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Original poster

total christmas cost?

209 replies

giveyourselfashiny · 01/01/2012 10:01

How much have u spent in total for Christmas? I'm thinking about starting saving for next yr and just wondered how much people actually spend? I know I spend more than I think cause I buy bits over the yr, but in total, for everyone for everything inc food, drink and night out we have prob spent 600! Which is mental, and will be coming down next year!

OP posts:
marriedinwhite · 01/01/2012 15:28

Oh, and I'm quite careful - have already bought next year's crackers, bottle bags, wrapping tissue, ribbons and four stocking presents for 1/2 price Smile

jenk1 · 01/01/2012 15:33

ive spent around £1000, £550 of that was love2shop vouchers that i save
all year for,the rest went on trips out,meals,drink etc.

i dont care how much people spend as long as you can afford it and you
have a good time,this is the first year since my divorce that me and the DC
really really looked forward to,planned and really enjoyed xmas and to me
thats worth every penny spent!!!!

joanofarchitrave · 01/01/2012 15:39

Including cards/postage, food (hosted Christmas Day but only for 6), travel, decorations and presents: just under £500.

Not bad but over budget - my original plan was £435 I think. I overspent on the stocking and the food amount jumped about £60 in the last 24 hours. MUST avoid that next year.

mumatron · 01/01/2012 15:41

I have probably spent about 1300 this year. That's presents for 3 dc, dp and a few other family members. Didn't really buy much extra food and drink as we go to inlaws for dinner.

I never get into debt for christmas and only spend what I can afford.

muttimalzwei · 01/01/2012 15:43

About £200. Didn't buy much food though as invited to sis in laws.

oldsilver · 01/01/2012 15:46

Probably around £200 altogether (and I am overestimating) including food, presents including Birthday presents for DS on Christmas Day, decorations, drink and other related Christmas/Birthday stuff. AND I think I propably overspent this year on both DS and DP Xmas Shock I suppose it's what you are used to really.

I have already got crackers, cards and wrap for next year sorted - I love the half price sells. And I think we are truly decorated up for the next year so no need of any more tat decorations.

PatTheHammer · 01/01/2012 16:12

Not a lot this year and what we did spend was all on gifts and travel.

Did not buy one item of Christmas food as we were away at my mums from xmas eve till 28th. DH also gets a massive hamper from work with alcohol (4 bottles wine, 2 bottles fizz) mince pies, chocs, crackers, cake etc. I also get given approx 3 bottles wine and 2 tins biscuits from work each year. We took most of the alcohol down to mums as our contribution to the meal and bought a pear and chocolate tart for a pud.

Cards and wrap I bought in last years sale so don't include them in this years cost and i didn't buy any decorations as I went a bit mad last year.

be surprised if we spent £100 each on the 2DCs, they are 5 and nearly 3 and don't really want expensive things....yet! DD and I made some nice xmas biscuits and things as gifts for the GPs. I spent about £50 on DH, £50 on my nephews a further £50 on my mum, dad and best mate. DD got panto tickets from MIL as a gift and the DC's got money from various relatives, some of which we used to take them on a few xmas outings, cinema etc. All other xmas activities, seeing santa etc have been free.

So total about £380 ish on presents and £50 petrol. A vast, vast difference to last year which I reckon was about £900 altogether as we were hosting.

LynetteScavo · 01/01/2012 16:22

It depends what you mean by "Christmas". I f you count the works meal out, and the other pre Christmas meals and baby sitters, taxis, Christmas cards, new clothes for DC so they look presentable in front of great aunt Esmeralda, costume for the nativity, donations to charity because it's Christmas, etc, etc, it's probably quite a lot.

I actually don't want to add it all up, I just know I didn't go into debt.

LaurieFairyCake · 01/01/2012 16:28

About 1000 extra. Most of it on food/drink/one concert.

Food was a lot more expensive this year I found.

oflip · 01/01/2012 16:28

prob total of £300.

I save my £2 coins all year and had £250 all together.
Used my Tesco club card points, had £90 all together

so its cost me about £10 out of my pocket.
Doing the same again for next year.

oflip · 01/01/2012 16:30

Christmas dinner is just a sunday roast in our house, neither of us go to works do's as too expensive.
We dont really drink, dh had a crate of lager, still got most of it in the fridge.

I am very very frugal and careful, Martin Lewis is my hero!

PatTheHammer · 01/01/2012 16:53

Oh forgot about works do, but it didn't really cost anything other than petrol as DH's company put everyone up in posh hotel, its a free meal, wine provided on the table, free bar and free breakfast the next day.
DH bought me my dress as my xmas present so it cost me £10 for my shoes from New lookBlush

Kellogg · 01/01/2012 16:54

I agree that people are probably defining Christmas differently. We don't spend a great deal on gifts but we have had a house full of guests for 2 weeks.

moaninlisa · 01/01/2012 17:18

350 on DS
200 on family gifts
300 between DH and self for gifts
120 on xmas dinner(out)
150 on extra food
60 on booze- needed very little as DH on call/worked a fair bit
100 new tree which was badly needed
We put money away every month from joint account for xmas quite frugal this year...we could afford to spend a lot more but have plans for various things in 2012 which will require funds

vmcd28 · 01/01/2012 17:30

far too much, and I was stressed about it for weeks - and still am. We have a big family, so feel obliged to buy for loads of them - kids only, tho.
But we have to cut back next year. I doubt we'll even have this christmas paid off by next year :(

oreocrumbs · 01/01/2012 17:35

I don't know what I've spent this year, but I'm going to budget for next year - thinking ahead for what is a reasonable amount for us. We also have loads of birthdays from Oct to Dec so that has to be factored in! I'm determined to stop money running through my hands like it has before as we just don't have it anymore. I'm initially thinking of £500, I should be able to put that much aside through the year, and if when next Christmas comes we are better off than expected we then have the option to spend more, and if not £500 is more than plenty for a good Chrstmas. (Both DP and I are self employed so we don't have a fixed income, could be millionairs or paupers in 12 months!)

oreocrumbs · 01/01/2012 17:39

Do most people pay for their works party? I pay for my staff - its their Christmas present from us! (And sitting through a bloody take that tribute was pushing my generosity to the limits! I'M picking where we go next year!!)

Pekka · 01/01/2012 18:00

Last Christmas without kids, so we were able to do it for cheap. Split Christmas dinner with friends, so spent only £60 altogether. We didn't do presents either, apart from a toy for our friends' 19 month old.
NYE was more expensive, about £80 altogether.

PosieParker · 01/01/2012 18:22

About £2500.

PosieParker · 01/01/2012 18:25

Just to justify.....bought a family camera (my gift) we've had a shit one for years. Also kitted dcs out with must haves and clothes, as well as gift, gift. And for the first time in ages was able to buy family really lovely gifts....nothing on credit and all bills up to date. So we could afford it.

Kellogg · 01/01/2012 18:29

Yes I haven't added in the cost of work do and new outfits. That would take it up to 2kBlush

smackapacca · 01/01/2012 18:42

To answer your earlier question yes I have 2 kids - aged 2& 4. We just couldnt afford to go nuts. I bought nice bits to wrap, but was lucky enough to have find stuff given to us earlier in the year that was good as new (books etc) which I wrapped up. The givers knew I was going to do this, kids were happy. So is my bank balance!

pchick · 01/01/2012 18:42

Probably about £800-1000 including presents,food, etc., . That more than I expected!

However, we did do Christmas at home this year, which increased the food bill lot this year.

molly3478 · 01/01/2012 18:45

Ourselves 130 that was on pressies rest of stuff has all been bought for us so altogether I would say about 700

working9while5 · 01/01/2012 18:56

No works party of any description, Kris Kindle for adults in both families (mine/dh's (60 quid limit for each meaning £240 for gifts from dh and I to our bleeding siblings, which I think is TOO mcuh), £90 on presents for ds, a special gift for sister who was married this year (70 quid), gifts from ds to family (about another tenner per household), gifts for our godchildren (another 100), no food bill as in family's homes but flights home and transport for three of us 300+. So easily spent 1000 - and I only get paid £720 a month. £60 would be considered virtually mean/stingy in some Irish households, but I personally would prefer to see it capped at about £10. Will be rooting for this next year...