Is anyone cutting down their Christmas present list this year?

[007User]

Who are you cutting out or cutting down on?

Any good ideas on how to communicate it if you've always done gifts but want to stop?

We cut back on our gift list years ago but this year I've opted out of work secret santa, I've been wanting to get out of it for years. I've had 15 years of sitting there with a fake smile watching everyone open Lush gift sets and I receive a mouse mat with a pic of me and a colleague on (don't have a computer so I don't need a mouse mat). Nobody ever stuck to the tenner budget, more like £30. Total waste of money. I've mentioned it already at work and I've been suprised at the response in that everyone else wants to opt out too. I'm the one to tell the boss, and nobody wants a work christmas party either. Work contribute a small portion but the rest is paid by colleagues and nobody wants to spend extra on travel and drinks with pple they spend all week with when they're already watching money on top. So I'm cutting out secret santa and christmas work night out, wish me luck telling the boss 😅

I'm not reducing the number of people on my list but only because I have already done that over the years, agreeing with certain people to only buy gifts for DC, etc. I already opted out of secret Santas & don't buy for many friends. Honestly, most people are happy to have fewer people to buy for so welcome the idea. When my best friend comes round we just get a bottle of wine instead and let the DC exchange gifts.
What I am doing is streamlining to reduce the overall budget. Each year I write myself notes on what went well & what to avoid for the next Christmas. So this year I know I don't need new Christmas jumpers or decorations and I know which cheese & crackers or snacks will get eaten. I'm not buying party food or loads of stuff for baking & crafts this year, the DC aren't interested any more. And the bargain thread keeps my present spending down!

We cut back to just immediate kids (nephew, nieces, own kids) and one token one for DH. Have done for a few years. Absolutely perfect!

We had already cut down on only buying for kids and doing secret santa amongst adults. I could really do without even doing secret santa tbh now. Will definitely be buying 4yo much less than last year and just turned 1yo will get 1 gift as he will only prefer the box and wrapping paper anyway.

We stopped buying for adults years ago (on both sides of the family).

I'll be looking to buy a bit less but more local or handmade from somewhere like Etsy. I've started doing that more recently for birthdays and have bought some lovely stuff. Trying to stay away from the big shops eg amazon and support local and small businesses as they'll really need our money this year.

So we did that years ago too, now we have come full circle! The kids in the family are all grown up and we don't buy for them anymore. The adults are all buying for each other again (well couples presents actually).

I cut down long ago.

buy for:
2 x dc
2 x dn though often this will just be cash
dm

I've been wondering if a secret santa between the adults might work. My sibling and I only buy for each others kids but our parents buy for everyone and we buy for them.
I'll be trying to avoid "the twitch" this year with my own child too.

For me, it is not just about cutting back the money. There are certain members of our extended family who make no effort with us whatsoever during the year and are serious CF'ers. When it comes to Christmas they expect DH and I to host for days on end, and expect massive presents. I tried to stop years ago and go loads of grief over it. Well, I have cut down, massively, and it is still ongoing.

I refuse to spend mental energy, parking fees and my time off work, and my hard earned money, buying presents for people who only come out of the woodwork at Christmas and for their birthdays.

I just buy for DC nowadays. That's all I can afford.

My family insisted I don't buy for them and just use that money I save to put towards visiting them (they live quite a way away.)
My in laws weren't to pleased but it's tough who can really afford Christmas nowadays?

I'm on maternity leave and will be on zero pay at Christmas. I've almost finished present shopping for baby and my oldest (4years and 10 months) so easier to buy for throughout the year. I've bought in sales, on Vinted and at second hand baby/children markets.

I'm going to suggest a budget for my family as we always spend too much and we don't need anything. In-laws do a secret Santa which honestly is a waste of money so I'm going to see if I can politely skip this(!).

I don't buy individual gifts for friends anymore, I get chocolate and wine for them and their partners as they're generous to my kids.

For family and close friends' children I'll buy in sales when I can. I've already got a few things in.

DH and I discussed Christmas shopping today. We'll set a budget and kids can spend £10 on each of us as oldest is at an age where she likes to help pick.

Buying throughout the year helps. I could actually go without presents, too much stuff stresses me out.

We’ve just moved back to the uk so I want to use this Christmas to establish a precedent/ new norm. Already told DC they’re getting the ‘ something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read’ formula plus a v low key stocking. Honestly it’s less about cost than effort to buy and wrap it all and tat accumulation. I just donated three massive plastic boxes of virtually untouched arts and craft stuff. I d like Christmas to be more about doing stuff than getting stuff.

not really cutting out people this year, lost 1 relative who also had a seasonal birthday and then one friend who i usually exchange home made gifts with, we’re stopping due to cost of making plus the pressure - although we’ve said we can go for a meal or something instead so not a massive saving cost wise.

other than that, i’ve tried to bring down the volume rather than cost - 1 item instead of multiple, which helped the mental stress a lot. Ive also tried to get some bargains in where i can too utilising sales, topcashback and prime deals etc, i aim to have finished the physical gifts by october; leaving only a couple of hotel/restaurant vouchers which i will buy in december to keep the expiry long on them.

I’m down to one child who I will buy for. Adults are just getting a ‘merry Christmas’ text or in person. No cards etc. It all adds up. The col is my reason. If people think I’m being mean prioritising eating and heating over gifts/cards/postage then that’s more their problem than mine. Same for birthdays.

I won’t be cutting down on the people I buy for but I have been buying in sales a bit more and starting earlier so I don’t have much more to buy.

I do still do Christmas cards - probably close to 100 so it’s a broad sweep. I don’t mind doing them though and I love getting them. Don’t mind if they’re not reciprocated.

I think the problem hat people have to be aware and careful of with 'non for adults' rules is every year there is an influx of people at xmas (single mams, unmarried childless siblings, widowed granparents etc...) posting how they are getting nothing because their families all agreed to 'children only' or 'no gift' policies and its just so sad.

People post how they where alone and forgotton on xmas or how they they went to family house and watched everyone open gifts from their partners etc... while they are the only one without it seems their families just never consider for a second the person actually losing out.

Im all for cutting back on gifts for friends, collegues, 2nd cousins and their 12 kids, estranged uncles etc... but people do also have to consider their position and the effect it has on some people, a gift doesnt have to cost money to show you care.

Example: I know if I didnt buy gifts for my mam no one else would, I cant afford a lot and honestly shes hard to buy for so I started doing her a stocking but I know my siblings and dad hate xmas not the type to give gifts but my mam loved xmas when we where little shes just been outnumbered by them over the years - If I didnt then xmas would be basically be cancelled for her.

We're cutting out nieces and nephews. There is 11 in total. It's a joint decision. No one is buying for any of the kids, except your own and grandparents.

Oh and we cut our siblings ages ago and just did a secret Santa with a maximum of £10. That works well. I'm wondering if to do the same for the kids.

We've asked my mum to stop doing stockings for adults. It's not just about money, it's also to cut down on crap that she fills them with.

I know that sounds harsh but I'm in my 30's and last year I got a Disney play set because I loved the character when I was a child.

I appreciate that it’s been a couple of months since anyone posted on here but I am naturally curious (aka nosey) about other people. I only have DD (20 vv soon) & DH to buy gifts for.

I wonder how people manage the initiating the no more presents with friends and family when it’s become a tradition. How and when did you broach it? How was it taken? If other people said they would continue did you or did you stick with what you said?

I do remember having to be firm with my mum when DD was younger. In the end I told her we don’t have the space and if you buy more than one present from now on or it’s large then it stays at yours. She got the message.

It can be tricky but you just have to be honest.I spoke to my sisters about it, one said she didn’t want presents for her kids but perhaps we could just buy foodie treats for each other’s families to share. Great idea I’m happy.
Other sister however said she would still like me to buy her kids presents- they are in their mid 20s!! 🤦‍♀️

Other sister however said she would still like me to buy her kids presents- they are in their mid 20s!

Grabby!

last year I got a Disney play set because I loved the character when I was a child.

I'll swap you. I got a Slazenger Headband, sweatbands, and fleece socks with tassels that looked like someone bought them in the 18th century from the Sami tribe.