To think Christmas will look very different this year?

[ButtOutBobsMum]

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?

I stopped sending cards years ago when I heard an article on the radio about child poverty locally whilst I was writing them (bought at a stupidly cheap price the previous January) and added up how much the postage would cost, and every year since then I’ve donated that money to the local food bank

I've already heard fireworks going off in people's gardens this year 🙄 and none of the big displays around here are cancelled.

I think if you're the type to get all new decorations and extravagant presents every year for Christmas, you'll either have saved for it or you'll go into debt for it.

I'm hosting my in-laws and my mum for Christmas Day, and we've all decided just to get presents for the DC in the family (who will be 3, 1 and 9 months this Christmas). We are also taking them on a local steam train ride to meet Santa, and that cost more than £100 but I booked it back in September so feels OK as we're spreading the cost.

DH and I will get each other small gifts but we've set a limit of £30 each. Last year I got him a watch that cost about £300. However as well as the cost of living crisis, I'm on maternity leave this year so living off savings now.

I think after the last two Christmases were subdued because of Covid, people might want to get back to normal.

well there are still LOADS of rich people soooo no I don't think this is true

Not everyone is struggling

I love receiving cards but only do ones for people I don't really see or very old friends. They're part of the Christmas decorations imo.

Don't people bring out the same Christmas bedding, cushions, table mats and stuff like that out each year, it's only used for about a month so surely once you have it you wouldn't have to replace it for years

Dont you like seeing them lit when you come home from work or an evening out? I think it makes the house seem more welcoming

This is the first year my DC has some idea of what’s going on. We are going to see Father Christmas but it’s at a local wildlife park and no increase on the normal ticket price. So we are viewing it as a family day out.

We don’t really do loads of presents, my DH and I buy a joint gift to ourselves, normally something nice for the house. DC has about £70-100 spent on them. For us it’s about socialising with friends and family and we will continue to do that. The last few years has shown me how important that is. Definitely won’t be going into debt for it though. Lots of meals/mince pies at each others houses.

We’re having a smaller Christmas this year, but not so much cost of living related. Kids are all now too old for Father Christmas trips, but my mum passed away earlier this year and we’ve already said we’re going to keep it a lot more low key this year. No parties, friends over for drinks and nibbles, etc. Just a week or so for us all to relax a bit as a family and decompress.
We’ve never done Christmas Eve boxes or special pjs so no savings there for us.

@RedHelenB - we’ve never had external lights, I don’t know anyone who does. I obviously see them around but I’d say more don’t have external lights than do.

I really think people are daft about Christmas. We have a v high household income and we don't do the things you've listed. It's all consumerist rubbish. We have a nice time with the kids without it

Some people want to keep up with ‘the Jones’s’ or some ridiculous celebrities who have got the cash to pay for stuff and there is an ever growing sense of entitlement.

There is a big difference between needs and wants. People have been sucked in through commercialisation and wanting to feed their social media posts.

There are some cost cutting measures people can take. Battery operating light up deocartions outside. Maybe this won't be on the same scale but they will still be able to put something outside.

Bring and share buffets as Christmas parties instead of booking a venue or Christmas meal out.

Christmas eve boxes can be done on a smaller scale if parents can't afford the usual items. Or replaced with a different tradition.

£100 seems like a lot for a trip like that, but thennI suppose it depends on where you live. It may be a case of looking at a few different venues to find cheaper options.

Agree. I think it will be toned down. I put up lights and still will because I like it. But we don't go overboard anyway and it's just like a posh roast.

We need to cut back but aren’t struggling and we don’t spend a fortune on Christmas.
Christmas bedding we already have, Pjs will
be worn all year. Christmas Eve book is PJs, a book (spent £1.60 on one for DD2) and a 99p bath bomb shared between them.

Everyone is in different situations.

The batteries would probably cost more than plugged in led lights. You'd get through a lot of batteries, even in you only have the lights out for 2 weeks.

Not sure, I think there will be less lights due to costs but loads of people are insulated & live in a bubble.

We got normal pyjamas instead of the matching Christmas ones for the Christmas Eve box. We're also seeing a smaller, local pantomime. To be honest this isn't any different from normal though. We tend to do lots of small-medium fun experiences and trips and if we need to compromise, we do less presents.

The kids are happier with this. They have plenty of lovely toys and the memories are far more valuable. It takes a lot more shopping around to find less expensive festive options, that are just as lovely but they're there. Tbh the best thing is inviting the kids friends round and decorating biscuits and cupcakes. £10 in supplies including tea and coffee for parents and everyone's happy.

& then I think there will be those that know next year will be shit so will want Christmas to go with a bang!

My christmas will be the same but I save all year round/plus buy as and when. I have nearly finished my christmas shopping but no debt as I have a dedicated account to spend from. I dont buy new decorations each year, the same ones come out. We did get a new tree in the January sales but the old one had done 7 years and was falling apart a bit. Got an expensive BH one so hoping it lasts much longer.

We have christmas bedding that comes out but I bought it ages ago, so no need for new ones. The DC have christmas pjs and a christmas eve box but the only new items in it are sticker/activity books and a bath bomb. Everything else is stuff we already have, books, special glasses, santa plate etc

DS2 is yet to have new christmas pjs as I saved DS1 old ones. DS1 gets them bought a size up so they last 2 years. I have got them new ones this year and matching, but will fit them both next year too.

We have a christmas gathering every year and I am still planning that. I think if I didnt save all year round I might look to cut back.

Outside lights were a bit of a novelty back in the day but now everyone seems to have them it's all a bit meh and I can't be bothered, and as a PP said I can't see them from inside the house anyway.

I don't do Christmas Eve boxes (don't wear pyjamas and can have hot chocolate any day of the year) or Christmas bedding, we don't have Christmas dinner-just a buffet all day.

We have the same artificial tree we've had for years with the same decorations. Sometimes we put it back in the loft with all the decorations and lights still on.
We enjoy the Christmas break but less is more mostly. I assume some will see it as miserable but it really isn't.

I am not sure how helpful anecdotes are really. For everyone who says they're scaling back there's someone who doesn't feel that they have to. As many pp have said, town centres still appear busy.

But would we necessarily know if there were 5% fewer people in those town centres, or that 80% of shoppers were spending 15% less than usual? We'll need to wait for the official figures.

And we are really only on the edge of it. One month of negative growth I think.

There does seem to be a lot of people who don't really remember a recession and think they will be completely unaffected, but us old codgers are tightening our belts in relatively painless ways now in preparation because it is really a rare thing to sail through a prolonged recession without any hardship at all.

Obviously the struggling and those in poverty probably already have a different Christmas to the ones you described anyway. They have nothing already and can’t probably gain credit to pay for it.

LED lighting isn’t that expensive in comparison to heating, other electric uses. I honestly think alot of people save all year for Christmas or get a bonus for example and they use that. Others do get into debt because they don’t want to miss out. Honestly I don’t think many will have that different a Christmas this year.

We don’t have kids, I love Christmas but it doesn’t have to costs loads. My memories of Christmas are like the same tree year in year out, 20 yr old decorations, family traditions, snacky food and seeing family. The small things! We didn’t have loads of money but we always had a great time!

My family are really materialistic, it wasn’t until I met DH I realised how bad it was. He has never commented, I have just noticed watching his family at Christmas vs mine. I have really reigned it back over the years as I found the level of materialism quite uncomfortable after realising.

Unfortunately my family equate presents with love, so it’s really hard when we say please don’t go overboard and they still turn up with multiple sacks (no exaggeration) at Christmas and I can tell they are often disappointed with our offering back. I have had a bit of a fall out with some my family this year (not gift related!) and honestly I am a bit relieved I won’t have to deal with the full present onslaught.

I suspect those that can afford Christmas will cut back but those that can't will carry on and get into debt to buy the toys.

Not taking family to Santa at the petting farm this year it's gone up 30%. For five adults and five children £300 for a slot.