Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

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

Original poster

Is anyone else worried about how much christmas is going to cost this year

132 replies

Wicca123 · 28/06/2022 16:13

I love Christmas and have made a start already....but can't help wondering how much more expensive it will be this year, with the cost of living the way it is. Is anyone else slightly worried?

OP posts:
MissingMo · 28/06/2022 16:23

I am very worried so I have started to tuck away money already. Also I have cut down on the people we are buying for this year.

We have chosen a theme which is small or spectacular so we are trying to only buy from small businesses or things that are really luxury to us which will probably mean less presents as more expensive, but I will feel better knowing I am helping someone in a difficult position trying to sustain their business or be buying something that will be a treat we may not be able to treat ourselves to next year.

Twizbe · 28/06/2022 16:32

Yes and no.

Our children's birthdays are soon after Xmas too.

We save our necta points through the year and use those to pay for the Xmas food. We should have about £100 by then.

I've said I want to be at home so we might be hosting and others will contribute food and booze.

As for gifts. We already do just 1 big present from us and Father Christmas brings a mix of things they actually need (like clothes) and 1 thing they choose.

I will be scaling back hugely on family presents though.

Bellyfat · 28/06/2022 16:39

Yes definitely.
I made a budget the other evening to see how much I'll need to save and how best to spread it out. The way things are at the moment it will be much smaller this year

Fupoffyagrasshole · 28/06/2022 16:40

Just not something I’d ever worry about. I’d never do a Christmas outside of my means anyway! When we were super broke a few years back my husband and I just had a 20£ limit and got each other a token gift! My daughter can make a list but it’s made very clear it’s a wish list and it’s not a will definitely get list! Usually she gets 1 big thing and a few books / arts and crafts. Last year I only spent 150£ total.

for dinner we cooked a big pot of chili instead of doing Christmas dinner - wasn’t very expensive to make that and it fed us for a few days.

my family (parents & siblings) also do secret Santa so we only ever have to buy for one person!

i don’t understand why by people go wild and spend money they don’t have or worry about this - it’s just a day. And it’s possible ti tone is right back and still enjoy it

Woollenfox · 28/06/2022 16:40

Yeah we are worried. I took full advantage of the White Stuff sale and have carefully planned gift ideas and budgets in a spreadsheet. We have 8 parents between us in their 70s so thankfully the sale came in very handy!!

Also food is going to be expensive, fuel to see all the family and electricity as we will all be home.

sigh….

Woollenfox · 28/06/2022 16:43

We’ll have homemade pasties on Christmas Day and DS will write a list but it won’t be ridiculous.

He’s 9 and his favourite thing from Father Christmas is stationary!

devonianBiatch · 28/06/2022 16:56

I've started getting bits and bobs for the younger kids. Adults won't be getting presents unless we do a secret Santa type thing.

My kids are all older now, 14, 18, 22 and 25. I've got two grand kids and 3 DNs under 10 so they are the main focus. Luckily my teens have got pretty much everything they want in terms of phones/devices/consoles. So they've already been told this year is much more focused on spending time together and home based activities.

Normally we would easily spend £350 on food alone as we do a HUGE amount of entertaining for extended family and friends. This year it will likely be dialled back a lot. So no Marks and Sparks food order, buy buffet stuff from farm foods. Frozen turkey possibly. Ideally I'd like to spend less than normal but will food prices rising I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same price for much less/lesser quality.

DockOTheBay · 28/06/2022 17:16

Yes, I've started buying bits and pieces when I see them. Usually I wouldn't start until September time. I'm also planning to ask a few people if we can not exchange gifts- nieces and nephews who we never see for example.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 28/06/2022 17:26

Well it’s 6 months away, so now is an ideal time to talk with all the people you’d buy presents for / entertain about your need to cut back.

Favouritefruits · 28/06/2022 17:33

I was just talking about Christmas to my mum today funnily enough, I’m going to start buying a small gift a week I think, even if it’s just a bottle of wine or a small toy. Smyths skateboards have 20% off so thinking of grabbing them tomorrow. I don’t really buy new decorations so it’s just food and gifts but even that seems a lot to worry about this year.

Original poster
Wicca123 · 28/06/2022 17:34

We've done similar....told family we are only buying for kids....and no splashing out on expensive devices as dd has enough already. And definitely will be more farmfoods and less marks and spencer for christmas buffet which we always host on boxing day !!

OP posts:
OperaStation · 28/06/2022 17:35

Surely you will just buy less if things are more expensive?

christmas has become excessive and commercial anyway.

Nidan2Sandan · 28/06/2022 17:36

I started a savings account in January so I'm not too worried. But we are not massively extravagant anyway.

Usually spend around £200 each on the kids, maybe £50 on DH. We dont buy for anyone else.

Food can be done cheaply, but I also save my tesco vouchers for xmas and generally have a good £50 worth by then.

TheVillageBaker · 28/06/2022 17:48

This year my DCs will be getting 1 present each and we are going on holiday over the Christmas period. I appreciate that we are lucky to be able to do that, but it will be cutting back for us. I usually go a bit crazy with the gifts and food and I'm actually looking forward to not having to worry about any of it this year!

Ponderingwindow · 28/06/2022 17:51

We don’t go crazy on who we buy presents for so I’m not worried about that aspect. The food bill has the potential to get quite large. We always contribute to the big family dinner with a dish, but I think we may need to contribute financially to the host this year as well unless everyone agrees to do a cheaper entree. I heard from the little kids with no censors that the hosts felt the pinch last year on that so plan to make a suggestion a month or two ahead of time that we switch things up a bit.

LosDolses · 28/06/2022 17:53

We have decided that the budget for DC presents is reduced this year.

I've started to buy a €10 Aldi gift card when I do my weekly shop. This will cover the Christmas shop ,alcohol,biscuits,crisps etc.

AdoraBell · 28/06/2022 18:00

Yes. I usually start buying for Christmas around September and buy lots of things for DDs. I only buy for them, 2, and DH. I found a few things on off in March and bought those. I’ll be buying less this year. Also less extravagant with food.

Adversity · 28/06/2022 18:31

No one is bought a gift as soon as they are 18 in my family. There are some token family things, my sister always bakes nice cookies and gives a box to each family for instance.

I help do the flowers at church and go to Midnight mass, I have sung carols before in residential homes and there is a list of people who want a visit, though this hasn’t happened over the last 2 years. Walk on Christmas Day, a fancier roast, some nice cheese, some champagne with Christmas dinner.used to go to the pantomime but DS is an adult now.

No new outfits or Christmas Eve boxes or really expensive gifts.

ConsuelaHammock · 28/06/2022 22:17

Just buy for parents , each other and your own children. The children in your family don’t need a present.
Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s just a roast dinner really.

BakewellGin1 · 28/06/2022 22:30

I will be shopping more carefully this year.

Already started a savings account with friend for JD sports vouchers which will get a few of oldests expensive items

Started Asda gift card in January so will have £200 by December but once Summer is over I tend to add a little extra if I can for last minute buys like PJs to be added in

Started an amazon basket to add items I think of then compare prices when I'm starting to buy

Christmas Lunch I usually get from Asda with a few Aldi/M&S treats. I like to nip out by myself and have an hour round the shops nearer the time to do so early one morning as I never get out alone

We have already reduced who we buy for which has helped a lot.

Felixe · 28/06/2022 22:34

I’m worrying about this already. I just don’t have a penny to save. This year just looks glum

AuntieMarys · 28/06/2022 22:45

I only buy for dh and my 2 adult dcs.
Dcs normally get £250 each plus about £50 of gifts...this year it will be £200 all in.
Dh and I have a budget of £200.
There's only 3 of us for Xmas day and we will go out as we always do. I don't go mad with extra food...I like Xmas but like the rest of the year as well!

carefullycourageous · 28/06/2022 22:59

Yes and no.

Yes because costs are rising fast and so things will be much more expensive.

No because I have previously been very poor and did brilliant Christmases on pretty much bugger all, so I know I can do that again.

In a way I am quite looking forward to the challenge of getting it done for a good price - but I always treated penny pinching as a challenge as it kept my spirits up (we really were bloody skint).

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 28/06/2022 23:07

No. Have already said that we won’t be doing Christmas at all, not even cards, this year and it’s the last year we will be doing birthday presents for anyone too. In recent years I’ve done cash/bank transfers. It’s been well received and I think people are glad someone has said no, as it’s also enabled them to say no more too.

Cherryrainbow · 28/06/2022 23:10

Yes and no. We keep things within our means if that makes sense like I've never taken out a credit card or loan/overdraft to go crazy. I do buy throughout the year when there are sales and bargains. The kids birthdays are sept/Oct so by then it's normally easy to decide what will be birthdays and what's for Xmas. I've decided to try to do gifts for the kids this year as no more than 10 presents per child with mindful purchases, cos last year when trying to squeeze what i could out of a budget it seemed we got loads of stuff but not much used. I use a gift list app to track stuff and put money aside each month. We Don't buy new decs, or trees (our reliable lit up fake argos one is still going strong) or fancy tableware etc so that helps a bit.