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Christmas

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

Original poster

budget christmas help

30 replies

damnandblast · 01/10/2014 21:41

Hi guys,

Asking for my mum here. Due to unforeseen circumstances she's been left with £300 for Christmas to cover all present.
she is involved in a saving scheme for dinner costs so that's a relief for her.

Any tips as to how she can cut costs on presents? I realise 300 seems a lot but this is down roughly 50% from her normal budget so quite a difficult adjustment.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 01/10/2014 21:44

buy cheaper presents and less of them??

I dunno, whos she buying for?

Lollycats · 01/10/2014 21:44

My main tips would be:

Check out discount shops like Home Bargains, and Wilkinsons for gifts, wrapping and cards.

Can get good deals on toys with Boots 3-for-2 offers

Use Tesco clubcard vouchers (can double them up nearer to Xmas to spend on toys and gifts) and Nectar card points.

Original poster
damnandblast · 01/10/2014 21:46

Ah forgot to add!

Her dp and his son, her dpil, my db, my dd (4), my dgparents, her dbn, his dw and his dd (21).

OP posts:
Original poster
damnandblast · 01/10/2014 21:47

Plus work secret santa!

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 01/10/2014 21:50

Well cut back in who she's buys for. £20 limit for each person.

CaptainSinker · 01/10/2014 21:54

That's loads!

Etsy good for wee things.

Kids don't need expensive gifts. B and M are very good for toys. Budget stationery/book shops such as "the Works" good for kids and adults. Home made chutneys and biscuits also good for presents. Further bargains to be had at community/church fairs.

Does her DP really need a present? DP and I went without when we had to do Christmas on £100.

Original poster
damnandblast · 01/10/2014 22:00

I told her he wouldn't mind not having one and that's something she'll have to deal with. I'll see if she listens

OP posts:
frazzled74 · 01/10/2014 22:02

That's quite a good budget and not too many to buy for, 11 presents? 10 if doesn't buy for her dp. You can make lovely thoughtful hampers for less than £20 if you shop wisely.

Original poster
damnandblast · 01/10/2014 22:04

She's of the mind that more money = better presents so i think this xmas will be a serious awakening. I know my lot would love quirky little heartfelt gifts.

OP posts:
CaptainSinker · 01/10/2014 22:07

M and S have a sale on at the moment. I have picked up a few gifts early that way. Could suggest she gets some sale stuff?

PesoPenguin · 01/10/2014 22:41

Surely this is a great time to stop buying for her niece now she's 21? Then she could do a joint food/ drink present for her brother and sister in law ( or include the neice in that) and similar for her parents and pil. Buying multipacks/ offers and splitting them up will save more money. I don't think there's any reason to not buy anything at all for her dp on that budget, but set a limit of say£10/20. Toys for children can easily be bought in the many half price/ 3 for 2 offers. Honestly, she needs to stop panicking and just get what she can with the money she has ( which is a reasonable amount anyway). No one will mind if she gives them less than usual, she just needs to be honest with them.

Original poster
damnandblast · 01/10/2014 23:17

Thank you all for your suggestions i will pass them on. I think it will help to hear them from someone outside the family as she's reluctant to listen to us sometimes.

OP posts:
306235388 · 02/10/2014 00:09

No adult presents.

lemonbonbon35 · 02/10/2014 15:32

Try and buy presents before december as the prices all go up at christmas. Also set a certain limit for each person. Shop around.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 02/10/2014 15:37

Get herself to Boots for their 3-4-2 offers, really nice toiletry sets. Plus she can save up points - they do a deal of £12 worth of points for every £50 spent instore, so a £200 shop in there would give her the normal points value plus an additional £48 worth of points to spend in store.

Pollywallywinkles · 02/10/2014 18:19

This may come across as a bit rude, but I'm struggling to see what the problem is. She knows what her budget is, knows who she wants to buy for, so only spend the budget.

She can cut the number of people who she buys for, work out if she is going to spend more on some people and less than others. Buy or make a family gift e.g. Something to eat and drink which can be done for less than £20 a family/couple and then use a larger share of the budget for the under 18s.

She can buy loads for £300.

MsAspreyDiamonds · 02/10/2014 22:53

She could have a look on hpt uk deals for discounts to help her money stretch further. Not too long ago a tassimo was advertised for 35, which is a 'big' gift.

She should just but family gifts rather than individual gifts as that will help reduce the spending.

m.hotukdeals.com/?mforwarded=true

TheRealMaryMillington · 02/10/2014 22:59

That's loads!

Just buy less!

Why not have a new family pact of only exchanging consumable gifts for adults. Spend a bit more on the grandchildren and nieces if that gives her pleasure.

More thought, less cash.

Allalonenow · 02/10/2014 23:19

For the last three people on the list give a household present, bottle of port and a pot of Stilton for instance. Same idea for her DPIL, maybe a Christmas bouquet from M&S for instance or a bottle of fizz and a pack of smoked salmon, and this might work for her own Mum & Dad also.
For the 4 year old, Boots and Argos have some great deals on toys.
Also she could look at the Christmas threads on here which are packed with ideas for special offer, good value gifts.
She should start shopping now, while there is plenty of choice, this is especially true for toys.

Three hundred pounds really is a generous budget for that number of gifts.

Bangonthedoor · 03/10/2014 07:00

All the above Smile

Also target any sales, even if she thinks that shop will have nothing relevant to anyone in the family. It probably will!

I've been doing this since April and have managed to save so much money whilst getting some lovely bits. I know the sales will probably be limited from now on but it's worth a go. Pia have a sale on at the moment. I picked up 2 lovely presents from there this week for £25 for both - pre sale would have cost me £65!!

tanya1312 · 03/10/2014 07:03

Tell her not to buy for adults they are old enough to understand, perhaps if there is a theatre show the adults like in the new year she could look at paying a % of it if her finances allow it x

Bangonthedoor · 03/10/2014 07:03

Also go to the card factory for cards and wrap - less than half the price of Clinton's Smile

Turquoisetamborine · 03/10/2014 09:53

I would love that budget for 11 people. I've already spent £200 and I have another 36 people to buy for including my sons Boxing Day birthday.

I have £400 to do it with. Write a list and put a figure how much you can allocate to each person. Check hot uk deals daily and start buying now. I would give a 21 yr old a tenner not a present.

306235388 · 03/10/2014 10:03

You buy for 47 people turquoise?? I buy for 10 kids, 10 adults and a fair few of the adults are just a token gift. We are from a big family too...

BeyondRepair · 03/10/2014 10:34

TK MAX amazon, charity sales before xmas, etc

that is much more than my parents spend on us, or in laws in fact, and loads more than I spend on my own family.

I think she needs to be firmly told that the worry of her worry and her in debt takes shine off pleasure any expensive gifts could bring

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