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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Total Spend this Christmas is...

73 replies

mumtoone1 · 14/11/2013 12:11

£850.00 according to my spreadsheet that includes 1 DS (including all stocking fillers) and 15 family members. I think thats quite good.

I was going to get DS a nexus 7 but then decided to get an ipad air for the 3 of us to share so thats included in the above figure.

Christmas food wise, my dinner has been paid with M&S vouchers I get for free every year and I'm saving up morrisons vouchers to give me a £40 christmas bonus to by remainder nibbles for Christmas/boxing day. I'll also have a £25.00 morrisons christmas bonus from my mother in law who has been collecting week 5 onwards for me which will go towards my new year eve spend.

I also still have £30 in M&S Vouchers to use :)

How you all getting on?

OP posts:
LittleMissGreen · 14/11/2013 12:19

I have no spreadsheet, but on a quick tot up about £250 all in (although may have forgotten some stocking fillers, so say £300 for luck!)
But I only have 9 relatives to buy for, and the DSs made all their relatives something (included in above price) which will need posting abroad in a couple of cases so that will be quite a few pounds to royal mail!
Christmas food will be courtesy of Nectar points at Sainsburys.

LittleMissGreen · 14/11/2013 12:19

Oh should say, that is 3DSs (so the 3 for 2 in Argos to get their main present came in very handy!)

curiousgeorgie · 14/11/2013 12:30

I've just finished getting everything including wrapping paper...

£420 for theatre tickets for my whole immediate family was quite a big spend so our total is about £1400... But much less than last year thanks to the bargain threads, and we've bought more for DD1 and have a second DC to buy for this year. I think last year topped £2000 with friends kids really pushing it up.

DH is happy with it anyway Wink

Luggage16 · 14/11/2013 12:37

I recon we have spent about £650ish, still need xmas food and a day trip out but sainburys points should cover food so we are mostly there. That's inc mine, hubbys, 2 kids plus family members so don't think too bad and we have intentionally spent a little more this year. Some of this is things that were needed anyway like new work shirts for hubby etc too

wonderingsoul · 14/11/2013 12:37

for 2 dc presents from me, stockings, my parents, 4 friends and thier kids. sister and her 3 kids. including stocking. £350.

which is alot but i did start super early and got some amazing deals:)

Anotherdayanotherdestiny123 · 14/11/2013 12:53

About £200 in total excluding food. That's 3 children and 10 nieces and nephews. We have a max £10 limit on family presents and don't buy for adults. Our children get lots of small things, big presents are for birthdays although my 11 year old is getting a phone on contract so initial outlay was one months line rental. £2000! That's nearly a terms school fees and probably why they only get small gifts.

curiousgeorgie · 14/11/2013 13:04

I have a huge family... I'm very pleased at a £600 saving this year... But much better presents!

Marne · 14/11/2013 13:05

About £1000 here, for 5 children and a few family members, hoping to use Tesco vouchers for some of the food so might be slightly less.

onehellofaride · 14/11/2013 13:26

Around £1,500 I think although I daren't actually work it out. Hoping I will be just about done in the next two weeks though!

Altinkum · 14/11/2013 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShatnersBassoon · 14/11/2013 13:35

I couldn't be bothered to add it all up. It knocks the fun out of it for me. I can't even be bothered to add up how many people I buy for.

Suffice to say it will be more than I imagine, but within our means.

50shadesofknackered · 14/11/2013 13:37

About £1500 when I finish, which u hope to do in next week or so. This doesn't include food tho.

gaggiagirl · 14/11/2013 13:43

£140 here. Big family and one DD. I buy all year and stick to a budget. Sales help.

FairyJen · 14/11/2013 13:44

I'm Shock at these. Our total is less than £250 all in which includes a wii u bundle (eBay) for dd.

CreamyCooler · 14/11/2013 13:49

£800, that's for 2 teenagers and 1 grown up son, DH, Parents, mother in law, small gifts for DB and his family, food, drink and trip to panto for DH and I ( DC didnt want to come with us this year). This amount doesn't include petrol to visit DH's family which will be about £60 and we don't bother with new outfits, p.j's etc.

Luggage16 · 14/11/2013 15:18

It always makes me smile when people are shocked at how much and say they spend very little - everyone is in different positions with how many they need to pay for etc, whether they are hosting family things so need a lot of extra food, whether they do trips etc. The spread is huge because people have different priorities and different circumstances. This year we have spent more than usual but that's because I sold over £300 worth of outgrown toys and clothes and when I buy I buy good quality so bits tend to get played with for years and then sold on for a decent amount again afterwards (I have been known to make money on items when I have bought in a sale and then sold at a time when toys are selling for more, esp as we buy a lot of wooden bits).
£250 wouldn't go far in a family with 3 or 4 children who are hosting xmas dinner and want to visit santa for example. You really cant compare

NewChoos · 14/11/2013 15:33

Sorry just did a similar post - didn't see this!
Mine will be approx £1400, I am going to try and whittle down next year. We are getting a new tree which will hopefully be a one off for many years.

CreamyCooler · 14/11/2013 15:34

Luggage, I have made money selling Lego on ebay. Some of it definitely goes up in value.

Luggage16 · 14/11/2013 15:37

Creamycooler its great isn't it! I have come to the conclusion that its is better value to buy better quality things and sell on again later than buy cheap and either end up having to replace it or it having absolutely no resale value once done with. I love selling things on as then I have totally guilt free spending money too :)

CreamyCooler · 14/11/2013 16:19

My DS3 sold most of his soft toys to put towards a playstation 4 and we got to meet the lovely family who brought them. It's very comforting to think of them being 'looked after' with her...bit like Toy Story.

monkeyfacegrace · 14/11/2013 16:43

About £2500 Blush

But thats me, dh, ds (5), dd (7) and 8 family members.

No food as we eat out Xmas day and boxing day. Normal food shop goes up to about £700 for the whole month of Dec (Im preg so cant drink boooo)

I LUFFS Christmas.

magentastardust · 14/11/2013 17:00

Haven't finished mine yet but it will be quite a lot although strictly budgeted for.
We have 2 of our 3 dc's birthdays at xmas time as well so birthday parties and birthday presents have to be paid for too. Plus I have a xmas birthday too . I have to keep track and start going into December organising mode around the beginning of October!

Mittensonkittens · 14/11/2013 17:08

Are we saying for everything? Food and presents and outings and decorations?

I think probably £1000 on presents
£200 on food
£150 on outings

So maybe about £1350? Probably £1500 realistically.

Bloody hell. Thank god it's only once a year. That's horrific.

hermioneweasley · 14/11/2013 17:16

About £500 so far which includes mist presents and Xmas theatre trip Still ILs to buy for and food (which won't be much as we're not having any visitors). I reckon it will be about £700 all in. But that doesn't include whatever DP has spent on me!

ZombieMonkeyButler · 14/11/2013 17:23

I am nowhere near having finished my shopping but would estimate somewhere in the region of £1500 all in. That's with 3 DC, a very small extended family and hosting one day with food & drink for my brother, sisters and their partners & DC.