How much have you actually spent this year?

[Frankswife87]

Hi mumsnetters! I'm really sorry this has been asked so many times but how much have you spent on Christmas this year ? Have you actually sat down and went through your spending? I was inspired by reading the thread regarding the spending twitch we all get at Christmas and it made me laugh as I've had to force myself this week to stop buying unnecessary stuff for my dd's, I actually thought I was on plan with my budget for my dd's , oh how wrong could I have been I sat down and worked out I'd actually spent double my proposed budget per dd's! I'm actually discusted with myself but my DH told me that the dd's knever ask or get much during the year as we are always budgeting and have had such a bad run of luck this year

way more than usual but it's been a shit year and I am in the fortunate position to be able to buy more than usual. DS is getting a new bass guitar which cost £500 so that has bumped the bill up! He's studying music though so its not just a fun item. He needs one.
For 3 adult dcs, dh, mum and 3 siblings I reckon about £1500-2K all in

About a grand, I think. We spend about £100 a head for each child (x3), plus a stocking which adds up. DSis and I do fairly big presents for each other, and DH and I like giving gifts to each other. Smaller things for other family members, gifts for our childminder, Christmas box for our cleaner.

Plus we're providing wine for dinner at the ILs which was around another £100. So £1000 sounds about right.

I've not added it up properly yet, but I'd say around £2500 to £3000 for everything.

I really enjoy shopping and buying gifts for people.

We have 2 dc.

I reckon we will have spent between £1500. This will include presents for 3 children, including 2 games consoles. Presents for each other. Both sets of parents. 11 nieces and nephews. 4 siblings/partners. My aunt and uncle. New tree and few extra decorations. Food. But this is all spread out over last 6 months

Not 100% accurate but I think around £4k, including food/drink.

About £900 for ds's age12&13, gifts for 25 others, Christmas Dinner for 16, and a proper shop to make sure that we don't run out of dishwasher tabs, loo roll and all of the boring shit.

A lot. More yet to spend. Can afford it but had planned to craft presents for various aunts and uncles but time slipped away on me.

Have overspent on food - I've gone into "prepping" mode slightly. Most is non-perishable and will get used, and I should use the glut of veg in the drawer in the next week or so. But I have a lot of wine for entertaining (and may not entertain to that scale at all!!).

Easily €4,000. Trying to stop now but still have food to get.

£2,500-£3,000 I think...but I don’t dare add it all up properly! (This is much more than usual, we have had a good year and we are hosting for the first time so spending lots on food and booze).

About £400. That's roughly £200 on 2 DSs (4 and 1) and £200 on everyone else. I spent more last year as we got DS1 a bike but he doesn't need/want any big presents like that this year.

About £300 on two DDs. DD1 has more but there is a 6 year age gap, to spend £200 on a baby would mean a ridiculous amount of toys.

I've spent £150 on my partner.

Me and dh have spent £500 on all presents, and will spend about a further £250 on food, drink and any extras.
Some of the food will take us into January though as some of this is a big meat order.

It's scary isn't it when we actually sit down and write down a list of what we have spent from food to kids to festive trips out ! 🙈

I'm currently at £1950 from presents to food

Abouy £600 I reckon, not including anything bought soley by dh (my present) plus I had a £300 Tesco voucher so it would have been considerably more without that. Food is £200 by itself and dh present was £200+ but all the kids came put of the voucher. £100 just under for presents sent to aus family members. Then i reckon another £100 for closer family member presents which I couldnt buy in Tesco and decs and tree.

2-300 on our immediate and extended family altogether. We have had to buy a new car and are about to have another baby which we have had to replace things for. So we haven’t splashed out on people and I think they are ok with that!

God I have no idea and would be quite scared to add it up.

first- ugg sliders, lipsy tracksuit. IC pillow, bluetooth speaker, tablet, perfumes. Say £220

2nd- pokemon badge pins, guess the pokemon, guitar stuff, books, simonair, £100 cash. Say £200

3rd. Piano, scrabble, books, nitro circus sets, ohuhu pens, brush pens, artist pads, fine liners, box of erasers, smart watch, new phone, dino uno. say £300

4th. Guitar, tablet, sphero, loads of slime, pimple popper, kids tattoo it, hair stuff, rainbow doll head, 24 nail varnish art kit, books. say £300

Family (including me) £500
Food and drink. £400
Charity- foodbank, ankoma outreach, dog rescue.

So much for me saying that there was a budget of £125 each this year.

Just over £2k but no young children in the family - that's on two sets of parents, aunty, uncles, a handful of friends and a teenager Oh, and the dogs!

Daren't work out what food etc will add to that.

For the first time we're feeling a bit flush and wanted to spoil everyone as they've been so supportive while I've been training for a new job (which I've just got!) so it's not the norm at all.

I’m a bit sceptical about these kind of threads because, as well as different circumstances, I think what and how people add up varies enormously. I was shocked a couple of years ago when I added up everything because I had vague notions of what it cost all in and the true cost was about four times what I’d estimated. Once I had a realistic grasp of the amounts involved I changed how and when we spend so that it doesn’t mount up in December.

£300 on husband
£300 ish on child
£60 on nieces
£80 parents

Don't buy for siblings

OP, it's only scary how much you spend if you are fortunate enough to not have to worry about money and can afford excess, gluttony and greed.
If you are poor and can't afford a 4k Christmas and are counting all your pennies, you don't get these surprises, and it isn't scary.

When people have the insecurity of trying to make ends meet and are upset because they can't afford to buy their kids presents threads like these can make them feel really bad.
Can we stop it please.
I'm not speaking for myself, we will have what we need and a bit more besides.

About £1500 in total including the food shop. More if I added in all the Christmas social events I’ve been to for meals etc!

Thank you RomanyRoots - as you rightly say, enough - let's stop here. Sadly many women will be struggling in so many ways this Christmas, not just financially. I have been in this position many years ago, I now count my blessings every day and no - I shan't be gloating about how much I've spent this year.

1700. All presents. 3 kids. 4 parents. Godparents. Sisters. Neices and nephews. All food and drink All new Xmas decs and decent artificial tree. All stockings Xmas eve boxes and sweet baskets each.

Around £350. That's all gifts (two DC aged 7 and 11, 2 nieces, 1 nephew and quite a few adults) and food for the 12 people I'm hosting. It makes me wince a little bit but it's not too bad.