have spent thousands, but actually put it all on credit cards.

I always mean to save for Christmas, but never do. No different this year.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 19/10/2022 20:55

No. No different.

We hardly spend anything anyway, and don't 'get' why people spend £4K-£5K plus.

Same people who spend £30K on a wedding I guess. Show offs.

IncessantNameChanger · 19/10/2022 21:00

Well at this rate we might all be freezing in a unheated house. I'm currently in my coat ( dd for balance is in a ballet leotard 🥶).

I'm going to cut back on food and drink but was going to do that anyway to cut down on general faff. We normally get booze, chocolates, cheese etc. Not this year. I'm buying enough for three days nice treat meals, a few bottles of wine and that's it

PizzaEater54 · 19/10/2022 21:10

I'm not changing much as we don't go mad at Christmas anyway.

I know a couple of people at work who usually go mad at Christmas and they are doing a secret Santa among the adults in their family and buying just for kids. We usually do the same in ours too.

Soonenough · 19/10/2022 21:16

Family dynamics mean Xmas will change a lot this year . Divorce , death of older relatives , DCs going to partners's family . I have to stop myself from buying stuff that I know that nobody needs or wants anymore . Without young kids in the family , it really is a whole different vibe. Would love to escape somewhere warm and forget it completely. Bah humbug! 😡

berksandbeyond · 19/10/2022 21:40

Hopefully, because last year we had covid!

I'm looking forward to a chilled Christmas at home. Lots of good food and drink. Watching DD with her toys. Travelling to visit family after Christmas this year.

MistyGreenAndBlue · 19/10/2022 21:54

Yes. And I'm fucking depressed about it.
Just told DH the budget this year is £2.50.
I'm only half kidding too.

CaptainBarbosa · 19/10/2022 21:57

Won't change much for me and DS.

I only buy a max budget of £200 on his toys/presents. Then I buy my mum and nan a present each at about £30 each.

Christmas dinner, I only have to cook for me and a child, so I buy a small frozen turkey crown, some veg, I tend to have one box of sweets in the house like a quality street tin and I treat myself to a nice bottle of wine.

I probably get Christmas done for about £350 including the £25 Christmas tree 😂

Melisande90 · 19/10/2022 21:57

Have agreed with the adults in the family that we’re only buying for each other’s kids this year. Also have agreed with some friends that instead of buying for each other we’ll just go out for food together instead. Saves money as well as the tedious wondering what to get people/receiving a lot of stuff I don’t need Smile

HollyJollypup · 19/10/2022 22:01

Won’t be doing anything different…. Except we are away this year in a log cabin with a hot tub! Can’t wait.

The kids will get less in presents as neither of them want anything except bits and bobs.

Iv already bought all presents for family so that’s sorted.

Just need to buy some Prosecco!

Whistlesandbell · 19/10/2022 22:01

Mine will be the same except we’re going out for lunch on Boxing Day instead of Christmas Day for a change. I only buy for my DC, DH and DM so that will be the same. We tend to spend quite a bit on Christmas activities in December and we’re going away to a European city for New Year.

Lindy2 · 19/10/2022 22:05

I stopped sending Christmas cards a couple of years ago. The postage cost, the time it took etc was making me miserable, rather than being an enjoyable part of Christmas. It was a relief to stop actually so this year the no cards will continue.

We're hosting - as usual. I'll prepare and freeze a lot of the food myself beforehand. That will be partly because it tastes nicer but also because it's usually cheaper that way too.

My kids are teenagers now so their presents are tending to cost more. However, for the adults in the family instead of spending around £40 - £50 each I think it will be more like £20 - £30 instead. That should hopefully still allow for some nice gifts but without spending as much.

starfishmummy · 19/10/2022 22:06

Not very. We have a very modest Christmas anyway. Not many to buy for and just us for the meal.

Alaimo · 19/10/2022 22:15

SpotlessMind88 · 19/10/2022 20:35

I'll be making some cut backs. I've bought battery powered lights for the tree to save on the electric. I've also decided to buy a frozen turkey from Aldi instead of a Norfolk bronze from Jimmy's farm. DD is getting a new pair of xmas pj's but me and DH will wear the same xmas pj's we had last year. Also decided to get DD a new xmas jumper but i wont bother getting one for myself or DH.

A string of 200led lights use about £1 of electricity if you have them on for 5-6 hours/day for the whole of December...

TrickorTreacle · 19/10/2022 22:53

2020 - Christmas cancelled because of corona
2021 - Christmas (again) cancelled because of corona
2022 - Christmas cancelled because of the financial crisis
2023 - the press will think of something else to cancel Christmas 2023 and beyond

GladysGladioli · 19/10/2022 22:59

Christmas for me is about family, carols, board games and delicious food and wine. Not presents. And it'll be no different this year.

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