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Christmas

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Original poster

How do people afford Christmas?

655 replies

Poppets14 · 17/11/2021 14:40

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!

OP posts:
Naughtynovembertree · 17/11/2021 22:12

Re cost however we go with what dc might mile or need eg bean bag chair £30 plus other more glamour exciting items

user0176 · 17/11/2021 22:12

One of my most prominent "love languages" is gifts, I love giving gifts to people I love (and love getting them too!) so I like to spend what we can afford (won't go into debt) and have increased the budget as our income has increased. I save monthly as I'm quite happy to spread it out over the year as it's my favourite time of year.

ThePoisonousMushroom · 17/11/2021 22:13

@Morgan12

It amazes me how mumsnetters can spend so little on their DC. I don't get how you do it? Things cost alot of money. £300 is maybe around 3 presents? My eldest has asked for something that costs £650.
And also, a lot of mumsnetters spend so little on their DC because they can’t afford to spend any more. So comments like yours don’t help, really.
00100001 · 17/11/2021 22:13

@Morgan12

It amazes me how mumsnetters can spend so little on their DC. I don't get how you do it? Things cost alot of money. £300 is maybe around 3 presents? My eldest has asked for something that costs £650.
It's because we don't love our kids as much as others do Grin

Well, yes I'd you buy presents that cost £100 you'll only get 3 for £300

However,if you buy (let's say) 1 'big ticket' item, such as... A new scooter and spend £100 on that...then you have £200 to spend on smaller gifts, such as board games, books, films, vouchers, cars, craft sets, arty stuff... Whatever. You could get plenty of gifts.

And also, just because your child asked for the £650 item...dies that mean he will get it?

DoctorWhoTardis · 17/11/2021 22:15

I spend around £300/400 on each dc. I buy throughout the year to spread the costs.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 17/11/2021 22:15

We put a bit away all year into a separate account just for Christmas. When you're re-doing your finances think about how much you'd like to have for Christmas spending to work out what you need to put away each month. Adjust according to what you can afford and stick to it.

We were always overspending in December, so we do this now and it really helps!

Queenie6655 · 17/11/2021 22:17

@TheChild

This is the first year we have saved every month for Christmas and we saved what I thought was a good amount. Made the mistake of discussing Christmas shopping with some of the school mums and realised it is NOT enough, one mum was spending £400 on 2 tracksuits for her DD 😳 I have a feeling most people put it on credit cards, because I can't understand how people can otherwise afford all the stuff they are buying otherwise.
Madness

Utter madness

Best presents my kids got were cheap and not over the top in any way

BashfulClam · 17/11/2021 22:20

I start buying things in September to sure as the cost. I already have a Christmas box that I’m filling with treats for that period.i get a few non Perishable items each week.

vincettenoir · 17/11/2021 22:21

I buy some of my gifts in November to split the cost between November and December’s pay. But I just don’t spend a lot tbh. The best things about Christmas for me, and perhaps for a lot of people, are the simple things. Stockings on Christmas morning and a few glasses of Baileys don’t cost much.

kowari · 17/11/2021 22:21

@Morgan12

It amazes me how mumsnetters can spend so little on their DC. I don't get how you do it? Things cost alot of money. £300 is maybe around 3 presents? My eldest has asked for something that costs £650.
DS got one main present from me when younger and he didn't expect £100 presents, I couldn't have afforded it, it was more like a £30 lego set. He was happy with that. Then he'd get a couple of other things like chocolate or a book.
kowari · 17/11/2021 22:25

But that gets you fuck all! I’m lego alone cost atleast £30, team that with a book, some pencils and chocolates. There’s your lot!
Do you mean to be so rude? That was pretty much my DS's Christmases and birthdays from age 4 to 8, he loved lego and was always happy to get a new set to build. How is that fuck all?

TheCheesyBakedBeanGetsGlam · 17/11/2021 22:27

It's a fancy roast dinner and some presents right? So you could spend £30 or you could spend £5k. It's still Christmas.

I did a Christmas for 4 on £200 before which didn't seem like scrimping tbh. One year I had some unexpected bills had only £25 to buy my child birthday presents and a cake. You find a way to make it fun.

TheCheesyBakedBeanGetsGlam · 17/11/2021 22:29

£300 on one child! That's crazy. My DC never get more than £100 spent on them (each!) tops

GertietheGherkin · 17/11/2021 22:33

@Poppets14

We had a problem with our roof this year. It was easier to pay for it via credit card than remortgage earlier any pay a penalty fee.

Our 4K debt is mainly from a roof repair.
We are remortgaging in February and clearing it and we will be debt free!

By people commenting on my debt is making it sound like I’ve just been spending money I don’t have I stuff I don’t need - that is not the case!

It might have been a good idea to put that in your OP. People would have probably answered differently then.

That said, you're still better to pare back a bit on Christmas, your budget is quite high this year, maybe start next year if you've already brought everything already for this year.

tedsletterofthelaw · 17/11/2021 22:36

I smash the overtime in October and November. I am always shattered but I can afford Christmas without getting into debt as a result so it's worth it. I don't do OT the rest of the year.

MadMadMadamMim · 17/11/2021 22:40

@Morgan12

It amazes me how mumsnetters can spend so little on their DC. I don't get how you do it? Things cost alot of money. £300 is maybe around 3 presents? My eldest has asked for something that costs £650.
Will they get it?

My eldest knows perfectly well that I would not be able to afford to buy a present that cost such a huge amount of money - as well as buying presents for the rest of the family.

Would you ask anyone to spend that amount on you? I wouldn't dream of it, it's a ridiculous amount to demand. What the hell are they wanting for that price?

It amazes me that some mumsnetters don't tell their children, No. Santa/Me and your Dad don't spend that kind of money on presents - depending on the age of the child.

Dddccc · 17/11/2021 22:44

Ds 9 140
Everyone else 100 together buy in September October

SimpsonsXmasBoogie · 17/11/2021 23:03

Step 1 is to stop worrying about what everyone else is doing/spending. Stop letting social media and large corporations tell you what you should be doing for Christmas.

I know it's easier said than done but it will honestly make a huge difference. As long as your child has something thoughtful to open, and some nice food to eat, they really don't need more than that. Christmas costs as much as you want/allow it to.

Kanaloa · 17/11/2021 23:19

@Morgan12

It amazes me how mumsnetters can spend so little on their DC. I don't get how you do it? Things cost alot of money. £300 is maybe around 3 presents? My eldest has asked for something that costs £650.
You buy things which are cheaper or less things. I have four kids. I can’t spend £650 on each of them. That’s that really.

And how do you figure £300 is ‘around three presents?’ Do all presents cost £100?

Kanaloa · 17/11/2021 23:20

And obviously just because they ask for something at £650 doesn’t mean they’ll get it. Much like if my son asked for a dirt bike I would say ‘no I’m afraid not, what else would you like.’

Naughtynovembertree · 17/11/2021 23:41

Arf, when dc were really little all their stuff was free or second hand and they didn't care and it was saving landfill!

But my sil still said we are spoiling them and her dad said... Onky ever have what u need.
. As a result she won't be spent a penny at Xmas and says its all commercial rubbish.
.
She's loaded, four houses, job pays over 100 grand and she panicked buying small stuff for us or buying nice food.

Unfortunately her attitude started to weigh us down, we had lots less but wanted to enjoy Xmas with our saved budget so we had to stop seeing them.

snugglyblanket · 17/11/2021 23:58

Planning in advance & buying when things are cheapest if possible. I buy through the year, particularly sales & offers, to spread the cost and keep a running list, including prices.
DC get 2 'main' presents (could be small but relatively expensive or big but cheap), a few smaller bits, and bulk out with books & a few bits of clothing. Santa brings 1 present, relatively cheap but personal. Stocking fillers are cheap & mostly edible. I spend much less than £300. It's easy to spend more if you buy things like laptops, designer brands, etc. and there's a lot of pressure to buy big-ticket items & have huge piles of presents but better to buy things that your DC will actually love.
Other than DC, I only buy for a few family members & token gifts for friend's children. We have a couple of relatives that we have an agreement with to label one of the DC's gifts from the other family, so that comes of of the DC's budget.
Food-wise, I host but split the cost with my parents as they eat with us Christmas & Boxing Day. We spend a fair bit on meat but split & freeze most of the leftovers to make the most of them and reduce food costs in January. My portioned up turkey lasted a couple of months last year. I don't tend to host lots of other people so I don't buy loads of extras.
We tend to have a very quiet & cheap January.

Welcometothejingles · 18/11/2021 05:00

Also, check whether everything that you bought last Christmas for your dd was actually used? If it is sitting there gathering dust then you've bought too much & overwhelmed her. If you've already bought her gifts for this Christmas, hold some of it back for her birthday.

Sell some of her old & unused toys to generate some extra cash now. Slowly, scale back the amount of Santa gifts each year. Have one list and emphasise that it's a guideline only & she won't be getting everything on it. If questioned, then the answer is Santa is trying to be more environmentally friendly. All this plastic isn't good for the environment in the long term.

Kylie83 · 18/11/2021 05:14

In Australia we have a company called Chrisco, every week I pay $15 direct debit to this company and they have hampers, gift cards etc. I always go for the gift cards. They send them out between 1st November and 1st December.

blessedbethechocolate · 18/11/2021 05:35

My children get a lot of presents from extended family so I don't go crazy for them. As I'm a single parent on a very low wage I tend to just get them a few little things I have one pre teen and two teenagers and spend at most £50 kn each as I don't have credit cards or an overdraft. Plus they have always known big presents are for birthdays as it's easier to buy for one at a time.