Panicking about having done christmas on a budget

[Eileen101]

I'm currently paying down debt as a single parent and this year I have done christmas on a huge budget. Most of my children's gifts are second hand from vinted (although that's their general status quo anyway), and gifts for my parents and step parents are token - a book, a candle, a garden ornament etc and I'm really panicking that it's not good enough.

Earlier in the week I was giving myself a metaphorical pat on the back for paying off a big chunk of debt and reaching a milestone, plus ending the month not overdrawn but now I am panicking that I should have bumped that to January and done christmas a bit better. My kids are small and won't notice or care, I guess I'm worried about the adults. Has anyone been in this situation without looking cheap????

Well done. Any relative who thinks it would be better for you to get into debt than give them a small present isn’t a decent person. Your DC really won’t care.

Absolutely the right choice from you. Well done on sorting your debt, and being in a better position, ready to start 2026. You never know what's around the corner and you have made sure you are in the best position to look after your little ones into the future.

If you think any of your adult relatives are offended/upset/haven't realized, just have a quiet word - I had to keep gifts small this year but will cut your lawns/take you out for afternoon tea/buy a nice birthday treat/ bring a big box of chocolates in the new year .. .

The adults should have expected no gifts - you should have told them months ago that things were tight so no gifts.
We had no money issues and my parents and in laws got things like books - I mean it really is what one would expect? I never expected a gift, my MIL would give me her homemade marzipan fruits which I looked forward to every year. They had plenty of money but this was a gift she made with her heart.
So don’t feel guilty at all and well done on managing so far!

I'm sure you'll have a lovely Christmas and you'll feel all the better for it in January knowing you haven't over spent!

Well done you OP!

I’ve been there - I was £28k in debt and recovering from cancer and even told my daughter that Santa wasn’t real because I didn’t have money for presents. She was almost 7. It didn’t ruin it for her before anyone pipes up - she’s a very smart little girl and knew he wasn’t real. I thankfully have a very good rich friend who gifted me some of his children’s old things - including an iPad which was just unbelievable. So it kept a little of the magic alive for the kids as it was somewhat of a christmas miracle. I will forever be grateful to that friend. Otherwise like you a lot of the gifts were bought on a shoestring budget.

I worked really hard in the years that followed and now have zero debt, new partner and engaged. Your life will not be like this forever and one day you will look back on this year with a very different view. Remember Christmas is actually just one day and the kids rarely remember the gifts. It sounds very much like you have a plan and are sticking to it and I absolutely applaud people who just work their way through it. So cheers and I hope you and yours all have the best Christmas!!!

As an adult, I would be delighted with a book, candle, or garden ornament. I would be even more delighted that you have been sensible and managed your money well.
I hope you have a great Christmas OP.

I'm feeling a bit rubbish as well. I had already bought adult DC gifts just a few things but then I decided to splash a bit more. I bought them expensive trainers then gifted a bunch to extended family which I hadn't originally planned to, bought Xmas outfits, and then I went to a couple of parties and that was expensive so it's ended up I've only bought them the one additional present of the shoes and I've no cash I can afford to give them. I've been really irresponsible with my money, at least yours is going to good use ! I wish I'd just done the same ! I'm sure your kids as well as mine will be grateful for what they get though. Hope you have a lovely Xmas

Well done you! If you want to 'bulk it out' could you make some home made cookies or chocolate bark for the adults to go with it? Inexpensive and I personally love a home made food gift - it's homey and some love and effort has gone into it.

You have 100% done everything right. Controlled your budget and bought lovely presents. In January you will look back and be so happy with your right decision.

Pat yourself on the back and have a lovely Christmas!

Well done. It'll be lovely. Don't worry.

I've done xmas lunch on a budget despite having elderly neighbours joining us.
Leek & potato soup, a large chicken, roast potatoes, veggies, sausages in bacon, gravy, bread sauce, followed by mince pies & cream and a bottle of fizz I was given last birthday. Chocolates from work Secret Santa.
Food is all home made. I think I've spent about £13 between four of us.

I've dressed the table, cream candles with red ribbons. It looks great. I hope they like it.😊
I'll be on my own from the 27th. A turkey would havw taken me ages to eat.

You have done really well, don’t flinch now x

Aww you have done so well to keep focused on your budget and paying off the debt Congratulations! The gifts you have chosen for your kids and family sound perfect. You are going to feel so good in January knowing that you are not overdrawn and can carry on getting financially stable. I admire you so much.

When all is said and done, I'm sure none of your family or friends would be able to help you pay off your debt,a massive well done for you. It will be far less stressful going forward once your debt is smaller and like you said your children are more important and won't know this year. As they get older the gifts they ask for get more and more expensive. I've been in debt and its not a good place, my stress is so much lower now I have less debt, will be paid off completely in 2027

I bought most of my presents on Vinted, it’s bloody brilliant! I got my teen branded clothes for a fraction of the price in the shops, all new with tags on! The kids don’t need to know where you bought them.

When you’ve paid the debts off and have built up some savings, you can spend more at Christmas if you want to. There’s nothing wrong with doing Christmas on a very small budget. As long as the kids have some presents to open, you’ve all got lots of chocolate to eat, and you have a bottle of wine to drink, who cares?!

Use today to celebrate how amazing you are for making progress paying off your debts AND being a single parent AND still managing to pull off Christmas. I’m a single parent too, we’re bloody fantastic and don’t tend to give ourselves the credit we deserve.

It’s good enough. Honestly.

Merry Christmas 🎄

Really well done!
There's people here panicking they've only done 27 presents for their toddler, or their room doesn't look like an Instagram photo or they've bought Christmas clothes they can't afford for their kid who won't wear them.
Reality and a calm head and sensible kind thoughtfulness will be so much better for you and all the family.
Have a lovely day.

Sounds great!

For little kids it's the best way, and as an adult I absolutely do not want any present that would contribute to financial insecurity for the giver. Also remember that a lot of people who can afford new still often prefer Vinted, Ebay etc for environmental reasons, so it's not necessarily about the money.

My little girl’s main present was a Happyland set which I got in a nearly new toy sale for £3. She absolutely loves it and played with it all day and it felt more special to me that I’d gone out and sought it out rather than just buy it online. The magic isn’t in how much you spend, it’s in how much heart goes in and it sounds like you’re very much rich in that. Merry Christmas 🎄

I would not want my family or friends prioritising a gift for me over clearing their debts. Adults don't need much and they might like you lowering the gift values so they can do the same. Well done for budgeting so well at this time of year.

I bought my 4yo daughter far too many presents. Expensive ones and carefully thought out ones and what was she most excited by? A $2 packet of gold chocolate coins. Told everyone about them. So don’t worry about the actual cost.

Hope you had a lovely Christmas @Eileen101
Congratulations on getting your debt under control. Hopefully everyone is happy with their presents - they sound absolutely fine.

I’m not on your sort of budget, but even so, I tend to do Christmas on the cheaper side, because from experience, kids forget about a lot of the stuff they get within a few days. They like to have lots of small things to open. As for the adults in your life, if they are good people they will understand that you don’t have a lot to spend. Sounds to me like you’re doing a wonderful job xxx

If I was an adult in your life I would want you to prioritise the debt clearing over getting me anything for Christmas. I really wouldn’t worry, I’m sure what you’ve done/gifted is good enough for everyone.

We have members of the family who Christmas would cause financial strain for, as a result about 7 years ago we agreed to just buy for the children. Instead we do a secret Santa so every adult gets one thing and has to buy one thing. We always have rules to make it funny rather than serious and is always a Christmas highlight and our favourite memories every year. Be proud of getting it right. I’m sure the adults wouldn’t want you getting in more debt for them

Sounds brilliant, my adult children got a chocolate santa! I didnt buy any gifts for anyone else! Debt repayment is absolutely brilliant and I'm glad you made it a priority