worried how I'm going to afford gifts for family this year (parents, siblings, grandparents etc). I have struggled on previous years. We are a one income family (I'm carer to disabled dc) and it's never easy.
Myself and Dp have two kids, these are bought for first at Christmas and they don't go without. I start buying early and in the sale etc. Myself and Dp do not exchange gifts anymore, we stopped a few years ago. We buy stuff when we can during the year.
but yes, family gifts. On my side it's mum, stepdad, 3 siblings, my grandma and my 2 uncles. My two dc are the only children in the family. My siblings are more grown up though and don't buy anything for my dc (not that I expect them to of course, but my point being that I need to stop buying for them I think!). My mum never buys anything for me and hasn't for years - which is fine she buys a gift for the kids instead. So I'm thinking maybe I should cut back on this side.
on dp's side it's his mum, mums partner, 3 siblings. Again no kids other than ours. They are more generous than my family and feel guilty spending little but I can't buy more for them and less for my family
^ I do all the Christmas shopping, even dp's family.
even just £5-10 that's still quite a lot of money.
secret Santa not really an option as don't necessarily see everyone at same time
but I can't really not buy for them all can I?