How are you doing Christmas on a budget?

[LizzyEm]

We've been on a budget for the last few years anyway, but just had some news that is making me panic a bit and wanting to tighten our belts even more.

I've told family not to get us anything, we will probably buy for kids only now.

Not planning to get joints, will get chops/steaks, but I planned that already anyway. Will still have yorkies, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, gravy. Haven't bothered with veg really for the last few years, might do peas though. Bit of cake and custard for pudding 😋

Will spend the majority on cheeses, crackers, chutneys, pickles etc, we always cook a ham on Xmas eve, and tbh this is what we enjoy more. The picky bits. It's just two of us anyway.

I don't think there's any more ways to keep it low spend, but any ideas welcome.

I have decs, tree etc already so don't need to buy any of that. I do need ideas for DH's stocking though. And present. We don't do much in the way of presents, go all out, we prefer to spend the money on a meal out instead.

Why waste money on stockings if you can’t think of things to buy?
why bother with presents?
do you need to buy gifts for children in the family?
I won’t comment on the food plan except to say that you still seem to be spending a lot of money.

A taste of christmas:

Thread on skewers, like a kebab, piece of turkey (cut up a cpl of turkey steaks), pig, stuffing ball and repeat, glaze with some warmed cranberry and bung in the oven fkr 20 minutes or so.

Serve with roasties, parsnips, carrots, sprouts, gravy and bread sauce.

The ham can last days afterwards:

Bacon/pasta dish
In a pie with a bit of turkey steak and leeks
Ham, egg and chips

When DS was a baby and we were overmortgaged and I'd given up work because he was ill we exchanged a bath bomb and a mars bar. We still exchange those 32 years on.

I'd buy minimal cheese/crackers before Xmas and hit the supermarket on boxing day to pick it up when reduced.

Well veg and perhaps a chicken will be cheaper than chops or steak as would be something meat free. Cutting back on meat and snack type food would also save money. Given you are having a gammon on Christmas Eve, skip the Christmas dinner completely and eat the picky bits you prefer with left over gammon. Tbh what you are planning to eat, doesn’t shout I have a tight budget.

Have a budget for either the stocking or present but don’t do both, skip presents this year, or agree on a budget and buy something from a charity shop.

Stop the gifts! Why buy stuff for the sake of it?

DH and I set a limit for what we spend on each other- think it's £25 this year but we have done a tenner before. It makes it fun because you have to get creative.

Free/cheap stocking gifts- samples for skincare/aftershave he likes, homemade vouchers for some sort of treat eg tea in bed, cook his favourite meal etc.

Do a big declutter now and sell unwanted stuff on ebay/vinted/magpie- then agree not to spend more than you make.

SiL and I agreed many years ago that we were happy with £5 on presents.. we did exceed that, but not by much. We both enjoyed scouring boots sales and charity shops, and were always able to find books and other bits and pieces once we established that we were happy to give and receive second hand stuff. Are there any decent boot sales near you?
You could do something like creating your own chocolate selection box for DH.

When the DC were tiny and we watched every penny stocking fillers came from Oxfam and similar and stockings were padded out with prettily wrapped new socks, sweets etc. All the fun of unwrapping for a fraction of the price and less waste. IME adults are not immune to that pleasure of small surprises wrapped up. DH and I exchanged tokens (less than a fiver) so that the DC saw us opening things along with them.

We had lots of decorations, mostly home made. We had DPs (one set or both) who always brought something and had food which everyone particularly liked with a few more expensive treats rather than a massive table with lots of leftovers. I also used the “nip to the supermarket between Christmas day and NY for bargains” trick and bought less at peak price before Christmas.

If its just the two of you and you enjoy the ham most why not have that for Christmas day? Then think of what you would enjoy doing just on a day together and do that rather than feeling you must “do” Christmas in some approved way.

Prioritise your favourite things rather than what you think you should have.
A roast or chicken is often cheaper than steaks or chops. I often just slice a pork or beef joint into steaks anyway.
Anything labeled "Christmas" is often much dearer than the equivalent normal food (the only difference is the packaging) so start buying little extra bits now. I start freezing/storing stuff from October. I already have frozen pastries, frozen fruit and vegetables. I just keep an eye out for offers or reductions.
When I have been on a strict budget I also tried to shave £5 or so off my weekly grocery spend by using up what was in the freezer or making soups from the end of October so that I had an extra £50 or so for the Christmas grocery order. As it was for a finite time It was more tolerable. It also gave me storage space.
Last year I assembled a box of practical stuff for DH that he always uses but can be a pain if it runs out (almost like an emergency box). It had a spare deodorant, shaving gel razor blades, hydration tablets etc. It wasn't anything that I wouldn't have had to buy anyway but I decorated the box with cheeky sayings. DH laughed but it's actually been really useful. I'm doing one for the glove box of the car this year.