how do you save for christmas ?

[misstiredbuthappy]

Just wondring how everybody saves for christmas ? I struggled last year so im going to save as much ad I can this year. Ive opened a Christmas savings account with the post office, where you put the money on the card they give you and you cant spend it until November.

Well that sounds like a great idea.

I buy all family and friends gifts in the sale when I see them, so spread out over 6-9months. As for my DCs I'm always looking for good deals, vouchers, online codes etc. We save monthly and use a bit of this money for the DCs Christmas gifts.

OMG it's May No you won't get that from me

Household things, especially if it's tablewear, I buy as and when I see it, otherwise I know it won't be there when I get back.
The DC presents - they really want money/gift tokens now as they're 14 and 12.
I buy them Stocking Gifts from October onwards , that's what I find takes the time and I don't want to be queuing with a load of bags in December.

Food- I keep all my Nectar Points and use the double points/extra points to bump up the amount. This pays for my big shop.
We save all the £2 in a tin , gives about £200-£240 , we divide between DH,DS,DD and myself, the money needs to be spend on our family shopping day.

DS has a December birthday too so it's an expensive month

We do the £2 jar as well. It was enough for DS's 'big' Xmas present last year.

I put aside £50 a month in a savings account for Christmas and birthdays for my 3 DCs, it's a struggle but it's worth it to know it'll be ok at expensive times of the year. Also if I manage not to spend it all so much the better

I don't. Why would I spend so much on one day that I deprive myself and my family for the other 364 days?

We've done the £2 jar in the past, worked really well. Didn't miss out on anything, it was barely noticeable. Not really practical now though as we have electronic bus passes so not so much change being carried IYSWIM.

Have also done eBay selling, which we would do anyway but DH just saved the money on his paypal and used it nearer to Xmas.

Now though we don't really need to save as we spend only what we can easily afford. I suspect if I specifically saved more money, I would end up spending more just because it was there IYSWIM? But that's just me

Mostly what we do is keep ideas all year round (I love my amazon wishlists) and then if something drops dramatically in price we get it and hide it. Nothing faddy as that stuff changes so quickly thanks to adverts/peer pressure etc, but the sort of traditional 'mainstay' things we do every year, like PJs on Xmas eve or whatever. DCs fell in love with top trumps last year for example, so it might become a standard stocking filler, and when I saw a particular set I got it. Not so much 'saving' as spreading the cost and time.

I love the savings tins that you can't open without a tin opener. Have one for the Christmas Tree - £1 a week in that one. £2 a week in another for family outings like Panto, cinema, ice skating etc. I then put £50 a month on either an Asda or Tesco savings card. I also save all my Clubcard points until Christmas too. This pretty much covers everything. Now the children I buy for are older they all just want vouchers for iTunes, cinema, xbox points etc. I've started chucking one in my trolley every so often when I have spare bit of money.

After September (DDs birthday) I start buying things bit by bit for everyone. This is the first year I did this and it was reasonably successful. I still did a mad Xmas eve dash tho

Yes, I'm with pottering.

IME the earlier you start thinking about and buying for Christmas the more you spend, mostly on unnecessary things no-one wants, no-one will remember and that end up in landfill. Plan to spend what you can afford. If you need to deprive yourself all year you probably can't.

I make sure Dc's have something they'll love but everyone else gets what I can afford. I would hate it if any of my friends or family bought something for me that had left them short.

I don't. We try to keep Christmas about Jesus rather than Santa. We try to buy second hand rather than new to be Eco-friendly. Biggest expense would be the turkey but we share the cost of the feast with family attending.

I don't save as such, I buy presents throughout the year so I can maximise offers and deals. Last year ds stocking cost £20 but had £30 worth of stuff.

I buy a few bits and pieces once a month - I don't save month as such. I use my clubcard and nectar points are christmas and double up etc. I handmake other peoples gifts

We have a £2 jar and have also started putting a note of some kind £5, £10 or £20 depending on if it's a good or bad week, into a jar once a week too.

Reckoning on having around £500-£750 by the end of the year.

Also buy little presents during the year.

Sometimes do a Tesco stamp card to help with food and always save Tesco Clubcard points for Christmas too.

I have the lovely daydream of Christmas Shopping. It's cold and dry. There's music and lights everywhere. And just the hint of snow......

I'm going from shop to shop, browsing and picking up nice trinkets. Then a cup of hot chocolate in a nice cafe before heading home.
Sounds lovely eh?

The reality bites.
It's not cold. It's meh. Drizzly. If I wear too many layers, I'll cook. Shops are boiling hot, I'm having 'flushes'

I have to guard my handbag.
Get to the car-park so early to get a space then wander round waiting for the shops to open.
Then after 2-3 shops my hands are full. My bags bite into my fingers and bump my legs. I want to look at things but I can't get near. So I go back to the car to put things in the boot (once I did this 4 times)
Wrapping paper gets bent. I think "Oh I should buy this online"
People are complaining about queues.
The DC get narky. DH is resigned in a down trodden way.
I don't fancy McD so spend £12 in Starbucks on 4 drinks.

The only way to do it, is to start in October. Buy things earlier.
I'm not doing without things, I actually spend less because I'm not impulse buying. Things for the DC stockings have to be practical or fun, but less than £5. They don't get 'presents' now, mainly money/vouchers so it's the stocking gifts they have the joy of tearing open.

DH and I go shopping at the end of November. Not too busy (we take a day off work). He carries all the bags, I drive

We have a Family Day Out, just looking round and spending the £2 jar.

Sainsburys Big Shop (though I always seem to get the dodgy trolley) with my Nectar Points.

So it spaces things out and less stressful (well as less stressful as Christmas with a teenager and a preteen can be)

Ooh lots of replys thank you your all very organised x

I've just bought my £2 tin from Card Factory. I'll have to use a can opener to get it open so I'm thinking that should stop me dipping in!

I have an e savings account where I transfer £40 a month in, I also start picking up kids presents from August sales.

I have work direct deposit from my pay a set amount each fortnight. First year I've done this so hope it works. I'm not missing the money as it isn't in an account I can easily access through an ATM.

I'm going to shop online from October for what I can to save the hassle of crowds. I'm going to make a list too and stick to it. In past years when I bought presents early I forgot what I had bought and then it became excessive as not all gifts were appropriate to go in the present box I have for future parties. I'm determined to spend less this year on gifts for my kids as I have gone overboard in previous years. What I'm hoping is to have money left over that will help towards a holiday away next year or the one after.

I have a credit union at work, so deduct €50 from my paycheque before I get it, so €100 a month. I use that for holidays and Christmas spends. And pick up things as I see them during the year.

I save Dunnes stores vouchers to use, and I also fill a couple of savings stamps cards with change during the year too. I tend to be canny about food shopping anyway, so use that for the offers and bulk deals over Christmas rather than THE MEAL. The offset to that is about half if those offers go back into a trolley for the local Lions club collection, as I am lucky to afford it by doing the savings, many can't.

And I always look on our holidays for extra knickknack a for stockings, or nice and different present ideas. Lovely jewellery and scarves in France, sportswear and ornaments from USA. Canada this summer should give some intwresting options I hope. Usually these cost the same or less than I'd spend here on not so nice things, as long as I have capacity in luggage. (Canada is a complete treat as parents are bringing all 6 of their kids and families to celebrate dad's retirement, USA last year was massive treat while dd could still enjoy the magic if Disney).

I save £100 a month for Christmas presents and I don't deprive my family as we can afford to save it! It makes it easier at Christmas and we''re not broke in January. I start buying presents in November and get most delivered, it's so much easier and less stressful than trawling around the packed, roasting shops. I take the dc's Christmas shopping but it's ok, even if it's busy, as I don't have to buy anything major. We can wonder around while dc's decide what they want to get for daddy and Nanny etc.

I don't save.
I buy things throughout the year as and when I see them.
Food: we don't go overboard, there are only ever three of us for lunch. I tend to make xmas pudding ice cream for dessert as I'm the only one who eats xmas cake - it lasts until August!
DS' birthday is also in December, sp we'll buy his stuff in the August sales. He is still young, so he doesn't know what the 'latest toy' is.

We spend many days doing lots of lovely (free) festive things and generally chilling out, and I devorate the house like a crazy thing, it looks like Mother Christmas' handbag exploded

I read a tip somewhere, forget where, that said when it's someone's birthday, buy 2 gifts. One for birthday and one in the cupboard for Christmas. Am so going to do this next year.

Morrisons saving stamps for the food and crackers etc. try to get to
100 for this. Also think about what got left last year so avoid buying it this year. Cards in the sales after christmas.
This year everyone not my dc gets a book so have started buying them when I see them, at water stones and stacking up points on my card.

I save with Park Hampers ... This is my 4th year and it's continuous I don't miss the money as I haven't had it for 4 years and it has just become another Direct Debit

I save in a seperate online bank account for things like cash gifts , trips to panto , Christmas crackers , tableware etc etc

I love saving for things. I have a jar for coins and when the schools start back i after summer i put away £10 pw for christmas. Someone i know buys m&s gift vouchers every month to use at christmas for shoppong dinner etc and i thought this was a good idea. I also have a budget card for road tax!