Treating ourselves to a huge Christmas blow out - how would you spend £1000?

[Christmas25]

Posting for traffic.

We have had a crappy year for various reasons so have decided we are going to go all out this year.

We have earmarked £1000 to spend for Christmas (ignoring presents) - how would you spend it? We’ve already ordered the Tom Kerridge beef wellington from M&S (not part of this budget), but I’d love to know what other things Mumsnetters would recommend. I don’t know where to start!

Ask your family. If you don’t have ideas they will.

How many is there of you? I’d go out tbh.

It’s myself, DH and our three DC, plus my parents are coming round on the day too.

Actual champagne (if you like it). Tesco Finest champagne gets good write ups. If you prefer something lighter, Cremant de Loire rather than Prosecco.

Seafood on Christmas Eve - langoustine, prawns, whatever you like.

A cheeseboard of the Gods via your local proper cheese shop.

Not at all. As I said, it has been a rotten year and we are looking to make the most of Christmas this year. Certain health matters have made me realise life is too short.

If you don’t want to contribute then fine, but please move along respectfully.

Go to a fancy hotel for a night and get christmas dinner there.

Oooh I like the seafood idea! x

I'd just buy all my usual favourites but upgrade them to a more premium version.

Theatre tickets.

I should have said - we are spending it at home and no plans/intention to go out for lunch. We love cooking it ourselves.

Flights somewhere nice.

That’s crazy ‘we want to go all out but don’t know what to spend it on’

Thats a total waste. Spending for the sake of it. It’s different if you had wanted something and decided to go for it but you are looking for ways to spend money for no reason.

Do you like weekends away? Definitely don’t spend it on ‘stuff’ it won’t make you happy.

Basically two Waitrose shops over Christmas and New Year.

I'd use it for tickets to the Theatre followed by a meal out somewhere, between Christmas and New Year. Depending on the age of your DC and your proximity to London I'd take them to The Lion King, Matilda, Harry Potter etc.

We are going away in the new year so already on the agenda/covered

OP, we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis, with some people struggling to afford Christmas. Having £1,000 to spend without presents or the main part of your Christmas meal puts you in a position thousands cannot even imagine. Some of them will read your post.

We are definitely going to treat ourselves to a shop at Waitrose/M&S, lots of party food instead of our usual Iceland shop! x

During Covid as a bit of a pick me up, we went to borough market and fortnum and mason and just bought whatever we wanted. Didn’t actually spend that much (maybe £100) but it was lovely to have some treats to enjoy over the holidays.

I love doing a m&s food shop for Christmas for picky bits. They always have some fun stuff for the in between times - dips and olives and such. We are normally Aldi shoppers so feels like a treat to us! I have no idea how to spend £1000 on a meal though.

Ooh this is the kind of fantasy that I would like to indulge in.
How about go to London after Christmas or just before and stay over and everyone see a show?
Boxing day lunch out, followed by a panto?
If it’s something just for the house, how about a lovely floral arrangement with similar delivered to close family?
Go to a nice cottage over New Year? (This may actually be a challenge on the budget and finding somewhere unbooked) take lots of food and games and have some quality family time.

Fair. But you asked what would I spend it on. And thats what I would spend it on.
Even if i had something booked. Id book another.
Ive no interest in champagne and my Christmas food has been perfected over the years there's nothing I would add
So, flights for me.

Is there a musical or panto you could all go to Christmas Eve and get amazing seats?
Buy in everything! Seafood platters, champagne etc.
Rent whatever films your kids want.
How about hot tub hire!

How about really fancy christmas crackers - the kinds which come with lovely gifts inside

We’re having all M&S food,.NYE at our favourite restaurant with another couple, a few nights out as a couple with various friends and also a couple of nights out with our own friends. We’ve booked a pantomime on Boxing Day, a light show event on 23rd, lunch out the weekend after Xmas with some relatives.

I’ve also signed up to a couple of extra TV subscriptions for a month to be able to watch more Christmas movies and I’ve booked a few films at the cinema.