Anyone else have to turn to credit accounts to pay for Christmas?

[sammyjayneex]

So as the titles says, is anyone else struggling with finances leaving them with no option to turn to credit cards/ Catologs this year for Xmas. I never have the spare money to buy things out right but do have money to pay the weekly amount.

Oh and I start buying for Christmas in the January sales - by October I'm usually done. Also save Tesco stamps and have a copper/silver jar to pay for food - so far between them both there's about £150. Also try to put at least a tenner a week away. It all adds up.

I start my shopping in the summer sales. All my dd's stuff is done, as are family and friends. Just my dh and I to buy for each other, and we'll sit down first week in November, check how everything is looking financially and set a budget. We do tend to spoil each other a little as we buy very little for ourselves through the year.

I do Park to. Been an agent for years! They have got better as it used to be just vouchers for the high street now you can buy combi with supermarkets, Amazon gift cards as well as toys' rus.

Cant do christmas without Park.

Yes I get into debt for xmas and then mainly pay it off when i get my bonus from in february. It's stupid though as I should save through the year as most of you are saying you do.

I/we spend a ridiculous amount of money at xmas as we have around 30 people to buy for. I want to stop buying for the adults but have suggested this to some family members who said they still want to buy us (adults too) something. It all gets out of hand as we don't actually need anything.

When I was younger And skint I used to put it on credit. Then I woke up and realised one of the reasons I was skint. The credit. Started with catalogues but realised it was cheaper saving and buying. Plus with cash you have buying power of sales and haggling. No such thing with catalogues.
So I weaned myself off them and went onto the vouchers. Againaomg them richer and me poorer. Think it was pay £25 and get £20.
Took me about 4 years in total to be away from these companies.
Never again. What worked
My resolve though was talking to the stop smoking nurse (I wasted loads of money back then) and talking about the savings quitting. By chance talked about credit, interest and realised the thousands I was paying back. Bought a ps1 from the catalogue, around £200 with games etc.. Paid back closer to £800.. Shocking.

Nope.

I start buying around June/July (I have a Christmas-born DS and Dnephew).
DH and I don't buy for each other, e save up any money we might receive for the January sales and buy something for the house.

We don't buy for many others: two nieces, something for DFil, my parents and then i do Secret Santa with friends. To be honest, I make most stuff (that suits the person).

We have just spent 45€ on DS which includes a Wendy house and a bicycle.

Both Dh and I grew up with the same money worries hanging over our families, although in different circumstances, hence we don't have any debt, including credit cards.

Christmas is about snuggling up under blankets, staying in in your pjs, playing games, eating seasonal food, enjoying family, friends, holiday, lights, wrapping up and going for frosty bracing walks on the beach/in.the woods.... etc.

I'd hate that to be crushed under debt (I hope nobody feels I have shat on them from a great height?! After my upbringing, I'm more than cautious).

When my kids were little and I was utterly skint I did Christmas on credit, yes.

I know were you are coming from, OP

Greengrow , fuck off with your "It's a class thing".

Well said Alli- Greengrow's post is deeply patronising.

greengrow- also "I don't see why people can't make Christmas about God " em because most people have a pretty secular christmas- so few believe in god, I know jesus and his gang don't enter into the equation.

You have a nice christmas greengrow, enjoy polishing your firearms for the boxing day shoot.

Thank you for everyone's replies

Sometimes I feel bad not getting my kids things that all other kids have. They are still young though 8,7,3 and 2. I suppose I just want them to have a good xmas but like you all said its not about stuff ' it's about family time and games. I might by a selection of board games so we can have family games on the day and I suppose that keeps the focus of a pile of presents

We still buy DD a board game every Christmas even though she's 17. It's an extra present and they don't need TI be expensive - last year's was a knock off of Guess Who from Home Bargains which cost about three quid. We've had endless laughs playing it since. Boxing Day is board games day - Christmas Day is taken up with eating and drinking far too much