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Christmas

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

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Original poster

What do you cut back on?

45 replies

UndertheCedartree · 11/08/2018 18:45

We're on a particularly tight budget this year so wondering what things you cut back on while still having a lovely Christmas.

I tend to focus very much on the DC and the things they care about. I don't buy a lot of new decorations - just a tree one for each of the 2 DC and maybe a couple of other cheap bits. I use a lot of pinecones and nuts that we have anyway and things I bring out every year. I let the DC decorate the tree so not worried about it looking perfect!

I also don't buy gifttags, bows or ribbon. Just use cheap wrapping paper, reuse giftbags and stickers to write names on that I have loads of.

For presents most family get a token gift except my nephew and those with DC I only buy for the kids. DP and I will only spend a small amount on each other so we can get nice things for the DC.

OP posts:

PerverseConverse · 12/08/2018 16:56

This has reminded me that I bought a couple of presents a while ago and have no idea what it where I put them!

LaChatte · 12/08/2018 16:56

You can iron the paper in amazon parcels, then let the DCs loose with glitter/stickers/stamps/felt tips etc makes for good wrapping paper.

duvetfan · 12/08/2018 17:05

If you have the nerve to hold out, we got an amazing real tree in B and Q for £3 on the 23rd of December... We have a fake one too so it was a lovely bonus tree so not saving us money but if you only have a real one, it may be a good way to save some money.

ClashCityRocker · 12/08/2018 17:50

There was a lovely thread last year (or maybe the year before) about people's best childhood Christmas memories... Its still in the Christmas section if you dig down.

What struck me was about how few of the things that people most cherished as kids were the expensive bits...i think very few actual presents were mentioned, and most kids don't give too hoots about naice ham or cheese selections or other things that seem to have become 'must have' at Christmas.

Sparkletastic · 12/08/2018 18:15

The Lidl Baileys knockoff is the absolute business and I don't say that lightly having been tricked into the frankly shite Aldi Aperol knockoff.

Buddyelf · 16/08/2018 10:23

I'll be following this thread with interest. Every year my list of people to buy for goes up. DH has a big family and they all buy for each other. I don't just mean siblings - I mean we have to buy for his aunties and uncles and frankly the cost and time was getting ridiculous.
Christmas is my favourite time of year and I hate that I was stressing about presents for extended family.
Last year I said no more and really cut back. His aunties and uncles got a bottle of prosecco and box of chocs in a gift bag between them and a nice card. I did the prosecco deal in Aldi, chocs from Asda and gift bags from ebay.
I start picking things up through the year. I get new bedding for us all and normally wait until just before Christmas but this year I have kept my eyes peeled and got myself and DH a king size duvet set for £5 as it is Christmas themed it was in the sale, I also got my DD's from asda in the sale - again its winter themed so in the summer they are really reduced.

anotherangel2 · 17/08/2018 16:26

I learnt from Mum to start stocking up with chocolates, crisps and biscuits in the months leading up to Christmas. I won’t be doing that any longer. I just get fat.

Christmas cards only to relatives who I don’t see very often/live away.

DD is only 2 so I have keeping an eye out in charity shops for Orchard games and jigsaws. I am trying to get her expectation for material things low. I don’t want to spend a fortune and have loads of stuff in the house.

I take DD to the shops every year to see the department window display and to buy one new decoration. Other than the really tree and a nice wreath from the market we don’t have any other decorations.

anotherangel2 · 17/08/2018 16:35

No Christmas Eve or 1st December boxes

SnuggyBuggy · 17/08/2018 17:25

What actually are Christmas Eve boxes? Don't remember them when I was young.

Needsmorebeans · 17/08/2018 17:41

I cut back on food. My dcs don't really like Xmas dinner anyway and I used to miss out on quality time with them by spending all xmas day out in the kitchen sweating over a hot stove, do i pared it right back. I used to do a bit of a Xmas list for close relatives to buy for the dcs too (I would buy them and relatives woukd reimburse me). This meant dcs got a gift they really wanted and relative didnt have the hassle of having to think present ideas. Budgets for presents and small budgets (if any!) for adults. Xmas for me is all about my dcs so as long as they have a good time, I do too.

anotherangel2 · 17/08/2018 17:58

SnuggyBuggy they are a newish thing. Just have a look at the title on this board for an example but basically it seems to be lots of present on Christmas Eve.

Ewock · 18/08/2018 13:22

We bought a fake Christmas tree 2 years ago. Got one from John lewis I researched prices and they were actually cheaper than anywhere else. It was £70 which is a big layout but will last us for years. I buy things in the sales such as crackers (my ds loves them and all the tat in them!) cards and wrapping paper, but I won't pay full price then they are stored in the loft. My dh loves Christmas cake/pudding so I watch for offers. Last year Waitrose was the best price for cake which surprised me. We have cut back on presents as the kids get so much from relatives (only grandchildren and only niece and nephew) that we felt theh got too much. We kindly, I hope kindly, asked for less presents as they have too much and room to keep is crazy. Relatives were lovely and most send a gift then cash as well which we put in the kids bank accounts. We did say they didnt need to send both but they wanted too.
All decs are reused and food I am very careful now and try to buy only what will be used. Christmas is lovely but can easily go overboard. I also write down everything I buy. I have bought some stuff from the Christmas present thread on here which is now stored away and has saved me a lot. But I have written it down so I don't go over budget or forget.

PrincessScarlett · 18/08/2018 13:46

I always buy crackers in the sale after Christmas. Same for cards and napkins.

Don't bother with Christmas cake but must have Christmas pudding which you can buy months in advance when in sale.

Had the same artificial tree for 15 years. Hand made snowflakes for the windows are really effective and kids can get involved. Handmade paper chains as well.

I start Christmas shopping August/September and only buy what is on sale/reduced. If you're organised enough you can pick up bits in the January sales, so long as you don't forget you've got them!

Don't bother with Christmas jumpers, PJs, bedding etc.

No chocs for Christmas tree, just couple of tubs of chocs when they are on offer.

silkpyjamasallday · 18/08/2018 13:55

Painting pine cones and making cloves studded orange slices as decorations is cheap and if your DC are old enough you can get them involved. Nothing better than the tree smelling so Christmassy

Bumbumtaloo · 19/08/2018 13:04

We also don’t do Christmas Eve or 1st December boxes. Our DD’s always have new pyjamas for Christmas Eve (not Christmas ones) because that’s what my mum and her mum before her did.

Maybeicanhelp · 19/08/2018 13:41

We stopped having a cake with marzipan and icing and have Genoa cake (like this) instead, it's topped with nuts and cherries.

Never had Christmas Eve boxes, PJs, 1st December boxes, Elf on the Shelf, but stuck to the chocolate advent calendars, which are cheap enough, although some people make and fill their own, to reuse every year.

We also used to get loads of booze, a bottle of everything, but have now cut back to just the stuff we know we will drink.

Had an artificial tree for many years, have built up the tree decorations to a point where we don't need to buy any more now.

We have always used previous years' cards to make gift tags, but have noticed not so many people send cards these days. At one time we'd get around a hundred, more like 20 last year.

In general, most people seem to eschew the conspicuous consumption of past years, so you are not alone in choosing to cut back.

Concentrate on your favourite traditions, they don't have to cost much. DCs used to love a Christmas walk to gather twigs and cones to do homemade wreaths and we'd have hot chocolate afterwards.

IStillDrinkCava · 19/08/2018 14:08

We have a fake tree that we use every other year or so.

I think reuse really helps costs down and is better for the environment. A fabric advent calendar filled with sweets. I avoid buying christmas themed tablecloths, duvet covers, onesies, PJs, jumpers, bowls etc - it's just more stuff for the sake of it. Mine get nice new PJs when the weather turns colder, October time.

The whole something they want, need, eat, read thing. Stockings I bulk out with sweets - it's easy to spend a fortune on bits and bobs that the DC don't really value. A water bottle with sweets in and some shower gel/bubble bath get you well on the way and are way better than being given pants and Clearasil (thanks mum!).

SnuggyBuggy · 19/08/2018 15:38

Those cloth advent calendars are a good idea

CrumbsInBed · 19/08/2018 17:09

Cut down on Baileys!!!???? Nooooo, Derek.

I’m planning to buy just one large Xmas card for work addressed to the dept this year, no individuals.
I’m only sending out individual cards to relatives that we don’t see.
Brushed cotton pjs for me from Primark, no Xmas ones.
I enjoy a small box of Ferrero Rocher also, but that’s it for sweet treats.

TheMotherChip · 19/08/2018 22:43

I’m another who is trying to do what’s best for the environment as well as cost cutting. I’m not up for buying crackers ever again, they look pretty on the table but once pulled the stuff inside just ends up in the bin. Likewise with cards and a lot of novelty stocking filler presents. I don’t really like Secret Santa because of everybody buying novelty stuff that isn’t wanted but it’s difficult not to join in without being a killjoy!
With food I just buy stuff to last Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. If I stock up early I end up getting too much and then the eating and drinking goes on forever. It’s a bit more expensive per item but things like Pringles/wine I just get from my local shop on Christmas Eve so that we don’t break into them earlier and I end up buying them again.
Christmas is still amazing however you choose to do it!

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