To ask my family if we can cut down on Christmas spending when strictly speaking we don't have to

[TheEnormousTurnip]

DH and I have just asked our families if we can spend less on presents this year. Hinting at credit crunch as the reason. However we are not that hard up and would still be able to afford to spend our usual amount - if we did without something else, eg the holiday we want to take in January, or meals out, or new clothes etc etc. I just don't feel like scrimping to buy a load of stuff that nobody really wants. We're still going to get presents for everyone, but spend less and perhaps do some home made stuff as well.

Is this stingy? I am feeling guilty, but don't see why we should get into debt yet again this year, when we can just spend less and not try to keep up with our families' lavish spending.

No, I think that's fine.

Am sure everyone will be spending a little less this year-or even a lot less.

I have halved our budget for family gifts this year, as I have a tendency to overspend on the nieces, and I have still managed to get lovely things for them all.

I imagine your family will be relieved, and actually, you can't afford it, if it means getting into debt, or cutting back in essentials like, er, holidays and clothes!

I'm not really 'doing' Christmas this year either. What with dh and I having 4 siblings each and a collective of 10 dns, I just don't want to 'waste' that much money this year.

We will buy token gifts for all the children, and a nice present for my mum (her first Christmas without my dad, since he died). Possibly a photo of the dc for ILs and GM on dh's side.

Probably nothing for the adult siblings- we don't buy for adults in my family, not even for birthdays after the age of 16. But dh's side always buy, despite never seeing each other during the year, and it's just the usual stuff that people buy just to give 'something', rather than a gift appropriate for the recipient. Of course we are always greatul for a tin of biscuits, for example, but I really wish they had spent the money on themselves, given it to charity, or on any of the dc.

Last year I didn't send any cards at all. Only 2 or 3 people even noticed. That saved me a lot of faff and stamp money.

I hate that feeling of having to buy overpriced crap just because its a certain time of year.

YANBU at all.

YANBU. We cut down ages ago, we don't do any family members over 18 (except the elderly).
I would never cut out Christmas cards though, I love the letters and keeping in touch. I don't send cards to anyone I see around the time.

YANBU because I think Christmas has gone a bit bonkers of late anyway, so regardless of how much you can afford I think profligacy is such a shame.

Highly sensible in my opinion

really?

i just feel mean as we can afford to spend it, we just don't want to

You only end up buying things that people don't want for the sake of it!
We have agreed with BIL and SIL to have a meal out together in January and it is a much better solution.

oh gawd yes...very sensible.

YANBU - we have a rule of spending only £10-15 per gift for the immediate family that are there on the day. We could all afford to spend more - but why do so?

It is fun to actually think about something nice you can buy for £10, instead of stress of all that shopping and spending. Then with the cash you save you can buy something you actually want for yourself in the Jan sales too!

Not at all. We do presents for children and one present for each adult from everyone. People still buy for partners. That way everyone gets something nice (that they might actually want) but we don't spend stupid money on stuff that no body wants.

I think that sounds completely reasonable. we do secret santa for all us siblings and partners and all give to the kids and it works well.

YANBU.