How do people afford Christmas?

[Poppets14]

Just been out Christmas shopping and have had to use my credit card and store cards.

We are remortgaging the house in February and paying off our debts so we are back at square 1.
We are in about 4K worth of debt so not a massive amount.

My question is how do people afford Christmas? Everything is just so expensive.

Do you save all year?
Buy throughout the year?

We are getting are finances in order next year and I do not want to fall into the debt hole again!

I buy flowers for 3 people....that's it...no junk or tat....and the dinner is just a usual roast dinner really...so spend about 30 quid in total....

They choose not to buy into excessive consumption. They choose not to spend through the nose on overpriced toys and crap. They choose not to gift people with smellies and crappy gifts because they feel obligated. If you can't afford, get second hand. Look online for discounts. Christmas isn't worth getting into debt for and if people complain, then they really are missing the meaning of it all

I have a Monzo pot dedicated to Christmas. I pay in at the start of every month when I get paid — it massively takes the sting out of this time of the year (particularly January!)

@Jmaho

My boys are only 8 and 12 so still in the kids section so I can easily find things for this price on the Nike and Adidas websites. And my 12 year old is a size 5 shoe so his trainers are in the kids sections also so I can still get him a decent pair without breaking the bank. I know it will get more expensive though as they grow!

Why buy into the labels? You're paying through the nose to wear a logo.

I don’t but for anyone other than my children. Dh and I never but each other presents such a waste of money! We live together happily and have done for 21 years, if I need or want something I’d rather buy it myself. Also agreed with family members (parents, siblings etc) years ago not to exchange gifts. Instead we all bring food and drink and have a lovely day together. I spend more on food and drink but that in itself (along with kids pressies) is pretty much it. Same decorations and artificial tree I’ve had for years. It’s as expensive as you want it to be really. I don’t like fuss, waste, arbitrary present buying when you don’t have a clue if that person will like the gift.

I start buying presents quite early, at the beginning of the summer holidays. I’m quite generous with presents and food but £500 covers it. I suspect costs will rise as dc get older.
I don’t go into debt.

@WombatChocolate

I think the thing people forget, is that Christmas is a big deal for people, and it’s often a big deal for people who perhaps don’t have quite so much…..so it becomes partly about having plenty, plenty, plenty.

It’s easy for people who are financially secure to say they don’t spend much on Christmas and there’s no need to. It’s very different if you say that from a position if being able to spend more if you wanted to. And it’s a failure to recognise that often when people don’t have lots of financial security behind them or a background of affluence, conspicuous displays of wealth are a way of affirming oneself to the world and family. For some people, 4 presents for the children would feel a humiliation and failure, because they don’t have the knowledge that the rest of the year, their kids get new bikes when they need them, do expensive hobbies and they could buy 20 presents if they wanted. Big spends on each family member and a lunch costing £250 is a way of showing largesse, which often feels important to people at Chjristmas. Pictures on Facebook of piles of gifts or people mentioning expensive pantomime visits or designer handbags can make some people feel like they are missing out or failing. And if they like ir live consumer items and designer gear snd their peers and kids do too, and if their kids ask for that expensive stuff and get their own self worth from particular trainers, or games consoles, then saying ‘no’ or not providing a pile they can boast about to their friends, can feel humiliating. This stuff really matters to lots of people.

It’s why lots of people who don’t have loads save all year in a Christmas Club or stamps system or squirrel away money so they can buy loads. And also why lots run u credit card debts that they will be paying off next November still.

One one level, it makes sense to say ‘only spend what you can afford’ and ‘piles of stuff don’t matter’….but some people long desperately to splurge and doing it once a year a big deal for them. I suppose in the end, advice about managing the money and saving up is what is useful, although not so much at the end of November when this Christmas looms, and also when we are a nation of people who lease cars and pay for loads of things monthly, so we don’t have to save up and wait.

I think this is a very insightful post.

I use TopCashback all year then cash in for vouchers which I use to buy presents. Ditto with Boots points, Nectar points etc. That doesn’t cover the whole thing but contributes. I generally end up putting some stuff on credit but then it gets paid off in January when no one’s doing anything.

If you can’t afford £300 don’t spend £300? Christmas Eve boxes are also fucking daft.

People afford it because
A) they are high earners or have low outgoings generally
B) save through the year.

I’d never get into debt for Christmas!

I do surveys too, PopulusLive just paid out £50 plus InboxPounds. Me and hubby don't buy for each other, I just buy for my son, 200 quid roughly and he buys for his kids. Totally understand though it's so expensive and everything is so enticing in the shops!

I save throughout the year, same for birthdays, and often buy throughout the year as well

We buy token presents, no one wants half the crap they get anyway! In the past me, my parents and siblings have usually done a secret santa so we only buy for one (for around £30-50), although this year I think we've left it too late.

The kids have ASD, so are completely unbothered by peer pressure. I ask if they want the latest trainers/Playstation etc and they look at me like I'm mad . They just like the Christmas music, sparkle, games and hanging out with the cousins (they all - mostly - get on well).

I pay £20 a month into a wine club, so that's paid for by Christmas (actually way before). We don't actually drink that much, it's more to pass around and give as presents..

Others get something decorative/edible (sometimes home made), or just a hug and good wishes (and wine!)

We save a set amount every month for Christmas , birthdays and holidays. Also I buy a Sainsbury's gift card every January and put £7 on it every week to put towards our Christmas food and alcohol shop.

Same as you...credit cards, although this year I really can't as have been on Carers Allowance/UC for the last year so it's a down to my last hundred quid ploughed into matched betting (£75 up so far ), and some desperate last minute online survery filling and eBaying.

Luckily I only have a couple of people to buy for.

Also - if I see things like Christmas crackers and Christmas pud in the January sales I buy and stash them as they keep just fine.

My 2 DC are late teens but we’ve always bought what we can afford. Normally 1 big present like an iPod or a bike and then small things like shower gel, socks, pants, slippers, Xmas t shirt, book, pens etc.. They both love their small value surprises so it’s become a bit of a tradition. It takes time to buy them but I do get things from charity shops and cheap shops.

Fortunately, I have a very small family.
Years ago, when we didn't have much money, I'd buy one thoughtful gift for each DC, full stockings, clothes. Then I would bake for the rest of my family.

I'm on a very low income. I save a set amount each month to cover 'big bills' eg house/car insurance, MOT etc, plus Christmas. I also save Nectar points all year to put towards food. Couldn't do it otherwise.

You only spend what you can afford.
You only buy for the children, or even just your child.
You buy from charity shops and eBay etc.

The best gift you can give your child is how to model spending within your means and not getting in debt.

@WombatChocolate

I think the thing people forget, is that Christmas is a big deal for people, and it’s often a big deal for people who perhaps don’t have quite so much…..so it becomes partly about having plenty, plenty, plenty.

It’s easy for people who are financially secure to say they don’t spend much on Christmas and there’s no need to. It’s very different if you say that from a position if being able to spend more if you wanted to. And it’s a failure to recognise that often when people don’t have lots of financial security behind them or a background of affluence, conspicuous displays of wealth are a way of affirming oneself to the world and family. For some people, 4 presents for the children would feel a humiliation and failure, because they don’t have the knowledge that the rest of the year, their kids get new bikes when they need them, do expensive hobbies and they could buy 20 presents if they wanted. Big spends on each family member and a lunch costing £250 is a way of showing largesse, which often feels important to people at Chjristmas. Pictures on Facebook of piles of gifts or people mentioning expensive pantomime visits or designer handbags can make some people feel like they are missing out or failing. And if they like ir live consumer items and designer gear snd their peers and kids do too, and if their kids ask for that expensive stuff and get their own self worth from particular trainers, or games consoles, then saying ‘no’ or not providing a pile they can boast about to their friends, can feel humiliating. This stuff really matters to lots of people.

It’s why lots of people who don’t have loads save all year in a Christmas Club or stamps system or squirrel away money so they can buy loads. And also why lots run u credit card debts that they will be paying off next November still.

One one level, it makes sense to say ‘only spend what you can afford’ and ‘piles of stuff don’t matter’….but some people long desperately to splurge and doing it once a year a big deal for them. I suppose in the end, advice about managing the money and saving up is what is useful, although not so much at the end of November when this Christmas looms, and also when we are a nation of people who lease cars and pay for loads of things monthly, so we don’t have to save up and wait.

Completely agree. So many issues of class come out on Christmas gifting.

January sales nowadays. Selling sites. Homemade gifts.

Used to be toys from jumble sales when our three 30-something daughters were all under 5.
The best present was a doll that I 'did up' and named 'Tuppence' for our eldest daughter 28 yrs ago. That was, obviously, how much the doll cost. My daughter still loves that present.

We cash in our Texaco star rewards
Use our Tesco club vouchers.
I buy presents for my friends throughout the year when I see something I like for them.
DH starts buying Christmas treats at the beginning of December and buys the veg a couple of days before Christmas.

Christmas tree and decorations.comes out of our everyday expenditure account.
A lot of our relatives have died in the last 5 years so there's not so much visiting to do over the Christmas fortnight. That used to get expensive as they were elderly and spread out through out the country so fuel costs went up

I save all year in a special account which I am not allowed to touch through the year, unless it’s for presents. I shop from July when I see the bargains and I set a budget for each person and stick to it. We are a small family so our budget is

My Mum and dad £150
Sister’s family £150
Gran £30 (she doesn’t want gifts)
DS £250
DH £100
Other random people who get for £200

Any spare money goes on nice food, the actually Christmas meal always comes out of that months money as we don’t have a traditional one as no one likes it.

The key is not too over spend & buy 2nd hand on Ebay/Marketplace where possible. I always look there first before buying new & have saved a fortune over the years, obviously it doesn't work for everything, but my daughters had some amazing Lego sets from Ebay over the years & last year we got her a 2nd Fitbit (She had no idea it was 2nd hand as it was all boxed etc..) Have a look around & be a savvy shopper, its better for the environment too, so its a win/win!

I spend probably about £300 on my dd

OMG that's loads! Why so much?