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!

I'd spend at least some of it on an "experience" rather than on things to be consumed. Maybe a trip to the theatre. Needn't be on Christmas Day itself, of course.

Then they can choose to avoid the thread as it’s clear in the title.

OP has had a bad year and has a right to spend her money she wants.

I’ve read a few threads this evening where people are being shot down for sharing something vaguely nice.

we all have different situations.

If you book the reindeer I am going to need a photo 😂

Maybe not spend so much on yourselves and donate part of it. Help a local family in need. Volunteer.

I think Waitrose is very over rated 🙄

I don’t understand how you can be spending this on food. In our house by Xmas we have already had most of the treats that we can have in the lead up to Xmas (and not expensive ones) that I can’t imagine any money would add to it. Personally I’d be budgeting £100 per day if the holidays and going somewhere with the children… a London trip, a car drive to a beach. All simple things I can’t usually afford to but things they would remember. There and you are not going to remember that M&S pig in a blanket.’

She doesn’t have a desperate urge. She’s ear marked it for some treats due a bad year.

A couple of bottles of Krug 2011 at £390 a pop will leave enough change for some nice crisps.

I'd pay someone to come in and do a deep clean of the house top to bottom two days before, including the oven. Then I'd splash out on a crate of champagne and lots of high end nibbles from Fortnum & Mason as well as an M&S shop for the actual dinner.

Enjoy, OP!

Gosh this is boring.

Pretendus to know Latinus to sound poshus.

How is it bragging?

It's quite something if a person cannot share what they are thinking, or hoping for, without being accused of boasting. Don't be so defensive! The op was talking about £1,000, not a million!

I’d put it in savings because that genuinely gives me more pleasure than spending it!

Firstly, please report back on the M&S beef Wellington. Very jealous as it is very much not within budget for us!

I really would like a proper cheese fondue set for Christmas eve. That and very high quality smoked salmon for Christmas morning.

Hope you enjoy it all OP and done let the killjoys ruin your thread!

Oh my god. This so weird

Honestly, I’d spend it and do as you want but I would take my children to the shops to choose a present / gift for those less fortunate. The recipient would be so grateful. So spend £900 on lovely things for you (as you’ve had a tough year) and £100 on some children less fortunate to make their Christmas Day.

In the morning i was telling my husband how much I wished to have a few hundreds lying around to spend as i wish for Christmas without looking at the budget!

so if i could…i would get some nice meals/dishes, from the shops and pre-ordered, fresh, so i dont have to cook (i dont like it as much), i would hire a cleaner for a day for a deep clean along with myself (i am a clean freak! Like bad, and like to have things cleaned in my way, but its not easy with little kids), i would probably spend around £300 for more Christmas decorations, the ones i always want but there is just not enough money for things like that. I would go to panto, or christmas lights show or something with the whole family to get into a christmas spirit.

This, or a cottage by the sea for a few days (we have dogs). I love the beach in winter, but appreciate being blasted on the seafront is not everyone’s idea of a luxury Christmas Day 😁 enjoy it OP.

Ok delete the desperate urge lol. Whatever.
If I’ve already got what I need and want, buying a load of stuff for people who have very little would make me happier than trying to think of things to spend it on.

I’m happy for you! Life is too short, make the most of it if you can afford it. I’d order lobsters, fancy cheese, wagyu beef steak, calamari, salmon. Also order some treats from fortnum and mason, good wines, champagne and biscuit selections. Go for made to order food and desserts from M&S or Waitrose. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

If I had storage space, I would buy some fortnum Christmas crockery!

www.fortnumandmason.com/seasonal-events/christmas/christmas-dining

After a really crappy year..

Maybe a family portrait if you like that sort of thing. Everyone dressed up in their Christmas best.

Tickets to an event you would all like to go to.

Afternoon tea somewhere fancy.

Massage/spa day for everyone in the run up to Christmas to destress and relax.

Everyone gets to pick an indulgence - might be champagne for some, oysters for others etc.

What makes you guys happy? What do you enjoy together? Maybe have a family chat to get everyone's idea.

FFS, Leave this poster alone, she has had a rotten year. She has 1k to spend, whatever has happened, she realises life is very short. She just wants ideas on what to spend it on.

Yes there is a cost of living crisis, but life goes on, this poster realises it, she has not come on here with a woe is me attitude, just wants to make things better for the family and her parents.

Some people on here need to grow up, and stop being mean spirited and spiteful, there are alot of terrible things happening in the world, I sympathise and donate. If I can help someone I will, but do I feel guilty for spending at Christmas, to hell I do. I will eat what I want, drink what I want and make Christmas the best.

Merry Christmas OP and I hope things get better for you in the new year.

A nice hamper of goodies
A case of champagne
A cleaner for after the festivities
Some lovely flowers or a plant
A family trip to the panto
A new year weekend break

Can’t believe people begrudge you this!

Wouldn’t go far for us. We have 16 for Christmas Day and our nearest restaurant is £145 a head and that’s without the drinks😂