Quick estimate for last year approx £1150 - includes 3 DCs presents, new pjs & slippers ( buy every 2 years), Santa visit, most family presents, I didn’t keep track of everything. Also dosnt include my presents.
No work parties
Two school fares, one we do a stall & profit usually covers free rein of the kids buying what they want. Other one maybe £40 on mainly overpriced sugary cupcakes.
Foodbank gifts and donations varies, last year we had quite a few gifts and toys we’d collected that had been won or given to my DCs as gifts they didn’t want I spent maybe £20 on top.
No extra for food and drink, we just buy what we’d normally do, same with eating out.
No big boozy nights out, we haven’t been able to handle them for years so just don’t bother anymore.
cards/wrapping paper I only buy an odd roll as I have a good supply of paper and bags, kids Christmas cards about £3. Sadly the elderly relatives we still send cards too get fewer each year, I’ve been using the same box of cards for about 3 years.
Decorations I love buying something every year but buy in weekly shopping so don’t keep track and only buy a few. Last year I bought a few to start a change of colour theme this year, everything was in the sale but will mean I will have to buy a few more this year.
We have quite a few birthdays at this time of year so that bumps up the spending by a couple of hundred, but it’s not actually on Christmas per say.
We don’t set a budget, we spread the cost throughout the year and buy what’s needed, some years it’s more than others. As long as our weekly budgets cover everything and we aren’t using credit we don’t think about it.