How much are you planning to spend this Christmas

[caughtupinthismoment]

You'll probably begrudge talking about christmas this early but nevermind.

I'm working out my lists of things to get for Christmas now so I can enjoy the run up with my DD as she'll be more aware this year so I'm excited to make it magical for her.

So how much is everyone estimating this year for everything.
I've spent about 100.00 for my daughter this year but it'll be split between her birthday aswell which is a few days after. I still need to get a few more things otherthan that she's done.

I've listed what I'm getting other family members and totted it up.
Mam about 70.00 this year things I know she'll love and the usual pjs slippers.

Sister 40-50 she's only asked for pjs but I've added a few extras in.

Sisters boyfriend about 15.00/20.00 usual smellied and such

Nephew about 45.00 got most his presents already just a couple more too get.

No food shop this year as I'm going to my Mother's for dinner so I plan on taking wine chocolates and pudding.

I also planned several activities for decemeber that I've accounted the cost for such as baking all the yummy christmassy treats mince pies cookies and such.
Taking DD to see santa this year she was scared last year so looking forward to that.
A trip into town to wonder around looking at the department stores annual display afterwards to a posh cafe for hotchocolate and a treat.

Last year I think we spent £400/450 that was just presents as we don't have to buy Xmas food.
This year we have a budget of upto £600 but I will still try and do it under £500.

When all finished close to £2000 that's for 14 adults 3 kids and then our two children plus me and dh and food it's an eye watering amount but we budget through the year to be able to do it.

All £2 coins are saved and go on asda saving cards this pays for all the food have £200 saved so far.

Bloody loads. Too much.

I want to go away to Aviemore (Scottish Highlands) so that is £600 for accommodation, plus petrol, plus entry to the Raindeer Sanctuary, Santa Express, obligatory soft play etc..
Then food- We spent £100ish last time
Presents is normally-
£20-30 each for DH, Mum, Dad, Little sis
Plus similar for my present from DH I suppose (joint finances!)
DH is in charge of his own family and he's a much smarter shopper than me. I think he might get away with £50-70 for the lot of them. (That's MIL, FIL, BIL and his partner, couple of Aunties, the wee cousin)
£50 for DS (He's still little so nice and cheap plus relatives go overboard. I still like to get him a good haul from us though)

Sooo-
I make that £1040! Eeek!
Will be spreading the cost (especially big things like holiday accom) over the year so it won't feel so bad. But- Eeek!

I feel very lucky to be able to do it in some style though. Last year was the first Christmas we did as hosts (rather than at one of our parents places) and it was wonderful to have everything the way we wanted it. I'm really looking forward to doing it again.

spottymoo 14 adults?! Christmas at yours sounds like a riot!
I come from a really small insular family (DH's is a bit bigger) and I've always wished for a big sociable Christmas. Do you have a lot of fun?

I don't know!

We don't have much of an extended family so do buy a lot for DS. Trying really hard not to go mad though because were going to disney in paris in February - DH and I won't get each other anything as we'd rather have cash to spend there. DS is 5 and I don't think he'd understand disney as a gift and having to wait 2 months for it.

Food wise is where we really treat ourselves. Good wine, champers and nibbles as well as whatever's we want for lunch.

I'm hoping to do it all for about £650. The breakdown is £150 on presents for DD, £50 for DH, £120 for my family, £150 for DH'S family, £60 panto tickets on christmas eve and £25 fir breakfast with santa. That leaves £95 for food which is very do - able. We don't buy much extra in the way of food because other people will buy us lots of goodies as presents. The main expense will be the waitrose turkey crown I think. There will be other little expenses like purchases made at Christmas markets and trips into town to see the decorations but I don't really count them! I too save so that we can have the Christmas that we want. I just love it.

Only buy for dh, and two teenagers.
About £200 on dh,up to £400 each on kids.
Never do Xmas lunch or buy loads of crap food just for the sake of it.

So food bill is no different from usual really... About £250 a week.

14 adults - 12 on dhs side 2 on mine no other children on dhs side apart from ours and they've always done family gifts.

2 nieces and one nephew my side don't exchange with my sister just the kids then theirs my mum and dad.

I'm just about done with all the adults start early so I can trawl for bargains.

Luckly christmas dinner is with mil&fil I'm not crazy enough to have them all here

£150 on the 2 DC.
£50 on DP
£150ish on my family (9 adults)
£30ish on little things for friends
£200 food (hosting this year)
£100 on other stuff (wrapping paper/cards/decorations/Christmas themed activities)

Wow that's loads. Definitely going to try and cut that down a bit.

My sisters and I have agreed on a £10 budget for each other's children this year.

I have halved sibling budget to £25 each rather than the £50 they normally get.

Mil and FIL and my Dad and his partner will get £25 each.

DP and I will be getting each other little token gifts, we're really trying to budget and keep our finances healthy.

Our 3 children will be getting one main gift and a couple of silly bits and a stocking each.

I've used a Park catalogue this year and have brought a huge meat and grocery hamper which is all paid for plus I got my sisters hamper through them so got some commission which gave me money off mine.

I'm hoping to get it in at £500 but it will likely be closer to £600 all in

£748.50 on presents, about 80 on food.

About £1000.00 hopefully
Last year one day , Christmas day , yes one day cost near £1600.00
I'm determined not to spend more than £1000.00 for EVERYTHING

A cross between nothing and fuck all.

Dds get about £250 each inc main, extra gifts and stocking. This comes out of joint family account.

Out of my account, I buy My Mum and dad £50 each. I Don't buy my siblings but I buy each of their kids a £15 present (7 kids). I buy aunt, nan and teachers etc boxes of chocs or wine.

Dh sorts his side out from his own cash and spends £100 each on his mum, dad and dnephew. He only buys 3 but it equals the same as all my side so is equal. (I keep the family presents separate so they're his responsibility and I don't have to think of gifts for his side!)

I buy from September onwards so I don't keep a total.
This year I might do (that will be an eye-opener)

TBH, I don't think I spend that much.

I buy food in the run up to Christmas that I can store or freeze. The food is covered by my Nectar card points (will be about £120) for the Big Shop.

So far I have bought a silver CZ pendant and a pair of earrings for DD.
A book for DS

We book Young Driver Lessons (2 x £30ish)
Trip to Harry Potter (£90)
Theatre for DD and I (about £28 + travel + food)

Random things like Christmas Jumpers and bedding

We send floral arrangement to Mum and MIL but don't buy presents for other adults.

70 that's why I have a spreadsheet . Didn't think I spent much at all til I started it, I would have guessed at £250 ish for presents and maybe an extra £30 on extra food and decorations. I was shocked!

I would like to have a Christmas where we could spend maybe £500-£600 on everything one year, yet to see that happen...

We moved house this year and have a bay window in the front room. It's been my dream since having DC to have the real tree in the window all twinkly and beautiful, I can finally make that dream come true! But it means I have to buy some more tree decorations and a better tree topper... Never nailed a good tree topper down, want to nail it this year and have one that will last us many years. Need more tree decorations because in Christmases before the tree was in the corner of the room so nobody could see/reach the back of it, so going to need more to decorate the whole thing iykwim. Also not having tinsel this year, switching to tartan ribbon . Also finally got a six seater table and chairs so needing all new table decorations this year. Getting the DC the Belle&Boo Christmas wall stickers for their room. and we buy our tree every year. So decorations will be approx £300 being realistic.

Presents I'm downplaying this year because last year was so ridiculous and the presents they got are all either unused or scattered around the house in pieces. But it'll cost approx £400.

Food is always a good £300 including the stuff for the North Pole breakfast on the 1st.

Activities throughout Christmas about £300.

So yeah a good 1.5k at a guess.

About £5/600. We've halved the kids present budgets this year. Every year I want them to have a huge pile because I remember the excitement of it but every year half of the stuff doesn't get played with...so this year just a couple of things they will really like and their stockings....about £60 each. Then the Xmas eve elf basket with new pj's/slippers a DVD to share and some chocs, about another £30
We have lots of adults and family kids to buy for, and stuff to send abroad so postage adds up.
We've become very strict with the kids over snacks and sugar this year and pretty much cut them out except once a week. it's been a bit of a revelation actually... we're all enjoying a treat actually being a treat and not every day, so we will really enjoy the meal being a proper feast...but we spent too much last year and this year our pleasures can be simpler and will feel fab because we just don't have stuff like chocolates and cake and crisps very often anymore!

Between £1000 and £1500

I've spent over £200 already and no where near done

Last year cost too bloody much, however I'm trying to get this year to Atleast below £2000

Though I will still spend a bit on the cheese... Which is the best part of Christmas anyway! Hmmmmm cheese!

I don't count it, but reckon it probably easily hits 1k.

Tend to spend £50 each on close family members and then £20 on not so close family, friends, friends' children. That's easily £250+

Then there's getting the tree, Panto tickets and food (although we go to my mums for Christmas Dinner) that's easily another £250+.

Presents for DH would be well over £100 and the girls probably have about £400 each. Whilst that may sound excessive, they get all their presents at Christmas. Their birthdays are in November, so we've always said birthdays are about celebrations and Christmas is for presents. I'll only spend £50 on birthday presents, sometimes not even that! In contrast, they get big sacks at Christmas, but this includes a lot of necessities. I can easily spend £100 just buying new socks, pants, vests, slippers and pjs and that's before I buy them any new clothes! They get most of their new clothes at Christmas, and then any specific bits as needed, but the bulk comes at Christmas. Add in one big present (new bike say, that's £100) and that's easily £400 covered.

Sounds loads, but over the course of the year I don't think my children get any more than anyone else's!

We spend £250 each on kids so £500, £100 each on each other then £80 on nephews/nieces, £300 on both sets of parents and £160 on brothers and sisters with another £50ish on aunts/uncles/elderly neighbours and £30ish on secret Santa and teacher gifts.

Panto £70ish
Santa trip £60ish
£150 christmas food shopping
£70ish some new decs, cards, wrapping paper, postage, crackers.
£120 christmas meal out with family.
£120ish family farm trip with gift shop after.
£50ish other treats/craft stuff/extras

£1960 total, eek

DS will turn 3 in December, we are spending about €100 on him: balance bike, hoping to pick up a second hand wendy house from somewhere, a playdoh truck (kill two birds with one stone!), various crafty bits that I've squirrelled away over the year (I only replace when needed), some bedding, maybe a dressing gown. That's it.

DH nothing and vice versa.

DM, DF and his partner I'm sewing stuff for them.
In laws get a homemade hamper (soup, buscuits, maybe a fancy wine and some cheese).
Groyp if frienda (incl two Sils) €10 Secret Santa - fiest time last year was a real success, so stress free!

Some small bits and bobs and a homemade Snowman t-shirt fir my Australian niece qnd nephew - it's got to be cheapish to post, my DSis says never spend much and they'd be delighted with anything. Hence the snowman tshiets they can wear in 35° on Christmas Day!