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

I have to buy for 14 people and I spend roughly £50 on each. I put £60 a month away so that it is affordable. I spent £2 over budget.

No children here. I've spent £150 on presents and food/drink will be another £50 or so.

Dd 4 is getting inline skates with kneepads and elbow pads. I sent DH for roller skates but these were marked down from €100 to €20 and the pads set from €30 to €20. So that's €40 for her big present.

Will probably spend another €20 on a small indoor toy/puzzle/board game and a book.

For my in-laws I got tickets to see a suitable for children show with DD. 17€ each plus another €15 each on something to unwrap like a bottle of drink or nice chocolates.

My mum got some perfume 40 € and a concert ticket 27€.

DH not sure yet but will be about €50 tops.

Two small children of friends €15 -€20 euro

Gah - 270€

Nope, not going to count it up. Would probably have a heart attack!

@gobblersknob

I hope you have worked out a repayment plan for January.

I like your style though!

OP - i have absolutely no idea but i love a good bargain shop!

Gifts for DD(8) about £80. New PJs for all of us (3) about £40. Food will be about £120 for 4 adults and DD and will leave lots of left overs.

I would say probably 500-600 but that includes all

Presents for everyone I'm getting for
Cards and wrapping paper.
Food for Christmas dinner and Christmas snacks but also including a food shop for all meals for a week.
All drinks needed including alcohol.
Oh and an outfit for New Year's Eve.

I don't add it up - I know I can easily afford what I spend (and I know how fortunate I am for being able to say that).

The only amounts I actually know are my donations to the food bank, local women's refuge and PDSA.

Just asked DH as he always does all of the purchasing ... he says the usual for gifts food drink trees and other stuff is all in about £3k every year ! ( I'm shocked !)

About £3k

I reckon around £300 in total, half of that was spent on dd and the other half spread between 10 relatives.

I'm a single parent so fairly tight budget.

700 on presents, cards, wrapping etc.
50 on decorations.
75 on Sainsburys food order (to take us from 27th - 5th Jan) - I have another 35 in M&S vouchers for treats, extras etc.

Most of the above is halved with DH, so not a huge impact.

Through buying throughout the year & reducing costs in other areas, I've managed to save 90% of my November salary, so feeling a bit flush right now.

About 300 on presents and 500 predicted for food and wine.

Last year I did 100 on presents and 500 for food and wine. The food and wine does last us a week.

I’ve just worked out I’ve spent £700. That’s on presents for 2 kids (6 and 9), my parents, my sister and partner, the “big food shop”, incl booze (there will be 7 of us for 5 days), and panto tickets for all 7. I don’t think that’s too bad!

I don't need to.work it out.... I have a spreadsheet and have had one since 2008 and can look back and see what I spent on my dds and my family each year and what the dds were into that year too. It's set up to keep a running total.

I've spent £250 on each of them. And another £500 on all the family.

I don't need to.work it out.... I have a spreadsheet and have had one since 2008

I do too - it also stops me from giving the same gifts to the same people each year, and when stuff is bought I change the text colour as it enters the house. All very organised although I'll admit that I am getting to the stage where I need to add a column for where in the house it is hidden!

Should have been about £2200 for everything. Families presents, (3 adults, 2 teens), 7 nieces and nephews, 4 nights out, teachers gifts, donations to local shelter and hospice and about £200 on food.
Managed to get it all for £1600 with budgeting, discounts, nectar points and cashback saved throughout the year.

Hate to think. much more than I budgeted.

£80 on tree and new decorations - almost 3 x my budget
£15 on an advent calendar - approx 7 x my budget
£40 on cards and postage - about 30% over budget
£250 on presents for ds, dm, PILS, nieces, nephews and goddaughter - about 2 x my budget
£50 on stocking presents (includes one £30 present) - I don't budget for the stocking specifically though I clearly should, as my fantasy that 'it's only a tenner' never really pans out...
Didn't go to the school fete which I'd budgeted £30 for
Had budgeted £35 for work Christmas do which was correct but I work for lots of different teams and have ended up spending another £40 on other events
Stuck to my budget for charity donations

Haven't bought the food yet (only 3 of us for Christmas Day so it's not a big deal) and have budgeted £50 extra which should be plenty

Adds up to over £500 and ds has a January birthday which I haven't even started on yet - normally it's rolled into my Christmas budget. Arrgh.

Have to say I have enjoyed every minute of it.

Wow I can’t believe how much people spend on children!
Dd3 50 fc present 300 from us but is bedroom furniture we would have needed to buy anyway. 15stocking bits. Ds1 fc 25 from us 20 and stocking 10.
Total spend around £1500-2000 but lots on food as hosting.

In total, including 3 dc, dh, my mum, dad, brother, sil, friend's two girls, and 2 friends I have spent £600, which is more than I would have liked.

I love an organised person! @Drmadelinemaxwell

It so interesting seeing what other people do at Christmas

@opheliasgoldwine yes I include traveling in the budget

I'm also desperate to get a new Christmas tree for next year so iam hoping to be lucky enough to get a balsam hill tree in the January sales but we shall see if I've got the money

Reading some of these makes me feel less bad about my spending!!

I think around 2k BUT I save £1200 through the year, Park vouchers for £150 M&S food shop. I also have ds 14th birthday on the 27th so that includes his birthday.

That's presents for ds, Dd, dp and my folks. Tbh I hate the level of spending but I feel under pressure not to disappoint the dc. Most of their gifts though are clothes (14 & 15 yo) so will at least last some time and save me spending later on in the year.