The three things that have made Christmas affordable for me

[festiveferret]

Firstly, cut down on your 'buy for' list.
I stopped buying for my sisters or their children and they for me - we were just buying each other crap stuff we didn't want - it was a shared decision that we'd rather spend the money on our own kids, and it was a real relief. 8 less people to buy for! I don't really buy for friends either. If you drop a hint, you might find that some of your your 'buyees' would be pleased to mutually agree to no exchange of gifts this year - the credit crunch is a perfect excuse.

Secondly, go 2nd hand for littlies, they couldn't care less. Ebay and car boot. I got DD stuff to the value of £300 last year for £50.

Thirdly, start early, start now. 4 or 5 paydays to spread it over, bollocks to the moaners who are posting a biscuit whenever they see the word 'Christmas' in a post in August. They probably are on a squillion pounds a year and will have it all delivered giftwrapped on December 23rd in a big John Lewis van

If you are on Facebook (I know I know!!) there are a lot of local selling pages with second hand stuff - clothes, toys etc.

My DS love lego and I look on ebay for complete sets with boxes. If I cant get the boxes with the set other buyers sell just the boxes for only a few pennies.

I have my own selling page on Facebook and have sold loads of stuff

I use my Mum as a Christmas Club I give her £55 a month (and tehre are months we could do with the money but we have doen this for 9 years and goes out by standing order so feels like a 'bill' now) end of October she gives me £660 cash of which I pay into a seperate bank account so all Christmas stuff comes out of that. This year I have already got the dd's main presents, DD1 will be 7 and desperate for an ipod, dh drives a van for work and they have to fill up at sainsburys so got him a nectar card and we had enough points to get pink ipod shuffle so bought it the other week (was an ituens voucher offer on) and didnt cost me anything! DD2 (will be 5 on 5th jan) would love a DS like her sister (I know she's young but she plays on dd1 and handy for long car journeys!) someone we knew was selling a hot pink DSi on facebook (with receipt as still has guarantee) and some games for £50 (they are emigrating and clearing stuff) so thats hidden away for her. Will get them stocking bits but normally buy them lots of cheap bits but decided this year to go for 6 or 7 nice presents that will last and be used. Probably sepnd about £150-£200 on them (although got dd1 junior monopoly in argos for £3 the otehr day and electric toothbrushes (hannah montana and disney princess) reduced from £35 to £5.

I bought loads of paper, cards, tags, bows etc in wilkinsons in January sales and all stashed in a huge black sack in loft as well as some christmas craft sets that were 50p each and dd's will get those on Christmas eve.

We go to my parents for christmas lunch but save morrisons stamps through teh year (normally get £1 a week) and give that to my Mum on Christmas day (she refuses to let us pay for food etc but she can't refuse teh saving stamp card when the dd's give it to her)

We only buy for neices and nephews not brotehrs/sisters etc and we set a £10 limit per child (we all have 2 children so makes it easy)

Overall we spend around £400 of the £660 we save and the rest goes towards a weekend away for me and dh at the beginning of december (my parents have the dd's for a weekend) normally head to london, book a show, nice dinner and hotel (my mum and dad pay for hotel as our christmas present) and then have a very small present to open on christmas morning (book etc) Works well as we get a nice weekend away and feels a more 'indulgent' present as we neevr go anywhere on our own!

excuse spelling typing on my phone whilst at work

CECE thankyou so much for posting about the bike. Ds had his pinched the other day and i was worried about having to afford a new one for hs birthday in December, but have just ordered that Tesco one

Love this thread!!

I started filling one of those smashable money boxes in Jan, and have put anything from 10p up to £20 notes in, and its 2/3 full, so will be ready for smashing in Dec (only prob I have is I have no idea how much is in it) and hubby keeps laughing when he catches me shining a torch in the slot to try and see how much is in there.

Save £2 of tescos stamps everytime I go to tesco's, now at £120.

Save Tescos clubcard points, got £70 so far and approx £32 again due.
(If any one has taken out a Credit card or insurance in past two months let me know, we can do recommend a friend and get 1000 points each!!).

Save Nectar points, although I don't get a huge amount from here.

My plan is, hol at the end of the month, then start buying Xmas presents from then.

I love the gift basket idea, and I will be doing that for some very good friends!!!

I've taken out the tesco credit card last month. Does that help?

Ds1 would like a ps3 for xmas - to play driving games on. Seen some games on amazon at about 70% off and a ps3 for £192 - cheapest I've found!

Ds2 will be happy with a cheap bike

Got 4 lots of b days between now and xmas too...sigh

We only buy fro immediate family - adults limited to £10 - and DCs - again immediate family only.

As for food - I am veggie and DH not that keen on turkey, By teh tiem he has had his works Christamas lunch and his mum's left overe he's not bothered. We usually have an Old El Paso kit!

DS's has only had 3 Christmases - mostly from Ebay - but there will be another DC this year,

I am 1 of 4 DC and I never remember Christmas being quite as extravagant as it can be now.

I'm a Park savings agent, and i've been saving money with them for High St Vouchers this year. Just next months lot to pay and Christmas is all taken care of!

Lol at old el paso kit!

nutcracker - you're welcome