What are you stripping back this Christmas?

[Carfeulyay]

As my thoughts turn to Christmas - I’m conscious this year with rising prices and uncertainties that I would like to limit spending this year.

I put money aside each month for Christmas, so I have a nice little aim set aside but I would like to draw some of that back into my emergency fund or cover cost of rising heating bills.

What will you be cutting back this year? I’m thinking visit to Santa, Xmas panto & reducing present budget per child

Decided not to go to M&S for turkey etc. Last year the salmon starter I like was sold out so had to go to morrisons for it and their version was really nice so will get most things from there. I think it will make a big saving. Haven't booked a panto yet but would still like to go. I haven't reduced the present budget but I'm expecting to get less for it.

Nothing really. We've never done over-the-top Christmases, so I'll carry on as normal.

Most of our outings are free, we'll do school carol concert, local Christmas Fayre, have friends round. DS favourite foods. And we get to spend time together without pressure of work. Cycling, playing games.

Nothing..I have saved all year so can cover everything needed.

However we are doing breakfast with santa early December and then a grotto visit on Xmas eve..last year we did 4 different santa trips lol

I have changed the name of our saving account to Christmas 2023 so we can do the same next year.

We do go completely over the top at Christmas but we wouldn't if we couldn't afford it.

It's so hard to cut back with teens as they like branded clothes!

i promise myself every year I will save for Xmas but I never do 😬

I also have two of my Childress birthdays before Xmas

I won't be spending loads on gifts and the adults in our family are doing a secret santa. It will be chicken and all the trimmings instead of turkey.
I won't be doing outdoor lighting this year, it's a load of work that we can't see once the curtains are closed anyway.
I'm hoping that we get back to a more special family time instead of the over commercialisation of Christmas.
As a child making lanterns and snowflakes was a big thing that made it special for me.
Also remember collecting holly to decorate the home, and the most loved decorations were the old well worn ones, far more special than the brand new glitzy decorations!

I'm cutting down the number of children's presents. This is a strategy that I started a few years ago when I realised things had got out of control. So I cut a couple of presents every year so it's not noticeable. This year though I've cut it slightly further.

I'm cutting back on food and drink by really considering what we do/don't use at Christmas.

I'm also planning on sitting down and buying everything all in one go to focus myself on what I'm actually spending. I've always had a spreadsheet and list out every item to keep track but what historically happens, is I end up buying things and not updating my spreadsheet as I get busy and then I start to loose track and spend a bit more per person that I intend. So I'm hoping that by seeing it all at once will change that.

Not reducing anything as already bought the kids gifts.

A couple of years ago though we decided as a family that we would only but for kids and not the adults. So much cheaper for everyone and saves you getting lots of rubbish smelly sets that you don't want.

Made Xmas buying so much simpler too!

We don't go overboard with our boys though so not cutting back in that area.

Smaller presents or just cards for wider family and those who don’t always do them.

DH and I are limiting what we get each other as tbh we don’t need anything right now.

Still getting lots for DS as we find that enjoyable anyway.

Oh yes I have a ds turning 14 on 23rd December! I find at this age they have less presents because they are more expensive items.

We don’t do all the Santa stuff these days anyway, he’s grown out of all that. We will stick with the school Christmas service, Christmas fayre, and local market. We do have a pub meal with extended family arranged.

We’ve decided to not buy DD 3 a present. She gets overwhelmed with the amount she receives from family. Plus, were taking her to Centre Parcs a few weeks before for Winter Wonderland, as well as the theatre the day on Christmas eve.

I'm not exactly cutting back the present budget but previously I'd set a budget, decide what to buy DC's within the set budget then if I got anything on sale or a good offer I'd add other things to the list & spend the entire budget.

Now I set a budget, decide what to buy DCs within the set budget & if I get something on sale or a good offer, tick it off the list & don't add extra - this has saved me £225 from my £750 budget this year.

I've got £100 on an Asda Christmas saver card which I'll use to buy treat food & alcohol for the festive period but as I don't cook Christmas dinner it's unlikely I'll use it all & anything left will be used for regular shopping in January - I've also already bought my Christmas Eve Prosecco & a 12pk of beer as they were on offer so alcohol wise it's only a couple of bottles of wine.

Got our Christmas Eve pjs for £10 each at Asda & as it's only me & DD2 cost £20 & I got £2 in my rewards thingy. DS will be at his dads for Christmas Eve & would refuse to wear them anyway & DD1 will be spending Christmas Eve with her partner & DGS so doing their own Christmas pjs.

We already have our local panto tickets & we had booked Christmas Eve dinner at the usually fab place across the road but they've just released the set Christmas menu & as I don't like turkey or fish the only other mains are a pasta dish & I'm not paying £30 for pasta so will likely just have Chinese which will only cost £20 for me & DD2.

Other than the panto our December weekend plans consist of relaxing, watching Christmas movies, hot chocolate & nice walks (Scotland so this one is weather dependent), wrapping presents & visiting family/friends.

Number of presents to people. I'm actually finding it quite refreshing as I feel Christmas was getting out of control and so commercial
X

We're are going to our lovely local theatre for their Christmas show instead of the expensive panto in our nearby city.
No presents for the adults in DH's family (their idea) - only the kids.
No ridiculous santa experience. Just a visit to a local national trust instead to see their lights (cheap as we already have membership and use it a lot),

@MaverickSnoopy I also have a spreadsheet, for normal monthly budget as well as Christmas, & I update it every morning while I have my coffee.

I used to be like you & would think "ah it's fucked anyway" & then start again next month but I find it does help to keep track - it's how I discovered I was spending £1,000 a year at the bakers next to my work 😱

Now I get my coffee, phone & laptop & it's done & always up to date.

The economic crisis sort of chimes with what I was feeling about Christmas anyway, so it’s just forced the situation a bit I suppose.

My kids are teens, so wedon’t need to get caught up in all the ‘making magical memories’ spending - so no expensive themed outings this year. I did a Christmas market and Wonter Wonderland last year and they were both extortionate and not worth it. Won’t be doing that this year.

Im trying to maintain a substantial weight loss I managed this year, and DH and DS are both on gym missions at the moment, so we’ve decided to scale back the treats and festive eating to just 24th--26th - so won’t be going mad on food shopping.

Presents will be fewer for sure. But teens aren’t bothered with piles of stuff to open anymore.

Im usually terrible for buying crap like Xmas PJs, a new outfit for Xmas Day etc - not bothering this year.

Actually really looking forward to just enjoying a quiet Christmas, going for walks, watching films and not getting caught up in the ridiculous spending frenzy.

Xmas events at pleasure park £22 per child £18 per adult to walk through the forest to meet Santa 90 minutes only is off for us this year. Local petting farm who lay on extras was £27 a head so that's out.

Thinking I'll get some battery LED fairy lights, decorate our local wood and take the grand kids there. Post covid prices are nuts

Nothing. We don’t have kids ( have big extended families though)I’ve saved up as normal. We don’t go mad but really enjoy the season. It’s never been about huge amounts of money for me but spending time with those I want to, exchanging small gifts, eating and having fun. Sounds twee but it’s true! I work on a ward so am always working on the day/around it. So appreciate the days I have off.

Nothing.

But we don't have children and it's just the two of us so there's not much to cut back on. We just do a roast dinner every year and take the dog for a long walk.

Skipping the panto. Wish I could skip the in-laws

Not really. We've always had a budget for presents and this year for our two DC we've actually come in under budget by about £50 which is considerable when we don't spend a HUGE amount to begin with. I have a £10-15 budget for all my other family members which adds up but staying in budget really helps.

We've never gone to see Santa or to the panto and while those things would be nice as the kids are getting older we aren't missing out. I did look to see the prices of panto but even the "cheap seats" added up! I've budgeted a little as I always do to for the kids to pick some items for our local toy bank and food bank too. It's something I do as a part of our "activity advent calendar". We'll be doing lots of cheap/free activities like Christmas lights walks, Christmas crafts, making a gingerbread house etc.

I grew up without a lot of the "extras" at Christmas and it was still a magical time. Fortunately we are in a better position to give my DC a bit more than that but we won't go overboard as we never have before.

😂

Me and DH are only buying something really small for each other, more of a token to have something to open. Under 15 pounds.
DS is only 2 so we're not going overboard.
I'll be 35 weeks pregnant so we'll also just be mainly at home, playing games, baking etc.

No presents for anyone that isn't a child. Not having a big family meal on Christmas day. We discovered during the lockdowns that everyone preferred being in their smaller family groups. Lots of watts app chatting and photos of different lunches. All the jollity, none of the expense, pressure and risk of arguments.Mum is going to my brothers this year for the first time in 6 years. I have always loved the build up to Christmas and Boxing day onwards. I realised during covid that the big stuff on Christmas day was getting too much. I suggested we change things. Everyone has someone to be with and they were all delighted to calm it down. I am looking forward to Christmas day far more than in previous years.

Our local panto is £12 a ticket, and amazing value - do you have a local one rather than a fancy one with celebrities in? A swap maybe?

Careful what you drop. I didn't do fireworks last night as I didn't fancy setting fire to £50 and the kids were really upset (spoilt...grr).

I won't be buying "small extra presents" to go with main present. They get plenty from aunts & uncles so I just need to focus on the main thing.

The Turkey.

We have on turkey a few years ago and enjoy Xmas dinner far more for it. We get a large, good chicken instead.

There is no long cooking times, no constant basting and there are no cold, dry leftovers to throw out on the 30th.

Looking at the price of turkeys, I am very glad we don't bother.