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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think Christmas will look very different this year?

169 replies

ButtOutBobsMum · 27/10/2022 07:45

I was wandering around the shops yesterday and it occurred to me that lots of the extra "fluff" around Christmas is likely to disappear this year due to the increase in the cost of living-

-Christmas lights outside houses. With the energy cost increase I can't imagine many houses will have lots of lights up.

-Christmas Eve boxes, Christmas bedding, Christmas pyjamas. I've never done any of these things as my children are older now but their popularity in recent years has grown. I'm guessing these are extras that lots of people will sacrifice?

-Christmas parties. I know several people who host parties on Christmas eve, Christmas Day evening, Boxing Day and New Years Eve. Short of charging people to come I don't see how they're going to afford to host big parties this year.

-Trips to see Santa. I haven't had to do it for many years but they seem to have become more and more elaborate and therefore more expensive. My niece took her kids last year to one at a local garden centre and with the extras of ice skating, feeding reindeer and food and drinks it cost over £100!

Personally speaking our Christmas is always pretty small and low key so I don't think I'm going to have to make any big changes other than perhaps cutting back on presents for extended family.

DH and I were discussing it and he's of the view that people find it hard to change these traditions and will go into debt to carry them on but I'm not convinced.

So I suppose AIBU to think Christmas will look very different for a lot of people this year?

OP posts:

Applesandcarrots · 27/10/2022 08:00

As far as lights go, there seem to be so many people (in real life and on here) leaving their heating odd, turning off lights and appliances and trying to find ways to cut energy bills will they really still put loads of lights outside their houses and leave them on for hours? I just can't see it 🤷‍♀️

People who sit at home in dark (because they didn't check how much the light costs actually....) Will not have them most likely. Most people don't sit at home in dark and can check how much cheistmas lights cost to run.. it is VERY little

Crunchymum · 27/10/2022 08:02

We don't do any of these anyway although seeing Santa was more down to covid restrictions the past few years otherwise we'd probably have done that.

I was looking at Kew Gardens or Kenwood House this year but for the 5 of us it's just ridiculously expensive.

For us Christmas is about seeing family (large families on both sides), relaxing, making the most of having no commitments etc. We always decorate inside and we have two trees 😮we have nice food and just generally unwind.

As our families are so big we all agreed years ago not to do Xmas gifts (we have 18 young nieces and nephews!!) and we have jars we fill up over the year with silver coins and pound coins. This funds our Xmas.

All 3dc have birthdays around Xmas. One in Late Nov and the other 2 in Mid January.

I think we'll be able to manage to 'usual' Xmas this year but who knows after that!!

donttellmehesalive · 27/10/2022 08:02

I guess some people will enjoy Christmas and not think too much about how a prolonged recession will inevitably impact them eventually.

Tigofigo · 27/10/2022 08:02

A lot of people will go all-out, possibly more so than usual, after a depressing year news-wise and before that, covid. I imagine work parties will be much smaller, but Christmas at home for many will be a big celebration.

Of course there will also be many - say half - who'll be cutting costs.

We usually have a fairly low-key Christmas but are actually planning a big expensive festive day out and a weekend in London, for the first time in ages. Our kids are still primary age but getting older and not sure how much longer they'll find this stuff magical.

MissyB1 · 27/10/2022 08:02

But you can do some of those things more cheaply. Christmas lights could be just a couple of small battery lit ornaments in the garden, places like Asda often sell them for not too much.
Santa can often be seen free at the switching on of town lights (admittedly no present), or cheaply at things like a church or school fayre. That’s how we saw him when I was a kid.

Parties, well surely the guests bring a dish? I never turn up to a party empty handed anyway.
No need for PJs or bedding (I’ve no idea where that trend came from!)
Yes days out /expensive activities may have go by the wayside this year though. Maybe more actives like making home decorations? Collecting holly and other greeneries? Baking biscuits and treats? It’s a case of cutting your cloth.

Soproudoflionesses · 27/10/2022 08:02

Cost of living crisis hasn't affected me yet but l was saying to my mum the other day it feels wrong to be spending money unnecessarily when so many people are struggling.

With regards to Christmas, l rill out the same old decorations every year . DH and l have had the conversation we don't need big gifts any more so will just do modest ones this year.

SmokedHaddockChowder · 27/10/2022 08:03

We were already planning to cut back. Normally in December we have a night away in a hotel somewhere - we get the train there, have dinner and a few drinks, look at the lights. We also do a couple of paid events through December - last year we did wine tasting and went to see a festive display at a bird sanctuary.
All of that was on ice this year because of the CoL crisis and how extortionate these things have become.
But DH lost his job last Friday, so now we won't be doing gifts either.
It's just the two of us, so there's no point buying presents with one of us out of work.
We're perfectly comfortable financially, but I'd rather be overly cautious.

Tigofigo · 27/10/2022 08:04

I think what we WILL see are huge sales across the board. Especially in clothing.

Umbrellabee · 27/10/2022 08:07

We will cut back a bit but I’ve been scaling back the last couple of years anyway. There will be no new decorations, I’ll probably give the outside lights a miss and just have the tree lights. We only buy the kids presents any way and I don’t send cards. I’ll use the wrapping paper I’ve already got and not buy any more. We booked a light trail last year but it was £70 for an hour so that isn’t happening this year! I’d rather the kids have the presents they want over anything else so I’ll cut back on other things.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/10/2022 08:11

lets hope this chirstmas people give more to charity

SpookyMcGhoul · 27/10/2022 08:11

I'll still have all of my (probably very tacky by MN standards) lights out, they go out in November and they cheer everyone up!

Still buying new decor bits, will be doing all of our usual Christmas trips too and parties.

We don't go into debt for Christmas, but I think people who have previously will probably do it again, it's a cycle.

Sceptre86 · 27/10/2022 08:11

I agree with your dh. We aren't Christians, Muslim in fact but it's a nice time of year so will be going to illiluminations, a fair and panto. I paid for the events back in September as this year they all had early bird deals. The panto tickets were purchased in February. We don't do presents but I get the kids a xmas eve box with pyjamas, chocolate coins, selection box and some stationary and intend to continue doing that. The xmas eve boxes are reused every year.

luxxlisbon · 27/10/2022 08:14

I don’t think most of this will change for the majority of people.

ColouringPencils · 27/10/2022 08:14

I think there will be cutting back. I would hate people to get into debt over Christmas. I will be really sad about the lights, one of my favourite things (free to me!) is to walk around the streets looking at all the lovely lights. I wonder if councils will cut back on town centre lights - I imagine so?

That said, apart from lights we will still have all our usual decorations and I am sure the fairy lights on an indoor tree won't cost much. I was actually thinking of buying Christmas bedding for the first time as it will last for years.

In terms of food, I think I will try to be a bit more cautious with food shopping as it is all so expensive at the moment. Eating out doesn't currently seem such a bad deal, now that the cost of eating in has risen.

Maybe we should all start going back to church - festive and free!

KangarooKenny · 27/10/2022 08:18

My DD’s Xmas bedding gets brought out every year, so that’s something worth buying, as long as you don’t buy new every year.
We get winter/Xmas themed PJ’s for her from Primark, so not too expensive.
And we walk the dog round the streets to look at other peoples lights, so no expense there.
I think the trick is to not actually tell the kids you are having a cheap Xmas, just do it and act like it’s normal.

FlowerBrooch · 27/10/2022 08:20

I will do exactly what I have always done.
I will cut greenery and make a wreath for the door and a centre piece for the table.help do the flowers for church, make a Christmas dinner, have lights in the window. Give a donation of socks to local homes less shelter and money to the Salvation Army. I usually do some sort of sewing or something like make Christmas stockings. Give selection boxes to the neighbours children.

I think I will probably make some wreaths for a couple of friends this year.

Overthebow · 27/10/2022 08:20

Personally our Christmas won’t be cut back, if anything we will be more extravagant this year as we are hosting and I want to make an effort. We are lucky though and aren’t too effected by the cost of living rise other than attempting not to waste money where possible. If we didn’t have the money I wouldnt get in to dent for Christmas and would cut back.

RedHelenB · 27/10/2022 08:24

We have a tradition of buying a new decoration each year. And a family game. Some decorations pre date my adult children but they still love putting their own special decorations on that have built up over the years. I've never done bedding, pjs or Christmas Eve boxes. I'll be in the lookout for offers though, I've already bought the chocolate when it was cheap.

MorrisZapp · 27/10/2022 08:24

Doubt it. DP was in town the other day and gave up getting a coffee because Pret, Costa, Starbucks and two independent cafes were queued out the door.

People, including young people, old people and families were all very keen to wait in a line to pay three quid for a hot drink.

I know many will be facing difficulties this winter but the idea that we're facing a national period of literal darkness seems far fetched.

PrincessBride999 · 27/10/2022 08:24

If anyone is having trouble finding a Santa's grotto check your local churches and ask at the primary schools as both ours so them for free or a small donation. I live in a suntrap area no matter what time of year and have a few great solar lights so my Christmas lights will still be up as we as one small section that are electric, I'll just turn a few unneeded things off indoors..cost of living is high yes but every year for years there is always something, just have to make the best of it, help others if you can if you know anyone is struggling.

Givenhud · 27/10/2022 08:25

We've never gone overboard for Christmas with booking trips to see Santa etc. as our youngest finds it overwhelming. Our Christmas outing will be to a National Trust place which we pay for all year round anyway. I love the way they decorate.
From talking to friends yesterday though, there are still plans to visit Lapland, Santa on the rooftop, Christmas light displays etc. These are kids who have missed out on a lot through covid so I think people still want them to have these experiences.
We have a huge family and at one point we were buying for 45 people! I think it's now down to around 18 but we will be keeping the presents for people other than my parents who do an enormous amount for us and our own children, to an absolute minimum. More of a token for others like nieces and nephews. I don't care about presents for myself and neither does my husband thankfully.

Work Christmas dos will be smaller I think. We've booked somewhere with a live band and two course meal for 22 quid which I thought was a bargain. We were careful not to book anywhere too expensive.