How minimalist can you go?

[saffyBoo]

Every year our Christmas spending spirals out of control. I just can’t justify the spend anymore not because we can’t afford it (we just about manage to afford it and end up living on beans until February!) but because it just seems so ridiculous and frivolous! I have four dc under ten and I would say 90%of what they get they use/play with. It’s like they open their presents and then chuck them on the floor and go back to their iPads! Plus in laws buy them complete crap, they buy the kids stuff because it’s cheap and I would rather they bought them something decent each instead.

So how minimalist can I go this year? No cards? Less gifts? I want to start planning now and need some help. Could I share a wish list for the kids to everyone who buys for them or is that rude?

I think the problem is that it's so easy to get carried away. I use a spreadsheet to track budget as well as what I've bought.

I do need to cut back on food though. Each year after Christmas I say I'm going to put together a list of the things we actually eat, but I never do. Every year we have a glut of food leftover and then end up scoffing it all between Christmas and NY so it's not wasted before the NY diet begins. Madness.

I’m definitely cutting back on food this year. I don’t need a huge turkey to last days and days and I don’t need boxes of biscuits in the house just because it’s Christmas. I’ve become a demon meal planner the rest of the time and i’ll just carry on. Work out early on who’s visiting who when, and - if you’re hosting - don’t be afraid to tell people what they’re bringing (but you can’t be too precious about what they eventually turn up with).

Just don’t do the random grab - work out exactly what you need and buy only that. Retailers are working hard to tempt you into buying unnecessary crap - every year, there seems to be some new “timeless tradition “ that it wouldn’t be Christmas without- but just focus on what’s meaningful for you.