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Christmas

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

How much do you honestly spend on Christmas each year?

138 replies

MrsTxx · 31/07/2021 08:19

As a family of 3 I’d say we spend around £300 on DS including clothes
Around £200 on eachother each
£200 on food (we host the family) and nice bits
£100 on alcohol
£400 on gifts for family (large family both sides)
So about £1200 in total, which we save up for throughout the year.
Interested in other peoples budgets and how they spend at Christmas

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PegasusReturns · 31/07/2021 10:50

Lots. It’s my favourite part of the year.

I host family so three days of food, champagne and wine. I usually have Christmas Eve catered.

Panto, trips out, lunches and new clothes.

Presents don’t have a budget and depend on what the DC want/need. I go totally overboard on stockings.

I love Christmas!

PegasusReturns · 31/07/2021 10:51

Oh yes and decorating the house is always a bit crazy - every year I go a bit more OTT Grin

avocadotofu · 31/07/2021 10:53

We're a family of three and we spend about £2k.

TwinsandTrifle · 31/07/2021 10:54

It can really vary year on year.

DTwins are small, and will get under £100 each on presents I imagine. Older DS might get treated to a new phone, which will be more.

One year DS got a fecking expensive rocking horse that I had restored. But will be a family heirloom. Other years, we've done Disney trips, shows, they've added up. One year he just asked for loads of Lego, and I found a tonne on FB for sale £80 the lot. He was thrilled.

Food and drink, about £300. Couple of hundred on DH pressies. Massively cutting back on wider family gifts.

Have found the bargain thread on here invaluable. DD will be getting a toy ice-cream cart, which thanks to that thread, (plus a £10 prime voucher) has cost something like £17.

I don't like the idea that a child (or anyone really) needs a certain amount spent on them at Christmas, per year, and if that amount isn't met, they don't have enough, or if that amount is exceeded, they have been overindulged.

MistyFrequencies · 31/07/2021 10:55

Family of 4. About €500. Presents for kids, food and booze. We don't buy presents for each other.

imamule · 31/07/2021 10:57

@TwinsandTrifle yes I don't have a set amount it's just what the dc want. My 7 yr old wants a pedometer this yr 😆

HairyToity · 31/07/2021 10:57

As a family of 4 about £600 to £700. This includes gifts, entertaining, panto, santa visit etc.

budgun · 31/07/2021 11:02

Please this Christmas remember what Christmas is meant to be about and think about the environment.

What is it meant to be about? For me, personally, it's only ever been about present giving/receiving. It's never had another meaning. I was brought up in a family that exchanged gifts. I grew into an adult, then a parent, who also exchanges gifts. That's it. There is no other meaning for me. I am in my mid 40s, I don't need someone to come along and dictate what Christmas is about for me. It is about the presents.

Buy for only immediate family. Buy gifts they will use all year round. stop buying plastic tat that will be used once or twice.

I will buy for who I want. Why should I only buy for immediate family?

For others give edible gifts in recyclable containers.

Yuk.

There is no planet B.

That's true, and there are many ways we can all contribute towards saving the one we have, but this idea we shouldn't enjoy a Christmas of our own choice is quite frankly ridiculous.

Nobody wants to read this kind of negative crap on a thread about Christmas. Save it for something else.

PegasusReturns · 31/07/2021 11:05

Please this Christmas remember what Christmas is meant to be about and think about the environment

Christmas is personal to everyone. For me it’s time celebrating family and friendship. I adore it!

Generalpost · 31/07/2021 11:07

I have 7 children to buy for they have 300-500 spend each. Usually spend around 200 on partner but we split recently so probably get something for him from the kids I guess.

Imnothereforthedrama · 31/07/2021 11:12

Approx £500 on gifts for family including own dc.
£200 on food & drink .
Christmas party’s & Christmas catch ups probably about £100-£150 then there is a new outfit hair and nails so total approx £1000 which I think sounds a lot . I save about £300 through the year then start picking things up from September so I don’t really notice the cost too much .

MrsTxx · 31/07/2021 11:19

Yeah I absolutely love Christmas! DH thinks I’m bonkers as I’m already talking about it, planning what gifts to get people and treats I want to buy. It’s the one time a year I go wild on purchasing, I love seeing my family and friends happy. From the house being decorated and the small things like seeing the children in the street enjoying new bikes/scooters on Christmas Day. I love it all and just brings me a lot of happiness and I feel fortunate enough to be able to do that. I do want to teach my son the importance of giving to those in need, we do the shoebox appeal and do donate to food banks

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Imnothereforthedrama · 31/07/2021 11:19

@imamule

last yr was probably my cheapest Christmas ever. All excursions & events cancelled & zero guests!
Oh yes was cheaper last year definitely.
BakewellGin1 · 31/07/2021 11:22

Oldest DS (12) will work out at approx £1000

Youngest DS will work out approx £500 (2)

Family Presents (approx £400)

DH and I usually have a weekend away instead of gifts this year got a good deal for Krakow (if we can travel)

I've saved £200 on an Asda Card throughout the year so that will do Christmas week.

We go away for a few days with DS over New Year (approx £900) paid weekly throughout the year.

Panto Tickets, a Light Show/Meal and Bowling are pre booked.

Bryonyshcmyony · 31/07/2021 11:23

Wow. I feel mean now. I honestly didn't realise some kids get 1k spent on them.

Bagelsandbrie · 31/07/2021 11:26

Threads like this are full of extremes, aren’t they? Lots of families out there won’t even have £10 to spend if you consider how many people are struggling to even feed their kids during the summer break.

As long as there’s a nice atmosphere and everyone is nice to each other that’s the best kind of Christmas regardless of whatever is being spent. When I was little my Mum was sectioned every Christmas (she had schizophrenia and it was always worst around Christmas, something triggered her) and my Gran would come and stay with me and buy loads of stuff from charity shops and we’d make paper chains and despite what was happening with my Mum I always had a great time.

MrsTxx · 31/07/2021 11:27

@Bryonyshcmyony Don’t feel mean, I think it all comes down to different factors. Affordability, age and how much your willing to spend. My sons only going to be 3 this Christmas and doesn’t need much and does have family that buys for him. I don’t think I would spend £1000 on him unless I was loaded. I don’t like the idea of debt for Christmas.

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IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 31/07/2021 11:30

@Bryonyshcmyony

Wow. I feel mean now. I honestly didn't realise some kids get 1k spent on them.
It’s all a personal choice. Some spend huge amounts of money on hair, nails, wine, coffee etc that I wouldn’t but I do like to go overboard at Christmas.

As a child I had very little so wanted a very different life for mine and have worked hard to ensure that happened. I enjoy the festive period now and they are only children once.

Bryonyshcmyony · 31/07/2021 11:31

As long as there’s a nice atmosphere and everyone is nice to each other that’s the best kind of Christmas regardless of whatever is being spent. When I was little my Mum was sectioned every Christmas (she had schizophrenia and it was always worst around Christmas, something triggered her) and my Gran would come and stay with me and buy loads of stuff from charity shops and we’d make paper chains and despite what was happening with my Mum I always had a great time

This made me well up. How lovely. My mum also had MH issues and alcoholism and she'd always have a meltdown at Christmas. Bless your Gran.

imamule · 31/07/2021 11:38

Wow. I feel mean now. I honestly didn't realise some kids get 1k spent on them.

Don't feel mean. There are so many different variables, we tend to buy stuff throughout the year eg bought the youngest a mud kitchen last wk for the summer. As a said the eldest wants a pedometer so I'm not going to spend ££££ for no reason. We tend to spend far more on days outs & trips then actual presents I think.

OvertheRainbow2U · 31/07/2021 11:40

I buy small gifts throughout the year that I know family/friends will like. Put them in my secret drawer. In the lead up to Christmas I would spend no more than £200 max as I am always hard up - my monthly salary does not increase in December - more's the pity!

imamule · 31/07/2021 11:41

When I look back on my childhood the things I remember least are the presents. I remember the decor (my mum & I go mad for this), the food, the family getting together, the magic eg Santa etc. That's what I hope to recreate for my dc.

TwinsandTrifle · 31/07/2021 11:47

Wow. I feel mean now. I honestly didn't realise some kids get 1k spent on them.

One year, a little DS asked Father Christmas for a pony. Father Christmas is not up for mucking out horse shit ever again, and decided a rocking horse would be better. A old horse was found, restored, came to several thousand. DS was thrilled.

Another year, a little DS asked Father Christmas for "a teacup and a worm." Father Christmas obliged with a fiver mug with DS initial on it, and a little toy worm, about £3 inside. DS was thrilled.

The rocking horse (whilst I love it) has become more of an heirloom and just sits there, although DTwins will get some use. However, ten years on, he's still got his teacup and (filthy and ragged) worm.

The monetary value is meaningless to children. Certainly pre teen. I think too many of us forget that.

Lbnc2021 · 31/07/2021 11:52

I always go mad at Christmas, it’s my favourite time of year. I probably spend about £1500 altogether, my parents go nuts at Christmas too so it’s always bedlam

merryhouse · 31/07/2021 11:56

Fifty cards - 10-20 on the cards, about 30 on postage - £50
Six niblings at 20 each - £120
Ten siblings and in-laws at 15-20 each - £180
Two parents at 20ish each (before my dad got dementia, anyway) - £40
Two children main presents at about 50 each - £100 (we have gone up to a few hundred occasionally but they were exceptional circumstances)
Two children things for stockings - oh lord, probably about another 50 each (included pyjamas, mugs, stationery etc) £100 [don't do this any more Sad]
Each other probably around £100
Wrapping paper I buy cheap after Christmas, let's round up the total
So total on cards and presents £700

Food - goodness knows. Turkey used to be local farm Norfolk bronze at 50ish, rising to over 70 last time we did it. Last year I picked up a frozen one from Tesco, still free-range bronze, which on offer cost less than £16. Possibly not quite as much left over. Most wine and beer is the normal stuff we have which H makes from kits and works out at 50p a bottle; we have been known to buy dessert wine but last year had parsnip sherry which worked very well. Sparkling wine, gin and Bailey's more than usual: possibly £70 on alcohol. Maybe an extra 50 on general food? Difficult to say really: we have what we consider special meals but they're all just at the top end of what we usually eat.
Say £200 on food and drink, but that's being generous.

Travel - two tanks of petrol, £120
Last couple of years overnight stay in college room 60, chapel donation 20 - £80

Eating out (when it was allowed) - the four of us at home, once when visiting granny, maybe should count twice just me and H - say £150

Our Christmas entertainment is mostly free - we did do pantomime once but don't usually.

Grand total £1250

(though as previously noted that doesn't include the quirky musical instrument at £500 (S1) or the graphics card at £400 (S2) because Christmas was just the excuse for handover)