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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:
Turtletastic · 17/11/2021 15:17

Those who say they only spend £100-£150 on their dc, what age are they?

I know my dd is 9 and one of the things shes asked for is at least £50
Ds11 has asked for some games for his playstation and most of them even if secondhand start at £30.
I don't go overboard but things are getting more and more expensive and will only continue to do so as they get older.

episcomama · 17/11/2021 15:18

300 quid is a lot to spend on a child, can you reduce that?

TractorAndHeadphones · 17/11/2021 15:19

Christmas is what you make it - there’ll always be people buying extravagant things. So the only answer is to make more money 😂 Of course you can save buy throughout the year etc but expensive presents aren’t usually a lot cheaper.

No gifts for adults - kids only

Hexenhaus · 17/11/2021 15:21

I have spent too much in previous years on credit cards and regretted it so this year I've: set up a standing order to save a bit each month, set a budget for each Christmas thing (food, per person, etc), re-use lights and tree from previous years, buy second hand where possible, only buy what the kids really want and need no fillers. Move the focus onto doing things together instead of buying things: we make paper chains and paper snowflakes together, we go to places decorated with lights, cook and bake things together and light candles, play board games, watch movies as a family: just generally emphasise time together with some extra chocolates and Christmas music playing rather than focusing on gifts and new things.

TractorAndHeadphones · 17/11/2021 15:21

Also if you have clubcard points etc you can get money off. Plan throughout year

Royalgalas · 17/11/2021 15:22

Interesting thread!

We usually manage fine at Christmas using savings and a small amount of credit but some big household costs this year (DIY, busted car) combined with higher prices mean we'd really struggle to find what we'd usually spend.

So we've really pared everything back this year. Our toddler is getting some carefully chosen second-hand gifts but we aren't buying for anyone else. We'll probably make little token gifts (jams, biscuits) to give to relatives, but we've basically had to confess to family that we're skint and please not to buy for us. We've saved a tiny bit extra to buy nice food, but that's it.

Genuinely - I'm more excited for Christmas than I've been in years. Releasing ourselves from the pressure to shop and spend is so liberating. We're going to eat, rest and see our friends and family and I can't wait.

WheelieBinPrincess · 17/11/2021 15:24

£300 on your child is being ‘as cheap as possible’?

Really? That sounds a ludicrous amount to spend if you’re worried about money.

Blackmagicqueen · 17/11/2021 15:24

£300 on your dd seems too much when your struggling.cpuld you cut it down to £100? We spend 100 each on dc'a but we will increase this to £200 each as they get older and because we have barley anybody else that buys for them apart from one set of grandparents so what they get is literally it.

We are savings a little a month and have budgeted it into our outgoings as we have birthdays to think about as well.

Hexenhaus · 17/11/2021 15:25

To add that we spend virtually same as usual on food, perhaps with some extra puddings-we are normally on a budget, but we choose more favourites and eat round the table with a tablecloth and candles and music to make it more of an event.

Lovemusic33 · 17/11/2021 15:25

I save £20 a week, comes out my bank and straight into a separate account, anything left goes towards a holiday (camping).

I spend around £200 each in 2 dc and around £150 on other people (mainly family), then probably another £200 on food and trips out.

foxgoosefinch · 17/11/2021 15:26

[quote flapjackfairy]@foxgoosefinch
Good luck with the energy tariff this year !
I think a lot more people will struggle with Christmas this year thanks to sky high fuel costs and rising food costs sadly.
But really there is no need to spend 300 on your dd op.[/quote]
Yes, agree. Just came off my previous tariff and had forgotten to switch to a new one and bang the monthly amount has leapt from £70 to £134. Will definitely have a impact on lots of people. Food inflation too is also always in the rise.

ADreadedSunnyDay · 17/11/2021 15:26

You are spending too much OP. Your DD does not need £300 gifts if you are in debt. We are comfortable financially and I spend about £100-130 on DS on this always includes things he needs ie pjs, onesie etc

We also buy for my parents approx £80 in total, my ILs about £50, my DH niece (£25-30) and I buy a friend about £40. We stopped doing gifts across the wider family a few year s ago

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 17/11/2021 15:26

We do a bit of buying through the year, but mostly we save everything we can for a rainy day.

We also don't spend too much at Christmas, but as DS gets older, and we've a new baby due soon so I think we'll start a Christmas savings account for next year.

I'm a stingy bugger when it comes to presents I'm afraid, nieces/nephews all get bought for and both sets of parents, but we don't buy for other adults and DH and I spend £10 on each other doing 'charity shop shit'.

Its great fun, a mix of awful/offensive/misogynistic stuff, but it doesn't add to landfill as we either donate it back to a charity shop or keep it and the charities get £20. Oh, Apart from the black and white minstrels record I got, that went straight in the bin!!! I was embarrassed to buy it, but it did win me the present giving that year!!

cushioncovers · 17/11/2021 15:27

Credit cards every year. It's soul destroying but I got to get the kids something 🤷🏻‍♀️

SoftSheen · 17/11/2021 15:27

Save throughout the year, then stick to your budget.

WheelieBinPrincess · 17/11/2021 15:27

Why can’t you just say no presents for friends/extended family? We are this year because we’ve had a baby and bought a flat. We don’t expect anything from them and have made that clear.

It’s not necessary.

ISpyCobraKai · 17/11/2021 15:27

I don't bother now, but when Dd was little I took out loans.

cookiemonster2468 · 17/11/2021 15:27

I think people who can afford Christmas would not be spending money on it if they were in £4k of debt. I mean they are in that situation because they can manage their money.

I can't understand anyone who uses credit cards/ store cards for Christmas. £300 on your daughter isn't as cheap as possible. It comes down to the way you think about money - you can do that if you want, but it isn't going to help you get out of debt.

JustHereWithPopcorn · 17/11/2021 15:28

Me and husband both put away £50 each every month into a separate savings account just for Christmas. By the time we start shopping in November we have £1000 saved which covers everything.

Lovemusic33 · 17/11/2021 15:28

@Turtletastic

Those who say they only spend £100-£150 on their dc, what age are they?

I know my dd is 9 and one of the things shes asked for is at least £50
Ds11 has asked for some games for his playstation and most of them even if secondhand start at £30.
I don't go overboard but things are getting more and more expensive and will only continue to do so as they get older.

Mine are teens, maximum spent is £200 but this year I have only spent £80 on the eldest (17) plus around £20 on her stocking. Probably spent around £180 on dd2 as he main present is a Lego set that cost just over £100.
SoftSheen · 17/11/2021 15:28

£300 for a child seems excessive if you are in debt, IMHO.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 17/11/2021 15:29

@cookiemonster2468

I think people who can afford Christmas would not be spending money on it if they were in £4k of debt. I mean they are in that situation because they can manage their money.

I can't understand anyone who uses credit cards/ store cards for Christmas. £300 on your daughter isn't as cheap as possible. It comes down to the way you think about money - you can do that if you want, but it isn't going to help you get out of debt.

What a load of rubbish “it’s the way you think about money”….err no it’s about how much money you have
wednesday32 · 17/11/2021 15:29

I have always bought throughout the year, this year is the same. I am completely done and everything is wrapped. I work out how much I want to/am able to spend on Christmas which generally is £1000 and then I split that into ten monthly savings of £100. The great thing about saving throughout the year is if i see a good deal in the middle of the year I can spend the money I have saved so far. My budget covers my Christmas meal out with friends, lapland uk tickets, panto tickets, cards&wrapping, Christmas jumper day outfits then the rest is for presents. I keep a list on my phone of who i buy for so if i pick up any ideas/hints I can make notes on the list. Then once I have purchased their gift I tick them off.

cookiemonster2468 · 17/11/2021 15:29

@Turtletastic

Those who say they only spend £100-£150 on their dc, what age are they?

I know my dd is 9 and one of the things shes asked for is at least £50
Ds11 has asked for some games for his playstation and most of them even if secondhand start at £30.
I don't go overboard but things are getting more and more expensive and will only continue to do so as they get older.

I suppose people who spend that amount just don't get their kids everything they ask for. Everything on a child's list doesn't have to be bought.
PiggyPlumPie · 17/11/2021 15:30

I save £100 every month and that covers all presents and food.

It was tough the first year as we were still paying the credit card for the previous Christmas but it works really well now.